Building my Mtech-1, Full Build-up Pictorial

[M42Technik]

I want this for my E30...sigh.

Oh and Chris its nice to see you back, where you been?

[Dave]

James,

Thanks for sharing that with us common folk. ;)

Well done. I can only imagine how you must have felt when your "new" engine went belly up after 420 miles!!!! :shock:

[e30 Luv]

thats a goddamn inspiration. but it makes me feel like shit (just a little bit) only because doing a full restoration like that is way out my league at this point. maybe someday. and yeah, i think you've got to have the nicest mtech1 in the world

[RedStar240]

really nice car man!! love it!

[z50_Jumper]

Nice work!

[MR 325]

I touched it.


PS: Driving it to Cali sometime this year? :)

[Dave]

I know its nice, Matt, but no car gets me that excited.

[James Crivellone]

can you tell more detalis about the engine? 2.8L... did you use stock management, or the custom chip? Amazing work! it's perfect!

The 2.8L is built off of the following

M20B27 1986 ETA Crank
M20B25 1991 Block
M20B25 1991 Rods
Wiseco/Metric Mechanic 10.0:1 Deep Pocket Pistons
2mm Overbore
Shrick 284/272 Cam
M20B25 1991 Head
BavAuto Headers
13.5LB Flywheel
19lb Flow matched Bosch/Ford Yellow Injectors
MarkD M20B25 91 Octane Chip.

Currently the next modification is probably the drop in Miller MAF (without the chip that's included) as it looks pretty clean, Followed by either UniChip, or MS+Spark so I can run dynamic spark timing. ITB's may also follow at some time to really turn it into an interesting motor.

[James Crivellone]

Hey James, great thread :) Incredible rebuild on your E30 and it's great to see you got the M-Tech 1 kit sorted.

How is your custom made shifter part working out?

Also, as a recommendation for engine management perhaps a dyno tuned piggyback unit like the Unichip would be good for your 2.8L stroker. Perhaps the best route to take imho, at least when you have such a mix of engine parts, etc.

Yep, Piggyback will happen, I want to get rid of the AFM and get some current tech running my motor.

The custom shift bushings are great, they really improve shifter feel. Much better then any ZF BMW Transmission, or anything new.

[James Crivellone]

Nice writeup. :up:

Did replacing all the rubber bushings with metal ones make the shifter buzz or vibrate much now?

The car is pretty loud, and with the cam the entire car rumbles and shakes at idle, so I would not really know. However at upper RPM I don't have any issues whatsoever with the shifter vibrating etc. I also do not have a Vibration Dampener.

[James Crivellone]

wow.. is not even a word to describe it !!! Amazing restoration !!!

Can you still get the headlight wipers from the Dealer? I thought these were NLA for like 100 years

Wiper Arms, Blades, and Motor rebuild kits are available currently.

[James Crivellone]

wow, took my work computer a solid 5 min to fully load the first page!!

very nice write-up. i think it took me 35min to read the whole thing. i didnt catch it, but what was the reason for the 2nd rebuild? was the block shot, or was it b/c of the valve guides leaking oil all over the place?

With a 284/272 Cam, and stock I pistons, the clearance between valve/piston are very small, next to nothing. The milling on the head dropped it just enough to cause VERY light contact.

Every stroke, the valve would tap the piston valve pocket, causing it (both valve and piston) to slide over to the side slightly, damaging the cylinder itself. On top of that it caused bearing damage as the first large hit at high RPM.

Over that 420.55 miles, the motor burned a quart of oil every 100 miles, destroyed 4 rod bearings, damaged all 6 cylinder's, damaged all pistons, including rings, and destroyed all 6 valve guides.

The contact was so small, that no valve was damaged, all were perfectly straight and had no damage whatsoever, in fact they are still being used in the current motor.

[Digitalwave]

Are you still planning on an S38 swap?

[James Crivellone]

Are you still planning on an S38 swap?

I am not actively looking for one, however if one does cross my path I will at least acquire the motor/transmission.

I still plan on doing it, however my current project time is bounced between my Dads 914/6 Project, and our R3V Pro3 E30 Race car.

My final goal is to have a S38B38 and Getrag-D 6 Speed transmission.

One thing I love about Goals, then can be 5 months, or 5 years down the road.

[Chris E30 Cab]

Cheers James.....well done....very well done!!

I want this for my E30...sigh.

Oh and Chris its nice to see you back, where you been?

Hey man, I've been all over the place.....now am in Beijing, China after starting my own company. Hope to be around here a bit more now :)