Weekly Northern NJ Meet, Sundays 12:00

[MikeK]

Those of us who have been tracking E30's since they were new learned our lesson many, many years ago. You don't rev a stock M20 past 5500-6000 rpm on the track. The minute you push past the 6K rpm mark, you'll start to snap rocker arms like potato chips.

Keep it below 6K rpm and the rockers will never break.

:rofl: oh man, i was revving the piss out of my motor on monday.

[kishg]

Of course you weren't! I have to say I'm a little concerned though: too many cars are blowing up engines much more frequently than I'd like. If it's going to cost me $3500 every weekend, I'll buy a GT3 RS and SAVE MONEY..

$3500? where'd you get that number from? that's the cost of an entire new e30 :). e30 motors are $500 a pop, no pun intended :)

[nmlss2006]

Emre - well and good - but I grenaded an S50...
And BTW: you gave me further reason not to take my M20 to the track..

[nmlss2006]

Kish: S50/S52, swapping the longblock... 2500 for the engine, 1000 or so to install.

[kishg]

Those of us who have been tracking E30's since they were new learned our lesson many, many years ago. You don't rev a stock M20 past 5500-6000 rpm on the track. The minute you push past the 6K rpm mark, you'll start to snap rocker arms like potato chips.

Keep it below 6K rpm and the rockers will never break.

this wasn't rpm related. most likely there was a hairline crack in the head i swapped in which blew apart.. i'll magnaflux in future.

[kishg]

Kish: S50/S52, swapping the longblock... 2500 for the engine, 1000 or so to install.

ah.. well hopefully it won't be every weekend :)

[nmlss2006]

That's what I'm hoping, precisely. Especially because *everyone* *keeps* *repeating* how reliable these things are.

[kishg]

That's what I'm hoping, precisely. Especially because *everyone* *keeps* *repeating* how reliable these things are.

$2500 is nothing compared to the cost of writing off a GT3 RS :)

[Emre]

Emre - well and good - but I grenaded an S50...

Hey, anything can happen :???:

:rofl: oh man, i was revving the piss out of my motor on monday.

You can get away with it for a long while. But eventually it'll catch up with you.

this wasn't rpm related. most likely there was a hairline crack in the head i swapped in which blew apart.. i'll magnaflux in future.

I was specifically talking about breaking rocker arms. A cracked head is a totally different story (obviously unrelated to rpm). You just got unlucky there.

That's what I'm hoping, precisely. Especially because *everyone* *keeps* *repeating* how reliable these things are.

The M20 is absolutely reliable on the track...provided that you keep the revs under 6K rpm and watch your oil pressure. Once I figured that out, I've had no trouble at all.

[kishg]

The M20 is absolutely reliable on the track...provided that you keep the revs under 6K rpm and watch your oil pressure. Once I figured that out, I've had no trouble at all.

agree..

[Naplm00]

Hey all,

I changed directions on my vert. Any have a rear valance for a facelift car? Im not looking for the stock steel part but an aftermarket piece like zender, ect.

[nmlss2006]

Kish true, but you see, the GT1 block doesn't grenade that often - and when it does, people don't look at you saying 'gee, that shouldn't happen'.
Emre, I hear you, I suppose the advantage of having an M20 and never going above 6000 RPM is that you don't need brakes... :).
Kish, you agree with Emre about the M20 being reliable and yet just this season you changed... two? See, this is where we'll have to agree to disagree...

[kishg]

Kish true, but you see, the GT1 block doesn't grenade that often - and when it does, people don't look at you saying 'gee, that shouldn't happen'.
Emre, I hear you, I suppose the advantage of having an M20 and never going above 6000 RPM is that you don't need brakes... :).
Kish, you agree with Emre about the M20 being reliable and yet just this season you changed... two? See, this is where we'll have to agree to disagree...

operator error.. the motor is quite reliable. there are quite a few racing every weekend after all. given the parameters emre outlines, not running at rev limit (back to stock chip), having crank scraper (i don't) or accusump (again i don't), i don't see it being unreliable at all. the block on the m20 is bullet proof, it's the heads that can prove problematic due to overheat (hg blows) or rocker issues.

In spec e30 trim (new oem rockers, stock chip, crank scraper and/or accusump), it will be fine. oem rockers can be x-rayed/polished if you really want to go the extra mile.

Conversely you can pony up for the billet rockers from IE (not spec e30 legal) for a track car.

[nmlss2006]

So: the M20 with billet rockers, crank scraper and accusump (apparently the I-J crank scraper is insufficient, according to several posts) should be able to use all its stock RPM to rev limiter and get from april to november.
Conversely, the M20 stock will blow up.
Equally, it would appear, an S52 (not M50, not M52, not S50) with a pan baffle and a 7000RPM or below rev limiter, running 15W50 or 20W50 oil, should be able to do the same and get to november.
Conversely, the other options in 24v will blow up.
Perversely, by the by, the 'delicate' Euro S50B32 will suffer a lot less (otherwise, among other things, I'd be at my third motor in my euro car).
And mind, in both cases, we're talking normal cars in HPDEs. Not racing slicks with Gruppe N suspension and cages in real races.
I learned my lesson: see you at the track - with a 964. The 318/S52 will make a very nice DD.

[kishg]

A well prepped S5X should be bulletproof. certainly not blow up in one season. i've seen cars running for years with no issues.