My $0.02 with about 4 years on the swap now:
1) An alternate method to mounting the temperature sensor is to use the stock E46 quick connector that was originally at the output side of the radiator and move it to the outlet of the water pump. You will now have a mounting bung, but the sensor will need to be separately grounded since it's in plastic. I haven't tried the block mount, it's a great idea!
2) I used a generic e-Bay fuel pressure regulator that cost $15 and it worked fine with both the stock returnless rail and a flow-through rail. I noticed no difference between the two.
3) An M50 throttle body will mount to the M54 manifold kinda, sortof. It will be rotated about 10 degrees and you'll need to make an 8mm spacer but I had no issues with that configuration in 18 months before I switched to a custom fabbed TB. It will allow you to use stock accelerator pedal.
4) The stock crank sensor is Hall. A VR drop-in replacement is the M44 crank sensor. Same fit and form.
5) I've been running the Getrag 260 with 3.25 diff. The torque combines nicely with this ratio. My observed mileage is 28/22. Stock clutch and especially pressure plate will shred. I switched to a heavier duty PP and a Kevlar clutch disc.
6) The M54 is not Motorsports. If I tracked the car I would prefer an S50 or S52 even if the 0-60 might be slower. My 1/4 et is mid 13's with 104 trap so it's not exactly slow, either. It's a phenomenal stoplight brawler and sublime DD. Light steering and bottomless torque. The DISA intake works like magic. I don't track the car, I commute; so this motor is better for me.
7) All of the usual M50 headers fit the same.
8 ) Megasquirt now support VANOS and with the elimination of the mass airflow sensor the motor gains power. I forget that I have Megasquirt, starts cold and idles like stock plus Megasquirt handles light fly wheels easily and lets me run TRACTION CONTROL! See www.m54megasquirt3.blogspot.com My next project is to ditch my m50 harness and build a from-scratch harness (or modify an M54 harness) for the Megasquirt.
9) Aluminum blocks are pretty.
1) An alternate method to mounting the temperature sensor is to use the stock E46 quick connector that was originally at the output side of the radiator and move it to the outlet of the water pump. You will now have a mounting bung, but the sensor will need to be separately grounded since it's in plastic. I haven't tried the block mount, it's a great idea!
2) I used a generic e-Bay fuel pressure regulator that cost $15 and it worked fine with both the stock returnless rail and a flow-through rail. I noticed no difference between the two.
3) An M50 throttle body will mount to the M54 manifold kinda, sortof. It will be rotated about 10 degrees and you'll need to make an 8mm spacer but I had no issues with that configuration in 18 months before I switched to a custom fabbed TB. It will allow you to use stock accelerator pedal.
4) The stock crank sensor is Hall. A VR drop-in replacement is the M44 crank sensor. Same fit and form.
5) I've been running the Getrag 260 with 3.25 diff. The torque combines nicely with this ratio. My observed mileage is 28/22. Stock clutch and especially pressure plate will shred. I switched to a heavier duty PP and a Kevlar clutch disc.
6) The M54 is not Motorsports. If I tracked the car I would prefer an S50 or S52 even if the 0-60 might be slower. My 1/4 et is mid 13's with 104 trap so it's not exactly slow, either. It's a phenomenal stoplight brawler and sublime DD. Light steering and bottomless torque. The DISA intake works like magic. I don't track the car, I commute; so this motor is better for me.
7) All of the usual M50 headers fit the same.
8 ) Megasquirt now support VANOS and with the elimination of the mass airflow sensor the motor gains power. I forget that I have Megasquirt, starts cold and idles like stock plus Megasquirt handles light fly wheels easily and lets me run TRACTION CONTROL! See www.m54megasquirt3.blogspot.com My next project is to ditch my m50 harness and build a from-scratch harness (or modify an M54 harness) for the Megasquirt.
9) Aluminum blocks are pretty.
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