M20B27 long block into an i car?

[Shifty 325is]

Not new to e30s just r3vlimited. I have been reading related threads for a few days and not sure I have my answer. I picked up an '87 325is that has a lower end knock, I have an e long block that I want to swap in until I tear down the i engine and decide which direction to go with it based on the damaged found.

What issues may I have swapping long block for long block? I know all the i stuff has to swap over to the e long block.

[squidrope]

Electronics will be an issue

[jeffnhiscars]

Electronics will be an issue

Actually if all he drops in the the E block and keeps everything else as is, he doesnt have to change anything.

[Shifty 325is]

Yeah, long block will be the only swap, ecu and all sensors will remain with car and/or swapped onto 2.7
I was mostly curious if there may be an issue with the added displacement or cam profile since I'm retaining the 200 head.

[jeffnhiscars]

You are down grading your car by installing a stock eta w a motronic upgrade. Sure it will work but if you can, Id use the 885 head. It will lower your compression a bit which is perfect if you ever decide to turbo, but either way it breaths SO much better than a 200.

[Shifty 325is]

I understand this, it's only a temporary swap. If I find the 885 head off of my i engine to be ok then I will either bolt it onto the e lower and boost it or possibly build a stronger stroker out of the i engine using a 524td crank and aftermarket pistons. I just want to be able to still drive the car while I sort that out.

[jeffnhiscars]

Driving it will not be an issue. Im about to put a 731 head on our eta and will upgrade all the electronics to Motronic 1.3. Virtually the same configuration you're planning

[squidrope]

Actually if all he drops in the the E block and keeps everything else as is, he doesnt have to change anything.

Not sure how the ETA will run on the I electronics. I've never attempted because both motors share some parts, but are designed to run so differently. I'm guessing you don't rev to the I motors redline?

[Shifty 325is]

Definitely could over rev the e running it with the i ecu, just going to have to light foot it for a while. Wiring in a wideband gauge with the swap just to keep an eye on a/f in case that becomes an issue.

[TobyB]

Yeah,
personally I'd have a hard time not buzzing the engine.
Those eta valve springs are an accident waiting to happen
with an i ecu.

But it should work- you'll need to swap the harmonic dampner
with toothed wheel, and the crank mount...

t

[paynemw]

Oil Baffle, make sure your bearings aren't shot. It'd be worth actually putting new crank bearings in. I spun a bearing on my 327iS because it was an old SETA block that wasn't refreshed AND it was getting oil starvation during hard turning. I now have a crank scraper and a baffle to prevent oil starvation issues.

[TobyB]

You mean rod bearings... the mains don't usually give trouble.
Not that there's anything wrong with changing them. New rod bolts, too.

It's amazing what a simple mechanical oil pressure gauge can do.

t

[Shifty 325is]

Swap is done, runs good. It’s been years since I had my old ‘87 is but it feels strong for an e engine. Current next step is likely installing the i head off the knocking block since it isn’t hurt.