Engine conversion advice....which one?

[bumface3]

Hello guys,

What would be your engine conversion of choice right now?

Thoughts of the S54 M3 lump have been tempting......but something with a turbo would be nice.....maybe M52 turbo?

[brockzila]

Mate

Go have a look at the modified car section lots of different options to look at.

[nas80]

well you know, i been thinking about this lately.

i wonder why people instictively want to fit another bmw engine in. I would be different just for being different sake.

sr20det.

[stefankj]

S14 twin turbo ?

[bumface3]

I already looked in the modded section....but i wanted to know as of right now what i would choose?....@nas i know you have knowledge here.

My original choice was to drop in a M30 3.5 for the sheer torque, with throttle bodies and i was looking at using a B7 turbo manifold and going down the turbo route with that, but its a heavy engine and its been around a long time now.

Then there is the S54 M3 lump which would be nice but it is not the cheapest conversion around.

Then there is the M52 2.8 which has been put in before and are readily available, but i would want to turbo that.

Any info on turbocharging that would be much appreciated, i know elite developments do a RHD manifold for the E36 with a turbo kit.

It would be nice if i could somehow use this manifold which accepts any garrett turbo and get a kit and turbo the be jesus out of it.

[bumface3]

I would be looking for approx 400+ bhp, i know people say this everyday, but i will be nearing this choice this year i hope.......

Lightweight engine with turbo power would be great.

I dont know that much about the supra or nissan engine.

[bumface3]

S14 would not be a cheap option in this climate either i would of thought?.....that twin turbo looks naughty.

[nas80]

m52b28 with a turbo, with a turbo its 400hp off the bat, it can run that all day without any modifications. if you remove the brake servo system (rhd) then you can pretty much use any off the shelf turbo manifold.

s14 - i saw one for 2.5k but the m52b28 makes that power for 400-500 quid - so why would you?

The limiting factor is going to be your diff / rear axle setup and youll need some monster brakes.

I am currently developing a monster 2 piece brake kit.

[Duracel79]

You could always annoy my mate Si and do this before him, I mean it fits in an 02 so why not an E21
https://www.facebook.com/emeraldm3d/pho ... =3&theater

[bumface3]

S14 is pretty much outta the question...nice race spec one on ebay for £6900!!

My rear axle is the E12 535 so that should be ok.

Brakes i will have to upgrade all round.

I have been in a rotrexed car before, and the sound is naughty and the power was nice.....but i prefer the sound and performance of a nice turbo...i have a budget to get a nice one.....i am not on faceshnook so i never hear of the latest trends.

A rotrexed S2000 in that car should be pretty mental, taking into account their rev range....

Wondering what power can you put into the standard M52 engine before you have to think about upgrading rods or pistons.....prob around 450-500bhp?

[stefankj]

I would'nt even consider M52 for turbo only for the fact that it has aluminum block and will deform and develope problems with time under boost, use the M50 block instead, 2.5L std or have it machined to 2.8 or even 3.0.

[bumface3]

I am no engine builder so bear with me, looking at the M50 block, i think the standard bore is 84mm......not much material in between the bores so the bore up would only be small yes?...like to 86mm to get to 3.0?

[nas80]

M52 alloy block with ARP studs n nuts and a headgasket can take pretty much all you need in an e21,

even with a 2.8 stock engine they would worry a lot of high power modern cars.

Trust me I'd never put the iron block in agaon, it weighs too much and makes the car too nose heavy.

[Duracel79]

I am no engine builder so bear with me, looking at the M50 block, i think the standard bore is 84mm......not much material in between the bores so the bore up would only be small yes?...like to 86mm to get to 3.0?

Apparently for the 3.0 you use the internals from a later E46 330 M54 engine probably with some mods, new rings, bearings and hone etc. This is still an 84mm bore but with an 89.6mm stroke to give ~2980cc.

[bumface3]

Thanks for the advice lads....will need more nearer the time too.