Mounting a e12 head with flat top pistons m10b20

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Tjurd
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Mounting a e12 head with flat top pistons m10b20

Post by Tjurd »

I have a m10b20 with flat top pistons wich originally came with a cilinder head with the inscription e21 2.0
The cilinder head has cracks so i need a new one.

I have done some research and found out that ther are 4 type's of cilinder heads for the 2 litre engines; (for all bmw's)

- 121/121ti head: 58cc, 1972 and earlier

- e12 head: 61cc, 1973 to 1975

- e21 2.0 head: 60cc, 2002 and 320i, 1976 to 1979 ( i think the original Cr is 8.1:1 )

The e12 head comes with high compression pistons (i think piano tops) and these pistons can only fit with the e12 head.

I have got the flat top pistons wich come with the e21 2.0 head.
According to my research the e12 head will fit my engine

My Question is:

What will happen if i mount the e12 head on my m10b20 with flat top pistons.
wil my compression ratio drop drastically?
Wil the engine have power'?

p.s. The eingine wil not make use of a turbo and wil be stock with a carburettor driving on lpg and gasoline.


1979 e21 320 automatic
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nas80
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Re: Mounting a e12 head with flat top pistons m10b20

Post by nas80 »

you will lose compression - but why not replace it with a 1.8 m10 head and work the head so that you can use the bigger valves from the 2.0?
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Tjurd
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Re: Mounting a e12 head with flat top pistons m10b20

Post by Tjurd »

Thanks for your repy,

ive got a good 1.8 carb head lying around but i couldn't find the cc's of the head so im not sure what it will do.
and i dont have the means to mesure the cc's.

Ive read stories of people putting a 1.8i head on the m10b20, but they got lower compression so it would be ideal for a turbo set up.

Not sure what the carb 1.8 head would do, ive compared the cambers and they look quite the same, though the pistons have a piano top but dont have the same stroke though.
Has anybody here got any experience fitting a carbed 1.8 head on a m10b20?
1979 e21 320 automatic
misza
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Re: Mounting a e12 head with flat top pistons m10b20

Post by misza »

Image

maybe this will help
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PeteK
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Re: Mounting a e12 head with flat top pistons m10b20

Post by PeteK »

If you can't get anything else and you need it to go urgently, I'd go with the e12 since it'll work, just not as well.

If you had the time and/or money, I'd go with a modified 1.8i head. That's what I'm going with.

Cheers
Pete K
'79 323i (for good times)
'81 M535i (for collecting)
'75 520i (track machine)
'03 320i (for commuting)
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Tjurd
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Re: Mounting a e12 head with flat top pistons m10b20

Post by Tjurd »

Thanks for the replys guys,

Thankfully i found a next e21 2.0 head, so i can keep everything nice and orginal :)
this weekend its off to the specialised company that wil fix the head up for me.
hopefully no cracks and or corrosion like my previous two e21 2.0 heads :sealed
1979 e21 320 automatic
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