M20 2.7 Conversion Info/advice/help/project ideas please

[Stevin]

2927.7cc

U only need to machine the nose to fit the bigger oils seal on the M20 motor as opposed to the M50/2 which has a smaller oil seal

[Widge]

So that's what stroke on the 328 crank? 84mm? And have you bored the block? Also did you need to deck the block?

[Dan318-is]

ok this is guan cost way to much money for a colelge project

is there no conversion even if tis like 100cc that can be done for like 500 quoid by bolting on 320 head and conrods an a crank??

or is iss this machinery decompresison stuff vital?

[Widge]

Well you can go the "lower power" 2.7 route, which is to use an Eta bottom end and a 320 head. This will never reach the same peak powers as a 2.5 derivered 2.7 because of the less than optimal shape of the combustion chambers, but it is cheaper. If you could stretch to a cam and other tuning parts you could make a 190bhp (?????) engine I suppose.

[Dan318-is]

if i use eta crank and 320 head will any of that skimming shit need to be done

[Widge]

Nope, but if you don't do any tuning you will only get 170ish bhp (I think) in which case you may as well have a tuned 2.5, although there will be a torque advantget to the 2.7.

IMO if you are going to go to the trouble of getting a 2.7 bottom end or crank, then you are after more power, and in that case you may as well do it justice by going the 2.5 pistons and head route.

[Dan318-is]

so u rekon use the early m20 block pistons and conrods and use eta crank and 320i head,

baring in mind showing the college i can convert engine capacity will gget me quality grades especially as im presenting to motorsport bosses

[Widge]

Nope, you'll either have to use the eta block con rods pistons with a 320 head, or use the 320 block and head, bored out to fit the eta pistons with the eta crank and rods.

[Karan]

i am a firm believer that if money is a problem...... whack a 3.5 in there...

it can be done for under Ԛ£500 quite easily and uve got 220hp and TORQUE

ive been in 2 of these now and in the real world i think they beat 2.7s

also if positioned well weight is not an issue as hartge have shown and Toby has shown on the zone with his well handling car

Karan

[Dan318-is]

how do i do a 5.5 karan

[Karan]

how do i do a 5.5 karan

old one out and new one in

mod gear linkages and prop--both easily done

fit e28 rad

mounts available from me for Ԛ£120-140 ish

wiring-plugs straight on if engine is from an e34 535

great conversion and im surprised more ppl arent doing it!!!

Karan

[Dan318-is]

baring in mind iv only got one m20 engine no car lol?

[bigdek]

is the 3.5 really that simple ?

[Karan]

is the 3.5 really that simple ?

yes

[bigdek]

mmmmm

would a 325 be the best car to start off with

time to tidy the garage out i think

[Karan]

mmmmm

would a 325 be the best car to start off with

time to tidy the garage out i think

yes as it has rear discs and vented front discs with bigger struts!

however anything would do as u could get the above for a few quid!

just makje sure shell is sweet!

talk to toby unna and andy335i regarding 3.5 conversions

i am currently undertaking an m5 engine transplant into an e30 iS shell

Karan

[Dan318-is]

ur fooking crazy mate

ne ideas on a cheap m20 project

[Karan]

ur fooking crazy mate

ne ideas on a cheap m20 project

3.5 would be cheap....
especially with the knowledge that ppl who have done it can give u!!!

how much u wanna spend?

[Dan318-is]

well jhonno has already sold me a 2.5 m20 delivered to my door for 100 quid so iv got about another 600 maybe if i push it??


only got the m20 engine mind, not looking for colossal power i mite even sell it afterwads jus wont something that will be interesting different and will show professional people tham im different a bit if you get me?

[Widge]

Deffo go 2.7 then mate IMO. You could do the machined 2.5 one for that cost if you can do the machining your self.

Ԛ£350 new bearings, piston rings and gaskets.
Ԛ£100 Crank and rods from an eta.

Machining - out of Ԛ£600 you still have Ԛ£150 left, so it could be tight, and not leave room for tuning, so I suppose it depends on if you can do some machining.

If not then go for the 320/2.7

[Dan318-is]

can you please list what i would need for this conversion??

like 320i head
325i pistons
320 conrods what else?

[Widge]

No no no


The 320 and 325 heads are completly different which explains the power differance. Also the pistons are shaped to match the heads. So you would use 320 head, 320/eta pistons, 320/eta con rods, eta crank, and 320/eta block. 320 block would need boring to 84mm.

[Dan318-is]

but iv got an m20 2.5 lol i need to incorperate that somehow

[amaank]

can you please list what i would need for this conversion??

like 320i head
325i pistons
320 conrods what else?

dunno if anyone has mentioned it but you can use supereta rods and pistons with an eta crank... in america lol. this would be a low compression 2.7i which i don't think is what you're looking for. But if you wanna boost in the future its perfect!

i think it would work nicely with your budget, dude.

[Dan318-is]

good idea but how wud i get ahold of supereta stuff

[amaank]

good idea but how wud i get ahold of supereta stuff

well let me help you out,

for the pistons try, http://www.bmwpiston.com/ , pistons for an 88 325/325e, The ones you want are part# B1251714804N, i think.

I think they're around 300 or 350 dollars so about 100 somethin pounds + whatever shipping would be from california, sound good?

rods i don't know, you'd have to source em perhaps from someone in UK or US parting a 88 supereta. Hope this helps!

Edit: perhaps these guys even do rods, shoot em a message and find out.

[Dan318-is]

i mtie jsut do that mate thanks every so much for your help

[amaank]

i mtie jsut do that mate thanks every so much for your help

no probs man, btw if you go for it PM me and i'll tell you who to call to get a good deal on these

[Dan318-is]

il mark this thread and bare it in mind

i htink u the only US user iv seen on ere lol!

[amaank]

il mark this thread and bare it in mind

i htink u the only US user iv seen on ere lol!

lol, there's a couple of others lurking... i know it

but i love this forum, you guys remind me of home! sniffle sniffle...

[Dan318-is]

its brilliant on ere

how comes u moved out there

is it nice, lovely roads

[amaank]

its brilliant on ere

how comes u moved out there

is it nice, lovely roads

i moved out because my dad got a job in denver. Colorado is one of the nicer places compared to.. umm i dunno alabama?

stuff is much bigger here including roads, and the e30s are generally uglier

however, there's nothing i wouldn't give to go back to birmingham.. well except for the bimmer lol

[Stevin]

So that's what stroke on the 328 crank? 84mm? And have you bored the block? Also did you need to deck the block?

No need to deck the block, cause u need to cut the pistons down cause would cause a bit of problems with ur valves if left alone