engine swap, power, relabilty etc,

[1an]

right im wanting to swap the engine out of my car in the new year, but cant decide on the way to go,

i want to keep things n/a but i want to be able to tune it for good power in the future,

car will be used for trackdays, drifting, but mainly on the road, so i want a good handling car but also want power and torque,

so do i, tune an m42, but ill be lucky to see 180-bhp n/a,

m50 and put 2.8 internals in it with lairy cam etc, whic hwll see 250bhp or more,

m30? but what is tunning these like? are parts avaliable?

or do i put a 200bhp zetec engine in my car?

cheers ian

[maxfield]

I'm going to say Zetec engine!

Just because it's something different!

[oakey]

m50 is the best choice on that list by a long way!
(IMO- no offence intended toward anyone who owns any of the others.lol)

[1an]

I'm going to say Zetec engine!

Just because it's something different!

i was thinkig that aswell but ill wait for others to giv ther opinions on the other engines and what they are like to modify etc.

[Simon13]

why M50................

M52 2.8 is by far the best conversion. 14.2's at the pod via Ste at wheel of his chariot. Not a heavy lump either

[1an]

Simon,

yes i know the m52 2.8 is better than the m50, but the m50 with the 2.8 internals will get me around the nikesil problem if i go that way plus it also means i would have all the 2.5 bits to un-restrict the engine.

but what is it like out on the road, by which i mean how does it handle compared to what ive got now, as i love the handling of now. I know that by putting a 6 pot in its going to be more front heavy,

[DanThe]

Maxfield, go and stand in the corner with fuzzy

M52's are a quality lump but at the same time they are shite. Iron blocks FTW

[Gibson]

The zetec is too Revvy and not much torque for a big heavy lump like the E30. the m42 is similar. the m50 sounds like the route to go to me.

[1an]

The zetec is too Revvy and not much torque for a big heavy lump like the E30. the m42 is similar. the m50 sounds like the route to go to me.

zetec is no different to an m42 in the way it is, but when its running 200bhp your gonna be looking 150torque according to other forums ive read, but its alot fo work to get it in their in the first place and money to get to 200bhp. Esspecially when i could drop an m50/52 in and have almost that before tunning,

Danthe, what is your car like to drive on the road, i.e straightline, corners etc.?

[Gibson]

The zetec is too Revvy and not much torque for a big heavy lump like the E30. the m42 is similar. the m50 sounds like the route to go to me.

zetec is no different to an m42 in the way it is, but when its running 200bhp your gonna be looking 150torque according to other forums ive read, but its alot fo work to get it in their in the first place and money to get to 200bhp. Esspecially when i could drop an m50/52 in and have almost that before tunning,

Danthe, what is your car like to drive on the road, i.e straightline, corners etc.?

The zetec is a great engine in little light cars like mk1 escorts and fiestas but its just not suited to bigger heavier cars. trust me i have driven a capri with a supposed 200bhp zetec in it and although it revved forever it just didnt have that kick up the arse you get with a big torquey 6pot. the zetec although well made and a nice piece of engineering just doesnt suit the E30 characteristics like the M50 does. same deal for the M42 in my opinion

[Brianmoooore]

Zetec a nice bit of engineering!! They are accountant designed crap! Valves are made from something slightly more durable than plasticine.

[Gibson]

Zetec a nice bit of engineering!! They are accountant designed crap! Valves are made from something slightly more durable than plasticine.

yea well no one runs one standard with those still in it! do they? i sure know i wouldn't

you could always be a proper deviant and go Vauxhall REDTop

[ian332isport]

but the m50 with the 2.8 internals will get me around the nikesil problem

Most M52 engines will have had the block replaced under warranty, so you are unlikely to find one with this problem. If you do find one, and it is still running, then it's probably going to be fine anyway.

Ian.

[DanThe]

Ive had 3 this year Ian, 2 B28's and a B23 all with Nikasil related bore wear. The most recent B28 with 64k miles was running fine until it was allowed to overheat, bent the head, pulled the block threads and mixed its fluids into a lovely brown paste. Once stripped down the bore wear was clear to see, all cylinders had wear on the exhaust side from the power stroke, wasnt excessive but it was still wear caused by soft cylinder walls.
If you want to modify an engine choose an iron block, it wont let you down like an ally one

[Demlotcrew]

S14?

[E30BeemerLad]

M50 all day long, good options for a capacity increase with the M52 internals or go forced induction

[uzdubmwe30]

m42 turbo?

[fowler]

Ls1 V8 twin Turbo !!!! thats they way forward

[march109]

I'm sure he said N/A tuning options!?

Wouldn't bother with a zetec they have been superceded by Duratec engines which with a few bolt on mods can make 250bhp for not alot of money (compared to M20 N/A tuning anyway). The Duratec engine will run 250bhp easily withought work to internals which is good, because they are designed by ford to be throw away engines, ie if it goes pop its cheaper to replace than fix. They are also based on the Mazda MZR engines so have some japanese rliability.

M50 or M52 would be my advice to you given your criteria, though have you considered a S50? Theres enough info on the zone to be able to replicate one of the builds allready done and other than hardware the principles are almost the same as the M50 swap too but you getting circa 300bhp out of the bag, depending on engine choice and manifold design.

[maxfield]

Ls1 V8 twin Turbo !!!! thats they way forward

Best suggestion so far!

Not much heavier than an S14!

[Yaninnya]

Ls1 V8 twin Turbo !!!! thats they way forward

Best suggestion so far!

Not much heavier than an S14!

Mine will be even better:
V16 "Goldfisch"?
Jan

[maxfield]

Is that something used in a 7-series? Or was a prototype engine?

[E30BeemerLad]

Ian, what is your actual budget?

[1an]

basically i want ot get it in,

obviously tunning can be done over a while,

i would like to be able to get an engine in the car for 1500-2000, which i hope is do-able, but hopefully less

[kuntz_de]

will you be doing this after the e30 M3 stud suspension set up and big brake set up ?

[march109]

For that price stick a M30 engine in, Zetec in good nick and with all the extra work will come to over £2k, S14 engine on its own will be more than £2k, M50, M52 and S50 will all be more than that especially with gearboxes and manifolds chucked in too.

[lance1a]

Turbo Hyabusa Low weight, Sequential box, Mmmmmmm Bit pricey though

[stonesie]

Ive got the 1.8 zetec in my dayly hack escort, i wouldnt soil a E30 with it but it is reasonable in its native, understeering, rusting, rattly, pos habitat.... i would trade its improved fuel economy for the handling and driving pleasure of my old E30 320 any day


If i had a E30 and the spare cash i would transplant the guts of a M52 B28 into a M50 B25 iron block and strap a nice holset turbo to the side Garnished with megasquirt management and H&R suspension i recon that could be very taisty

[E30BeemerLad]

I paid £200 for my M50 with an iS box already attached and all the bits needed to fit into an E30

[march109]

I paid £200 for my M50 with an iS box already attached and all the bits needed to fit into an E30

you got lucky then? how mch did the whole conversion cost you in the end? including mounts, manifold work, and your choice of servo solution. I guess it could be done for 1.5k then

[Brianmoooore]

I paid £200 for my M50 with an iS box already attached and all the bits needed to fit into an E30

Last M50B25Tu and gearbox I bought cost me £60!! Should have been complete with ECU, but that had unfortunately gone AWOL before I collected it. Replacing that cost me another £60!!
Did come complete with the E36 front legs and steering rack though.

[Rik178m]

Where do you get things that cheap? Are they in good condition?

[E30BeemerLad]

I paid £200 for my M50 with an iS box already attached and all the bits needed to fit into an E30

you got lucky then? how mch did the whole conversion cost you in the end? including mounts, manifold work, and your choice of servo solution. I guess it could be done for 1.5k then

This is my £200 haul
M50 non vanons goodness, box with brand new clutch, clio servo on E30 master cylinder, butchered M52 manifold, ECU


This lot for £20

[Simon13]

a pukka 2.8 without issues will cost but it's the best power for the outlay of going down the engine conversion route this side of M-power.

It's got power locked in it as we all know. Ian listen for once and not dismiss everyones ideas one by one.

All this talk of 6 pots being nose heavy understeering chariots is boll*cks.

[HairyScreech]

there is only 17kgs difference between the m20 and m42 although the m50 is 140 odd kgs so nearly as heavy as an m30, not sure where the extra weight comes from but id assume its from the extra camshaft and the chaincam kit., from what i can remember the m52 is quite a bit lighter though, not a lot heaver than the m20.