Dream turbo engine

[foggy50361]

Hi everyone,

I would like to build the perfect turbo engine for my '88 325i. I was going to try to keep to block and crank standard but refurbed and balanced, what are the best rods and pistons to go for, I'm looking for about 400whp, also what size injectors to go for and has anybody use 666 fabs exhaust manifold. If I have no idea what I'm talking about please put me on the straight and narrow.

Thanks to all who look and reply

Foggy

[jmc330i]

Not sure if 400whp is doable on standard internals, that must be about 450+ at the flywheel.

Jon Volk of 666Fab made 346hp on a standard 2.5 M20, but Im not sure which figure that is. His manifolds do look good and obviously work well, but shipping them to the UK is going to be expensive

[WillG]

leave pistons and rods, oring the block or get a thick MLS gasket and some solid bolts, get head water channels welded, get a good standalone ECU, i think about 50lb injectors, the manifold from 666 is good if it fits and you can get a 3" downpipe past it, if not try PPF and also get a custom turbo cam from catcams or a turbo cam from PPF

[jmc330i]

get head water channels welded

I keep meaning to ask, so this seems like a good time - what exactly is welded when doing this?

The 666Fab manifold should fit shouldnt it? Its only the downpipe that would be the issue getting past the steering.

[WillG]

yeah it does fit i think but havent seen it on any RHD cars yet, when you weld the water channels it helps stop the gasket from being pushed out into it like where nellys has gone

[jmc330i]

yeah it does fit i think but havent seen it on any RHD cars yet

If I decide to turbo my M20, that may change

when you weld the water channels it helps stop the gasket from being pushed out into it like where nellys has gone

So youre almost welding a lip around the channels to hold the gasket in place or give it no where to go under pressure?

[WillG]

no you weld it in the middle all the way across and the have head resurfaced so its flat and it stops the gasket from being able to move as easily

[jmc330i]

I think I get what you mean. Probably something I shouldnt try until I understand it 100%

[jon_volk]

The tubular manifold will fit RHD without any issues.

The 346hp was on a 170k mile untouched motor w/ a slipping clutch. Its got alot left in it. 400 is quite a modest goal.

Here is a pic of some coolant passages I welded...after being decked of course

[Turbo-Brown]

Well ya learn something new every day!

Must admit to having been in the dark about the water channel welding untill you posted that piccy jon

Something which occured to me the other day is that it might be possible to have a plate machined up that bolts on under the head bolts (above the cam) to help stiffen the head.....assuming the rockers didn't get in the way.

I guess when the heads are welded up there it's to stiffen the head?

Anyway, guess making everything as free flowing as possible would be a good way to maximise the power you get for your boost so how about some nice ITBs to go with your setup? Shouldn't have any probs driving around with a fairly wild cam that way too.

[e30_Turbo]

I guess when the heads are welded up there it's to stiffen the head?

I believe the theory is it prevents the water channels in the head collapsing at high pressure.

Can't say I've ever seen pics of this happening but I guess that's like the ETA crank rumuor.

HTH, Mark.

[Demlotcrew]

Thats not the only place it should be welded.

Andrew

[Morat]

The tubular manifold will fit RHD without any issues.

400 is quite a modest goal.

[WillG]

Turbo-brown what you said about bracing under the head bolts I have seen done before but I also seen PFF weld right over the top off all where the rocker shafts and the cam journals so it is built up until its all level with the head bolts, the welding on the water channels probly does strengthen it abit but i think its really for stopping gasket from moving out into water channel

[jon_volk]

The welded water channels a primarily to keep the gasket seated under high boost levels. I guess it may help strengthen the head but that is not its main purpose in this situation.

[Turbo-Brown]

Yeah sorry, was talking about the welding that's done on the camshaft side of the engine being done to stiffen the head

[foggy50361]

I'm going to have to do some serious thinking about this, also which is the best replacement fuel pump and injectors to go for. I'm hoping to use the bosch oem system but reprogrammed with also a wideband by a tuning firm called MSD(motor sport developements) in England

Thanks Foggy

[gcorky]

I'm going to have to do some serious thinking about this, also which is the best replacement fuel pump and injectors to go for. I'm hoping to use the bosch oem system but reprogrammed with also a wideband by a tuning firm called MSD(motor sport developements) in England

Thanks Foggy

oem bosch system,???oer welded heads etc but retaining moronic????questionable????standalone required for correct tune

[WillG]

I dont think its a good idea using moronic if your looking to make 400whp, thats close to 500 on the crank on a e30 and only cars ive seen doing that have been using a pretty expensive ECU like autronic, your looking at running almost 2 bar of boost, is this going to be a road car?, have you got budget? forking out for rods and pistons when stock has made 600+ hp and then using engine mangement that hasnt seen 300 whp is not a good idea.

[jmc330i]

when stock has made 600+ hp

Stock rods and pistons have made 600bhp??

I know PPF have made 500+ from an M20, but they used M52 pistons, M50 con rods and a stock M20 crank.

[WillG]

yeah there is a 9 second m20 e30 in sweden with M21 crank and m20 rods and pistons, orings, welded head and autronic i think, was said to be 600hp, i think gunni said PPF made like 800 hp on a m20

[WillG]

actualy i think it might of been a eta cast crank in the 9 sec e30 and it was PPF who used a new m21 crank in the 800hp m20 e21