What engine...
Moderator: martauto
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LondonTom
- E30 Zone Camper

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I want to build a car to take across to Germany for a few laps of the ring.
Just wondered what engine you would recommend for the job, I've been into my old school escorts in the past so was thinking a Cosworth turbo route as I'm a bit niave when it comes to tuning BM engines.
Any advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks
Tom
Just wondered what engine you would recommend for the job, I've been into my old school escorts in the past so was thinking a Cosworth turbo route as I'm a bit niave when it comes to tuning BM engines.
Any advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks
Tom
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fuzzy
- He who sleeps with "Gingers"
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cosworth turbo is a great route to take....
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march109
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Your not local! Oh yes you are. Welcome to the site mate.
Why not put the cossie in if you can do it yourself!? Wouldn't be the first either and would sure give more power than any N/A tuned BM engine that you can get in an e30 standard for decent money.
Depends on budget I guess.
Why not put the cossie in if you can do it yourself!? Wouldn't be the first either and would sure give more power than any N/A tuned BM engine that you can get in an e30 standard for decent money.
Depends on budget I guess.
325i Tech 1 Touring, breaking.
2.5 high comp. M20, 3.64 LSD, Fully undersealed, Spax springs & Bilstein shocks, s/s exhaust, Alpina rep wheels and more.
2.5 high comp. M20, 3.64 LSD, Fully undersealed, Spax springs & Bilstein shocks, s/s exhaust, Alpina rep wheels and more.
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LondonTom
- E30 Zone Camper

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Not a little biased there then Fuzzy! Did you have any issues with installing the engine, I know the wiring is a headache, but in terms of manifolds, mounting etc? Are you running a T5 box to the original axle and BM diff?
Thanks march....yeah would be carrying out the work myself, all of it fingers crossed! I havent got a specific budget but would pay circa £1500 for the right engine.
What are e36 m3 engine (S50 i think!) conversions?
Cheers
Thanks march....yeah would be carrying out the work myself, all of it fingers crossed! I havent got a specific budget but would pay circa £1500 for the right engine.
What are e36 m3 engine (S50 i think!) conversions?
Cheers
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Theo
- Old Skooler

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Significantly beyond your budget.What are e36 m3 engine (S50 i think!) conversions?
I'd be spending money on brakes, suspension, tyres, cage etc etc before increasing power.
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E30BeemerLad
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S50 conversion, even doing it on your own will owe you about £5k before you are done.
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march109
- Engaged to the E30 Zone

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you wouldn't get an S50 on budget mate, let alone get it in.
What E30 have you got by the way? Where abouts are you based?
What E30 have you got by the way? Where abouts are you based?
325i Tech 1 Touring, breaking.
2.5 high comp. M20, 3.64 LSD, Fully undersealed, Spax springs & Bilstein shocks, s/s exhaust, Alpina rep wheels and more.
2.5 high comp. M20, 3.64 LSD, Fully undersealed, Spax springs & Bilstein shocks, s/s exhaust, Alpina rep wheels and more.
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northloop
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Std 325 or M3 engine will do fine
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LondonTom
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Bloody hell....not cheap, so I'll scrap that idea then!!
Just got a 325 rolling shell at the moment, it's solid but the the paint is scruffy but that doesnt bother me! But if something better comes up I'd consider it - cheaper than a respray!!
The £1500 budget would only be for the engine...I'd obviously spend money on suspension, brakes, cage etc
Just got a 325 rolling shell at the moment, it's solid but the the paint is scruffy but that doesnt bother me! But if something better comes up I'd consider it - cheaper than a respray!!
The £1500 budget would only be for the engine...I'd obviously spend money on suspension, brakes, cage etc
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fuzzy
- He who sleeps with "Gingers"
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cusom mountings for the engine and t5 box, custom prop and the axles as standard mtech cars and with an e30 3.91 lsd. 4wd manifold on 2wd engine to clear the inner wing. custom alloy sump reshaped to clear the front crossmember with the deep part at the front . oil dipstick relocated to front of engine as well obviously. front chassis legs cut, reshaped and welded to allow the rad and cooler to fit. thats the main problems that i can think of atm.RSlut wrote:Not a little biased there then Fuzzy! Did you have any issues with installing the engine, I know the wiring is a headache, but in terms of manifolds, mounting etc? Are you running a T5 box to the original axle and BM diff?
Thanks march....yeah would be carrying out the work myself, all of it fingers crossed! I havent got a specific budget but would pay circa £1500 for the right engine.
What are e36 m3 engine (S50 i think!) conversions?
Cheers
your budget of £1500 isnt gong to cover it i wouldnt think.
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Jon_Bmw
- Dangerous when thinking

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Will £1500 even buy a Pinto turbo?
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fuzzy
- He who sleeps with "Gingers"
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yes, but its likely it will need a rebuild.Jon_Bmw wrote:Will £1500 even buy a Pinto turbo?
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LondonTom
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Cheers Fuzzy that's great tech' knowledge.
A friend of mine has a written off saphire cosworth (rear end) with a recently rebuilt engine, was running a 330bhp setup and i can have it for £1500.
Can fabricate most of the parts needed myself hopefully. But obviously I know budgets are usually set and then exceeded!
A friend of mine has a written off saphire cosworth (rear end) with a recently rebuilt engine, was running a 330bhp setup and i can have it for £1500.
Can fabricate most of the parts needed myself hopefully. But obviously I know budgets are usually set and then exceeded!
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fuzzy
- He who sleeps with "Gingers"
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i didnt do the work personally on mine , im a joiner, labour on its own cost me £2600RSlut wrote:Cheers Fuzzy that's great tech' knowledge.
A friend of mine has a written off saphire cosworth (rear end) with a recently rebuilt engine, was running a 330bhp setup and i can have it for £1500.
Can fabricate most of the parts needed myself hopefully. But obviously I know budgets are usually set and then exceeded!
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LondonTom
- E30 Zone Camper

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It's running a t34, greens, -31 actuator, 3 bar map sensor, rs500 intercooler etc so should be good for the power when set up properly.
What kind of power can you safely run through a standard sport axle and diff?
Fuzzy are you running std half shafts?
What kind of power can you safely run through a standard sport axle and diff?
Fuzzy are you running std half shafts?
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oldroydsr4
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The diffs are safe up to 400bhp after this they don't last that long.
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fuzzy
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yes, standard half shafts and an e30 3.91 lsd. im sorting some diff mounting issues atm after splitting the mounting plate.RSlut wrote:It's running a t34, greens, -31 actuator, 3 bar map sensor, rs500 intercooler etc so should be good for the power when set up properly.
What kind of power can you safely run through a standard sport axle and diff?
Fuzzy are you running std half shafts?
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LondonTom
- E30 Zone Camper

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- Joined: Sat Apr 19, 2008 11:00 pm
Cheers Fuzzy - just out of interest have you ran your car over the 1/4 mile...if so what times did you achieve?fuzzy wrote:yes, standard half shafts and an e30 3.91 lsd. im sorting some diff mounting issues atm after splitting the mounting plate.RSlut wrote:It's running a t34, greens, -31 actuator, 3 bar map sensor, rs500 intercooler etc so should be good for the power when set up properly.
What kind of power can you safely run through a standard sport axle and diff?
Fuzzy are you running std half shafts?
