B7's C2.7 Build - FINITO!!!!!!

[B7]

Well i thought I'd start the thread off. It's going to run for a time this one and you'll see why as we go on.

Last winter I finally cured my long running issue with poor tickover when I bit the bullet and rebuilt the head on my 2.5. See thread here

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... highlight=

It now runs really well BUT it's highlighted a slightly smoky bottom end so a rebuild was on the cards. UNTIL Barry (BSS325i) offered me this



Now I know it don't look that pretty but it is a bit special. It's the genuine Alpina C2.7 bottom end from the infamous Alpina Green 4 dor C2.7 turd he broke about a year ago. I was always going to build a 2.7 but this was too good to turn down.

Complete with the C2 ECU it's the easiest way to go, the don with the 324TD crank and custom Alpina Mahle Pistons on 325 rods (and all stamped up as C2 as well). No decking of blocks needed here boys! This was rebuilt a while ago by a zoner (TEE I think, correct me if I'm wrong) but it'll be stripped again and checked out. My Xmas list is already full of stuff currently the wrong side of the parts counter at Vines BMW

Tonght I got the sump off and hit the first issue, two sheared sump bolts but that ain't insurmountable and I've yet to undo the main 22mm Crank bolt so I can remove the front lower rear cam belt cover etc. Any tips? Not looking forward to that one

More photos to follow with updates and of course we need to pull this out of the car for the head etc.



Colour of cam cover and inlet manifold will be darker so its more in vogue with the proper Alpina colours and Dave is looking into repo'ing the correct Alpina Castrol sticker for the cam cover but thats the sort of detailing I like.

I'll keep you posted!

[StuBeeDoo]

Another E30Zone hero. I'll be keeping an eye on this.
When I was stripping my project engine, the front end was a pain! The worst bit was getting the belt pulleys off the oil pump drive and crank to access the bolts so that the cover/seal housing could be removed.

[Demlotcrew]

Thats Clean!

A

[cliffybabe]

wicked stuff trev, r u gonna use a alpina 6 branch too??

[daimlerman]

Afraid you will struggle with that 22mm crank bolt,I slackened mine using the starter motor before I took the engine out .... best bet is to get someone with access to air power to have a crack at it.The thing is tightened to something silly like 400ft lb.

[Theo]

This will be pleasant, are you going to get a cam with similar spec to the alpina? Headwork?

Looking forward to seeing progress.

[oakey]

Nice! This engine will finish of your cab nicely! Aswel a set of pina reps of course

[B7]

Demlot, It'll be cleaner trust me. The lumps not been out so this'll give me a chance to detail the inner wings etc.

Neil. A 6 branch will not be used. I want this looking as stock as i can get bar the inlet and rocker. I'm not after big power, it's the torque I'm after. Plus the only one I would go for is the BTB and I just can't warrant the cost. Theres too many issues with many of the others on the market with stories of actual power loss with some. Plus mines a 2 part system with a brand new BMW front section and a new ernst back box so if I 6 branch, I'm up for a new pipe and the last thing i want is a non standard system at the rear. Si's C2 touring came with the log and performed very well with it as well.

Malc. I have the air tools and impact sockets so thats the only way I'm going to do it I reckon.

Theo. Not decided on Cam. Certainly I'm not bothering with any head work as such. At the moment it's the money aspect (like everyone else). I have my head which is still fresh from a rebuild. That'll go straight on and we'll see what torque it produces with that. If I'm disappointed then I'll source another head and gather some bits for it.

Talking of Cams, does anyone know what cam an auto (remember this is a switchable auto car guys) C2.7 ran? Getting conflicting stories on this. Some say Alpina stayed with a standard 325 cam in the auto, others say otherwise?

[B7]

Nice! This engine will finish of your cab nicely! Aswel a set of pina reps of course

GOT A SET OV NIC REPS IN ME GARGE AL REDY INNIT M8 IZ GONNA LOOK WELL PHAT!

[oakey]

^If you want plenty of low down grunt then surely the 325 cam is the one to have?

[bss325i]

The cam should be the Alpina 268 regardless of weather its an auto or manual. The difference is if it has a cat, if it has then it uses a standard B25 252 cam.

[d6dph]

Nice! This engine will finish of your cab nicely! Aswel a set of pina reps of course

GOT A SET OV NIC REPS IN ME GARGE AL REDY INNIT M8 IZ GONNA LOOK WELL PHAT!

PARDON?

[Simon13]

The cam should be the Alpina 268 regardless of weather its an auto or manual. The difference is if it has a cat, if it has then it uses a standard B25 252 cam.

Barry it was 256, your green C2 had one! 4 degrees more ommmph!

Trev i'll get this head off for you soon and find the reciept, fingers crossed for a gasket failure!

[bss325i]

The cam should be the Alpina 268 regardless of weather its an auto or manual. The difference is if it has a cat, if it has then it uses a standard B25 252 cam.

Barry it was 256, your green C2 had one! 4 degrees more ommmph!

Trev i'll get this head off for you soon and find the reciept, fingers crossed for a gasket failure!

What a standard B25 cam is 256? I thought it was 252 according to what i've read?

[B7]

The cam should be the Alpina 268 regardless of weather its an auto or manual. The difference is if it has a cat, if it has then it uses a standard B25 252 cam.

Barry it was 256, your green C2 had one! 4 degrees more ommmph!

Trev i'll get this head off for you soon and find the reciept, fingers crossed for a gasket failure!

What a standard B25 cam is 256? I thought it was 252 according to what i've read?

Confused from Salfords here????

What was a standard 325 cam? 256 or 252??
And whats a c2.7 cam? 268 seems a bit radical?

[Jhonno]

Very nice Trevor, will suit the Convertable to a tee

[StuBeeDoo]

According to the ee1394.com workshop manual, L-jet engines all had 252 cams and all the Motronic's (except the eta) had 260's.
'Course, this doesn't answer the Alpina aspect of the question.....

are you going to get a cam with similar spec to the alpina? Headwork?

Those were going to be my next questions.

[daimlerman]

Regarding the cam and bearing in mind the auto box is staying put(wise choice) how about a 323 cam? This is the most aggresive of the 'stock' cams and should work well with a 325 head and 'pina lower bits...

[Bob_S]

get a filthy great cam in there Trev

Will be following this thread looks like a gooden!

[Jhonno]

Does anyone do a cam with stockish duration but a more aggressive profile with bit of extra lift? would work well..

[B7]

Wel guys, thanks to the good old air tools the front crank bolt was not an issue. All the front end is now stripped back to the block so the cranks now ready to pull out. I'll take some shots of the strip down tomorrow for posting.

[DieselMeister]

Very nice sir - clean and suave, clean and suave.

[bss325i]

Barry it was 256, your green C2 had one! 4 degrees more ommmph!

Trev i'll get this head off for you soon and find the reciept, fingers crossed for a gasket failure!

What a standard B25 cam is 256? I thought it was 252 according to what i've read?

Confused from Salfords here????

What was a standard 325 cam? 256 or 252??
And whats a c2.7 cam? 268 seems a bit radical?

Standard B25 cam is 252, alpina cam is 268 unless it has a cat then its a standard 252 cam.

The 256 was a reprofiled cam that was in the engine that i pulled apart to sell you the bottom end and Gareth the head.

[B7]

What a standard B25 cam is 256? I thought it was 252 according to what i've read?

Confused from Salfords here????

What was a standard 325 cam? 256 or 252??
And whats a c2.7 cam? 268 seems a bit radical?

Standard B25 cam is 252, alpina cam is 268 unless it has a cat then its a standard 252 cam.

The 256 was a reprofiled cam that was in the engine that i pulled apart to sell you the bottom end and Gareth the head.

Cheers Barry. a bit clearer now.

[B7]

Right a very quick update fro last night. Managed to grab a good few hours out there and we got to this stage

Block on stand


Not looking toooooooo bad in there


This might be a PITA. 2 sump bolts sheared


I'll have to use my lower front cover off my 2.5 as I also found this damage and crack


The all important parts. Crank journals look fine and the mains are still in perfect shape. Big ends are JUST showing signs so I'll get a set of those.




We also found evidence of some balancing as well


So all in all not too bad. Just some major cleaning to do and Si's just dropped over a 325 head that I hope to use on this. The casting is a genuine BMW replacement casting (dated 2000). We known it's covered no more than about 60k since a FULL rebuild in 2003 at BMW to the tune of very big money. It had new cam, followers valve springs etc. (all BMW genuine parts) and then still went back for an oil change every year since. I need to have it pressure tested but if it all checks out, it'll be a better bet than my head (which has been welded), for once it's a fully know quantity parts and mileage wise. First looks show zero wear to the cam so more on that later.

[bss325i]

WHY DID I SELL!!!

[B7]

[SteSE]

This is all coming together nicely isn't it. Is this being done at home Trev or elsewhere, mind if i have a butchers one night/weekend

[Simon13]

tis gonna be a peach me thinks

[B7]

This is all coming together nicely isn't it. Is this being done at home Trev or elsewhere, mind if i have a butchers one night/weekend

All at home Steve. Before I reassemble I've got to have a MAJOR clean up and get the garage as clinical as I can (or at least a clinical reassembly area). Si saw the garage last night and it's like a bombs gone off in there. Any time shoot over and have a butchers.

Saturday morning I'm off the Epsom to start stripping the 2.5 out of the car. Hope to get the engine bay clear of every thing ready to just pull it out over christmas. I want the bay spotless before the 2.7 goes in. I can never understand anyone changing lumps without a clean up first.

[E30Gheko]

Mate that's lookin hot! Any chance of a few more close ups of ur current engine bay? Mine's a bit of a mess but I'm startin work on it soon and it'd be handy to refer to some good shots of a sorted one!

[B7]

Mate that's lookin hot! Any chance of a few more close ups of ur current engine bay? Mine's a bit of a mess but I'm startin work on it soon and it'd be handy to refer to some good shots of a sorted one!

Sure here goes










The cam cover and inlet may be up for sale soon as I am experimenting with slightly darker colours that will be closer to the grey Alpina use.

[d6dph]

Trevor, Drop me a line if you want to sell the inlet & rocker cover please

[E30Gheko]

Sure here goes

Cheers Bud!

[oi_oi_savaloy]

You could eat your dinner off that! (Not that I've been banished to the garage by the wife or anything.....the fact that I don't have a garage in the first place would make that a particularly difficult thing for the wife to do but I think you catch my drift......!)