e30 sport- 2.8 build?????
Moderator: martauto
-
sterlingsilversport
- E30 Zone Newbie

- Posts: 28
- Joined: Wed Jun 04, 2008 11:00 pm
- Location: ireland
ok have my sport now a good while and don't wanna sell it on but do want more power, have a spare engine i can build and get ready for transplant but wondering does anyone here have exact details what i'll need and best outcome.
not going turbo or superchange but thinking of the build with a 2.8 block, anyone on here able put me 100%straight please?
not going turbo or superchange but thinking of the build with a 2.8 block, anyone on here able put me 100%straight please?
-
87mtech27
- E30 Zone Camper

- Posts: 1429
- Joined: Mon Feb 02, 2009 11:00 pm
if its tech 2 go for the 2.8 ltr build not turbo etc, if tech 1 leave as standard.
-
sterlingsilversport
- E30 Zone Newbie

- Posts: 28
- Joined: Wed Jun 04, 2008 11:00 pm
- Location: ireland
yup its tec2 alright and was thinking exact same as you just mentioned alright, 
-
jaistanley
- E30 Zone Addict

- Posts: 2517
- Joined: Tue Jan 18, 2005 11:00 pm
- Location: Coventry and Essex
What a load of bufty bullsh!t.. It's just a car, do anything you want to it! Just do it well.

-
sterlingsilversport
- E30 Zone Newbie

- Posts: 28
- Joined: Wed Jun 04, 2008 11:00 pm
- Location: ireland
yes and thanks for that but as described is what i wanna do and i'm just here looking for bitta help on it please!
-
sterlingsilversport
- E30 Zone Newbie

- Posts: 28
- Joined: Wed Jun 04, 2008 11:00 pm
- Location: ireland
anybody got any help on the exact aprts needed?
-
JT1
- E30 Zone Newbie

- Posts: 63
- Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2005 11:00 pm
I am thinking of going down the same route as you, i currently have a tech2 sport that i have owned for nearly four years and i don't want to part with it, i have been looking at the 2.7 and 2.8 build, for the 2.8 build you need a crank from a 2.8 single vanos engine and the shorter conrods from a 320 M20 or eta engine (i think), you will also need a spacer for the crank to bring it back to the same spec as the original, i think there is a drawing of the spacer on the WIKI pages along with more info on the 2.8 build. There are a lot of people on this site who know their stuff who can probably give you better information.
-
sterlingsilversport
- E30 Zone Newbie

- Posts: 28
- Joined: Wed Jun 04, 2008 11:00 pm
- Location: ireland
thanks for the help JT1, will have a look through wiki aswell now
-
sterlingsilversport
- E30 Zone Newbie

- Posts: 28
- Joined: Wed Jun 04, 2008 11:00 pm
- Location: ireland
no one?
-
reggid
- E30 Zone Squatter

- Posts: 1982
- Joined: Mon Jul 11, 2005 11:00 pm
- Location: Oz
what else would you like to know?
E30 325is with M20B31
-
sterlingsilversport
- E30 Zone Newbie

- Posts: 28
- Joined: Wed Jun 04, 2008 11:00 pm
- Location: ireland
pretty much exact parts needed, any probs might run into and if the build is worth doing really?
oh and an estimate on cost if anyone knew would be great, cheers for any help
oh and an estimate on cost if anyone knew would be great, cheers for any help
-
march109
- Engaged to the E30 Zone

- Posts: 6632
- Joined: Sun Aug 20, 2006 11:00 pm
- Location: Bournemouth
Search it is the hot topic at the moment and everything you have asked has been answered just slightly less than a million times.
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.
-
sterlingsilversport
- E30 Zone Newbie

- Posts: 28
- Joined: Wed Jun 04, 2008 11:00 pm
- Location: ireland
heard ya had it done yourself, is it a worth while change do ya think?
-
jbh
- Hartge Crew
- Posts: 3963
- Joined: Sat Aug 11, 2007 11:00 pm
- Location: denny
must admit i did think about doing a 2.8 build but im leaning towards the 2.7 at the moment for the ease of getting parts
-
sterlingsilversport
- E30 Zone Newbie

- Posts: 28
- Joined: Wed Jun 04, 2008 11:00 pm
- Location: ireland
and is there much difference power wise or parts involved?
-
Ant
- Retired Team Member

- Posts: 10496
- Joined: Tue Dec 21, 2004 11:00 pm
- Location: PD+E dept :D
2.8 needs the block decked to get the squish as per 325 OE setup , so both require a vernier pulley to get the cam timing 100% right.
horses for courses on this one, I've built loads of 2.7 and 2.8 strokers in the last few years, TBH they are much or a muchness to drive, 2.7 revs more eagerly and the 2.8 just has the edge on torque but it takes a very accurate dyno to spot the difference.
Do it right, do it once, and please , don't use ETA pistons they are just too heavy to be worthwhile using
horses for courses on this one, I've built loads of 2.7 and 2.8 strokers in the last few years, TBH they are much or a muchness to drive, 2.7 revs more eagerly and the 2.8 just has the edge on torque but it takes a very accurate dyno to spot the difference.
Do it right, do it once, and please , don't use ETA pistons they are just too heavy to be worthwhile using
Product Development and Endurance for Delphi.
Original performance chips, original works not unlicensed copies
Email FTW
Original performance chips, original works not unlicensed copies
-
sterlingsilversport
- E30 Zone Newbie

- Posts: 28
- Joined: Wed Jun 04, 2008 11:00 pm
- Location: ireland
cheers for that ant, best bitta info so far, still doing the maths and deciding on plan of action next anyway as it is, 
-
jbh
- Hartge Crew
- Posts: 3963
- Joined: Sat Aug 11, 2007 11:00 pm
- Location: denny
didint think the 2.7 build needed to get the block decked.. i know theres a few ways of building the 2.7 been doing a bit of reading on the wiki concerning thisAnt wrote:2.8 needs the block decked to get the squish as per 325 OE setup , so both require a vernier pulley to get the cam timing 100% right.
-
bss325i
- E30 Zone Team Member

- Posts: 24536
- Joined: Sat Jan 20, 2007 11:00 pm
- Location: London/Surrey
I thought it was the 2.8 that didn't need decking?!jbh wrote:didint think the 2.7 build needed to get the block decked.. i know theres a few ways of building the 2.7 been doing a bit of reading on the wiki concerning thisAnt wrote:2.8 needs the block decked to get the squish as per 325 OE setup , so both require a vernier pulley to get the cam timing 100% right.
-
ricey46
- E30 Zone Regular

- Posts: 983
- Joined: Fri Dec 02, 2005 11:00 pm
- Location: Edinburgh
they both do to get them bang on depending on what way you do it
Paul.
325i sport Tech1
335i Chromie - Sold
2001 E46 M3-Sold
1999 E39 M5

325i sport Tech1
335i Chromie - Sold
2001 E46 M3-Sold
1999 E39 M5

-
sterlingsilversport
- E30 Zone Newbie

- Posts: 28
- Joined: Wed Jun 04, 2008 11:00 pm
- Location: ireland
sorry if a bit slow, might just have different word for it this side of the water, decking?
-
jbh
- Hartge Crew
- Posts: 3963
- Joined: Sat Aug 11, 2007 11:00 pm
- Location: denny
skimming the block
-
daimlerman
- **BANNED**
- Posts: 15968
- Joined: Mon Feb 27, 2006 11:00 pm
- Location: Grumpy Old Man
Block will need 'decking' if you use 325 pistons.I used the heavier eta pistons so did not need to deck the block.Must admit that Ant's post is the first indication that I can remember reading that advises decking for a 2.8 build.But,Ant builds these things for a crust so he knows what he's talking about!
Youth is wasted on the young.
-
gooner1
- Out humping Reindeer
- Posts: 13280
- Joined: Fri Apr 14, 2006 11:00 pm
- Location: Northampton.For my sins.
We are talking aboutskimming the cylinder head block here ,are,nt we?

-
stonesie
- E30 Zone Addict

- Posts: 3277
- Joined: Sat Jan 07, 2006 11:00 pm
- Location: Doncaster
Nope the block, block, where the pistons live.
-
gudgeon
- E30 Zone Regular

- Posts: 475
- Joined: Sun Jan 27, 2008 11:00 pm
- Location: Didcot
(Piston data from Mahle)
325i:
Crank stroke =75mm, 75/2=37.5 (max distance from crank centreline to big end centre)
Conrod = 135mm
Piston compression height = 34.2
Total = 37.5+135+34.2 = 206.7mm
327ETA:
Crank stroke =81mm, 81/2=40.5 (max distance from crank centreline to big end centre)
Conrod = 130mm
Piston compression height = 35.7
Total = 40.5+130+35.7 = 206.2mm (is this block shorter?)
2.7 stroker with 325 pistons:
Total = 40.5+130+34.2 = 204.7mm (2mm decking)
M52 crank = 84mm
Total = 42+130+34.2 = 206.2mm (maybe .5mm decking required, looks to me like ETA pistons wouldn't work here)
325i:
Crank stroke =75mm, 75/2=37.5 (max distance from crank centreline to big end centre)
Conrod = 135mm
Piston compression height = 34.2
Total = 37.5+135+34.2 = 206.7mm
327ETA:
Crank stroke =81mm, 81/2=40.5 (max distance from crank centreline to big end centre)
Conrod = 130mm
Piston compression height = 35.7
Total = 40.5+130+35.7 = 206.2mm (is this block shorter?)
2.7 stroker with 325 pistons:
Total = 40.5+130+34.2 = 204.7mm (2mm decking)
M52 crank = 84mm
Total = 42+130+34.2 = 206.2mm (maybe .5mm decking required, looks to me like ETA pistons wouldn't work here)
-
Ant
- Retired Team Member

- Posts: 10496
- Joined: Tue Dec 21, 2004 11:00 pm
- Location: PD+E dept :D
just to ad to the above
325 and 320 blocks are 206.0 mm crank CL to deck heght
ETA are 206.5mm, no idea why but thats the quoted dims and they do match up when measured.
325 and 320 blocks are 206.0 mm crank CL to deck heght
ETA are 206.5mm, no idea why but thats the quoted dims and they do match up when measured.
Product Development and Endurance for Delphi.
Original performance chips, original works not unlicensed copies
Email FTW
Original performance chips, original works not unlicensed copies
-
gudgeon
- E30 Zone Regular

- Posts: 475
- Joined: Sun Jan 27, 2008 11:00 pm
- Location: Didcot
206.0 ?
I wonder where my extra 0.7 came from? They are pretty crudely calculated figures.
I wonder where my extra 0.7 came from? They are pretty crudely calculated figures.
-
reggid
- E30 Zone Squatter

- Posts: 1982
- Joined: Mon Jul 11, 2005 11:00 pm
- Location: Oz
i am almost certain i measured my B25 smack bang on at 206.7mm.
B28 crank, Eta rod, B25 piston nominally lower piston height by 0.5mm
+((84/2)-(75/2)) - (135-130) = 0.5mm
B28 crank, Eta rod, B25 piston nominally lower piston height by 0.5mm
+((84/2)-(75/2)) - (135-130) = 0.5mm
E30 325is with M20B31
-
gudgeon
- E30 Zone Regular

- Posts: 475
- Joined: Sun Jan 27, 2008 11:00 pm
- Location: Didcot
Yeah, I think the way you've expressed it is better.
Piston height is not really relevant for relative heights, only for custom/aftermarket piston specification.
My figures for piston height should be taken with a pinch of salt as I don't really know what "compression height" is. There is also dome height, various land heights and other small discrepancies.
Piston height is not really relevant for relative heights, only for custom/aftermarket piston specification.
My figures for piston height should be taken with a pinch of salt as I don't really know what "compression height" is. There is also dome height, various land heights and other small discrepancies.

