N/A Tuning the M42

[Royalratch]

It's an M42 bored out, cams and remap etc etc correct? Was there an H18 I have heard of or is that BS?

Where would one go about procuring such a thing and what would it cost? I assume I would need engine and ECU at the very least.

2.3L and 200BHPish...?

Was it E36 only or ever fitted to an E30?
Finally, what are the pros/cons of just doing your own 2.1-2.3L conversion with hotter cams etc?

I am laying plans for when/if my own M42 goes pop and want to have something in the pipeline.
Don't say M50 - not special enough.

[HartgeH27]

H18i was a Jap import Ratch none for the European market, Japs had the H18i, H20, H23, H26SP and the H28.


The Euro H23 was based on the early 323i and came up with 167.6bhp.

[Royalratch]

So it would be RIDICULOUSLY impossible to get hold of?

Did they do anything with the E36 M42/M43/M44?

[HartgeH27]

To the best of my knowledge the only engine conversion they carried out on the E46 was the 5.0L conversion (400bhp) across the E46 range. I will delve a little deeper but am fairly confident of this fact.

[Royalratch]

Sorry I meant E36.

Can't find anything online anywhere - you'd think the M42 wasn't the flagship model or something.

[HartgeH27]

Currently all they offer is the same 5.0L lump but the only one I know a little about it the H26-24, unaltered engine size but with the normal headwork, larger valves, Hartge cams, forged con rods, viscous, exhaust etc bringing her in with 220bhp. This was back in 1992 but I am pretty sure other variants may have crept through. I again will dig a little deeper and see what I can find out.

HTH

[tim_s]

Hartge did a 2.1 and a 2.3 M42. They also did a head, cams and chip package iirc. if you've got a big wallet, in an e30 it has to be an s14 imo though, for the noise alone. If your wallet's a bit smaller an m42 2.1 like mine is quite fun.

[Royalratch]

A solid S14 is 'only' £1500-2000 or so tho? Surely your 2.1 build or all that Hartge stuff is/was way more?

[Kos]

as tim stated they did do 2.1 and 2:3 conversions to the m44, I think the 2:1 is applicable to the m42 as well. Essentialy the engines are the same, bar some differences in head design and capacity. However the e30's. M42's do have forged cranks unlike the m44's which are cast.

I do have some information on both the larger capacity m44's some where which includes the build specs, and power figures. IIRC the 2:3 had a spacer plate glued on to the block

[Royalratch]

Think I'm going 2.1 for with a build date of early Spring.

I just can't be arse sourcing all that stuff, plus a tidy 2.1 build is invisible and stealth which is just what I like. Maybe with hotter cam, might as well make the most of it. But I want something reliable and driveable.

No lightened flywheel hi-revving madness.

Just a more muscular M42. Watch this space!

[Kos]

the m42 thrives on revs,

Change the flywheel will transform the engine with no loss of torque

Its worth considering and it makes the car more drivable, foot down in any gear and it picks up...............

The m20 flywheel fits with a few mods, its 2gk lighter and can be safely and easily lightened to 7kg

the JB racing flywheels are a work of art but pricy at 400 quid

[Royalratch]

I know it thrives on revs but that's what I'm saying - I want more low-end torque. No more 4000rpm to get off the lights - such is the price of TRUE motorsport pedigree.

Dual mass flywheel does smooth things out a little. I could go M20 flywheel, gain a little more instant revs but racing flywheel is too far I think. Plus as quickly as the revs rise, they fall so you have to keep them on the boil which is not the characteristics I'm after. Plus hotter cams and remap will take up any slack.

I have spare M42 to make it stock again is all this goes horrible.

[Kos]

its not strictly a racing item the JB one. the reviews it has on the M42 forum are pretty good.

the engine pick up is unreal, and makes the limited torque low down more usable due to the engine pick up.

if you compare an m52 with a stock fly and one with a lightened fly you will see what i mean

[Royalratch]

Let's see what Ant @ A-Tech comes back with, I have sounded him out about it. Unless anyone else can recommend an first-rate engine builder who knows these engines.

[bss325i]

A solid S14 is 'only' £1500-2000 or so tho?

Try £3k+.

And the M42 is no flagship engine FACT.

It was designed for the budget consious.

[Royalratch]

Lol! Not with all the forged goodies, flashy valvetrain, chain-driven timing and coilpack.

Budget conscious is an engine made from what was left over when they hauled up the Titanic - a lá M20.
But let's not turn this into a M42-is-infinitely-better-than-M20 thread.

I was hoping it would be nearer nearer 2K .

[e30topless]

Ratch if the M20 doesn't 'float your boat'

an S14 is the way forward a 1.8 16 valve engine belongs in a vauxhall astra !

[Royalratch]

Nah. S14's are a dime a dozen.

2.1+ M42's are magical. Plus they look totally normal under the hood but hide their M20/S14 crushing power well.

Are you in the £3K camp too? Know anyone?

[e30topless]

2.1+ M42's are magical. Plus they look totally normal under the hood

I get the feeling you don't want to inform your insurance, but want something more fruity?

3k camp me ? probably.....

[Royalratch]

Na.

Just fruity and normal looking.

[AlpineAde]

Ratch, I'm probably way off base here but have you considered the stroker M42s from the likes of Metric Mechanic?

http://www.metricmechanic.com/

Check out their kits for the M42.

They have a fantastic reputation for quality work...but it is not cheap.

2.1 stroker:



Have a look at their site and download the pdfs. You're looking a mega-bucks anyway so I thought these guys worth a mention. A 2 litre kit from them will set you back around 2000 pounds and it'll make around 170bhp.

They look normal and are VERY fruity.

[dazleeds]

Don't say M50 - not special enough

s50 it is then

[Royalratch]

Ratch, I'm probably way off base here but have you considered the stroker M42s from the likes of Metric Mechanic?

http://www.metricmechanic.com/

Check out their kits for the M42.

They have a fantastic reputation for quality work...but it is not cheap.

2.1 stroker:



Have a look at their site and download the pdfs. You're looking a mega-bucks anyway so I thought these guys worth a mention. A 2 litre kit from them will set you back around 2000 pounds and it'll make around 170bhp.

They look normal and are VERY fruity.

£2G for another 5BHP?!!



Seriously though, Tim_S was getting nearer 200BHP on a set-up he built himself with some tasty parts. I'm not sure I'd bother if it's anything less than 200BHP.

[Royalratch]

s50 it is then

Na.

Just fruity and normal looking.

[Royalratch]

£5G Sterling for their 205BHP rally version. That's more than a full S50 swap!

@AlpinaAde, I do remember seeing these a while back via M42Club.com - nice kit but that's silly money for what you get.

[AlpineAde]

£2G for another 5BHP?!!

5bhp? I'm missing something. I thought M42s put out 100kW (134bhp), so 170 odd bhp seems a pretty good improvement.

Still, yes, expensive. Very expensive.

[AlpineAde]

£5G Sterling for their 205BHP rally version. That's more than a full S50 swap!

@AlpinaAde, I do remember seeing these a while back via M42Club.com - nice kit but that's silly money for what you get.

Again, yes, pricey ~ but some people like the stealth aspect of it I suppose.

Personally, if I came across an M42 putting out that sort of horsepower in NA form I'd give it a standing ovation.

S14 swap will cost you 3K+ easy.

What about a homebrew stroker? You could piece together something for semi-reasonable money, I'm sure. It'd involve a bit of stuffing around but is certainly doable.

[Royalratch]

A stroker is enlarging displacement without boreing? By fitting thicker head gasket and changing pistons and crank to lengthen 'stroke?'

I think I'm more into a proper bored set up and retaining as much of the original engine as poss.

I need a drive everyday engine so S14 would be too much headache. PLus I do the worst kind of driving, City stop start.

[Royalratch]

£5G Sterling for their 205BHP rally version. That's more than a full S50 swap!

@AlpinaAde, I do remember seeing these a while back via M42Club.com - nice kit but that's silly money for what you get.

Again, yes, pricey ~ but some people like the stealth aspect of it I suppose.

Personally, if I came across an M42 putting out that sort of horsepower in NA form I'd give it a standing ovation.

S14 swap will cost you 3K+ easy.

What about a homebrew stroker? You could piece together something for semi-reasonable money, I'm sure. It'd involve a bit of stuffing around but is certainly doable.

Basically it's this or another bike: Triumph Speed Triple or Kawa Z750.

[bss325i]

Theres not many options for the M42 Ratch so you cant be picky.

If you want more power then you need to throw £££ at it or bin it for something else!

[Royalratch]

I'm not looking at options - I know exactly what I want - I'm just not convinced it's a neat £3G to get there - perhaps I will be.

Enough of the bin it talk, why would I bin a solid engine with a newly built timing case that is in excellent condition?

[bss325i]

I'm not looking at options - I know exactly what I want - I'm just not convinced it's a neat £3G to get there - perhaps I will be.

Enough of the bin it talk, why would I bin a solid engine with a newly built timing case that is in excellent condition?

I dont litterally mean throw it in the bin!

I meant replace it for something else.

Engine building doesn't come cheap.

[Royalratch]

I know this. But I also think I can get what I need done for less than the price of a mint Tech II Sport/1000CC bike/Global Snowboarding Super Trip!

Let's see - I have put some tentative feelers out to a few places and see the variety of quotes I get back.

A very good mate of mine bought an 60K miles M3 today - I'll have it on the weekend for a good poke and drive, get a look see at all this S14 nonsense.

[Jon_Bmw]

I'd be suprised if you can get a proper 200bhp for less than £2500, unless you do absolutely EVERYTHING including mapping the thing.

Take other similar aged engines, the c20xe and mi16. Similar'ish capacity but they come with better flowing heads. They come with 150 and 160bhp respectively. To get a genuine 200bhp, out of the afformentioned , you'll need around £2000s worth of bits and you'll end up with something very peaky i.e not great for pootling along in traffic.

NA tuning (without capacity increases) is a mugs game, unless you are goverened by regulations it is a hard sell. Obviously I know you want to keep the m42, fine, but you have to suck in the big bills.

[Kos]

Let's see what Ant @ A-Tech comes back with, I have sounded him out about it. Unless anyone else can recommend an first-rate engine builder who knows these engines.

greaham lee

les stannard

pacerpete ( if he wants to get involved)

phil crouch at CPC

i'm sure shep has a few ideas him self

Kevin Bird utilising Hartge a hartge could have few options for you

Bexley motorworks

Nigel Mosley

£5G Sterling for their 205BHP rally version. That's more than a full S50 swap!

s50 for 5 G, good luck



there is a saying that beggers cant be chosers, so in your current situation and depending on your projected and budgeted cash input you are extreamely limited