need more torque.. but how?

[liam012]

Hi
I've recently done alot of work to my 320i which on the power and torque front consists of:

Head port and polish
btb 6 branch
mongoose full exhaust
zone chip
325 tb + 320 inlet manifold ground out to accept higher air flow

sure at 3900rpm she starts to motor but jaysus so did my 1.4 almera i know i could use an air filter and that will be done but that will only give me an extra gasp at high revs

i need to put a puch in the low revs- is there anything at all i could do to increase compression - does any one have any ideas?

i will at some point throw in a 325 but i would love to extract as much torque as possible from my 320i car

under 3500 she is a slug

no turbo or supercharger suggestions (not for a while anyway)

[Andy_magic]

Do the cheapy 2.7 conversion, you use everything off the 320i apart from the block, crank, pistons and rods.

http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/e30/videos/0260.wmv

50-70mph in 5th 5.5 seconds, in 3rd its 3.5 seconds.

thats still running the 320i injection system and chip, with 325i injectors/AFM/TB power will be increased.

At the moment, the fuel consumption is 35 with a steady right foot, drops to about 25 when driven properly

[m-dtech]

jenveys mate

custom ecu.

turbo

[liam012]

Christ Andy that video is sick - do you know of a parts list anywhere for the cheapy conversion? i am 100% convinced.

[Andy_magic]

Cheers!

Parts list off the top of my head is:

BMW 525e
Head gasket set
Sump gasket
Spigot bearing
Water pump gasket



525e's are automatic so you need to fit spigot bearing in crankshaft so the manual gearbox input shaft wont flap about in the end of the crank, sounds really complicated but isn't, just press it in.

You should really beef the drivetrain up too, I havent yet but will be fitting a taller diff, aparantly the 320i gearbox can cope. Mine has lasted 2 weeks so far and has got nearly 200k miles on it.

There are other ways of doing a 2.7 which give more power, but these use a 325i head and block and you need the block machining to accept the 525e crank and get a decent comp. ratio.

If i think of anything else I'll post it.

[liam012]

you have to be kidding that:
BMW 525e
Head gasket set
Sump gasket
Spigot bearing
Water pump gasket

are the main parts?!! that is un believeable!

you just throw in the 525e block and thats it? was there no other Major parts like pistons or something to give you that? or was the 535e naturaly a a 2.7?

[M5pilot]

Just change to the 525e block and what youve already got for monster torque.

Im sure youll be very happy!

[Andy_magic]

The 525e was a really low revving economy motor that ended in 87.

The engine is 2693cc (I think) and shares the same bore size as the 325i but with a longer throw crank and the same piston crown shape as the 320i, they nobbled the engine with 4 bearing torquey camshaft and a 4500rpm rev limit.

Basically I just fitted the 525e block in my car, I think I spent just under Ԛ£200 doing it, although I've wiped a pair of Bridgestones out in 2 weeks driving it

[Andy_magic]

Don't do what I did and throw the 525e diff away, apparently the are 2.9:1 ratio and people want them when they fit 3.0/3.5 litre motors in e30's as the 3.0/3.5 has a 1:1 5th gear... doh!

[liam012]

There are so few bmw engines and cars over here it is going to be a nightmare fnding a block
i need to maximise my search options

so i can use any 525e block pre 1988 is that correct?
what about a 325e block or would that have wrong pistons?

is there a block casing stamp number i can identify the block by?

maybe if i am unlucky ill end up drivingto england for it

thanks

mods - sory if this has turned into another 2.7 thread -

[Andy_magic]

As far as I'm aware the 325e and 525e are pretty much the same thing.

Didn't realise you were from Ireland, whereabouts??

[liam012]

i am on the west coast - county clare - just down from galway city (well and hour from galway and an hour from limerick)

[Andy_magic]

I know Galway, been there quite a few times, I've got family over in Mayo.