M52b28 Build

[LondonTom]

I'm going to be reshelling my track car after my talent running out on the ring, despite this I want more power.

My m50 leaves me struggling to keep up with my mates on trackdays, one runs a ke70 corolla with a beams engine (think s2000 engine but better) and the other a mk2 escort with a cosworth motor.

Can anyone with experience of modifying m52's give me a heads up on what mods work and expected gains. I'm aware of using the m50 inlet manifold and tb, but as I'm wanting to keep it as reliable as possible changing cams etc might not be top of my list.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Tom

[emdog16]

m52 with an m50 intake, some US spec cams, intake, exhaust, chip, is easy cheap and effective. What have you got done to your m50? All of these things can be done to it and it'll be pretty good as well. There is always the blower option as well

[e30-EVN]

I would say to compete with a mk2 escort powered by a cosworth lump or "anything" powered by s2000 engine it would have to be an e36 m3 engine or turbo the m50!
I've been told the m50 internals can take up to around 400bhp and being a iron block, strong enough to!or swap 2.8 (m52) internals in making it a 2.8 turb in iron block. But then there's the reliability to worry about as we all know how troublesome turbo'd lumps can be!!

If its N.A your after then swap in an e36 m3 engine, choice of 2 here but with no mods will see 300bhp and more, plenty to match your mates there

[LondonTom]

I would say to compete with a mk2 escort powered by a cosworth lump or "anything" powered by s2000 engine it would have to be an e36 m3 engine or turbo the m50!
I've been told the m50 internals can take up to around 400bhp and being a iron block, strong enough to!or swap 2.8 (m52) internals in making it a 2.8 turb in iron block. But then there's the reliability to worry about as we all know how troublesome turbo'd lumps can be!!

If its N.A your after then swap in an e36 m3 engine, choice of 2 here but with no mods will see 300bhp and more, plenty to match your mates there

Don't want to go turbo, needs to be turn key reliable. 240ish brake would be good enough for me.

[e30-EVN]

In that case mate its m52 all the way!

[DanThe]

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... ght=m52b30

[LondonTom]

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... ght=m52b30

Cheers for the heads up, thats impressive. I'm fairly short on time for working on the car though - I live in London and the car is 100 miles away!

What's the best I could expect from the choice bolt on mods (jesus I sound like a boy racer!) for an m52b28?

[DanThe]

In reality about 240hp, you will be down on torque though compared to a 3 litre, mine is 239lbsft with standard 2.8 cams and management as in the link. Will be having some more bits done in feb

[LondonTom]

In reality about 240hp, you will be down on torque though compared to a 3 litre, mine is 239lbsft with standard 2.8 cams and management as in the link. Will be having some more bits done in feb

Anywhere close to your torque figure would do me, any recomendations on cams if I was to change them too?

[DanThe]

S52 cams are what you need

[LondonTom]

S52 cams are what you need

Cheers Dan and if I do (last question!) will it need a remap?

[emdog16]

no, but you can remap it for more power

[12345kevin]

S52 cams are what you need

Dan, do you have a part number for these as I may have come across a set which may end up in my car ! Obviously i'de like to verify correct etc

[DanThe]

IIRC Kevin your engine is non vanos, so S52 cams wont work
I have some non vanos cams for sale or swap BTW