m52 2.8 into a m50 2.5 block

[s13b]

As per the title really, whos done it on here? Im looking at putting 2.8 crank and rods into my iron block.

What management / ecu did you use?
Custom loom or just 2.8 engine harness?
Are these parts a direct fit or what machining is required?
How good are the std 2.8 pistons in terms of taking boost pressure?
Is the M52 head better than the M50 one?

Basically long term plans are to turbo my M50 lump, it could do with a bit of a refresh as it is a highish mileage engine. In the future I will be running VEMS or possibly re-worked stock ECU.
For now though it will stay N/A. The engine isnt going in a bimmer either so loom / wiring is only really important as far as engine harness, ecu and whatever ignition circuit I need to run the thing.

Input from anyone thats done it would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Ed

[Rav335uk]

Best to speak to Danthe on this.

[Duke137]

You would need it mapping by someone like gunni on here to get the best results.... Sounds epic though it will cost a fair amount of folded to create this as Dan once told me building a 2.8 into a an Iron block would see you the wrong side of a grand to do properly without even looking at a turbo

[e30-EVN]

Yeah ferg, talking about 700 quid in consumables. Had this chat with dan myself a few months back

[BATTS91]

i was thinkin of this but why would it cost so much i have a m50b25 at the mo and considering 2.8 internals but all you really gota do is walk in a breakers n get crank n pistons for next to nothin and get ir bored out to fit the 2.8 pistons ? then a nice lil remap ?

[e30-EVN]

What about new shells rings ect ect.... If your gunna do a rebuild it would be completly stupid to use scrapyard parts and old tired bits like shells and rings ect.... That's the whole point!

[BATTS91]

ye of course get new shells n rings n arp bolts but i cant see it costin around the 1k mark u can find a whole 2.8 engine for cheap 2-300 around here ? or is the alot more to this ?

[Duke137]

What about new shells rings ect ect.... If your gunna do a rebuild it would be completly stupid to use scrapyard parts and old tired bits like shells and rings ect.... That's the whole point!

Exactly, Ant is right, you may as well do it properly and then you might as well use an M54b30 crank and internals in the iron block

[Duke137]

ye of course get new shells n rings n arp bolts but i cant see it costin around the 1k mark u can find a whole 2.8 engine for cheap 2-300 around here ? or is the alot more to this ?

This is why people just ditch the M50 and use the M52 tbh

[e30-EVN]

This is why my m50 got ripped out.... It was only in the car for 5000 miles and in my opinion just wasn't fast enough for the time, money and personal effort I put into it!!!
The m52 is a VAST improvement and I'm glad I did it, its been in for 3-4 months now and the car still makes me smile bigtime when I shoe it!

Another bonus is the 30-40 kilo's lost in weight hanging out front which I noticed straight away, I ripped my m50 out and wacked the 52 in and by same night took it out and I could feel the front end was sharper and snappier. Bonus

[Duke137]

Imagine what dezzys must be like then.... Epic 3.0 built by the Dan FTW

[s13b]

ye of course get new shells n rings n arp bolts but i cant see it costin around the 1k mark u can find a whole 2.8 engine for cheap 2-300 around here ? or is the alot more to this ?

This is why people just ditch the M50 and use the M52 tbh

Yeah fair enough if you're staying N/A but im gonna boost mine and the m52 block wont take that abuse (aiming around 450 ft/lbs).
TBH it wont cost anywhere near £1k, as mentioned a scrappy block will cost scrap metal prices (£75 at most), new shells, rings head gasket, bolts etc will not put £900 on that. Im doing all the work myself so no labour charge either.

Exactly, Ant is right, you may as well do it properly and then you might as well use an M54b30 crank and internals in the iron block

Are the 3.0l internals that much stronger than the m52 2.8 ones?
I'm not bothered about the added couple cc of displacement. From what i've seen round here, e36 2.8 are much more common in scrap yards than newer models and a fair bit cheaper ;)

[BATTS91]

still interested in this and the last question above ????

[DanThe]

TBH it wont cost anywhere near £1k, as mentioned a scrappy block will cost scrap metal prices (£75 at most), new shells, rings head gasket, bolts etc will not put £900 on that. Im doing all the work myself so no labour charge either.

How many M50/M52 engines have you built in the past then? You obviously talk from experience?
The 2.8 iron block M52 I built that is now owned by diddler cost me over £2000 to build, thats price of parts and specialist services that I couldnt do myself, ie machining/balancing etc etc

[BATTS91]

hmmm Danthe you are the man in your knoledge so i dont think ill bother and just stick a big gt30 snail in there next winter haha

[DanThe]

Cheap engine build = bad engine

[Duke137]

Cheap engine build = bad engine

buy cheap buy twice theory

[e30-EVN]

Like I said a few posts ago..... I did speak to danthe about this and the cost is more than you'd like to think "to do it properly"!!

If you only wanna do it once - do it properly