M50/M52 vs newer cars, how does yours do?

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johnmaccow
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Post Wed Aug 01, 2012 11:08 pm

Just wondering how the m50/m52 swap stands up against some of the more modern crap on the road/track today and what set up you are running? Iam in the middle of my swap but will have m52 with m50 inlet, m20 clutch and lightened fly and 3.73 diff to start with. Half a dash and 2 front seats as interior. I have been told it should keep up with e36 m3's etc when done?
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rich318i
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Post Wed Aug 01, 2012 11:15 pm

did a ford focus ST 12 plate today on a A road! M52 2.8 M50 manifold M20 fly 3.25 LSD
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Post Wed Aug 01, 2012 11:27 pm

An M52B28 converted E30 won't be slow, but you'll need the M50 inlet, throttle body, a decent exhaust/manifold, decent air filter/heat shield and a remap to make use of all those bits in order to keep with E36 M3s. It will definitely surprise a few, but it will need the mods above to trouble them.

I know its an E30, but my S50'd E30 would pull away from E36 M3s from about 30mph. I always struggled with traction off the line compared to E36s. It easily pulled away from my mates M52'd E30, but that was a standard M52 - no M50 bits etc.
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leeparkes
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Post Wed Aug 01, 2012 11:49 pm

If your car is stripped out you may have a chance on an E36 M3, its all about power to weight.
Cypriotgeeza wrote:I done both my mates in my old 318is
felt so proud,even tried it with a E30 325i and got put in my place.. :o:
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rich318i
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Post Wed Aug 01, 2012 11:54 pm

its not about doing a car in a drag its about how well you can drive
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Post Wed Aug 01, 2012 11:56 pm

Getting the power down in low gears can be an arse and very frustrating too.
Cypriotgeeza wrote:I done both my mates in my old 318is
felt so proud,even tried it with a E30 325i and got put in my place.. :o:
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Post Wed Aug 01, 2012 11:57 pm

I have every confidence mine would stay with e36 m3 to 100 easy... Focus st's (2.5 turbo - 240bhp).... Well I hammered one on the m5 last week.!!! Took him up to 145 at which time the gap was closing fast. Give him a flash and thought that'll do. If I had kept my foot down I'd have gone up his arse!
Type r's - go home
Megan sports - same
Porsche boxters - been thee dome that lol
Astra coupe turbo (a mates) - goodbye see ya layers!
Loads, makes me smile every time :D
A 2 door e30 with 8 cylinders, what could be better winkeye :D
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rich318i
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Post Thu Aug 02, 2012 12:02 am

e30-dk wrote:I have every confidence mine would stay with e36 m3 to 100 easy... Focus st's (2.5 turbo - 240bhp).... Well I hammered one on the m5 last week.!!! Took him up to 145 at which time the gap was closing fast. Give him a flash and thought that'll do. If I had kept my foot down I'd have gone up his arse!
Type r's - go home
Megan sports - same
Porsche boxters - been thee dome that lol
Astra coupe turbo (a mates) - goodbye see ya layers!
Loads, makes me smile every time :D
did mine today mate left him for dust, had to back off for to let him keep up and was off agian really funny
DanThe
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Post Thu Aug 02, 2012 9:09 am

rich318i wrote:its not about doing a car in a drag its about how well you can drive
When your comparing engines/conversion packages then drag racing is the perfect way
e30-EVN
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Post Thu Aug 02, 2012 10:58 am

This is why I said about the st which was on a straight piece of road (m5)..
8)
A 2 door e30 with 8 cylinders, what could be better winkeye :D
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Post Thu Aug 02, 2012 12:14 pm

I have to say my m50 did quite well.

2011 Mini Cooper S was easy
2003 e46 330i couldn't win eather
2003 Audi TT quattro 1.8t 164kW was very close but he lost :D
2010 Golf GTI lost as well

Oh yeah, my mates Passat W8 couldn't cope eather 8)
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DanThe
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Post Thu Aug 02, 2012 1:46 pm

I was quicker than an E46 M3 at York drag way, with the alpina though, also only hundredths of a second difference between mine and Turks S54 car last year at Pod and we both struggle for traction off the line.
With the iron 2.8 I built I was quicker than Pentons S50'd sport at santa pod a few years ago.
The 3.0 litre M52 in my track car will leave E36 M3's behind quite easily, its only the proper track built race car E36's that will drive past me in the bends, but then I catch up on the straights :D
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Post Thu Aug 02, 2012 3:49 pm

My m52'd track car is as quick as my old road going s50'd turd, I have only had it on the road for 1 day but it considerably quicker than my mates 250 bhp Nissan Pulsar.
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johnmaccow
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Post Fri Aug 03, 2012 7:45 pm

Nice to hear that mate, nearly bought a pulsar instead of the e30. Glad I didnt now.
Whats best way to try and get traction apart from wide tyres? A bit weight over rear axle? Have been thinking of internal fuel tank. 8)
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rich318i
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Post Fri Aug 03, 2012 8:16 pm

what rims you using?
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johnmaccow
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Post Fri Aug 03, 2012 8:45 pm

Have got some 15" tsw's that look like bbs at the mo mate. Really fancied some minilites though. 8)
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rich318i
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Post Fri Aug 03, 2012 8:58 pm

try the psi at 24 front 26 back
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johnmaccow
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Post Fri Aug 03, 2012 9:16 pm

Cheers mate :wink:
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Post Fri Aug 03, 2012 9:23 pm

johnmaccow wrote: Whats best way to try and get traction apart from wide tyres? A bit weight over rear axle? Have been thinking of internal fuel tank. 8)
http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... 08&start=0
Cypriotgeeza wrote:I done both my mates in my old 318is
felt so proud,even tried it with a E30 325i and got put in my place.. :o:
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johnmaccow
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Post Fri Aug 10, 2012 1:13 pm

Thanks for that mate, lot of good info there :wink: