M54B30 Crank Question

[Motorhole]

To the people who have built M52B30s...

The crank trigger wheel - how crucial is this to the balancing of the crank? Has anyone removed it for the install into an M52? Obviously the M52 crank sensor takes it's reading from the front pulley so from a management perspective, it's not required.

Cheers

[DanThe]

If you mean the toothed ring at the rear end of the crank I always leave it on the crank, I'm not sure if the crank is balanced before or after this is fitted but they have been spinning away together happily for millions of revolutions up to now”¦.

[Motorhole]

Thanks Dan - was kinda thinking if it's not broke, don't fix it!

Although taking apart a not really broken M54 in the first place goes against that somewhat.

[DanThe]

M54 is a waste of aluminium, in NA form

[HairyScreech]

I would think very minimal from the way it is made, they should be nice and accurate direct from the stamping tool and if it is a MIM produced wheel then even better balanced.

From taking a look it looks like the trigger has been designed deliberately not to have an effect on the balance. Probably to simplify supply chain, the crank manufacturer is responsible for the balance and not the guys who have to put them together and then balance them. Saves the bun fights over who fucked the crank that always seems to happen when you have one factory cast/forge the parts and another machine them.

[Motorhole]

More questions - thought I'd post them here to avoid starting another thread.

I'll be replacing the M52 oil filter housing with an M50 one so I can use a filter cap oil cooler takeoff (Rallyroad). Does this mean I also need to use an M50 alternator, PAS pump and auxiliary belt? Are the belt tensioners the same?

Also, does anyone have any experience with uprated E30 clutches? I'd like to keep my M20 flywheel/starter and ZF gearbox combination, so any recommendations for a beefier M20B25 clutch would be welcome.

Thanks again guys