how to tell its a 2.7 conversion or not

Post Thu Oct 12, 2006 9:20 pm

seen an e30 on ebay its close to me so might view. it states it might have a 2.7 conversion or engine how can you make sure? is it engine numbers or if its a conversion is there different numbers on the engine that a 327 conversion would that a 325 wont? cheers

Post Fri Oct 13, 2006 8:09 am

I'd like to know too guys!!!!! I've got an engine i've been told is a 2.7 eta block with a 325 head - how can i check/confirm this??

I'll try and get the engine number on the weekend.

Post Fri Oct 13, 2006 8:54 am

Impossible to tell without stripping the engine down and measuring the bore/stroke etc. As for the head if its been worked on you will see the difference in either the valve size or the angle cuts to the valve seats.

I am sure others will add to this.

Post Fri Oct 13, 2006 9:01 am

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... ic&t=47611

says here the engine code starts with 27 few posts down from the top.

Post Fri Oct 13, 2006 9:02 am

Is it that thing for Ãƒ”šÃ‚£500? One way of getting an idea of whether it's running a 2.7 is to check the ECU, if its a proper job (which looking at it, seems unlikely) it should have had an uprated chip. By no means a concrete test but perhaps worth doing anyway?

Post Fri Oct 13, 2006 9:06 am

Engine codes mean nothing. You could use a standard 325 block with a different crank / pistons, etc, so outwardly the engine will look standard...

It's confusing by the different ways a 2.7 engine is acheivable.

Post Fri Oct 13, 2006 9:20 am

Cheers for the info guys - might get it rebuilt before i put it in the car then - or maybe i should just trust what i've been told and slap it in there and see what happens!!

Post Fri Oct 13, 2006 9:20 am

OH YEAH good point .

Post Fri Oct 13, 2006 9:24 am

You can drop the sump and measure the stroke of the crank.

Thats the easy way.

Andrew

Post Fri Oct 13, 2006 10:27 am

i suppose im defo gonna be busy then rob!

Post Fri Oct 13, 2006 10:30 am

Demlotcrew wrote:You can drop the sump and measure the stroke of the crank.

Thats the easy way.

Andrew

or even measure the crank without dropping the sump (through a spark plug hole)!

Post Fri Oct 13, 2006 10:31 am

Demlotcrew wrote:You can drop the sump and measure the stroke of the crank.

Thats the easy way.

Andrew

You could take a spark plug out and measure the stroke of the piston etc, got to be easier than drooping the sump...

Post Fri Oct 13, 2006 10:43 am

stuartgallafant wrote:i suppose im defo gonna be busy then rob!

Yep, you know it fella!!!

Gonna have to start with this soon 'cos my current engine is well on it's way now!!!! I'll be giving you a call at the weekend or early next week anyways!!

Post Fri Oct 13, 2006 10:58 am

stuartgallafant wrote:i suppose im defo gonna be busy then rob!

Stu's gonna be very busy

Post Fri Oct 13, 2006 9:52 pm

tim_s wrote:
Demlotcrew wrote:You can drop the sump and measure the stroke of the crank.

Thats the easy way.

Andrew
or even measure the crank without dropping the sump (through a spark plug hole)!

Yeah on a M42, but how would one get a dial
gauge pin down a plug hole which sits at such an angle?

Think about it.

Post Fri Oct 13, 2006 9:56 pm

easiest way would be to take it to a rolling road for a power run and see what the bhp figure is.if the guy isnt keen on that idea he'll have something to hide

Post Sat Oct 14, 2006 12:49 am

Demlotcrew wrote: Yeah on a M42, but how would one get a dial
gauge pin down a plug hole which sits at such an angle?

Think about it.

lol, true! done it on a golf before and the plugs were at quite an angle to the pistons and it didn't prove to provide that much of a prob, still def worth a crack i reckon!

Post Sat Oct 14, 2006 12:55 am

I have a genuine eta engine so id imagine the code on the block of mine should coincide with the 2.7 conversion code, no?

Post Sat Oct 14, 2006 4:35 am

it could but like what as said before you could use the stock i block and head and change the crank so it would look no different on the out side.

Post Sat Oct 14, 2006 9:28 am

easiest way would be to take it to a rolling road for a power run and see what the bhp figure is.if the guy isnt keen on that idea he'll have something to hide

Would love to, but it'd be awkward what with my lump currently sitting on the garage floor!!!

I have a genuine eta engine so id imagine the code on the block of mine should coincide with the 2.7 conversion code, no?

Toitliketoiger, let us know what numbers you've got if you get a chance!!!!

I'm gonna try and get to my lockup today and get my numbers again - lost me bit of paper!!

Post Sat Oct 14, 2006 9:34 am

the CR is the only true way to ttell should be about 10.1-1

Post Sat Oct 14, 2006 10:41 am

just spoke to the fella he reckons he took it to a scrap yard and the bloke in the scrap said it was a 2.7!!!!!!!!
Also its an auto?

Post Sat Oct 14, 2006 10:59 am

he also said the pistons were made bigger by previous owner. theres no history saying its a 2.7. To me it dont look like the type of car that an owner would go to the trouble of doing a 2.7 conversion, half completed bodywork, letting it rust, 14" wheels but could have had bbs on before and just replaced them. reckons it got a full scorpion exhaust, wonder what that would be worth? be a good buy if it was a 2.7 though

Post Sat Oct 14, 2006 1:13 pm

Demlotcrew wrote:
tim_s wrote:
Demlotcrew wrote:You can drop the sump and measure the stroke of the crank.

Thats the easy way.

Andrew
or even measure the crank without dropping the sump (through a spark plug hole)!
Yeah on a M42, but how would one get a dial
gauge pin down a plug hole which sits at such an angle?

Think about it.

I'd use a length of copper wire to probe the piston depth...

Post Sat Oct 14, 2006 2:27 pm

So I put a length of copper wire down the spark plug hole so it hits the piston? then where would i measure to? what would a 325/327 measure? and do i need a gauge or is there standard stats? if the measurement make's it sound like a 327 would that be 100% you have a M20 327 block? I have been looking on the forum and have seen there is more than one way to do this conversion? sorry about these questions im just a sparky so dont no much about motors, should stick to what I Know suppose. but loving E30's

Post Sat Oct 14, 2006 2:56 pm

I'm a sparky too!
Use a bit of stripped 2.5mm, and bend it into a slight curve, just like you would if you were fishing in a cavity wall with it.
Sit the wire on top of the piston and turn the crank so that the piston is right up. Mark the wire against some random reference point, and then turn the crank 180 degrees. Mark the wire again against the same reference point, and remove the wire. Distance between the two marks will be a close approximation of the stroke.
325 is 75mm stroke, can't remember 2.7 for sure, but 81mm sounds familiar.

Post Sat Oct 14, 2006 3:02 pm

Sounds good, try and check this out tomorrow

Post Sat Oct 14, 2006 5:55 pm

E30Mark wrote:
Demlotcrew wrote:
tim_s wrote: or even measure the crank without dropping the sump (through a spark plug hole)!
Yeah on a M42, but how would one get a dial
gauge pin down a plug hole which sits at such an angle?

Think about it.

I'd use a length of copper wire to probe the piston depth...

Well if your going to be that accurate you might aswell use a peice of string.

Fowler you cant measure the capacity just from the compression.

Andrew