has anyone tried the m20 2.8 conversion?

[gorgeee]

hi all
i just wondered if anyones tried this conversion
what are the gains in standard spec?
also is anyone making the spacer thats needed on the crank?
any info would be great

thanks

[beardymat]

i have the crank and rods, just need the spacer

theres a couple more people i know on the 2.8 trail and one just happens to have access to a machine shop. he also happens to be a zoner.

where abouts are you from?

[gorgeee]

from the midlands mate
i know of another zoner from near me thats also would be interested in the spacer so dunno if we can get some knocked up on a group buy?
got any ideas on what sorta power it would bring in standard form?

[beardymat]

i know youre from the midlands it says so in your stats, i was hoping for something a little more specific,lol

re. the bhp, given its a 300cc increase you would be hard pushed to gain 30bhp as this is M power 100bhp per litre territory although with other mods you might come close. what i would expect is a lot more torque which is what makes the real difference anyway.

if you get a 2.8 crank try and get the pulley flange (he he) too as this is what you can make the spacer from. the bolt from the nose of the crank is also longer so keep that too.

[gorgeee]

lol sorry mate im from leicester

[march109]

E30 adam has one, but hes not on here often anymore anymore, it gives him about 200BHP but thats with the 2.5 exhaust manifold and not the 6branch he wanted because he allready had an e36 steering rack and it just didn't fit, goes well though, when he uses it these days!

[Turbo-Brown]

200bhp doesn't sound too unrealistic to me.

The standard 2.5 makes about 68.4bhp/litre, and at 200bhp on a 2.8 that'd only be about 71.4bhp/litre which isn't a massive jump in specific output.

[march109]

220BHP is not unheard of with a decent 6branch. TBH though the 2.7 kit gives the same sort of power, depends on what your happiest building or paying someone to build.

No substitute for cubic capacity.

[ed325i]

I have got another crank after selling my old one so I am still building a 2.8
Power will depend on how the engine is put together.
Player6 has got a 2.8 running throttle bodys cant remember the power thats putting out (280 BHP ? )
If I can get 220bhp from mine I will be happy.
Here is a pic of the crank spacer

[maxfield]

Scot's is 260hp.

There are a few people on here going for 2.8.

I know Iain has a very good spec in the pipeline

[ed325i]

He you go player6's car with 260bhp >> http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... highlight=

[gorgeee]

thanks alot for that will put up pics when i get mine done
i was worried about the spacer but seeing ed325i's pic it looks fairly straight forward.
do i use the rods of my old 325i or do i need m20 320i rods?
thanks

[maxfield]

You need the shorted rods. M20B20.

[beardymat]

the young max is correct, you need 320 rods or the ones from the 525e but lets face it the 320 ones will be easier to come by. also looking into what length the m52b28 uses as thats where the crank will be coming from.

looks like there might be a few of these on the zone soon, a dyno shootout day would be good

[gorgeee]

so are we saying the rods from the m52b28 will do the job?or do they have to be the m20b20 rods?

[beardymat]

so are we saying the rods from the m52b28 will do the job?or do they have to be the m20b20 rods?

not sure yet, waiting for danthe to measure some up. either that or when i get another m52 bottom end from quarry motors ill measure them.

m20b20 rods will deffo work though, and from what ive read the compression ratio will remain the same too.