Turbo conversion

[SHAKEELE30]

Hi everyone, i have an e30 325, im interested in doing a turbo conversion but not exactly to sure how to go about it. I looking to get upto 400-500bhp, so if anyone could advice me on what i would need and what would be most suitable so that the engine doesnt blow.

[Turbo-Brown]

One metric shedload of work and expense for that kind of power!

Mid 200's is doable on a budget, but 4-500 is gonna cost a lot of money to keep reliable

[Kam320i_cab]

bottom end:
low com pistons
a decent crankshaft
Forged conrods

topend:
headwork
uprated camshaft
valves etc

thick head gasket

ancilaries:
Nothing lower than a T34 turbo IMHO
injectors
3bar map sensor
all pipework including silcone hoses
intercooler
oil cooler
uprated rad
airfilter
sutome manifold
uprated inlet
Managment!

i can go on for ages! there are lots of other little bits too

i rekon if u spunk at least 6k on the engine u cud get a minimum of 300bhp

dont forget there will be lots of development and custom bits to do!

mate if u want a fast car get a decent turbo'd car, im going to say Cosworth because if you spend a grand on a standar Cosworth you will have 300+bhp

or do an s50 conversion, as spending 6k on a turbo m20 wont be as reliable as 321bhp from factory (e36 m3 evo engine (s50))

[Jhonno]

- add the cost of finding/buying a decent cossie tho

then your still left with a quick sierra at the end of it

[Kam320i_cab]

if you want to keep your bmw id recomend dropping a good engine in

[Jhonno]

nothing wrong with the m20 - good strong lump which is ideal for turbo conversion

[Kam320i_cab]

true but you would have to spend a lot on it maybe?

not many m20 turbos around.. give it a go

[Jhonno]

thing is thats true bout any engine to make good power tbh

i reckon a turbo'd m20 is a good idea - i'd do it with a light pressure turbo so not lag

[SHAKEELE30]

thanks for da advice but im sure there an easier way, dont know much about turbos so gonna be doin som research on them and see what happens. do you know anyone whose done a turbo conversion??

[Kam320i_cab]

dips car is turbo'd but its low boost, goes very well as i saw!

ask him he shud be able to do it, machine the pistons down for a lower compresion safe enuf for a turbo

[Jhonno]

i dont like the idea of machining pistons.. esp on a turbo'd lump

the later m20 i think has a low enought compression to run some decent boost and maintain off boost performance

[Kam320i_cab]

what is the compression of them mate?

[Jhonno]

9.1:1 or around there

[e30_Turbo]

i dont like the idea of machining pistons.. esp on a turbo'd lump
javascript:emoticon(':(')
Sad
the later m20 i think has a low enought compression to run some decent boost and maintain off boost performance

Ow yes it can run upto 15 psi on std compression although not for too long I'm aiming for between 7- 12 psi and hopefully 250-280bhp depending on how well the parts work together. 400-500 is a shite load for a m20, prob mean spending serious money on lowering compression, new pistons, head work and having the block o-ringed to give it half a chance of staying together. 350bhp is poss, has been done to a M20, but for anymore you're looking at a M30 as they are really strong lumps or a later engine.
Either way it aint goona be cheap to get 250, so 400-500 will cost lots.

Might be worth chatting to Buster as he's got some M20 turbo bits he's looking at selling soon.

HTH, Mark.

[Kam320i_cab]

okay thats not too bad thought it was somthing like 11:1

well i suppose the safest limit for that CRwud be no more than 10psi! i wudnt wanna go any more

[e30_Turbo]

I have a feeling the stock compression on the later M20's is actually about 8.5:1, so pretty low for a NA engine, ideal for FI!!

Hence why most of the conversions will be running stock internals.

[Jhonno]

i thought it was 9:1 or there abouts late and 9.8:1 early...

[Davenotouring]

Apparently early is 9.0 and later is 8.5 ?

[Kam320i_cab]

low for a na lump definatly!! i know from my RS turbo days that before i went low comp the compression was 8:5 1 and that can handle 14psi with no probs so thats good!

roll on turbo M20!!!!

[e30_Turbo]

i thought it was 9:1 or there abouts late and 9.8:1 early...

TBH I'm just going on what I've been told, Iknow it's lower that the mk1 engines and not too high that FI won't work.

So shall we say 9.5:1

[Jhonno]

We'll just call it low enough to run decent boost

[e30_Turbo]

I'll settle for that too

Hopefully, all going to plan I should have mine on and running within two weeks, New ECU is on route from the USA and everything else is bought and nearly paid for.........can't fooking wait!!!

[Jhonno]

a turbo'd m20 is tempting... i got a lump already n might be able to get the rest off Buster if he's selling up... either than or is gotta be s50

[e30_Turbo]

a turbo'd m20 is tempting... i got a lump already n might be able to get the rest off Buster if he's selling up... either than or is gotta be s50

Get in there quick then, I know buster was only a few items away from having his running. Go on, you know ya wan it!!

Just think if you do, you, I, Dale will all be local and drive extremly fast e30's!! Will have to have a mini essex/suffolk meet, maybe over at Bentwaters with that 2.5 mile runway!!

[Jhonno]

haha - i've asked him in his engine thread.. have to see what he says..

[Andy_magic]

I'm slowly getting bits together so perhaps another Essex/Suffolk turbo motor in the making.

[buster]

my turbo kit:

Proper head bolts.Blue coated alloy steel grade 12.9
Intercooler
stainless steel pipes with silicon connectors for intercooler connection to engine
Remanufactured exhaust manifold.
Adaptor
down pipe
Hybrid t3/4 turbo reconditioned by turbo technics,not been used since turbo technics reconned it.(still have recipt)
Dump valve and silicon tubing.
Oil feed pipe,and return pipe
water feed and return pipes.
New inlet and exhaust gaskets.

Only bits needed to finish are pressure regulator.I havent got one as i wasn't sure wether or not to use a aftermarket ecu.

will post some pics later.And price

Late 325 engines are 8.5:1 compression ratio.Very turbo friendly.

[Andy_magic]

If anyone has any underbonnet pictures of their install's Id love to see them, especially interested in the air plumbing from filter to turbo - turbo to intercooler and intercooler to AFM/TB.

I've a few ideas myself but it's always good to see other versions.

[Turbo-Brown]

I honestly think you'd have real trouble extracting 200bhp / litre from a 2v engine.

Seems that mitsubishi have managed it with the FQ400 (or whatever it's called) but then they have the ability to redesign blocks and heads etc to take it whereas we don't.

Also, we're hampered by the ability of a 2v head to flow gas.

The last thing is that if you did get your 500bhp, how drivable would it be? Someone mentioned off boost response up there, I can't imagine that being great....unless you want to go to the trouble of a twin sequential setup.

[e30_Turbo]

...unless you want to go to the trouble of a twin sequential setup.

Is that like yours? or is that a Bi-turbo setup?

Bi-turbo

[Turbo-Brown]

Nay, mine's a twin parallel setup with equal sized blowers

[deano325t]

Hi andy
as if by magic







not the best install in the world ,gonna redo a few stuff..
but it works..

Dean..

[SHAKEELE30]

ok, i've decided to stik to between 200-300bhp, but i was told i would first of all need a manifold so that the turbo can be fit onto, if so, how/where do i get hold of one of them..
Whose done a turbo conversion already on here and how much did it cost'em, what parts did you get.... soorry 2 b a nuisance but you gotta understand as i dont have a clue about this, still tryin to understand how to do my conversion....

[Turbo-Brown]

To be honest, I think you need to set yourself a power target and work towards that.

2-300bhp is a huge margin to work in! 200bhp can easily be done without a turbo, 300 with one (or two) will take more work. 250bhp turbo it relatively easy.

What EXACTLY do you want from your engine?

[jamesroools]

go to http://www.e30tech.com/forum/
then to the turbocharged section, its a goldmine for info on turbocharging the m20 and m30 motors