Engine Conversions

[pac1982]

As a few of you may be aware if all goes to plan I’ll be getting a company car fairly soon and once this happens the E30 will be having a well deserved rest and also undergoing a heart transplant.

Before now I had planned an M52 conversion so I could still use it as my daily whip but now that the E30 will only be seen as a weekend toy I can afford to put a much meatier engine under the hood.

So what engines are possible to drop in an E30 without major drama don’t mind having to get a few bits and bobs custom made but don’t want to start cutting my car apart to shoe horn a mahoosive engine in.

I’m thinking along the lines of a V8 conversion and want to stick with BMW engines I’d say I can budget for around 5-6K for the conversion for something really special but ideally don’t want to spend more than 4 grand

[FormerMember]

Well well, pretty much everything can be squeezed in there. This picture says it all




If (and when) you're planning pretty easy swap, just put M50 in there with a turbo- / supercharger. It's after all the best and most reliable swap there is and can take you to 1000hp range if you want to invest "a bit more"..

[daimlerman]

V8 conversions are a bit more involved than M52!
L/H bank of cylinders sit just where the brake servo goes,for example.
Alternater fits just where one chassis leg is,all solveable,but you need to either be a fair fabricator or be prepared to pay one.
Other point is,are your balls big enough to handle 250bhp?

[leeparkes]

For a 4K budget i would turbo charge something.

[Kos]

i'd build a very nice M52, cams, 2.5 inlet, lightened flywheel. 230bhp with the right gearing it will be planty quick