engine swap

foolonrampage · Apr 3, 2007

Has anyone ever swapped an engine with their BMW engine? I was thinking about it and I dont know if it would be possible to switch an 85' 325e motor with a turbo charged SRT-4 2.4 liters in-line 4 front engine with 87.5 mm bore, 101 mm stroke, 8.1 compression ratio, double overhead cam and four valves per cylinder EDV. or an EVO 2 liter in-line 4 front engine with 85 mm bore, 87.9 mm stroke, 8.8 compression ratio, double overhead cam and four valves per cylinder 4G63.

Anyone know? Just wondering. Thanks

E30m42cab · Apr 3, 2007

I swapped an '86 2.7L for another '86 2.7L. Worked well. I would either turbo your own engine, or at least put on a multi-throttle intake. Can you really afford to spend time trying to match up a garbage SRT engine to a RWD Bimmer? What would be the overall gain?

jrt67ss350 · Apr 4, 2007

Anything CAN be done, but is it really worth it? It's a big enough headache swapping one BMW engine for another and we're talking engines that have the same bellhousing bolt patterns. In the swap you are talking about, you'd have to have some sort of custom transmission set up made specifically for your swap. Talk about $$$.

Doughnut · Apr 4, 2007

If you want those engines, you may as well just save up for the car they come stock in.
As jrt67ss350 said "anything CAN be done" justs costs a shit load of money not to mention labour.
Have you ever done an engine swap?
Ive done a heap of holdens and one e30, it was hard enough just swaping the m20 out for another m20.

foolonrampage · Apr 4, 2007

haha, just wishful thinking. I was thinking about turbo charging the beast. What is this "multi-throttle intake" that E30m42cab was talking about? And is it possible to do that and turbo charge the same engine? Thanks

E30m42cab · Apr 4, 2007

When you think about turbo charging, think about how much $ you're going to spend. The Turbo itself, the exhaust headers, the fuel injectors, the intercooler... etc...
If you want a decent bang for your buck, do some Schrick Cams, Chip it (Dinan, AC Shcnitzer, Alpina, Turner MS, etc.) free-flow exhaust and an intake. There's no point putting a turbo on unless you have the money to do rebuild you engine either before you install the turbo, or after you install the turbo... after you've blown the Head Gasket, snapped a rod, worn out your rings, destroyed your bearings, or snapped your timing belt and bent your valves. Your car is probably worth no more that $6000 to begin with right? If you wanted to try a half decent engine swap, I would suggest putting in a M50, if you can find a decent M50.
This is a multi throttle intake... and one installed on a S14 of an M3 (although it should be noted that all M cars have multithrottle intakes)

foolonrampage · Apr 5, 2007

E30m42cab said:

is that BMP motor an M50?? That actually sounds pretty pricey but i really do eventually want to turbo charge my motor. What would an approximate total would be to install and buy the chip, intake, free flow exhaust, and cam shafts? I was wondering if there are certain types of headers that would work well or just fit with the BMW motor?

E30m42cab · Apr 5, 2007

www.bmpdesign.com
They have cams, intakes, chips...
Chip used $75, new Chip $300
Cam shaft $900
Multi-throttle $2000
Mass Air Flow sensor $1000
Turbo (why?) $3000 with all the fixin's
Dont forget to upgrade your clutch and fly wheel $$$
Stronger valve springs and titanium retainers to keep your valves from floating under high revs and bouncing off your pistons $$$
Exhaust $400
Installatiom for everything... $haha$
By the time you do this, you could go buy a mid 90's M3.
The picture of the BMP MTI is for your engine. They're made for the M20, M50, M44, M42...
Order a catalogue from BMP, and you'll get an idea of what it costs to do some of these jobs.
OH, and once the car is a rocket ship, you better look into putting some nasty brakes on it, which might mean you'll need some larger rims to clear the larger diameter dics, and calipers... and of course some sticky rubber.

Make a list. Save your money.

jrt67ss350 · Apr 5, 2007

Not to mention that we are talking about a 325e here. Not a great foundation to begin with for such a buildup since it has a 4750 rpm redline. Plus, you'd need to upgrade the 2.73:1 open differential.

foolonrampage · Apr 5, 2007

E30m42cab said:

www.bmpdesign.com
They have cams, intakes, chips...
Chip used $75, new Chip $300
Cam shaft $900
Multi-throttle $2000
Mass Air Flow sensor $1000
Turbo (why?) $3000 with all the fixin's
Dont forget to upgrade your clutch and fly wheel $$$
Stronger valve springs and titanium retainers to keep your valves from floating under high revs and bouncing off your pistons $$$
Exhaust $400
Installatiom for everything... $haha$
By the time you do this, you could go buy a mid 90's M3.
The picture of the BMP MTI is for your engine. They're made for the M20, M50, M44, M42...
Order a catalogue from BMP, and you'll get an idea of what it costs to do some of these jobs.
OH, and once the car is a rocket ship, you better look into putting some nasty brakes on it, which might mean you'll need some larger rims to clear the larger diameter dics, and calipers... and of course some sticky rubber.

Make a list. Save your money.

WOW, thank you very much. This is a great list to start off with. So where exactly will I have to go to order one of these "BMP Catalogs"? And what does it stand for? I know its a weak 85' 325e buts its all I'z gotz. ha

E30m42cab · Apr 6, 2007

Just go to that BMP link I posted, and the "catalogue Request" section is on the top menu. I don't know what it stands for, but it's not all that important. The other thing you can do to get rid of the low redline, is swap the head... the old "e" to "i" conversion. You'd be better off not doing that though, because it gives you a bit of a rough idle. I wouldn't spend too much on that car... maybe if it was a newer E30, late '80's early 90's.

foolonrampage · Apr 6, 2007

but...its beautiful. Henzel is my only car. hahah. I think it will be SICK. Thanks for ALL the help.

jrt67ss350 · Apr 6, 2007

E30m42cab said:

If all you did was swap the heads, the car would run like total crap. You can't just stick a 325i head on a 325e block. The 325e ETA engine has flat-top pistons, whereas the 325i engine has domed pistons. The 325e heads have smaller combustion chambers than the 325i heads to accomodate the difference between the pistons. If you just stick a 325i head on a stock ETA M20B27 block, your compression ratio will drop significantly, and you'll end up producing LESS power than the 325e did in stock form, not to mention that the engine will run like crap. In order to swap the head correctly, you have to also change out the pistons for either 1988 325e SuperETA pistons or custom aftermarket, meaning that the swap becomes much more involved. Obviously, tearing into the bottom end of an engine means you have to have some experience and know what you are doing or have a knowledgeable friend to help you.

Foolonrampage, my advice is to just get yourself a Turner Motorsport chip for your 325e and enjoy the car for what it is, because it really is a great car, especially with a chip. If you want something faster, look for a 325is.

foolonrampage · Apr 7, 2007

ya, thanks alot JRT. I really have never heard anything bad about the car. I would just like to put some new pistons in and headers. Just to make the motor SOMEWHAT better. It really does need to be fixed up a bit though. Im not trying to make a speed demon. just something buff. But chip is in fact #1 on my list

bavarianjames · Apr 7, 2007

man for all that money you might as well supercharge it. a supercharger is alot more of a steady upgrade too, and you wont have to deal with any kind of turbo lag.

Doughnut · Apr 8, 2007

bavarianjames said:

I aggree, a supercharger will give less lag down low, but once you rev to the top end it will be gutless. super charges are for quick starts... Thats about it.

An idelic system would consist of both a charger and turbo, the supercharger takes care of down low, and eliminates turbo "lagg" and the turbo kicks in for the top end revs.
I'm speaking as a matter of fact as a system of which would be hard to construct and cost $$$

foolonrampage · Apr 8, 2007

Well i was talking to some buddies of mine and they were saying that it would definitely be worth it to turbo charge it and the supercharge wouldnt really make it better. Like what you said, Doughnut, its basically for get up and go. Whats the point of having something suped up if you cant feel the ponies kick when you dig ur spurs into her. eh?

Doughnut · Apr 8, 2007

foolonrampage said:

I will just note that supercharges are FUN! And if pulled off correctly, sound bloody cool!

E30m42cab · Apr 8, 2007

Justin, I'm not saying that I've done the "e" to "i" conversion, or that I understand it, but I've heard of it being done before.
I'm just going to say again what I said in post #6; Chip it, cams, exhaust and intake, and be done with it. If it's not noticably faster, go ahead and put a turbo on it... but at least do a compression test see if your engine is still in decent shape. You'll be upset when your old Bimmer craps out on you after turbo-ing it. Or, do like Justin says... 325is.
Just remember that your car is 22 years old.

foolonrampage · Apr 8, 2007

hahaha ya it is pretty old but it is in AMAZING SHAPE!! I was messing around with it today and its seriosuly in immaculate condition. But ya, how much would it cost to get a compression test?? And what will that do for me??

engine swap

Member

2

2

2

Member

2

Member

2

2

Member

2

Member

2

Member

New Member

2

Member

2

2

Member