I recently purchased a 1987 bmw 325e for 1400 dollars. It is primarily rust free, everything works except the rear defroster and the window washer pump.
I'm currently running into a dilemma however...
I wan't to make it fast! No, not 200hp at the crank! I want to atleast be at 350whp with my primary goal being around 400whp.
I have the m20b27 motor (2.7liter m20) which is a very torquey motor however it only puts down around 130hp. My motor also happens to have 280k miles on it.
So heres where I have two options.
for my power goals I would need to:
A.
swap a m20 325i head (This head has ALOT more flow) onto my existing m20b27 block and then boost it.
(I would have to use m20 325i electronics to do the swap. aswell as throttle body and some other misc parts). According to forums I can safely run atleast 15psi off a hx35 or hx1c on the motor with the ONLY modifications being a new (stock) headgasket and ARP headstuds. Keep in mind that this would be done on a block that already has 280k on it. My compression after swapping the 325i head onto the m20 would be 8.5:1 which is perfect for boost. My displacement would also stay at a healthy 2.7 liters.
B.
swap an m5x or S5x and boost it.
I would most likely buy the motor and while its out I would "update" it and install things that will be harder to get at later on.
Apparently this swap is easier to do on 88+ E30s due to the fact that it requires some 88+ parts.
The most intimidating part for me doing this swap would be wiring. I know the m50's are also easier to swap due to the fact that they are OBD1. However the issue with the m50 is that they only come in a 2.5 liter. I am hoping for atleast a 2.8l so i can run less boost and have the same effect with increased reliability (less stress on the engine).
The problem with the s5x is that they are expensive (correct me if i'm wrong?), So at this point I am thinking that the m52b28 would be the best option however I will have to convert from OBDII to OBDI
I've never done this swap before and unless a forum member can guide me along the way and help out (possibly? I give free food?) it seems like I will be in uncharted territory as soon as I take the m20 out. granted there are a lot of forums but I have never actually swapped an engine or done the required electronics. Only worked on engines in the bay (Headgaskets etc).
For both options I would be reusing my Getrag G260 trans (Pretty bulletproof even at 400hp)
What do you think is the better option? and what am I leaving out?
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I recently purchased a 1987 bmw 325e for 1400 dollars. It is primarily rust free, everything works except the rear defroster and the window washer pump.
I'm currently running into a dilemma however...
I wan't to make it fast! No, not 200hp at the crank! I want to atleast be at 350whp with my primary goal being around 400whp.
I have the m20b27 motor (2.7liter m20) which is a very torquey motor however it only puts down around 130hp. My motor also happens to have 280k miles on it.
So heres where I have two options.
for my power goals I would need to:
A.
swap a m20 325i head (This head has ALOT more flow) onto my existing m20b27 block and then boost it.
(I would have to use m20 325i electronics to do the swap. aswell as throttle body and some other misc parts). According to forums I can safely run atleast 15psi off a hx35 or hx1c on the motor with the ONLY modifications being a new (stock) headgasket and ARP headstuds. Keep in mind that this would be done on a block that already has 280k on it. My compression after swapping the 325i head onto the m20 would be 8.5:1 which is perfect for boost. My displacement would also stay at a healthy 2.7 liters.
B.
swap an m5x or S5x and boost it.
I would most likely buy the motor and while its out I would "update" it and install things that will be harder to get at later on.
Apparently this swap is easier to do on 88+ E30s due to the fact that it requires some 88+ parts.
The most intimidating part for me doing this swap would be wiring. I know the m50's are also easier to swap due to the fact that they are OBD1. However the issue with the m50 is that they only come in a 2.5 liter. I am hoping for atleast a 2.8l so i can run less boost and have the same effect with increased reliability (less stress on the engine).
The problem with the s5x is that they are expensive (correct me if i'm wrong?), So at this point I am thinking that the m52b28 would be the best option however I will have to convert from OBDII to OBDI
I've never done this swap before and unless a forum member can guide me along the way and help out (possibly? I give free food?) it seems like I will be in uncharted territory as soon as I take the m20 out. granted there are a lot of forums but I have never actually swapped an engine or done the required electronics. Only worked on engines in the bay (Headgaskets etc).
For both options I would be reusing my Getrag G260 trans (Pretty bulletproof even at 400hp)
What do you think is the better option? and what am I leaving out?
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