custom pistons, stock sized headgasket
m54 pistons, thicker head gasket
ETA rods with m52 pistons, stock sized headgasket
m54 pistons with custom rods, stock sized headgasket
in my near future is a 3liter aluminum m52 turbo build (s52 crank, 84mm bore). this engine will generally see ~7psi, but i want to be able to kick it up to a bar on weekends . the goal is a reliable, long lasting engine for my e30. my two options are custom pistons with stock headgasket (or stock size MLS?), or m54 pistons with a thick MLS headgasket (or custom shorter rods...). if you choose stock headgasket, would you want orings? also, which fasteners would you use? stock, ARP, etc? with ARP studs, i'd expect to use time-serts or equivalent.
my ideal setup, based on very little knowledge, would be custom pistons, stock headgasket, orings, and stock bolts.
my next choice would be m54 pistons with a thick headgasket and probably the older style arp studs with time serts.
i've also had this silly idea of using the s52 crank (i already have it), 130mm m20b27 rods (i have these too), stock m52 pistons, and stock HG and fasteners. this would by far be the cheapest solution, but the added cylinder wall wear due to a lower rod/stroke ratio worries me.. with stock headgasket it would give 8.9:1 compression ratio, which is perfect IMO
i suppose i could do m54 pistons with custom rods that are ~133mm with stock headgasket. obviously that'd be slightly better than using 130mm rods, but still not ideal. i'd have to do some calculations to figure out exactly what length i'd want... but this option would be cheaper than custom pistons and would give an opportunity for rods that would probably be lighter than the beefy ETA (130mm) rods
SO, what would you do? what would be a good balance of cheap/reliable? please indicate which headgasket and which fasteners you would use. if stock HG, would you use orings? please explain your reasoning thank you
Last edited by lifeiskaos; 04-24-2009 at 05:13 PM.
A word of Internet Forum wisdom: Disregard any advice that begins with "I've heard..."
97 M3/4 - S54, TRM Coilovers, UUC SSK/Sways/LTW Flywheel
because i like being unique and proving people wrong. when i blow up the aluminum block, i will cry and say you were right. until then, i'm only looking for people's opinions on what rotating parts, hg, and fasteners to use, not what block to use. i already have a very nice m52b28 engine i could use, but i want an aluminum one
thanks!
guys i'm not trying to build an 800hp engine here, or even a 500hp engine. i am doing some massive headwork (exhaust and intake porting for s54 ITB's, custom cams). with a good flowing head, and a 3L engine, i wont need very much boost to make some power. this build is more about being unique and keeping a good weight distribution in my e30. PLEASE let's stick to the questions i asked in the OP...
Last edited by lifeiskaos; 04-24-2009 at 05:43 PM.
that's a connecting rod limitation not the block
stockers? intake manifold and TB are already sold, sorry
i have pretty much the same setup. its a m52b25 with a 2.8 stroker in it and ITB's off a 3.0 M3.... i have custom pistons (8.5:1 comp ratio), the block's been o-ringed, and running 12psi of boost for 270rwkw.... when i was running the motor in it was at 7psi, which was fun, but the daily setup is 12psi, and later in the year will be going to 18psi
1997 E36 323i, S50B30, MoTeC, stripped, caged, whored, the lover
2002 E53 X5, 4.4, stock as a rock. The wife, the tow car.
2008 E92 M3, Jet Black, Eibach's, Megan Exhaust, the mistress
not using stock HG, no, but am using stock studs
PS - i've had my block sleeved as well
Last edited by m52; 04-28-2009 at 02:21 AM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
1997 E36 323i, S50B30, MoTeC, stripped, caged, whored, the lover
2002 E53 X5, 4.4, stock as a rock. The wife, the tow car.
2008 E92 M3, Jet Black, Eibach's, Megan Exhaust, the mistress
i appreciate the few of you who are voting, but i'm very interested in whether you would use arp studs, stock studs, mls gasket, stock gasket, etc
i am trying to do the same thing right now. I have a M52tu that i want to put into my E30....with a turbo.
coming soon, S54's for everything....
what are you using for tuning? dual vanos seems like a huge pain...
i am using a motec m800, and the vanos is still active.
1997 E36 323i, S50B30, MoTeC, stripped, caged, whored, the lover
2002 E53 X5, 4.4, stock as a rock. The wife, the tow car.
2008 E92 M3, Jet Black, Eibach's, Megan Exhaust, the mistress
i have arbitrarily decided on stock headgasket, orings, and stock studs.
so that rules out a thick MLS headgasket (option 2)
So after 11 or so years, how did that hold up?
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