s54 vs s52 SC regrets?

[pbonsalb]

That is the nicest S52 naturally aspirated dyno I have seen. Better than stock S54 power from a modded S52. Does the higher CR allow pump gas? Is the head worked? What cams? The low end power looks great as well.

[KnudsonsM3]

I bring to you the s52 with high comp pistons, euro ss full exhaust, and cams.

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Are you comparing that to the s54? If so, to suggest a fully built S52 is preferred over an s54, even stock, is laughable.

The s54 is superior in every way and is more dependable. Fully built s52's are not reliable.

[pbonsalb]

We are getting some questionable statements in this thread, like

Turbo S52 are broken down 95% of the time

Fully built S52 are not reliable

I have a turbo S52 that is fully built and it is broken down only 5% of the time and I consider it reliable. In the last 7 years, I have broken nothing in the motor due to the extra power. I bent a few valves due to a money shift but that is my error and people make the same error on stock cars. I have fused clutches, broken trans, broken driveshafts, and broken diff output stubs but that was all from drag racing on drag radials.

[tsmith25]

That is the nicest S52 naturally aspirated dyno I have seen. Better than stock S54 power from a modded S52. Does the higher CR allow pump gas? Is the head worked? What cams? The low end power looks great as well.

That is a beautiful power curve. I would also like a parts list and preparation details, so I can copy it when I rebuild mine in the future.

[TostitoBandito]

That is a beautiful power curve. I would also like a parts list and preparation details, so I can copy it when I rebuild mine in the future.

Yes, mods list please. Including the tune.

I'm also one of the irrational "I'll spend more money to keep my S52 NA" people, so I'll be going down a similar route at some point. Not sure about pistons, but definitely cams/valvetrain, and maybe headers at some point.

[GG///M3]

GG///M3, What was modified on the S54 engine to get those #s, airbox/cams/exhaust? Which cams did you use and was the exhaust custom or off the shelf parts? Thanks.

That car had the mild schrick cams, Castro airbox, ebay headers mated to stock section 1/2 e46 m3 exhaust. I miss her.

That is the nicest S52 naturally aspirated dyno I have seen. Better than stock S54 power from a modded S52. Does the higher CR allow pump gas? Is the head worked? What cams? The low end power looks great as well.

Its not from my car, but yes its impressive. You won't see that tq on an s54. I'm wondering what my s50 will make with the cams now installed.

[GG///M3]

Are you comparing that to the s54? If so, to suggest a fully built S52 is preferred over an s54, even stock, is laughable.

The s54 is superior in every way and is more dependable. Fully built s52's are not reliable.

I’m not saying the s54 isn’t the better motor, but it is more expensive to swap properly .


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[KnudsonsM3]

I’m not saying the s54 isn’t the better motor, but it is more expensive to swap properly .


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Especially if the s54 needs any work, which a lot of them do.

[img]

I bring to you the s52 with high comp pistons, euro ss full exhaust, and cams.





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Thats mine 😊

- - - Updated - - -

Yes, mods list please. Including the tune.

I'm also one of the irrational "I'll spend more money to keep my S52 NA" people, so I'll be going down a similar route at some point. Not sure about pistons, but definitely cams/valvetrain, and maybe headers at some point.

87mm bore 11:5 compression
custom grind cams
BBTB
PnP Head, stock valve springs, stock size ferrea valves.
Obd I manifold
SS Euro long tube headers and full catless Euro SS midsection and axleback.
RK custom dyno tune 93 pump.
Porsche HFM
24lbs injectors
CAI

The Head was decked a couple of times so I’m assuming it’s at 11:7 compression now.
Will be changing the cylinder head soon.

[pbonsalb]

What are the mods? That is the most exceptional S52 dyno I have seen. The low end torque is really an outlier. It just doesn't seem right to have that much more low end torque than stock and that much more top end power than stock. Usually there is a tradeoff.

[TostitoBandito]

Do you know what the specs are on the custom cams?

I imagine the 87mm bore and the completely rebuilt head (with aggressive cams) are responsible for the gains over what people more commonly see with the rest of the usual NA bolt-ons and an unrestricted exhaust (around 260whp tops in most cases).

[pbonsalb]

But usually with heavy porting and big valves and wild cams you trade off the bottom end for the top end.

[PITT M3 RR]

I made 297whp on my S54 with electric fan and itw flywheel only. The car was heat soaked as shit and the tune was for catless headers. At the time I was running cats. If I drop IATs and install these headers, I hope to see 320’swhp. The car is FUN to drive.

[DocWyte]

I'd love to do an S54 swap into my car. Monetarily it makes no sense compared to bolting on a blower tho...

[RickyN F355]

I'll let you know on the S54 in about a month. But this totally depends on what kind of engine you prefer.

S54: High revving NA, race inspired technological beast. Instant power the moment the 6 ITB's are slapped open. 375 bhp easily attainable, more with cams and custom tuning etc.

Turbo: Awesome sounds, TORQUE, more HP potential. Less reliable than NA. Delay between gas pedal and what you feel.

SC: Kinda a hybrid mix of the 2 above, seems to be slightly less reliable than turbo from reading forums...?

hey any update on your s54?

[NeilM]

I bring to you the s52 with high comp pistons, euro ss full exhaust, and cams.

Super impressive torque curve for a 300+ HP NA motor.
Wish my mildly cammed S52 did that.

Neil

[tsmith25]

I had no idea how soon I was going to be rebuilding mine when I posted that. My motor went about 5 months ago, and I am getting close to starting the process of rebuilding. I bought a long block that needs a rebuild since I am not sure about the damage to the original. it went bang while I was driving down the highway, so clutch in and coast to the shoulder. When I got out, there was a trail of oil behind me.

[GG///M3]

Super impressive torque curve for a 300+ HP NA motor.
Wish my mildly cammed S52 did that.

Neil

What’s the exhaust setup?

[1000hp]

Currently making a little under 400whp, 300lb/ft on 8psi SC on a stock motor w/ Riot cams and the usual bolt-ons. The car is a lot of fun and very reliable (with a Vortech Sci). There is plenty of room to grow on this setup, but the car still feels fast after about a year with it set-up as it sits.

I think it really depends on what you plan on doing with the car. If you're going to drive it on the street and do an occasional track day, a properly-cooled SC S52 should be plenty reliable and have plenty of power. If you want to race motorcycles from a 60mph roll on the interstate, you're probably gonna need more power.
I honestly don't know what these guys are doing with 700 wheel horsepower on the street, but maybe I'm just old...

[GG///M3]

Currently making a little under 400whp, 300lb/ft on 8psi SC on a stock motor w/ Riot cams and the usual bolt-ons. The car is a lot of fun and very reliable (with a Vortech Sci). There is plenty of room to grow on this setup, but the car still feels fast after about a year with it set-up as it sits.

I think it really depends on what you plan on doing with the car. If you're going to drive it on the street and do an occasional track day, a properly-cooled SC S52 should be plenty reliable and have plenty of power. If you want to race motorcycles from a 60mph roll on the interstate, you're probably gonna need more power.
I honestly don't know what these guys are doing with 700 wheel horsepower on the street, but maybe I'm just old...

Correct.

I used to be one of those guys. Lol

[1000hp]

Correct.

I used to be one of those guys. Lol

Me too. I ended up riding my bicycle to work for a year and paying a lot of fines.

[blckstrm]

Me too. I ended up riding my bicycle to work for a year and paying a lot of fines.

I'm just lucky I didn't have enough money back when I was that young and dumb!

[GG///M3]

Me too. I ended up riding my bicycle to work for a year and paying a lot of fines.

I was nearly there myself

[GG///M3]

Dare I say bummmmmpp

[blckstrm]

Dare I say bummmmmpp

😂

Glad to revisit this!

I've been mentally debating FOR YEARS what I'll do when my engine finally lets go. I have an Escalade that I've had to pull the head on twice - almost 3 times, but I narrowly avoided that last one. But given my comfort with the LS3 I was debating between that, an S54, or just fully building the S52.

I've been ardently anti FI for a number of reasons (heat being at the top of the list given Texas), but really went down that rabbit hole since my last comment here.

This thread (among a couple others) has helped me realize I'm always going to want to tinker with the car, but I'm not power hungry - I won't "get used" to more power and perpetually be thirsty for more. In fact, I just want enough more power that my car is as fast as it is right now at roughly sea level in Austin when I go up to Idaho (5k feet) to visit my parents.

And the other thing is I'd like to keep it factory, so at least no LS. The work to make the S54 work properly with AC, the cluster, etc is enough to dissuade me, at least near term - I can keep moving happily along the bolt-on path for now at my own pace. I like driving my car too much - I don't want it to be down for months while I try to sort out all the various issues. If I feel like I've got enough information to knock it out in only a couple weeks - fully factory-style sorted - I may go down that path.

As with so many things it remains a plan in flux until I have to execute. But I remain super grateful for all the help around here - whatever I decide to do I know I can count on you guys to get me through the sticky parts!