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Thread: M52B28 Turbo to M52B30 Turbo Question

  1. #1
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    M52B28 Turbo to M52B30 Turbo Question

    Hi All, I'm currently running(well was before it died) an M52B28 Euro ally engine with DIY turbo setup running an ebay GT35 turbo etc. I have a nice chunk missing on piston no2 so looking at my rebuild options. I've been reading up on the M52B30 internals swap but had a couple of questions please....

    1. From what I've read the M54B30 crank, rods and pistons drop right into the M52B28 block, is that correct?
    2. Can I use M52B28 bearings and piston rings etc or do I need any M54 bits? I've got all new M52B28 bearings and rings etc sat in my garage, so hoping they can be used!
    3. Anything to be aware of running the M54B30 internals over the M52B28 internals for boost?

    I've already had the M52B28 head skimmed, checked and cleaned and I've got a low comp hg set to go in, only thing I'm also still unsure on is head studs, whether it's worth attempting timeserts with ARP or stock headstuds or just run stock head studs.

    Sorry if this has been asked before and thanks in advance for the replies.

    Any additional info would be great.
    Cheers
    Rob

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
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    The rods and bearings are the same as an m52b28. Piston rings might be a different thickness, not sure. I don't have any relevant experience with the aluminum blocks but if it were mine I would time cert it and use ARP head studs. I know someone makes studs that are specific to the alluminum block that are supposed to work better than ARP, but once you timesert it that should be a moot point. Actually I would just get an M50 block to put it all in.


    86 325es, 2.8L m50, S476sxe, ProEFI 128 ecu, e85, solid rear axle, TH400 trans, 28x10.5w slicks, zip ties, popsicle sticks, tape
    best time 9.06 @ 151.8 mph, best 60 foot 1.30

  3. #3
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    Thanks very much for the reply. I was going to use an M50 block before, but it had excessive cylinder wear and was outside tolerance. It can be quite hard to find a decent M50 block over here that doesn't fetch a heavy price, M52 dual vanos and M54's are plentiful though!

    One other question, the crank pulley with trigger wheel, I assume they're interchangeable? My M52 block has the hall sensor mounted on the front of the engine over the crank pulley. Could I fit that to the M54 crank?

    What about using some M12 head studs instead of time serts, something like this?

    Cheers
    Rob

  4. #4
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    The balancer and trigger wheel will bolt right up. I have 11mm studs in my motor. I don’t think the 12mm studs are a good idea. You would need to drill and tap the block in a mill, you cannot do it by hand. You would also have to ream out the head gasket and the head bolt holes in the head. 12mm studs will not fit in the head. It’s not a simple procedure.


    86 325es, 2.8L m50, S476sxe, ProEFI 128 ecu, e85, solid rear axle, TH400 trans, 28x10.5w slicks, zip ties, popsicle sticks, tape
    best time 9.06 @ 151.8 mph, best 60 foot 1.30

  5. #5
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    Thanks again for the reply, that's good news on the balancer and trigger wheel. Ok, maybe I'll scrap the 12mm studs idea then.

    So it sounds like the B30 internals side should be ok, so I think I'll definitely do that. Is it worth paying the extra for an M54B30 intake cam and getting it modded to fit, or not really worth it for boost? Cheapest I've seen one so far is about £200.

    So I guess for the head studs it's timeserts and the M54 ARP head studs then?

  6. #6
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    Sorry another question on the M52B30 conversion, does the M54 crank use the same M52 240mm flywheel? I was looking at getting a lightweight e36 m3 S50 flywheel but not sure if that fits the M54B30 crank as well?

    Thanks very much.

  7. #7
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    It does

  8. #8
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    Thanks very much.

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