M52B28 Cylinder Head Thread Issues

[mattsutt44]

I know this topic has been talked about many times but I just need to go there again!! I have just rebuilt a M52B28 double vanos engine, new rings, bearings, seals etc. I have been having the common issues with the head bolts stripping out of the alloy block. Even with nutserts and ARP Studs I am still having a problem.

Someone mentioned to me that you can use the cast iron M50 block and simply put all of my M52B28 internals in to it, including the head. Looking for advice, information and confirmation if possible please.

[pbonsalb]

From everything I have read, the double vanos head does not fit the older iron block because coolant or oil passages line up, which has been shown in a forum hear through pictures comparing the head gaskets for each. A few people have converted the iron block single vanos motor to dual vanos and posted details but it was not recent and I forget the details. Your wiring is dual vanos so that helps a lot — a big issue for the rest of us who want to convert from single to dual is the wiring adaption, which is expensive and complicated.