M54b30 turbo build

[Pirathol98]

Hello!

I recently bought an E36 with a M54B30 in it. I am currently in the process in turning it into a driftcar.

i am new to turbo builds and i have some questions around this! My hopes and plans are around 500HP, but since i am on a tight budged. i am happy with 350-450hp.

Question 1:: Some of my headbolt threads were stripped, so i ordered som sime-serts from my local machine shop. And since i have time-serted the block, i dont want to run OEM or ARP head bolts because of the torq they need. I have found out that Raceware rwe-1054 require almost half of the torq, so i am planning to run those. Are there any other studs that require less torq and are a bit more (price friendly) then the raceware´s?

Question 2:: My biggest insecurity is choosing a headgasket! I want to run stock internals for now, and maybe upgrade to forged later. What kind of gasket should i use? do i need a thicker gasket since im turboing it?

Question 3::I am thinking of ordering a turbo from ebay (this one https://www.ebay.com/itm/353641684148) and how big wastegate and injectors should i run?

[pbonsalb]

I am not sure about those miracle head studs that hold more than stock with half the torque….

Lowering compression is a good idea with a turbo unless you are running E85 only. I don’t know what thicker headgasket an are available for the M54 3.0L. I used Cometic 0.080, 0.098 and 0.140 with my S52. There are also copper spacer plates and cut ring gaskets to consider. Athena may make them, but there may also be another company. I would try to drop compression closer to 9.0:1 for 91/93 pump gas. If you take your engine apart, loosening the piston ring gaps can help with boost.

Honestly, building a single vanos iron block M52 into 3.0L or 3.2L is easier for a turbo. You can reuse some of your internals if you stick to 3.0L. Drop compression to 9.0:1 with a headgasket and spacer and open the ring gaps and 500rwhp is possible. With aftermarket pistons, 600 rwhp. With aftermarket rods, 700+ rwhp. While sticking with the aluminum block M54 that has been time serted, keep your power goals modest, like 325 rwhp with stock compression or 450 rwhp with reduced compression.

I don’t know much about cheap turbos, but search around and you will find some people have had decent results with certain ones. T3 or T4 depends on the manifold flange and you did not say what you were using. T3 is fine for your power. Something like the Spa used on the M52/S52 has a decent reputation but I don’t know if it fits the M54. Most people use a 38mm wastegate with those.

Injectors and HFM depend on your tune. Ask your tuner. Don’t forget a higher flowing tank pump and a heavier duty clutch.

Have fun!

[RobertFontaine]

Doesn't running a thicker head gasket increase the Squish volume and increase knock? I know plenty of people have lowered compression with thick head gaskets but it seems like you pay a price in engine reliability and performance for avoiding purchasing the low compression pistons.

As always, correct me if I'm wrong but adding quench volume to a cyclinder chamber is not a great idea (???).

[pbonsalb]

In theory, yes. In practice, spacers or thicker headgasket have worked great on these engines. I was asking your question 15 years ago. No one has yet written anything along the lines of “with a spacer I could run only 10 degrees timing but when I made no other changes but to aftermarket pistons with the same CR as stock pistons with the spacer, I could run 15 degrees.”

[Pirathol98]

Thank you so much for youre help! More knowledge is more power