E36 cheap track day toy

[Hamster69]

Well the timeserts worked.



Chain on, second chain on, Vanos setup and fitted.
I have scheduled the engine to go in, in three weeks. Got to finish it now!

[Mgd_uk]

Nice work!

[Leptons]

Awesome! I did feel for you when the threads stripped, I was absolutely dreading doing mine.

[e30m3Mark]

Did you consider just doing away with the VANOS?

[Hamster69]

Not really, if it's got it, why not use it.

[Hamster69]

Day off today so I spent the afternoon in the garage.



Cam cover on and started plumbing everything thing back in, cleaning as I went.



Manifold tidied up, painted a couple of rusty bits. It’s not mint but I’m just so desperate to get it finished now.



And that’s it! It has taken a year but the stroker is done. Good job too as I have rented a workshop in two weeks to fit it.

[Hamster69]

Just a few modifications I need to make to the car before the engine goes in. I have a bigger rad, not an ali race one which was the original plan. But money is tight at the moment. So I have a cheepo aftermarket one. But it is the larger 328 rad which should see me through the running in period then we will see how we get on.



I have bought some additional gauges and sensors. I would like to keep a track on what the new engine is doing. Hopefully this will all go in next Saturday.

Edited by Hamster69 on Sunday 8th October 13:32

[iguana]

328 stock rad fine for the job, me & pals done many thousands of track miles with 'em.

[Hamster69]

Yeah I thought it might be. My 318 rad has done really well, it only didn’t work perfectly on a really hot day at Bedford after the remap. With the extra area of the 328 rad I’m hoping it will cope just fine. I’m also going to fit a second fan. One to run on the temp switch and the other to run on the dash switch. Ultimate control and back up hopefully.

[bmwmike]

Very nice. Always enjoy reading your updates. What is the CC of this engine, any idea on power it'll make?

[Hamster69]

The CC should be the same as the M54b30 so 2979cc. Obviously with the modifications, cams, bbtb, M50 inlet manifold, M54 crank, M40 flywheel and American S50 Map it is a bit of an unknown quantity. But I have been told of similarly modified engines reaching around 270bhp. Which would be nice.

[helix402]

It sounds like it’ll be a great engine. I’ve owned two 328s, an E36 and a 46. I’ve turned to the dark side now with a 330d, which isn’t very standard though pretty much looks it.

[bmwmike]

Hamster69 said:

The CC should be the same as the M54b30 so 2979cc. Obviously with the modifications, cams, bbtb, M50 inlet manifold, M54 crank, M40 flywheel and American S50 Map it is a bit of an unknown quantity. But I have been told of similarly modified engines reaching around 270bhp. Which would be nice.

Oh OK I thought "stroker" meant changing the stroke so you get more displacement? Live and learn!

[helix402]

I think the op has changed the stroke. As far as I am aware he has increased the stroke by fitting a 330 M54 crank to a 328 M52 block.

[Hamster69]

That is exactly what I have done. M54b30 crank, rod and pistons in a M52b28 block.

[iguana]

Aha didn't realise that, I'm not sure what rad foxy runs on his stroker, trouble is it's just gone bang, went blooming well tho, here he is on board at Cadwell I'm in front in stock lump 328 but all the bolt ons, dynoed at 241 gee gees on conservative dyno so he is a long way over that. When he passes at 4.2O I'm flat!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WdPKTAMQVao

[E-bmw]

iguana said:

Aha didn't realise that, I'm not sure what rad foxy runs on his stroker, trouble is it's just gone bang, went blooming well tho, here he is on board at Cadwell I'm in front in stock lump 328 but all the bolt ons, dynoed at 241 gee gees on conservative dyno so he is a long way over that. When he passes at 4.2O I'm flat!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WdPKTAMQVao

I recognise that 328!

You have had her back out then, how did the old girl go?

What have you done to her and what are your thoughts now that you have been on track?
PS> I don't have an issue with honesty.

[iSore]

iguana said:

Aha didn't realise that, I'm not sure what rad foxy runs on his stroker, trouble is it's just gone bang, went blooming well tho, here he is on board at Cadwell I'm in front in stock lump 328 but all the bolt ons, dynoed at 241 gee gees on conservative dyno so he is a long way over that. When he passes at 4.2O I'm flat!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WdPKTAMQVao

Nice!

Given how many rusty old 330i's there are about, I'm wondering just how hard it is to convert an M54 to single/non Vanos and use the E36 engine loom and ECU? Or just fit a complete M54 with the existing management, throttle pedal and ASC/DSC?

[aka_kerrly]

Or swap a 3l bottom end onto an existing m52 head an management setup?

[Hamster69]

That is full circle then, because that is what I have done.