350i engine upgrade

[troogly]

I'd appreciate suggestions on how to best upgrade the engine performance of my 350i. It's currently in standard configuration albeit with a variable fuel pressure regulator installed to get the CO levels up to a reasonable level.

I'm thinking about increasing capacity (to say 3.9 litres, maybe re-camming etc. My budget is approx £2000, so a new 4.6 ltr is out of my budget I'm afraid!

I'm looking for better torque / acceleration at lower engine rev's. I've had the car on the dyno and it looks like it's pumping out the specified power output (i.e. I don't think that I have any engine problems(! - touch wood).

Thanks for any suggestions

Troogly

[waynester]

Another option would be to sell the 350 and buy a bigger Wedge? 400, 450.. dare i say SEAC
This way you know that brakes etc are up to the task as well.
Might be cheaper too.

[350matt]

The money is best spent on the inlet side, heads, cam, inlet manifold. Going to 3.95 is also moderatly cost effective if you can find a 2nd hand 3.95 (94mm bore) block as turning a 3.5 block into a 3.9 costs a fair bit.
without increasing capacity I'd say:
stg III heads - bigger inlet valves better chambers and ports - raised compression - probably about 600 quid the pair unless you can broddle yourself
A 270-275 degree cam take you pick there's a fair bit of choice the V8 dev cam is popular - with vernier wheel and uprated springs about 350 quid
Re-worked inlet manifold with short trumpets - 300 quid?
Re-map via Mr adams or an aftermarket ECU 300-600 quid
end result should be about 240ish Bhp

a 3.95 with this kit on it about 270ish and a lot more torque

And before anyone says mine only makes blah -blah and I've got etc...... this is the pretty much the spec of my engine and it makes 270ish as the cracks in my chassis will testify

Matt

[troogly]

Thanks 350Matt and Waynester...useful comments. The 350's brakes are upto a decent standard so I'm confident that a moderate power increase won't give me stopping problems...only those of my own making.

Looks like Stage 3 heads, gas flowed, up the compression and re-cammed sounds like a good alround package. Does anyone know of any downsides to this combination?

I'm not sure about tweaking at the ECU end...am I into a law of diminishing returns at this point (i.e. lots of dollars for not much bang?)

All suggestions gratefully received....while I save up for a 5 litre block.

Troogly

[tallbloke]

waynester said:

Might be cheaper too.

We wish!

[chunder]

waynester said:

Another option would be to sell the 350 and buy a bigger Wedge? 400, 450.. dare i say SEAC This way you know that brakes etc are up to the task as well. Might be cheaper too.

I'm with Wayne on this - a good 350 should get around 5k and a reasonable 390/400 should be able to be got for around 7k.

There's the 2k upgrade and 270-ish bhp with better brakes as well and the SE body. Natural progression.

[gsx600]

[/quote]


I'm with Wayne on this - a good 350 should get around 5k and a reasonable 390/400 should be able to be got for around 7k.

There's the 2k upgrade and 270-ish bhp with better brakes as well and the SE body. Natural progression.[/quote]

Only problem is that the Wedge prices seem to be tumbling with not many being sold. Had mine on sale for a couple of months now. Still managed to purchase a 400 but don't really want 2 wedges, although useful when doing engine swaps !!

Sometimes wish I'd just dropped the engine in the prepared 350 as original plan and not bought the 400 now but as always heart rules over common sense !!

[chunder]

gsx600 said:

I'm with Wayne on this - a good 350 should get around 5k and a reasonable 390/400 should be able to be got for around 7k.

There's the 2k upgrade and 270-ish bhp with better brakes as well and the SE body. Natural progression.[/quote]

Only problem is that the Wedge prices seem to be tumbling with not many being sold. Had mine on sale for a couple of months now. Still managed to purchase a 400 but don't really want 2 wedges, although useful when doing engine swaps !!

Sometimes wish I'd just dropped the engine in the prepared 350 as original plan and not bought the 400 now but as always heart rules over common sense !![/quote]

Looks like a nice 350 and worth the asking price as well. Limited market so may take a while but there must be buyer's out there who recognise the value as what else is there that can compare. I reckon the series 2 350's must be the most reliable of all wedges as well. I guess we just need to keep trying to educate people as to what makes them special.

[york33]

Course price is one thing, but some people might just like THEIR wedge. An engine upgrade/transplant may not be the most cost effective route you could take. But it does let you keep your wedge which you might be strangely attached to

[firefox1712]

Maybe after that lunatic Clarkson's video is out at Christmas buyers will observe the real value of these cars and prices will go up!

Buy now matey.

Just think - those nice Wedgers allowing Clarkson to use their cars for free and he makes millions out of the DVD! Fun day out for them though, I suppose. Normally film cars earn 200-400 a day and more for more special cars. Thats's just for cars making appearances - not for testing and thrashing them!

firefox

[dickymint]

firefox1712 said:

Maybe after that lunatic Clarkson's video is out at Christmas buyers will observe the real value of these cars and prices will go up! firefox

I think the only lunatic there was my mate chucking me 350 sideways at every turn! I was sh*%%ing myself.
Strangely enough the Wife thinks its now running better than ever She is gonna kill me when she sees it.