Messages

1

Interior / Trying to fit an Mtech 1 steering wheel on..!

« on: October 13, 2011, 01:32:57 PM »

This man speaks the truth, I had a momo on my 91 cabrio and it had a spacer ring that was approx. 5mm thick.

2

Engine + Driveline / increasing m42 bore size

« on: September 22, 2011, 01:02:26 AM »

Use some pistons out of a e36 M3 with the S52B32 engine, basically any M3 engine from 96-99. You will increase the bore to 86.4mm and you will lower your compression to 8.5to1 or so. I would do a little more math to get the CR just right but If you deck the block and head a little to straighten them out yous should end up around 8.5-9.0 to 1. This would be perfect for a turbo application, you would also retain the M42 crank which is forged, I think you may want to swap rods too thought, I know the M50NV rods are pretty hefty and should handle some good boost.

3

Engine + Driveline / paper gasket or silicone

« on: September 19, 2011, 04:35:55 PM »

ok so i replaced the upper and lower pan gasket and also but some permatex on bothsides of the gaskets and put locetite on the bolts and its still leaking a bit. :mad: the drip seems to lead down to the right side of the lower oil pan but i can point it out where its coming from. anyone have any ideas wheres the leak coming from?? plz help

Did you do the o ring on the dipstick tube? If it's not that I would guess the oil filter housing to block seal, or the seals on the timing cover.

4

Engine + Driveline / paper gasket or silicone

« on: September 15, 2011, 11:36:41 PM »

oh ok cool bro thanks any recommendations on the easiest way to remove the pan?

No idea, my m42 is stuffed into my '75 2002. I did my pan job when I had the motor sitting on an engine stand. I think you will want to disconnect the motor mounts and jack up the engine to get as much room between it and the cross member and then start pulling bolts. There are more than you think, including some hiding back inside the bell housing. you may also need a rubber mallet to break it free. mine was stuck on there pretty good. Good luck

5

Engine + Driveline / paper gasket or silicone

« on: September 15, 2011, 01:12:58 AM »

Both. I do a layer on the block then stick the gasket on there so it sticks and you can line it up nice and easy. Then a layer on the pan and bolt it up. I do a real thin layer so that you dont have a bunch squeeze out into the oil pan.

dont forget the thread locker on those upper oil pan bolts that are inside the pan.

6

For Sale / M42 motor cheap

« on: September 13, 2011, 01:32:55 PM »

FYI that is not cheap. I got 2 motors, a tranny two harnesses, an Ecu, a couple rads, couple drive shafts, and all accessories for $500. If you want to sell by the end of the week the going rate will be around $300 for a runner, yours isn't even assembled nor running. Good luck with sale.

7

General Topics / timing chain tensioner cap

« on: September 13, 2011, 01:29:43 PM »

I use an open ended wrench that grabs the walls of the bolt as apposed to the corners of the bolt. I have a metric craftsman set and they come in handy all the freakin time. Cost about $30 for 3 wrenches but as usual, they are worth their weight in gold for jobs like these.

8

Swaps, Turbos, Buildups / S52 pistons in otherwise stock M42 (ohh I've searched)

« on: August 28, 2011, 04:24:18 PM »

alrighty found all the info I needed I think.
KH = Center or wristpin bor to top of piston
VT = depth of depression in piston crown
MT = Depth of depression in piston top
GL = Total lenght of piston

           l           M42            l            S52
KH       l           31.65          l              31
VT       l      1.65/1.85          l         1.62/3
MT      l            4.5             l             4.08
GL        l          52.65           l             53

9

Swaps, Turbos, Buildups / S52 pistons in otherwise stock M42 (ohh I've searched)

« on: August 28, 2011, 12:43:32 PM »

found it

http://www.motorenteile.mahle.com:8080/eLIZA/mahle/query/engine/byParams

Try here for piston specs

This is awesome, This should be a sticky, submit the link on the sticky thats already at the top of this sub-forum.


Anyone know what the piston measurements relate to? KH, VT, MT, GL,

10

For Sale / Parting out complete M42 engine from a 91 - CA

« on: August 28, 2011, 12:42:19 PM »

looking for an exhaust cam and tray as long as it does not have any scoring on the journals.

11

Swaps, Turbos, Buildups / S52 pistons in otherwise stock M42 (ohh I've searched)

« on: August 25, 2011, 01:28:53 AM »

Just wondering where s52 pistons will put me in terms of displacement and compression ratio in an otherwise stock M42 engine. I have a spare engine that blew a head gasket and was left to sit with water in a cylinder and It now needs a good Bore so I am going with S52 pistons for the price, availability and the need to stick with OEM BMW parts.

I just want to know Compression ratio?
Will the pistons need to be decked to make a reasonable CR? will new valve reliefs need to be cut into piston tops?
What head gasket will I have to use?
Any other pertinent info I should know before this undertaking?

The motor will be going into my '75 BMW 2002. Car only weights 2000lbs so I don't need a ridiculous amount of power.

Also some info on the VW lifter swap would be helpful as well. thanks in advance.

12

Engine + Driveline / Any of you guys have any experience with this chip?

« on: August 22, 2011, 04:50:26 PM »

its likely just a copy of a much better more expensive chip. You are taking money out of good programmers pockets when you buy chips like this. With that said you usually get a good tune but they buy the cheapest PROM's they can find in bulk and some are likely to be bad. My guess is that this is a copy of a mark D chip. Most ECU's have a 125mph speed limiter built in. The fact that the M42 cant reach that speed does not mean that it is not programmed into the DME.

13

Swaps, Turbos, Buildups / two s54 powerd e30's picstures

« on: August 19, 2011, 01:28:28 PM »

part of the problem with the S54 swap is that the harness has inputs for all kinds of sensors that only the E46 M3 has.. from my understanding anyhow.. like accelerometers, and the such.... The M54 has been done, i think the guy posts on R3limited. The S54 is even a pain in the ass when transplanting into another E46.

I think you can get a S54 set up for around 5k$ ish... depending on how patient you are and how well you comb the forums. I would agree though, go to copart.com and get a car that has been rear-ended take your required items for the swap, then part the rest out and put some cash in your pocket.

You can get an M54B30 for around 2200$ from car-part.com, they are pretty good motors, i have an E46 330, with a light weight flywheel the motor is a pretty fun motor... Just doesn't have the power or RPM's of the S54

m54 also does not require shimming of the valves which is costly even if you do it yourself and a pain in the ass. I would go M54 from a ZHP model if possible over the s54 but that's just for practicality.

14

M42 Reference / How far can you go? Fuel tank cap.

« on: July 27, 2011, 03:30:50 PM »

damn I wish I had a fuel light. I just bang a left hand turn hard on the throttle and if it cuts out I know its about time to fill her up.

15

Vendors / GB / Silicone hose kit, e30 M42

« on: July 04, 2011, 02:10:38 PM »

Nope.  I'd figure that would make a great kit, one to replace the coolant hoses. He stocks one for the M20 but not the M42 from what I've seen.

I'll let everyone know where this goes; from what I've seen silicone rubber seems to be one of those miracle materials that are a true improvement over OEM.

darn, That is the only stock cooling hose I have in place on my m42 swapped car and I would love to upgrade it. My engine sits fairly close to the radiator and my alternator fan keeps grinding away at the stock rubber one. I know its not going to last long so I need to get a replacement. Anyone know of a silicone version of the overflow hose?