Author Topic: Engine refresh questions (Read 3801 times)

lqbanotxano · « **on:** May 20, 2012, 10:23:57 AM »

Well, my plan to buy a newer old BMW 3 series was shot down by my wife so�I got to keep working on my current car. I plan to do some major maintenance & some modifications to my engine at the end of the year. There is a chance of my having access to a blown M42 engine (spun bearings) from a 1991 E30 318i.
I have some questions�..
1.   Is the 1991 block & timing gears, chain etc�the same? Can I use an E30 M42 block & put my intake manifold & accessories on it?
2.   What is the most an M42 block can be bored & that stock pistons can be used & found?
3.   Can someone send me the link (if there is one) to where I can find the part numbers to the timing rails, tensioner etc�modifications/updates?
4.   There is already a pusher shroud & fan in front of my radiator. If I replace the clutch fan with a 16� electric puller fan & shroud, what happens to the pusher fan & shroud in front?
5.   Other than sounding like a �fart can�, is there any drawback to the stock muffler? Is it very restrictive?

zacrl1230 · « **Reply #1 on:** May 20, 2012, 11:09:04 PM »

1. YES all m42's (blocks) are the same
2. somewhere I saw a .020 over gasket and ring set though I can't remember where
3. http://www.realoem.com/bmw/partgrp.do?model=AJ93&mospid=47318&hg=11
4. Are you sure that Isn't the A/C fan and condensor??
5. IDK, I like the stock "header" although later versions from the e36 don't have the welded bolt/ports

lqbanotxano · « **Reply #2 on:** May 21, 2012, 04:26:23 PM »

zacrl1230...

Thanks for the reply. Further clarification on my questions.

4. The engine has both a clutch fan on the engine, a shroud behind the radiator & an electric fan on a shroud on the front of the radiator.
5. I am trying to determine if it s worth it to change mufflers.

doitover · « **Reply #3 on:** May 21, 2012, 09:28:36 PM »

Data point of 1, I removed the aux fan and the mechanical fan and have just a simple electric fan strapped to the back of the radiator. It has been doing fine. I ran with no fan at all for over a year before that but had to be careful to watch the gauge at long traffic lights on triple digit days. I only added the fan after the people that converted the AC to 134 suggested I'd need it for the AC to work.

zacrl1230 · « **Reply #4 on:** May 21, 2012, 10:48:42 PM »

So yeah the one on the front is for the A/C
look up electric fan mod on this forum and do something like that

you can just do a cat-back exhaust job 100-400$$ depending on the shop and the brand of muffler you go with especially if the shop is a custom exhaust shop that will salvage your resonator

gearheadE30 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 29, 2012, 08:13:08 PM »

Actually, not all M42's are the same. E30 M42's have a timing chain idler gear, 7mm valve stems, and double-wound valve springs among other things, where e36's got a slider, 6mm stems, a slightly different head and intake, and single wound springs. E36's also have knock sensors iirc.

lqbanotxano · « **Reply #6 on:** June 08, 2012, 05:32:04 PM »

Delta cams will do a mild performance regrind for $95.00 each cam. They can't do welding because the cams are hollow. So it is a mild performance gain. I was thinking of sending my intake cam for regrind when I perform the engine refresh later this year.
Any comments on doing this?

lqbanotxano · « **Reply #7 on:** June 09, 2012, 04:44:43 PM »

Any info on Delta cam question above?