Author Topic: E30 M42, E36 M42 or E36 M44 for stroker build? (Read 10581 times)

Jimmy Lewis · « **Reply #15 on:** May 04, 2008, 08:48:19 PM »

You also have to look at the fact that when you do make that large investment, you are starting with a 0 mile engine that is built to take the abuse, while making this car as fast as it needs to be. With the craze of the 24v swap, people overlook the idea of purchasing an engine that was maintained by any number of people; who knows what kind of care these people put into maintenance. If you hop over to r3v it is common for people to spend upwards of $4k for a proper M50 swap. To me, the idea of having an engine with more power, with zero wear, and that is completely built to the hilt to rev to 8K , is just absolutely bitchin' in every way. I of course could never afford a $7500 engine, but to someone with that kind of money to spend, I can definitely see the value in it.

dude8383 · « **Reply #16 on:** May 04, 2008, 10:19:28 PM »

Quote from: Jimmy Lewis;48595

You also have to look at the fact that when you do make that large investment, you are starting with a 0 mile engine that is built to take the abuse, while making this car as fast as it needs to be. With the craze of the 24v swap, people overlook the idea of purchasing an engine that was maintained by any number of people; who knows what kind of care these people put into maintenance. If you hop over to r3v it is common for people to spend upwards of $4k for a proper M50 swap. To me, the idea of having an engine with more power, with zero wear, and that is completely built to the hilt to rev to 8K , is just absolutely bitchin' in every way. I of course could never afford a $7500 engine, but to someone with that kind of money to spend, I can definitely see the value in it.

Maybe I misunderstood what you mentioned but...People are spending $4k on M50 swaps with proper rebuilds. I know because I've probably spent that much so far on my rebuild!

sheepdog · « **Reply #17 on:** May 05, 2008, 08:22:32 PM »

Quote from: dude8383;48611

Maybe I misunderstood what you mentioned but...People are spending $4k on M50 swaps with proper rebuilds. I know because I've probably spent that much so far on my rebuild!

Yes, but for most people it will take that much again to get it installed (or more).

sumyungguy · « **Reply #18 on:** May 05, 2008, 09:50:36 PM »

Quote from: sheepdog;48592

In your mind what exactly constitutes extremely overpriced.

$3k+ for a head thats 6 thou out of strait and none of the valves seat/sealed properly. The head looked to be surfaced on a belt sander and never checked, the bar rocked back and forth it was so high in the center. You know about engine building, so you can see why I have my opinions. Didn't want to blatantly say that up front cause thats bad business, I could careless how much he knows about the m42 if hes sending out stuff like that.

sheepdog · « **Reply #19 on:** May 06, 2008, 11:47:35 AM »

Quote from: sumyungguy;48697

$3k+ for a head thats 6 thou out of strait and none of the valves seat/sealed properly. The head looked to be surfaced on a belt sander and never checked, the bar rocked back and forth it was so high in the center. You know about engine building, so you can see why I have my opinions. Didn't want to blatantly say that up front cause thats bad business, I could careless how much he knows about the m42 if hes sending out stuff like that.

Hmm...
Almost no head would seal like that.

I can see why you would say it was crap, but to me, it sounds like someone screwed with that head or someone faked it or something. I have met several people with their 6 cylinders and all of them were happy as hell with everything. All were very strong running engines. A head like that would never make full power, and every one I have seen has definitely made the power MM claimed.

$3k?
Hmm, that is high. The M42 head is $1500, which is far better.

I am curious about that head you saw though. It does not make any sense.

sumyungguy · « **Reply #20 on:** May 06, 2008, 11:00:24 PM »

Sorry if I was coming off as a cock earlier, letting other things get to me and venting..

The head was fresh from MM, never installed on a block. I know the customer ended up not using it and its sitting in his garage, he ended up having Tinney build him a complete stroker m20 (3.0l I believe). I was a tech doing mostly r&d stuff for nearly 4years and just started getting into engine building the first of this year. Seeing lots of work from places I thought where good cause of the name they have built for themselves but sending out junk work while charging a premium. Big wow was the horrible Serdi valve seat cuts Ive been seeing, these things are big $$$ but people seem to think they run themselves and dont check things out before slapping it together. You made a good point, its hard to find machine shops that can do anything other than American junk, when you do they are pricey. Its really up to the person doing the work and how much they felt like putting into it on that specific job.

sheepdog · « **Reply #21 on:** May 07, 2008, 11:20:55 AM »

Quote from: sumyungguy;48799

Sorry if I was coming off as a cock earlier, letting other things get to me and venting..

The head was fresh from MM, never installed on a block. I know the customer ended up not using it and its sitting in his garage, he ended up having Tinney build him a complete stroker m20 (3.0l I believe). I was a tech doing mostly r&d stuff for nearly 4years and just started getting into engine building the first of this year. Seeing lots of work from places I thought where good cause of the name they have built for themselves but sending out junk work while charging a premium. Big wow was the horrible Serdi valve seat cuts Ive been seeing, these things are big $$$ but people seem to think they run themselves and dont check things out before slapping it together. You made a good point, its hard to find machine shops that can do anything other than American junk, when you do they are pricey. Its really up to the person doing the work and how much they felt like putting into it on that specific job.

Hmm, I am not sure if it was luck of the draw or what in that case. Far different than what I saw when I was there. If it were my head I would have been livid.

mrdane · « **Reply #22 on:** May 08, 2008, 01:13:31 PM »

Well, I've partially found my answer. Apparently some 1995 318i models used the M42 and MAF, which allows the engine to breathe better. As opposed to a M42 with AFM or a M44 with MAF. Anyone else aware of this peculiarity of the 1995 model year 318i? Still not sure on the decision of E30 318i or E36 318i.