Author Topic: Cheapest and easiest way to 200bhp??  (Read 4357 times)

P Zero

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Cheapest and easiest way to 200bhp??
« on: August 12, 2008, 07:01:20 PM »
Due to other commitments, I dont have the time I used to to spend on the car. Although I am slowly managing to build up the suspension and brakes, etc, the engine is one thing I am struggling to find the time and money to get going with.

The plan was to build a 2.0 stroker, ITB's, cams, lightened valvetrain, etc, but I'm now wondering if it wouldn't be quicker and cheaper to fab an Eaton M45 SC setup? My goal was for 200bhp NA, but there are a couple of folks around with M45 blowers getting nearly 200bhp successfully and reliably.

I'm looking for opinions. Stick with the original plan or stick a blower on it?
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ak96ss

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Cheapest and easiest way to 200bhp??
« Reply #1 on: August 12, 2008, 07:46:03 PM »
Define successful and reliable, then we can talk. Have they run 100k miles on it yet?
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uh, it's a '91 318is, like everyone else...

P Zero

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Cheapest and easiest way to 200bhp??
« Reply #2 on: August 13, 2008, 03:18:09 AM »
Quote from: ak96ss;54758
Define successful and reliable, then we can talk. Have they run 100k miles on it yet?


Successful as in they get a decent power hike.
Reliable as in they still use the car as their daily driver with not many problems.

Car manufacturers still build cars that last a lot less than 100k miles and still call them 'reliable'.

What I mean is that I want an engine thats not going to need a rebuild every 10k ;)
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Boyracer

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Cheapest and easiest way to 200bhp??
« Reply #3 on: August 13, 2008, 07:53:19 AM »
I think super/turbochargin is the easy and cheap way.

NA is the zen way :o

rob_e30

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Cheapest and easiest way to 200bhp??
« Reply #4 on: August 13, 2008, 08:40:02 AM »
Affordable, reliable, powerful... pick any two.

That being said, I think the best combination of the 3 would be a DASC or some supercharger implementation.  You don't have to open up the engine and you don't have to change the exhaust manifold and all the intake plumbing.

P Zero

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Cheapest and easiest way to 200bhp??
« Reply #5 on: August 13, 2008, 09:22:33 AM »
Well, I might still stroke it to 2.0 litres, but its all the head work that was starting to run up the cost and time.

Would an Eaton M45 be too small for a 2 litre engine or would I be better off with something a bit bigger?

I might still stick with the original plan, but I want to look at my options properly first. I'm not too keen on the power delivery characteristics of a turbocharged engine, but from what I've heard, supercharging is more similar to N/A. Would that be a correct assumption?
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GrindCulture

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Cheapest and easiest way to 200bhp??
« Reply #6 on: August 13, 2008, 12:22:03 PM »
Cheapest way to 200bhp would be M50/M52, but we'll leave that 6pot nonsense to the fascists on the other forums...

"Scrap yard" low boost turbo build would be the way I would (and might) go in the future, using volvo parts and such like. You'll still need to get some kinda stand alone CPU and manifolds etc. which would be the biggest dent in the wallet, but you could learn to adjust the maps etc. yourself.
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AcSchnitzer318is

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Cheapest and easiest way to 200bhp??
« Reply #7 on: August 13, 2008, 05:07:14 PM »
^That's exactly what I'm doing... got the turbo already.  Will pick up other stuff as funds allow.


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P Zero

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Cheapest and easiest way to 200bhp??
« Reply #8 on: August 13, 2008, 05:29:56 PM »
Quote from: GrindCulture;54803
Cheapest way to 200bhp would be M50/M52, but we'll leave that 6pot nonsense to the fascists on the other forums...


Theres a very good reason I didnt ask this question on the 'other' forum. You know the one I mean, Grindculture :p
BMW E30 318is track project
Audi A4 130 Sport Avant