M44 Turbo Project has begun!!

[Shaheenem]

Hey Guys

New to the forum...

I have decided to go the forced induction route on my M44...

I managed to get a shop to fabricate me a turbo branch manifold... Its gona cost me about $300-$400 for that... I managed to get a T3/T4 Garrett turbo for silly money ($130)... The guy wanted to get rid of it after using it for only a week... He upgraded to a T58...

Just a few questions... I dont know how im going to sort out the fueling? I was thinking of maybe using a piggy-back system of sorts...

Also, where do i place the MAF? Before or after the turbo?
Where do i place the BOV?

Im not going to be running high boost for now... Maybe 7PSI as it is my daily drive...

Im also looking at getting M42 pistons and conrods seeing as they are forged.

What kind of options do i have in respect to a thicker head gasket?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[nuvolarossa]

how you will fit M42 pistons in M44 block? The bore is different ;)
FIY the M42 pistons aren't forged;)

[Shaheenem]

I sincerely apologise 4 the mistake... Im somewhat of a newbie m42/m44 engine and the forced induction arena... This is my first attempt at the FI side of things...

[1991 E30 M42]

M42 stock pistons are 83.980MM, M42 50 over pistons are 84.480MM
M44 stock pistons are 84.985MM, M42 50 over pistons are 85.485MM
even if you got over sized pistons and rings, the piston would flop around in the bore. Another issue would me stroke and the fitment of the M42 crank. The M42 has a shorter stroke and it has 8 counterweights as the M44 one only has 4 counterweights. The M44 also has a crankshaft positioning sensor mounted in the side of the block and has a corresponding wheel mounted to the number 4 counterweight.

[DaveM-sport]

Which would be a better engine to turbo-charge? And M42 or an M44???

I know the M44 has a DET sensor which would be usefull, but does the forged crank and rods of the M42 out-weigh this advantage?

[nuvolarossa]

Which would be a better engine to turbo-charge? And M42 or an M44???

I know the M44 has a DET sensor which would be usefull, but does the forged crank and rods of the M42 out-weigh this advantage?
With stock internals the M42 will be more affidable for sure, but if your plan is a lot of boost, IMHO there isn't difference, because you'll change internals (priced the same between twos), HG gasket is same price and so on.
For me the M44 crankshaft isn't a problem. And IIRC the M44 head flow a little more, the problem is that M44 valvetrain doesn't like high revs, but I don't care about that:cool:

The ideal will be a hybrid with M47 crank, my dream;):D

[Shaheenem]

Well i spoke to Gizmo318i over from bimmerforums earlier... Gona get the crank and rods from the m42... He told me that it would be able to work with the m44, with a little modification of course... Hopefully i can pick it up from him this week...

That would bring my compression slightly lower as the stroke will be shorter with the m42 crank... Now im just gona research some of my fueling options... Been looking at a few products such as this one... http://www.perfectpower.com/products/Letripp_Turbofueller.asp (Turbo Fueler Perfect Power)

Let me know what you guys think...

@ novulorossa... I was actually deciding between the stroker route like Gizmo318i but decided that this route would be much more rewarding for me...

Thanks

Shaheen

[tjts1]

You could cut down an M50 turbo manifold. I see them on ebay for about $100. God know about quality though.
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/3/web/2307000-2307999/watermark_2307207_75_full.jpg
http://www.318ti.org/forum/showthread.php?t=20549&page=2

[Shaheenem]

That looks like an option but then again like you said, the quality of the ebay manifolds are not up to scratch... I have heard 4rm a few people that they tend 2 crack at the welds with the expansion and contraction of the heat... I havnt seen one of those installed before...

[1991 E30 M42]

You could cut down an M50 turbo manifold. I see them on ebay for about $100. God know about quality though.
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/3/web/2307000-2307999/watermark_2307207_75_full.jpg
http://www.318ti.org/forum/showthread.php?t=20549&page=2

I have thought about doing that but looking at an m50 manifold compared to an m42 manifold it looks like the positioning of the turbo on the m42 manifold is higher and further away from the engine

[Shaheenem]

Hey guys

Just a little update... I got the complete m42 sub-assembly (Block, pistons, crank, rods, etc, etc) this weekend... Also managed to get the SMT6 piggy-back system with com cable and software... Looks like everything is going according to plan...

Will hopefully get the bottom end rebuilt in the coming weeks and just waiting for the custom branch to get done and still looking around for a thicker head gasket...

Will add pics as soon as i can... :)

[Shaheenem]

Hey guys

Its been a while since my last update... Been very busy lately with work and stuff... Also bought an e46 323i for $7000 in very good condition, so i have been doing a few cosmetic changes to that car...

Well, i managed to get an Cometic MLS head gasket in 0.120". Waiting for them to ship it to me...

This guy who is doing the branch for me is really taking his own sweet time to finish it... Hope fully i can finish this project by the end of this month or mid may... Fingers crossed!

[ose30]

I suggest you should read Corky Bell's book "Maximum Boost". It's quite old book, but you will find there the answers to most of your questions.

I can't see any reson why you should Cometic MLS or any other fancy gasket. The OEM gasket will work just fine if your air/fuel ratio is correct all the time. Or are you using that gasket to drop the compression ratio? I would go with turbo pistons.

[Shaheenem]

Well, the head gasket has finally arrived... This project is taking longer than i expected...

I cant even start with stripping my the motor in my car as the e46 that was suppose to be my daily drive has been sent in for some major repairs and i am forced to use the e36 until then...

Anyway, just wanted to post a few pics... Still waiting for some parts to be shipped to me...

Pics

Perfect power SMT 6 with harness
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x60/shaheenem/27042008008.jpg

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x60/shaheenem/27042008011.jpg


Cometic 0.120" SS head gasket
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x60/shaheenem/27042008010.jpg

M42 Block
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x60/shaheenem/27042008012.jpg

Pistons, conrods, crank, turbo, etc.
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x60/shaheenem/27042008014.jpg


More pics to follow soon.

[omar85]

good to see the progress. g/l man. keep us updated

[hesgone2fast]

Hi there, good work, I see that that block has knock sensors, did M42 also have knock sensors?
What bore has that multilayer headgastket?

[vatos_p]

Cometic 0.120" SS head gasket , how much will the pressure ratio drop ?

[Shaheenem]

Hey guys...

The e36 m42 did indeed have knock sensors... I think the e30 m42 does not...

The gasket has a 85mm bore...

[Shaheenem]

Im expecting around 8.5-9:1 ratio but i havent done a calculation as yet... Still need 2 get the block resurfaced and the head...