E30 M3 with S38 engine

[needmorepower]

I assume nobody has ever tried the S54/S38 hybrid before because it seems pretty complicated. If anyone has tell me how it went. And yay the S38 is twin cam but the dual vanos and the better flowing head is what I am after. If the head bolted to the block somehow I think that I could reshape and enlarge the combustion chamber a bit, maybe using flatter top pistons so compression wouldn't be so high, I think, but I don't know because I have never seen the two parts next to each or measured clearances. If anybody has, help me out.

[CleanAzzE30z]

Man, you sound serious. I have to see this. Thumbs up on at least thinking out of the proverbial "box".

[JointRollerInc]

If the S38 is a single row, why can't you just machine dual row pulley's? Have U.S. Tsubaki make you a new one.

[needmorepower]

Its twin cam just no dual vanos which is what I want.

[uberpanzer]

S38 does not HAVE VANOS. The S54 does. Are you talking about swapping the head from a S54 onto a S38? I don't get what this S54/S38 hybrid is you speak of.

Oh, and the S38 into a e30 M3 was done extensively by the German tuners with great success. The main issue some people had with it wasn't the weight itself, but WHERE the weight was centered. The Big Six powerplant through weight out in front of the wheels, which hurt turn-in a little bit. You can dial out the understeer with suspension tweaks, but you can't change where the weight is. I have managed to get a ride in a S38 powered e30 M3 and it is stupid fast. But the car did feel nose heavy (not just the weight since it was a c/f hood), but the tail was HAPPY to step out at a moments notice to change the car from understeer to throttle-on oversteer. Just isn't THAT great on the tires!

[AlpinaTurbo]

Originally Posted by hammerfang

wouldn't an s38 motor totally throw off the perfect weight distribution and therefore the handling characteristics of the e30 m3, correct me if im wrong, but i thought the whole reason for getting the e30 m3 was for its raw handling and balance, not straight line acceleration, so i say if u want to drop an s38 in an e30 go for it, but don't tear apart a nearly perfect car and amke it due something it wasn;t designed for, do us all a favor and save ur e30 m3, go buy some other non m3 e30 and work the hell out of it

WERD I wouldnt do that to a collecters car. especially an E30 m3 hang on to that thing man. DO what I do and put it in a 325is!!!

[needmorepower]

I have heard that you can shorten the driveshaft by about 7cm and put the engine in a Hartge style postion. Hatge claimed to keep the stokc balance with their car of 52/48, and yes to the head block question.

[Big Tommy]

ive seen the engine moved back in an audi of some description it required required new mounts diffs and shafts but with a heavy-ish engine i would consider i am currently trying to source parts for the same swap. i am considering moving the engine back a bit to give the car a more mid-engined feel