1.8 to 2.0 swap And is this car anything special?

shadyduk1979 · #1 (**permalink**) 04-09-2005, 12:02 PM

while runing around the boneyard today i cam across a 79 320i with a 2.0 in it now my question is this kind of a swap worth doing or is it a complete waste of time? also i notice the car has on it what look alot like alpina wheels but they are 13 inchers. im planning on buying them anyway but i was just curious if they could even possibly be anything special (newbe here)

Matt · #2 (**permalink**) 04-09-2005, 08:40 PM

The '79 came with a 2.0. The wheels are nothing special.

Matt

CleanAzzE30z · #3 (**permalink**) 04-11-2005, 01:24 PM

Its good if you have the 1.8 intake manifold with the 2.0 bottom end due to the 2.0's being more restrictive, but the whole 2.0L engine is actually marginally weaker than the 1.8. Uberpanzer would know the specifics on this and I will let him know of this thread so you can get the optimum bang for the proverbial buck.

uberpanzer · #4 (**permalink**) 04-12-2005, 03:50 AM

Dam it!!! Mariano was just talking with me about this the other day too. I seem to remember what he already said, which is that the 1.8L intake manifold flows better (and maybe the head too...), but the blocks are both stout. Sounds like it is just a slightly upgraded (factory options) e21. The wheels are the ones I've seen on most e21's (other than steelies and BBS 320is baskets). Nothing too special, but better than steel wheels, and you know they fit perfectly.