Cheap power!

[bimmerdremer]

I love my lil 318i e30 but the time is approaching to ditch the four banger. Im sure I will end up swapping the motor but the question is what is the best route for 180-220rwhp? I dont want to spend over 7000 total. Is a turbo motor the way to go?.....Ive also considered the s50, cobra 5.0 v8, and m20(turbo)

[KNivES]

Turbo and Cheap don't go together...

[89325iturbo]

An m20 turbo is going to be the cheapest out of the three, but obviously the other two engines have more potential.

[bimmerdremer]

Can the m20 reliably put out 200rwhp? The car will be daily driven so I dont want to squeeze to hard.

[89325iturbo]

It can do 200whp reliabily no problem, it would only be 6-7psi to get those numbers.

[grk325]

you can run 8psi on stock internals

[89325iturbo]

You can run more then 8psi on stock internals. The internals themselfs are pretty strong, and can with stand decent amount of pressure. Its the detonation, of a not properly tuned car that destroys parts. The weakest link is the pistons, even though there a strong cast when detonation occurs there what is getting hit. The stock rods are forged, and should have no problems. The crank again cast, but should have no problems. Im running 14psi on a stock 325i, that would probably be my limit, mostly because of the compression ratio. Yo can buy a thicker head gasket which i did. But to run higher boost you need to do it the right way, and have low compression pistons. Thats why i bought a set of JE's, and after break in i will be running 17-18psi. So basicly keep the detonation in check, and you should be fine. And the first way to do so is keep the incoming air as cool as possible.

[bimmerdremer]

thanks alot. I think the m20 swap is for me. How much would a 8psi turbo system cost (once the engine was abord). Are there any things i should look for when buying m20's?

[89325iturbo]

Heres what i would get to do a turbo system on the m20
First you need a manifold, i would just buy an adapter from www.proturbo.fi - or if you can weld make an adapter off your stock manifolds.
If you plan on running no more them 8psi you could use a T3 turbo, but if you think you might want to turn it up a little your better off just getting a T3/T4 first.
For an intercooler theres all sorts of different shapes and sizes you could buy of ebay, depending on were you would mount it.
Buy a set of 21 pound injectors if your gonna stay in the 8-10psi range, otherwise get a little bit bigger ones if you want to run more psi.
Then get a rising rate FMU, just go with a Vortech since there the cheapest.
Since you would probably take the M20 engine apart when you got it just put in the thicker head gasket.
I recomend getting head studs over the stock head bolts, one of the best things to get when building a turbo motor.
For intercooler piping go with 2, or 2-1/4 inch diameter, exhaust piping.
Thats pretty much it for the main items, you would obviously want to do the normal tune up things also, but i would say around $2,000 dollars maybe a little more if you need to get things welded.

[bimmerdremer]

Thanks alot! after takin a ride in my friends (phreeze) turboxs wrx I feel the need for boost! Performance wise do you think a 200rwhp M20 in my 2700lb car would keep with a stock wrx, e36 m3, or stock 3000gt?

[89325iturbo]

Both the wrx, and 3000gt are gonna get you from a stop, because of the all wheel drive. Once on a roll you could probably stay with a regular wrx, non-STI. The 3000gt would still get you i imagine. With an e36 m3 it would probably be close with 200whp, but i think the m3 might still be quicker they just deliver power really well. But with a little more power, it should win over a stock m3