Got the cylinder head dropped off at RPM Machine today. They checked it and it did have some warpage, so they are going to disassemble the valve train and mill the surface.

He did a vacuum test and cylinder 3 failed. He'll look at that more closely when it's disassembled, and if the head needs work, they'll call me. Nice shop - they seem to know what the hell they're doing. Ray Carrier had them do his E30 M3 motor - they did a great job.

I'm taking the short block to them too to have the bores and rings checked. He's going to replace the rod and main bearings while he's in there.

I guess I should have waited to paint the short block. :confused

I called Todd at TCD (http://www.turbochargingdynamics.com) and he said that my kit is assembled except for the turbo and the exhaust... :buttrock

I dropped off the intake manifold and valve cover at the powdercoater today. They will be done tomorrow.

Getting closer!

I don't know much about what you just said, but it all sounds very grown-up and cool! :thumbup:

Hey Makr, ever change rod and main bearings in an M30 motor before? I'm thinking maybe I should do them myself.

Anyone? Bueller?

Hey Makr, ever change rod and main bearings in an M30 motor before? I'm thinking maybe I should do them myself.

Anyone? Bueller?



Yes, in fact I have a couple sets, I think, dont remember what size they are.. I also have all of the bore gages, etc., if you need.


Clay, is Ron Lamon still running RPM? I heard he sold it to his employees. He did my m30 motor, after another shop completely screwed it up. I am a big fan of his work.

I didn't see Ron there, I've heard of him. I will ask Daymon when I take my block in. They all gathered around a bit excited (if you ask me) when I brought the BMW cylinder head in, and one of them said, "if I had a buck for every one of those I've worked on". A couple guys came out and drooled over my car. I don't think they knew what they were looking at. Most people don't know an M535i from a brick.

I have heard only good things about RPM. What you just mentioned only reinforced my decision to use them for my machine work.

I'm going to see if I can borrow or steal a pickup to haul the engine over to them. It's just the short block, the oil pan is removed, and a lot of the bolt-ons are removed, so it's in a bit of a fragile state what with the oil pump poking out and all (he he - poking out ;) ).

Dude man I need a truck.

what turbo are they using by the way? and I never got an answer on why you are going to be running super low compression.

I believe the actual turbo is made by Precision Turbo.

The kit is by Turbocharging Dynamics (http://www.turbochargingdynamics.com). I'm running lower compression to allow me to run more boost. I should be able to run 20 psi boost no problem on a 7.5:1 motor. :devillook

If you tried running 20 psi on my Euro 10:1 M30 motor, it would blow up. :nono

Lower compression = can run more boost

TURBO PICS
http://www.tycksen.com/images/bmw/forum_misc/tcd_turbo1.jpg
http://www.tycksen.com/images/bmw/forum_misc/tcd_turbo2.jpg
http://www.tycksen.com/images/bmw/forum_misc/tcd_turbo3.jpg

I plan on running 24 psi on 9.5:1. That's an Innovative Turbo Systems turbo, not Precision.

Is this what your manifold looks like?

http://www.turbochargingdynamics.com/tcd_catal_e_Turbo_man_pic_001.jpg

Is that the only place they could put the turbo? It doesen't look like it flows very well.

I plan on running 24 psi on 9.5:1. That's an Innovative Turbo Systems turbo, not Precision.

Is this what your manifold looks like?

http://www.turbochargingdynamics.com/tcd_catal_e_Turbo_man_pic_001.jpg

Is that the only place they could put the turbo? It doesen't look like it flows very well.
Yep, that's the manifold. No, it's not the only place they could put the turbo. It flows extremely well. Have you read Maximum Boost by Corky Bell (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?ISBN=0837601606&pdf=y)?

Mine is located in the same place, different manifold though. There isnt much room under there. I couldnt fit a larger turbo that I have.

Yep, that's the manifold. No, it's not the only place they could put the turbo. It flows extremely well. Have you read Maximum Boost by Corky Bell (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?ISBN=0837601606&pdf=y)?


I own it and have read most of it.

A turbo manifold should be designed with equal length runners so that the exhaust pulses reach the turbine at the same time. The manifold above will cause a lot of turbulance.

This is the manifold I will be running.

http://www.xmission.com/~eblais/20vexhaustmani/P1010030.JPG

It is a near equal length runner design. I'm not saying a log style manifold won't work but the design of that one is kinda funky.

something like this would be more ideal.

http://www.atpturbo.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/Catalog%20Images/vwaudi/vvw001-01.jpg

I own it and have read most of it.

A turbo manifold should be designed with equal length runners so that the exhaust pulses reach the turbine at the same time. The manifold above will cause a lot of turbulance.

This is the manifold I will be running.

http://www.xmission.com/~eblais/20vexhaustmani/P1010030.JPG

It is a near equal length runner design. I'm not saying a log style manifold won't work but the design of that one is kinda funky.

something like this would be more ideal.

http://www.atpturbo.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/Catalog%20Images/vwaudi/vvw001-01.jpg


on yours ( top pic) where is the waste gate?

I'm not positive as my car is going to be the prototype manifold for the MKIV 1.8t.. that mani is for a MKIII. But it will most likely be like this full race manifold.

http://www.full-race.com/catalog/images/1.8T_mani_07.jpg

http://www.full-race.com/catalog/images/1.8T_mani_07.jpg


That is hot. Someone has some time in that. Is your new manifold being built by the same guy?


Ideally, yes, equal runner lenght, but there is no way (reasonable) of doing it on the m30 motor and e28 chassis.

That is a Full Race manifold. They go for about $1200. The one I am buying will be similar but I won't be paying that much. The guy that is building mine built the one I posted above. He also made this.

http://www.xmission.com/~eblais/20vexhaustmani/P1010019.JPG

http://www.xmission.com/~eblais/20vexhaustmani/P1010016.JPG

http://www.xmission.com/~eblais/20vexhaustmani/P1010015.JPG

He does great work and he's only 21. Plus he's local.

Those look like works of art...

...A turbo manifold should be designed with equal length runners so that the exhaust pulses reach the turbine at the same time. The manifold above will cause a lot of turbulance.

...I'm not saying a log style manifold won't work but the design of that one is kinda funky.
Ideally, yes, equal runner lenght, but there is no way (reasonable) of doing it on the m30 motor and e28 chassis.
You are both right: (1) an equal-length-runner exhaust manifold is better than a "log" style manifold, all other things in the turbo system being equal, and (2) there is not enough room in the E28, with the M30 motor, for such a manifold.

Not only is there not enough room in the engine bay next to the M30 in the E28 for an all-out, custom equal-runner-length manifold like the one you're going to use, the performance increase between the two manifolds (the TCD "log" style and your equal-runner length style) is so negligible that it would not justify the increase in cost/price for me to go with an equal-runner length style manifold, even if I did have room for it.

Yes, it would be best to use an equal-runner-length manifold, if money was no object.

However, my goal is the acquiring the most horsepower per dollar spent. If I had to tack on, let's say, another $1000 for a custom equal-runner-length manifold, the extra thousand wouldn't provide such a noticeable increase in power that I could justify the expense.

Make sense?

It's the same logic that says, if a $1000 exhaust gets you a gain of 5 HP, ($200 per HP) it's not worth it. If a $100 cold air intake gets you a gain of 5 HP, ($20 per HP) it's probably well worth it.

And no, I don't know what the actual numbers would be for the difference between my turbo setup and the same setup with your manifold...it's impossible to know, really.

...something like this would be more ideal.
http://www.atpturbo.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/Catalog%20Images/vwaudi/vvw001-01.jpg
True, only not by much. Even that manifold doen't have equal-length runners, and is only slightly improved.

Although you know what? I'm not sure that a manifold like this one pictured immediately above, if the turbo could be mounted to the bottom (opposite the waste-gate), instead of the side, might not actually fit in my car...

Don't you just LOVE turbos? Damn. That custom manifold you're getting really is hot though. Who is doing the work? Come on, share the wealth.

The difference in manifolds will not only help power but make a huge difference in spool.

The bigger the turbo the more spool becomes an issue.

The difference in manifolds will not only help power but make a huge difference in spool.

The bigger the turbo the more spool becomes an issue.
Agreed!

This exact same turbo setup on my exact same motor on Todd's car is showing boost as early as 1200 RPM. That's going to be fine for me...

My goal was 325 RWHP... I'll be far exceeding that, I believe. You don't have to convince me of the benefits of an equal-runner-length manifold, you just have to (1) make my engine bay larger and (2) justify the cost.

T04 is a pretty small turbo, right Geoff. :)

I cant get a bigger turbo in mine. The top lip of the frame had to be bent to clear as it is.

Im at full boost at 2000 rpm, but I only run 9-10 psi.

If you are sppoling at 1200 RPM then your turbo is too small :)

something like this would be cool too as the exhaust gasses wouldn't collide in the runners.
http://www.hostdub.com/albums/gt28-dr_album21/Shorty_1.sized.jpg

325 RWHP goal? how much does your car weigh?

If you are sppoling at 1200 RPM then your turbo is too small :)

something like this would be cool too as the exhaust gasses wouldn't collide in the runners.
http://www.hostdub.com/albums/gt28-dr_album21/Shorty_1.sized.jpg

325 RWHP goal? how much does your car weigh?
Yep, that manifold looks like a winner. Where would the wastegate go? On top?

The car is 3197 lbs off the show-room floor. I'm not trying to win any drag races here, just aiming for pure butt-o-meter happiness and that perma-grin. 325 RWHP in this car feels like 500+ on a newer 5er...

you could put the WG where cylinders 1 and 4 meet. or just use an internally gated turbo.

you could put the WG where cylinders 1 and 4 meet. or just use an internally gated turbo.


Woot bout time one of you guys got a turbo in their car.

And if your spooling that soon you need a bigger turbo, also why are your HP goals so small? ;)

Woot bout time one of you guys got a turbo in their car.

And if your spooling that soon you need a bigger turbo, also why are your HP goals so small? ;)



I have diven a turbocharged BMW longer than you have had a drivers license. ;) And its only the last of many.

The general rule is that the turbo must be bigger then your head.

Anything that spools before 3K is to small, after 5K to big.