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Shoot, you could rebuild the engine easily... (archive)
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Posted by JamesM on March 21, 2001 at 10:40:07:

In Reply to: Re: Money should play no part!! posted by Cory Zumbrennen on March 21, 2001 at 03:34:01:

If you do have the tools, you can do it. It's all very straightforward. There's a few websites with many pics and even Gustave Stroes E30 M3 2.5L conversion that he documents well. The engines don't grenade unless the timing chain quits above 6k RPM. I have 130k on mine, many others have close to or well over 200k miles. Around 200k miles, you're looking at a rebuild. There are many parts suppliers listed in the Roundel, just ask around to see who has the best service and prices.

Rebuilding the engine is easy. First remove the head or remove the whole engine. Send it off to get rebuild, or you can attempt to dismantle it and have a good valve job done locally. Measure the valve misalingment, and if it's off too much, send the head out to have the guides and valves replaced. That's expensive, but worth it if necessary. Buy good forged pistons (Top-End Performance uses JE custom made for M-cars--low expansion coefficient--see www.racetep.com) Have the block bored and honed at a machine shop. Check the crankshaft runout. If it's really bad, have it reconditioned or buy a stroker from Dinan, Metric Mechanic, et al. Check the oil pump clearances, and buy a new one if necessary. Install all new seals, pistons, rings, bearings, gaskets, water pump, etc. It's actually not that hard. If you have professional experience, it's all a matter of turning wrenches.

Check out Gustave's site where he details some engine building and blue-printing techniques. It's under the Installs section, Custom 2.5L rebuild.

I posted list of tuners, rebuilders, helpful webpages, and other stuff in this message a week or two ago:
http://forums.roadfly.com/e28m5/messages/archive/msgsy2001w11/2754.html Some of the links are bad, and I added one more in following messages. Check them out.

Good luck in the M5 hunt!
James
james_535@yahoo.com

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