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So, I'm starting a conversation to get some advice on my project direction. Sort of open ended, no specific technical question here.

I currently have a fairly well running m30b32. It needs some more maintenance including cooling system R&R, fixing a bunch of oil leaks, very dirty engine bay, but nothing serious. about 211K miles.

My intent is to turbo the car, shooting for the 350 wheel HP area, maybe a bit more, but probably not over 400.

I'm trying to decide if I should just turbo what I have on the car, and fix the remaining items, or find a newer m30 block + b35 head?

On one hand, turboing what I have is cheaper, but I don't want to waste money fixing things on the engine like oil leaks or cooling system if it'll just be eventually replaced with a m30/b35 type setup.

Or, perhaps I can't get the HP numbers I want out of the m30b32 as easily as a bigger displacement better flowing motor. I've looked at all the dyno charts and don't see too many of the smaller displacement motors.

Either way, the next thing on my list (aside from buying parts as deals come up) is to start the megasquirt conversion now while it is still NA.

Any input on direction is appreciated!

Get a b35 and use that hunk of bleep for a core charge.

Flame away.

I have gone through more turbo motors than I care to admit. After I smoked a very expensive b35 early last year I threw in a bone stock b32 from a junkyard and ran it the rest of the year. I beat the absolute living shit out of the thing and it never complained.

This years motor is based off a b32 but with b34 pistons . It still has the b32 cam, b32 head etc,etc. It dyno's a little less down low but the b32 cam is well suited to FI and allows it to stay on the pipe a bit later.

Don't sell the b32 short. It was the cheapest FI motor I've ever built and I have noticed no discernible difference in performance. Put it this way, there's a Burkified b35 sitting on an engine stand collecting dust. The b32 has worked so well that for the first time in several years I am not doing an engine swap this winter.

Bill in MN wrote: The b32 has worked so well that for the first time in several years I am not doing an engine swap this winter.

Bill in MN wrote:This years motor...

Haha, that made me laugh.

Thanks for the input. I don't have any other motor lined up yet. Any idea how much HP I'd loose at equivalent boost levels? Or alternatively, how much more boost would be needed to get back to the same point given the displacement/head/cam differences? If we're only talking a 2-3 psi or 30 hp or something, then it wouldn't seem worth the effort to find a b35 right from the start.

I have been told the cam is pretty hot in that B32, actually have one but never tried it.
There's an old saying:
If it ain't broke don't fix it.

I say boost the snot out of it and learn as you go.

Good & Tight wrote:I have been told the cam is pretty hot in that B32, actually have one but never tried it.
There's an old saying:
If it ain't broke don't fix it.

I say boost the snot out of it and learn as you go.

While mine was a b34, I still initially boosted the 200k, oil leakin' and maintenance lacking engine. It was actually the best running engine I've had in the car to date.

I'm currently in Texas with a bone stock b32 with apx 268k miles on it & a TCD kit. I've been kicking azz & taking names since we arrived Thursday night.

Nebraska_e28 wrote:I'm currently in Texas with a bone stock b32 with apx 268k miles on it & a TCD kit. I've been kicking azz & taking names since we arrived Thursday night.

Lol! Pics or it didn't happen!

Thanks for the input - I think I'll just keep on going with what is in there. Fixing some things like the cooling system (hoses, stuck open thermostat, water pump) wouldn't be a wasted cost if I ever did an engine swap.

But the oil leaks. I hate it being such a mess, hopefully they aren't something like the front or rear main seals.

akluminus wrote:Thanks for the input - I think I'll just keep on going with what is in there. Fixing some things like the cooling system (hoses, stuck open thermostat, water pump) wouldn't be a wasted cost if I ever did an engine swap.

But the oil leaks. I hate it being such a mess, hopefully they aren't something like the front or rear main seals.

If the motor sounds healthy & makes good power, just re-seal it and keep on rocking.

M. Holtmeier wrote:

Nebraska_e28 wrote:I'm currently in Texas with a bone stock b32 with apx 268k miles on it & a TCD kit. I've been kicking azz & taking names since we arrived Thursday night.

Lol! Pics or it didn't happen!

It happened. He took my name.

Greg E34 wrote:

M. Holtmeier wrote:

Nebraska_e28 wrote:I'm currently in Texas with a bone stock b32 with apx 268k miles on it & a TCD kit. I've been kicking azz & taking names since we arrived Thursday night.

Lol! Pics or it didn't happen!

It happened. He took my name.

Pics not allowed due to the statue of limitations.

Well its been a while since I have been on but I actually have 2 m30b32 engined cars one an 83 533i and the other an 87 325is both turbo the 5 running 8 psi and the 325is I have turned up to 30 psi for this coming year and running 625 cc water meth and I'm looking for 600hp+ on the dyno this year I ran 28 psi and 75% water meth duty last year (scared the shit out of me).... ( ripped the sub frame out of the body, snapped the left rear axle and destroyed the guibo. All in one run at the track). Needless to say I HAVE NOT dyno'd but after this winter I will. Needless to say an m30b32 at 28 psi will do about 190kph(130mph,ish) in about .... 1/4 mile). I'm ranting a bit cause A it's winter and B I did not drive the car this summer and that was my biggest regret of this summer. With that said, soft launch(1800 rpm) soft shifts, no meth, 9.5 psi I ran 13.4 @ 105 mph. Scared to break it. So m30b32..... not
so bad. 250 kph in about 14 seconds...... oh and that's stock bottom end, fresh rebuild with rings and bearings. O-ring block. Arp studs. Factory gasket. That's about it other then s366 bullseye performance turbo. And all supporting..... Anyway if you have questions shoot them to my email at sburlingham@nordenvw.ca