<![CDATA[M20 Turbo => M50 turbo fun.]]>I was bored searching craigslist, and I found a 91 3 series with a 128k on it, that was supposedly not running. Went to check it out, only had surface rust (thank god..) and some fried wires(Crank position sensor!). Only bad thing, it an autotragic.

So I bought it. 500$ and an hour and a half drive later, I'm thinking, "what the hell did I get myself into." Did some research for a few days, bought a CPS, and a manual swap(still haven't put it in ) and I fired it up. the ODO wasn't broken, and it ran pretty well. Went across the street, did some burn outs and a couple donuts, and drove her back in the shop for the rest of the winter.

GOALS- around 350whp. And a decent looking exterior. Doing this smart. Not cheap, but not expensive either. I have lots of time to search down parts on various forums.

NEED TO BUY(say if you have anything for sale that i need!)

-e34 throttle cable for the swap.

-Intercooler piping

-ARP studs

-Some cheap racing seats!

-Oil pressure gauge

-Oil feed stuff

-Exterior items such as bumpers and a tail light

-Some cheap light rims

-endless amount of bushings and suspension stuff

-coilovers

cant think of much else. Well except brakes and probably everything else. lol

Build list:

Ms3x plug and play running sequential fuel and COP on the m50

Holset hx40 7 blade with 16cm housing. Flows 69lb/min- I will trade for a smaller one.

injectors- Siemens 80lbers. Running a single Walbro 255, probably another one inline too.

Manifold- looking to build a y adapter coming from the stock manifolds. Or a blunt tech mani.

intercooler- a goofy 26x12x3 that I probably need to reweld the inlet/outlet at a different angle. Still need intercooler piping.

Wideband- spartan wideband.

Exhaust- 3 inch dump. Might do a 45 in front of the pass rear wheel.

Oil feed and drain- Just need a proper oil feed set up

Arps- leaving stock compression for e85

Swap brace from GunMetalGrey- thanks man.

Trans and motor mounts by condor. Along with a power steering delete :D

Clutch- Stage 4 f1 racing clutch. Purchased.

Flywheel- I have an early single mass eta flywheel that I had resurfaced.

Thanks for any input at all! Extremely appreciated!

Also, this is a semi slow build. I have about 100$ a week to spend on this baby. haha.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/topic/936/m20-turbo-m50-turbo-fun.RSS for NodeWed, 16 Sep 2026 05:46:13 GMTThu, 15 Nov 2012 03:43:03 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to M20 Turbo => M50 turbo fun. on Wed, 19 Mar 2014 19:20:57 GMT]]>

wasnt m3 said:

Fab work is looking great!

Thank you sir! There will be lots and lots and lots of fab coming from me in the coming months. If there was more time, I would be building a lot more, but I am in a rush... And then there is the excuse of the damn cold.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/37544https://wibimmers.com/post/37544Wed, 19 Mar 2014 19:20:57 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to M20 Turbo => M50 turbo fun. on Wed, 19 Mar 2014 15:58:17 GMT]]>Fab work is looking great!

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/37526https://wibimmers.com/post/37526Wed, 19 Mar 2014 15:58:17 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to M20 Turbo => M50 turbo fun. on Wed, 19 Mar 2014 15:14:50 GMT]]>So I ended up ordering 24' of 6061 t6 1.250 OD .065 wall to use for coolant line. I will be connecting it to the thermostat an other various joints with silicon so there is flex and such. Not sure if I will be running it out of

the cabin or not. Should be quite a bit of updates soon..

uhave5u2.jpg

I'm proud of my 13.5" of cold side piping.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/37517https://wibimmers.com/post/37517Wed, 19 Mar 2014 15:14:50 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to M20 Turbo => M50 turbo fun. on Wed, 12 Mar 2014 17:31:57 GMT]]>

DrLeadFoot said:

Keep it going!!  Do you have a tentative first start date?  I would like to be there to photograph it.

I hope to have it done this summer! Haha. I could get this thing running and driving in two weeks but I need to save money for the chassis... aka roll cage and coilovers/suspension bits and wheels..

July 4th I promise to burn a set of tires off. comprende?

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/37241https://wibimmers.com/post/37241Wed, 12 Mar 2014 17:31:57 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to M20 Turbo => M50 turbo fun. on Tue, 11 Mar 2014 14:52:33 GMT]]>Keep it going!!  Do you have a tentative first start date?  I would like to be there to photograph it.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/37161https://wibimmers.com/post/37161Tue, 11 Mar 2014 14:52:33 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to M20 Turbo => M50 turbo fun. on Tue, 11 Mar 2014 10:14:31 GMT]]>Thanks for the motivation guys :)

Edit: but man I have spring fever!! Woohoo warm weather.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/37145https://wibimmers.com/post/37145Tue, 11 Mar 2014 10:14:31 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to M20 Turbo => M50 turbo fun. on Tue, 11 Mar 2014 02:46:35 GMT]]>This is nuts! On a whole other level!

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/37130https://wibimmers.com/post/37130Tue, 11 Mar 2014 02:46:35 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to M20 Turbo => M50 turbo fun. on Tue, 11 Mar 2014 00:54:54 GMT]]>Looking good!!!

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/37116https://wibimmers.com/post/37116Tue, 11 Mar 2014 00:54:54 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to M20 Turbo => M50 turbo fun. on Mon, 10 Mar 2014 23:47:31 GMT]]>Couple other mock up pictures I found. epymu5uh.jpgje3yvagu.jpgmu3ytupy.jpg

So I got this stubby thing for my torch(actually bought every option) and also ordered a new gas lens setup. Currently only have a 3/32 gas lens but I like 1/16

hyhyjaqa.jpg

My first attempt at welding 6061 to cast aluminum.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/37108https://wibimmers.com/post/37108Mon, 10 Mar 2014 23:47:31 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to M20 Turbo => M50 turbo fun. on Mon, 10 Mar 2014 23:38:21 GMT]]>

Snap said:

Wow! Great work on that compressor outlet->IC setup. That is really slick!

Will the intercooler have soft rubber mounts so that it can move with the engine?

I hope to have it solidly mounted along with the engine. Does that work?

And yes! Lots of hours into it.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/37107https://wibimmers.com/post/37107Mon, 10 Mar 2014 23:38:21 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to M20 Turbo => M50 turbo fun. on Mon, 10 Mar 2014 22:34:23 GMT]]>Wow! Great work on that compressor outlet->IC setup. That is really slick!
Will the intercooler have soft rubber mounts so that it can move with the engine?

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/37100https://wibimmers.com/post/37100Mon, 10 Mar 2014 22:34:23 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to M20 Turbo => M50 turbo fun. on Mon, 10 Mar 2014 21:22:05 GMT]]>So the charge piping is officially complete. And the intercooler is mounted. Worked slick. Anyone know of a good place to get good v band clamps? Hopefully affordable.

I would like to let everyone know that I have 13.5" of cold side 3" intercooler piping and 1-2" of hot side 2.5" piping. Good right? I hope. Goal is quick throttle response(in the future more goals will reflect on this.)

8udy5ejy.jpg7yvu8yha.jpg

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/37098https://wibimmers.com/post/37098Mon, 10 Mar 2014 21:22:05 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to M20 Turbo => M50 turbo fun. on Fri, 07 Mar 2014 00:41:06 GMT]]>So I've been working on the e30 lately.. Almost done getting tangled in wires. Just gotta finish running grounds.

uhary5ag.jpgepunedes.jpgu3egu9en.jpg

Such a stupid amount of time went into that.. 2-2-5" v band transition. Waiting on some rod to finish it up.

I'll mount everything up once it's finish welded, and then pull the drivetrain and subframe and cage the bitch. With the cage install comes the rear radiator install, polycarbonate, and I have a new chassis harness to install. I'll be making aluminum subframe mounts, buying rtabs, and making some softer diff mounts.

I think I will be going with Broadway static coils. Only a couple more things to decide..

Questions- any ideas if smoked lexan is legal in the rear door windows and rear window? Cousin has some left over and I think it looks good.

- anyone have a tubing bender local?

Thanks guys.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/36916https://wibimmers.com/post/36916Fri, 07 Mar 2014 00:41:06 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to M20 Turbo => M50 turbo fun. on Fri, 14 Feb 2014 11:22:04 GMT]]>

Snap said:

nice work on the machining

Awwww Mr schnapps that means so much to me! Thanks :) haha.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/36051https://wibimmers.com/post/36051Fri, 14 Feb 2014 11:22:04 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to M20 Turbo => M50 turbo fun. on Fri, 14 Feb 2014 02:59:33 GMT]]>nice work on the machining

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/36023https://wibimmers.com/post/36023Fri, 14 Feb 2014 02:59:33 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to M20 Turbo => M50 turbo fun. on Fri, 14 Feb 2014 02:46:13 GMT]]>

jc43089 said:

Missed the part about the rear mounted radiator, not sure where to get them but aluminum hard lines would seem great, are they going through the inside of the car?  Stock WP?  It might be worth upgrading to the stewart one for pushing coolant that far.  I have one, it's fast!

Honestly not sure yet. I know for a fact I will have an electric water pump as well, but I'm not sure if I'm going to delete the stock WP and tstat just yet..

And I'm building this car to FD spec so I think I have to run them outside of the cabin.. I'm going to look for aluminum hard line now!

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/36021https://wibimmers.com/post/36021Fri, 14 Feb 2014 02:46:13 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to M20 Turbo => M50 turbo fun. on Fri, 14 Feb 2014 02:28:06 GMT]]>Missed the part about the rear mounted radiator, not sure where to get them but aluminum hard lines would seem great, are they going through the inside of the car?  Stock WP?  It might be worth upgrading to the stewart one for pushing coolant that far.  I have one, it's fast!

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/36020https://wibimmers.com/post/36020Fri, 14 Feb 2014 02:28:06 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to M20 Turbo => M50 turbo fun. on Thu, 13 Feb 2014 23:59:39 GMT]]>Made a little progress. My stupid intercooler has to be picked up in Oshkosh....

Anyways.

esa3ydem.jpg

Cutting stuff....

4ehe9uve.jpg

BAM. They sit in there with a slight interference fit. Those are viton o rings. I will get the thing anodized for methanol and such.

adyhepy3.jpgbyhesy9e.jpg

Looks neat eh? I'll build a backing plate tomorrow. Too hungry right now :)

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/36012https://wibimmers.com/post/36012Thu, 13 Feb 2014 23:59:39 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to M20 Turbo => M50 turbo fun. on Thu, 13 Feb 2014 21:39:54 GMT]]>

jc43089 said:

This is looking great, is there a reason stock radiator hoses won't work?

Because the radiator will be in the rear of the car, if I used the same size hose, I would have a HUGE cooling capacity. I can't really get a definite answer on what size I should use, So I just based it off what dsm guys used (3/4) and added a little extra for the extra 2 cylinders :) 

I'M CLUELESS ON COOLING SYSTEM. Not really though, just need some guidance.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/36006https://wibimmers.com/post/36006Thu, 13 Feb 2014 21:39:54 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to M20 Turbo => M50 turbo fun. on Thu, 13 Feb 2014 18:08:38 GMT]]>This is looking great, is there a reason stock radiator hoses won't work?

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/35984https://wibimmers.com/post/35984Thu, 13 Feb 2014 18:08:38 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to M20 Turbo => M50 turbo fun. on Wed, 05 Feb 2014 18:26:22 GMT]]>y3a5aruz.jpg

Oil line installed. Intercooler will be here before Friday.

Anyone have good ideas on about 1" ID radiator hose? Or aluminum hard line.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/35547https://wibimmers.com/post/35547Wed, 05 Feb 2014 18:26:22 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to M20 Turbo => M50 turbo fun. on Wed, 05 Feb 2014 16:19:25 GMT]]>mahupuza.jpg

Made a little thing for turbo oil feed(the part that's on the turbo)

nasutyru.jpgpesevete.jpg

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/35539https://wibimmers.com/post/35539Wed, 05 Feb 2014 16:19:25 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to M20 Turbo => M50 turbo fun. on Sat, 01 Feb 2014 03:44:02 GMT]]>So I made an oil line. You guys will love it. Used 1/4" brake line (3/16" Id which is what my turbo calls for.) and a couple adapters. Also. My charge piping consists of a 90* bend and 16" straight. I enjoy throttle response :)

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/35314https://wibimmers.com/post/35314Sat, 01 Feb 2014 03:44:02 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to M20 Turbo => M50 turbo fun. on Fri, 31 Jan 2014 23:45:38 GMT]]>Just bought an intercooler. 18x12x4 core.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/35303https://wibimmers.com/post/35303Fri, 31 Jan 2014 23:45:38 GMT