Euro Head on US Block

[m3f_nmaino_c8ba8e1c71]

Hello,



Has anyone done (or tried) this modification? I'm talking about installing a European head (double VANOS) with all the ECU junk on top of the US 3.2L block.



If so, what were your results and cost?

[m3f_Sirius_880bd69485]

I don't think they are many gains at all to doing this, aside from the added maintance.

[m3f_SG_M3_d1201712b5]

There would be a good deal of gain from this.



But it just won't work, the oil and water passages are different.

[m3f_Gilbert_43a469a9d9]

Sean is correct in that there is a significant amount of HP to be gained, but I'm not certain about the oil and coolant passages not mating-up.



It would be stupid and cost prohibative for BMW or any other foreign auto producer to manufacture different engine blocks (with same displacment) for cars sold in outside their home country.





SEAN, IF YOU KNOW THIS FOR FACT, PLEASE EDUCATE ME BY REFERENCING YOUR SOURCE OF INFORMATION.

[m3f_Ebb Viciou_a1dff00fa8]

yeah i assumed it woulnd't work as even though they share displacement they are very different.



on a related subject does anybody know if the 3.8L I-6 from the early 90s M5s will fit in our cars? you can find a whole M5 on autotrader for under 15k so i have to imagine you can get the engine/tranny for less than that, and end up with more power and torque than an E46!

[m3f_SG_M3_d1201712b5]

Sean is correct in that there is a significant amount of HP to be gained, but I'm not certain about the oil and coolant passages not mating-up.



It would be stupid and cost prohibative for BMW or any other foreign auto producer to manufacture different engine blocks (with same displacment) for cars sold in outside their home country.





SEAN, IF YOU KNOW THIS FOR FACT, PLEASE EDUCATE ME BY REFERENCING YOUR SOURCE OF INFORMATION.



They are the exact same block, but the head won't work.



http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=196851&highlight=euro+manifold



Near the bottom of the page, he tried it.

[m3f_nmaino_c8ba8e1c71]

Thanks for the replies guys.