S54 Rebuild with Vac Motorsports Parts.

[NE///M3SIS]

The first episode of my comprehensive S54 rebuild is now up.

Feel free to chat here on thoughts on the engine failure. Episode 2 where we check all the bearings etc will be up in a few days. The goal of the video series is to show a ground up approach on rebuilding the S54, through engineering all the way to first start. Every bolt, its part number and torque setting is mentioned in this video series. Enjoy

[eacmen]

How is this rebuild related to Vac Motorsports?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Slideways]

I enjoyed the first series of videos you did of the engine build back in 2012. What happened to that engine rebuild? That mechanic in the video seemed to be pretty knowledgeable and he pointed out and corrected all the mistakes that the previous shop did. Not sure what it is with the area you are in, but why are all the shops using gasket sealant on every single surface? Are they thinking it is like an 80's BMW lol. Good luck with the rebuild and looking forward to the progress

[NE///M3SIS]

How is this rebuild related to Vac Motorsports?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

All the new parts come from Vac.

We are using their Torque Plate, CP Pistons, Valves, Bearings, Uprate Oil kit, Exhaust air valve block off plate.

But I see your point, the heading can be misleading. I have edited it. Thnx,

[NE///M3SIS]

I enjoyed the first series of videos you did of the engine build back in 2012. What happened to that engine rebuild? That mechanic in the video seemed to be pretty knowledgeable and he pointed out and corrected all the mistakes that the previous shop did. Not sure what it is with the area you are in, but why are all the shops using gasket sealant on every single surface? Are they thinking it is like an 80's BMW lol. Good luck with the rebuild and looking forward to the progress

Thanks! That engine from 2012/13 was supercharged... Unfortunately it didn't even last a year. The car was strong, boosting 9psi with a VF engineering kit, but the cylinder walls cracked.

The engineer / engine builder of that build thought using 1mm sleeves would be suffice. I cannot recall if I mentioned it in those videos, but the block had scoring, so the engineer & Engine builder believed it was better to overbore by 1mm and drop in some no name sleeves. We live, we learn. Apart from that massive oversight, the engine was put together very well and most of what I know was absorbed by the engine builder, but unfortunately the oversight from him and the engineer about the 1mm sleeve is what cost me the engine in the end. I had an in depth email chat with Tony from Vac Motorsports about the failure and he mentioned that one must use 3mm sleeves minimum. He also believed that whether the engine was NA or supercharged made little difference as the end result would have been the same, that being that the 1mm sleeves would have failed.

I then elected to go back to NA. Sold the supercharge kit to fund the next rebuild and I then sent the engine to another engine builder. At the time I was swamped with work and also somewhat tired of the constant engine builds, so I never filmed the build nor did I ever go see the progress. Turns out I've just had rotten luck. But it gets better... I also discovered certain parts missing from my engine during this most recent disassembly, hence my decision to build this myself. The next few episodes will go into the parts that suddenly went missing...

Some pics from the 2013 rebuild failure

[digger]

All the new parts come from Vac.

We are using their Torque Plate, CP Pistons, Valves, Bearings, Uprate Oil kit, Exhaust air valve block off plate.

But I see your point, the heading can be misleading. I have edited it. Thnx,

Vac make almost none of those parts. In any case they don’t have a good rep here lol

[stash1]

That sux dude, sorry to hear about the engine woes! It's tuff finding a good trustworthy mechanic/engine builder. GL w/the new build!👍

[eacmen]

All the new parts come from Vac.

We are using their Torque Plate, CP Pistons, Valves, Bearings, Uprate Oil kit, Exhaust air valve block off plate.

But I see your point, the heading can be misleading. I have edited it. Thnx,

NP. Thought VAC was the shop that did the previous build. Good luck with the rebuild, keep vids coming.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[NE///M3SIS]

NP. Thought VAC was the shop that did the previous build. Good luck with the rebuild, keep vids coming.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Oh no.. definitely not. It was a local BMW specialist / Master Tech near where I stay. He only works on BMW's and his shop is always full of e46 M3's... At the time of mine being built, there were two other S54 engine builds happeneing, so one would imagine the service would be good.

[Rudbari]

Thanks! That engine from 2012/13 was supercharged... Unfortunately it didn't even last a year. The car was strong, boosting 9psi with a VF engineering kit, but the cylinder walls cracked.

The engineer / engine builder of that build thought using 1mm sleeves would be suffice. I cannot recall if I mentioned it in those videos, but the block had scoring, so the engineer & Engine builder believed it was better to overbore by 1mm and drop in some no name sleeves. We live, we learn. Apart from that massive oversight, the engine was put together very well and most of what I know was absorbed by the engine builder, but unfortunately the oversight from him and the engineer about the 1mm sleeve is what cost me the engine in the end. I had an in depth email chat with Tony from Vac Motorsports about the failure and he mentioned that one must use 3mm sleeves minimum. He also believed that whether the engine was NA or supercharged made little difference as the end result would have been the same, that being that the 1mm sleeves would have failed.

I then elected to go back to NA. Sold the supercharge kit to fund the next rebuild and I then sent the engine to another engine builder. At the time I was swamped with work and also somewhat tired of the constant engine builds, so I never filmed the build nor did I ever go see the progress. Turns out I've just had rotten luck. But it gets better... I also discovered certain parts missing from my engine during this most recent disassembly, hence my decision to build this myself. The next few episodes will go into the parts that suddenly went missing...

Some pics from the 2013 rebuild failure

Indeed we live and learn , I wil watch your build once I can .

[NE///M3SIS]

Cheers Rudbari , the second episode will be up later this week.

Appreciate you having a watch and welcome to discuss here.

Have a great day.

[Obioban]

I hope your VAC experience goes better than most.

[Rudbari]

Cheers Rudbari , the second episode will be up later this week.

Appreciate you having a watch and welcome to discuss here.

Have a great day.

great bro and wish you good luck I will watch it for sure 👌

[Estoril]

Friends don't let friends use VAC parts.

[NE///M3SIS]

Friends don't let friends use VAC parts.

Oh man... I'm guessing a lot of guys have had issues with Vac parts? Bummer. =(