Tuned! 332whp! My Engine Build - Cams, Airbox, LTW Flyhweel & more :)

[Syfon]

As some of you know I tore down my S54 a few months back, sent everything off for machining/cleaning and ordered a pantry list of parts.

Link to the previous thread for anyone interested - https://nam3forum.com/forums/forum/m...he-head-or-not

The crank was machined and ACL Race Main & Rod Bearings supplied. Reusing my stock pistons & rods.

I'm awaiting Cat Cams 280/272, Streamline CSL Airbox, head bolts, and a few other misc items.

Other items being replaced are the stock dmf flywheel & clutch with a JB Racing Lightweight Flyhweel + Clutch Masters FX100 Sprung Hub clutch/pressure plate.

Clutch fan is gone, to be replaced with a Mishimoto electric fan & controller from front aux fan.

Water pump & thermostat are brand new, same with pullies. Vanos has been completely overhauled/rebuilt by a trusted individual in New South Wales.

I've done up a spreadsheet listing every individual part/number, cost, etc.. Interesting to see how it adds up real quick haha.

This past Wednesday I painted the block; VHT Burnt Copper. I think it looks awesome! Crank & main caps were installed and torqued according to BMW's specifications. Brand new NPR oe specification piston rings were installed and 5 of 6 pistons/rods installed (I'm a klutz and snapped a ring lol, so a new pack of rings are on order). I'm using ARP Rod bolts and as I don't have a torque stretch gauge, the rod bolts were torqued to 50ft-lb as per ARP's specifications. FYI, as mine is a March 2004 production and therefore uses M10 rod bolts, I'm using ARP's Euro S50B32 rod bolts. https://arp-bolts.com/kits/arpkit-de...?RecordID=1108

That's all for now. Once I receive a new box of rings, i'll install the last piston/rod, oil pump & associated pickup tubes. Then I'll play the waiting games for my cams/head bolts and some other things.

In the meantime, I'll continue doing other odd jobs around and inside the car.

Will update the thread whenever I get something done!

[eacmen]

Subscribed. Keep this thread going!


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[SteelGreyM]

Awesome! We are completing our builds at the same time!

I’m also debating tossing in my JB racing lightweight flywheel. Have you verified that the fx100 kit works with that flywheel?

[STAATS]

Nice - looks good.

Did you buy the JB LTW FW new or did you get the low ks one off Dunc locally?

[Syfon]

Awesome! We are completing our builds at the same time!

I’m also debating tossing in my JB racing lightweight flywheel. Have you verified that the fx100 kit works with that flywheel?

Do you have a build thread? If not, put one up!

Yes, Phil Wurz at Bimmerworld confirmed the fx100 is the correct clutch for the JB Racing Lightweight flyhweel.

Nice - looks good.

Did you buy the JB LTW FW new or did you get the low ks one off Dunc locally?

Yeah from Dunc locally. He never installed it so it's still brand new

[SteelGreyM]

Do you have a build thread? If not, put one up!

Yes, Phil Wurz at Bimmerworld confirmed the fx100 is the correct clutch for the JB Racing Lightweight flyhweel.



Yeah from Dunc locally. He never installed it so it's still brand new

I made one back on m3f. Took soooo many hours. And cherry on top is that I did the bulk of it only weeks before the site went down. I guess I’ll have to make another :/

Good luck with your build. I’ve never built a bottom end and I don’t want to use this car as a learning experience. While I do have confidence in my abilities I doubt I can do this the first time without screwing something up.

[Syfon]

I made one back on m3f. Took soooo many hours. And cherry on top is that I did the bulk of it only weeks before the site went down. I guess I’ll have to make another :/

Good luck with your build. I’ve never built a bottom end and I don’t want to use this car as a learning experience. While I do have confidence in my abilities I doubt I can do this the first time without screwing something up.

Aha, yes we all lost a lot of the best info out there on these cars

Thank you. I've never assembled a motor before, so this is a huge learning curve. I'm comfortable doing just about anything, although I've screwed up a plenty of things haha.

IMHO, the bottom end is easy to assemble. There's not much too it really. It's just going over each of the bolts to ensure they're torqued to specification and making sure you don't drop or damage anything, especially the journals and new bearings. Pistons/rods were relatively straightforward to install, rings were a bit of a pain in the ass (and ensuring the rings are oriented correctly is hugely important), and I snapped one due to applying hulk force to open it up and get it seated in the ring landing ahaha. Just waiting on a new pack of rings!

I've been taking it nice and slow, reading relevant NEWTIS articles beforehand then again and again...https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/e46-m3-cou/

If you're comfortable with your diy skills, I'd say give it a go

[liam821]

Did you have the cyl walls lightly honed? You should measure each bore to verify the piston to cyl wall spacing is in acceptable limits. It goes without saying but since you had your crank machined you should measure all the journal surfaces to make sure the bearing spacing is within acceptable limits as well. You gapped the rings correctly? Double and triple check all your math. Don't just "throw it together", that's a receipt for spinning a bearing or having the engine smoke/burn oil/run like poop.

[Syfon]

Did you have the cyl walls lightly honed? You should measure each bore to verify the piston to cyl wall spacing is in acceptable limits. It goes without saying but since you had your crank machined you should measure all the journal surfaces to make sure the bearing spacing is within acceptable limits as well. You gapped the rings correctly? Double and triple check all your math. Don't just "throw it together", that's a receipt for spinning a bearing or having the engine smoke/burn oil/run like poop.

The bores were only honed/scuffed to allow new oe spec rings to bed in. There was no visible signs of bore wear prior to machining. Bores were not measured.

All journals/bearings were plastigauged and bearing spacing is spot on. I don't recall the exact measurements, but I have them at home...

And yes the rings were gapped correctly.

[Syfon]

So yesterday, after a ~3.5month wait, my Streamline Airbox arrived. Thought it was an empty box when the UPS deliveryman handed me the box haha.

Needless to say, I'm impressed with the quality all over. If I'm honest, it's not quite perfect, but I'm really not complaining. Have a look at the pics!

[0-60motorsports]

So yesterday, after a ~3.5month wait, my Streamline Airbox arrived. Thought it was an empty box when the UPS deliveryman handed me the box haha.

Needless to say, I'm impressed with the quality all over. If I'm honest, it's not quite perfect, but I'm really not complaining. Have a look at the pics!

Looks good. Make sure you use an OE CSL filter and not that crap from ITG for too long.

[Syfon]

Looks good. Make sure you use an OE CSL filter and not that crap from ITG for too long.

Yep. It's easy enough to buy an OE CSL filter.

What's the reason for the ITG being "crap"?

[0-60motorsports]

Yep. It's easy enough to buy an OE CSL filter.

What's the reason for the ITG being "crap"?

Mine fell apart with hardly any mileage on it so there is a danger of it being sucked into the engine. GO OE CSL as that is what was meant for the CSL.

[Syfon]

Mine fell apart with hardly any mileage on it so there is a danger of it being sucked into the engine. GO OE CSL as that is what was meant for the CSL.

I see. I'll be sure to get my hands on a OE CSL filter. Cheers

[heinzboehmer]

So yesterday, after a ~3.5month wait, my Streamline Airbox arrived. Thought it was an empty box when the UPS deliveryman handed me the box haha.

Needless to say, I'm impressed with the quality all over. If I'm honest, it's not quite perfect, but I'm really not complaining. Have a look at the pics!

I'm surprised by the lack of vertical supports on your airbox. Will be interesting to see if you get any noticeable flex under vacuum once you get it installed.