Transplanting an S54

[grannyknot]

Hey guys, I just finished putting an S54 in to my 1972 Datsun 240Z, started it up yesterday for the first time and there is a high pitched whine tied to the revs, I'm wondering is this a normal sound for these engines?
You can advance the Video 1:10 min to hear it clearly, thanks

https://youtu.be/NuPlLEZ4KWw

[beefaroni]

Nice job on the swap!
sounds like belt tensioner pulleys/idlers to me.

[SpaceJockey]

As an e46 M3 and Datsun 240Z owner, I strongly approve of this swap!

Also, my car has a similar sound. I thought it was normal as I have replaced my pulleys and tensioner. Guess not. 😬

[cozmo kraemer]

Kinda sounds like the alternator to me. Engine sounds healthy!

[grannyknot]

Thanks, the engine was rebuilt just before start up, I did reuse the timing chain tensioner because it appeared to be in very good condition but timing chain, guides, serpentine belt and tensioner, alternator are all new, Vanos was bullet proofed with all the Beisan products, A/C and steering pump were removed. Not sure what else to check, I guess I'll get out the stethoscope and try to pin point it.

[Arith2]

Take thebbelt of and spin everything. Might be that simple. Start it without the belt on and see if you got the sound

[r4dr]

grannyknot do you have a build thread up anywhere? On a 240Z forum maybe? Very cool swap.

[cozmo kraemer]

I love how we are all rookies here again... I have two S54s apart in my garage right now. Just did both the top and bottom end in one over the last two days. But, after 11 years on M3 forum...we are all rookies again on here.

[exodus454]

Sounds very close to my car, mine has always had a whine, I think it's mostly the alternator

[Obioban]

Sounds weird to me, too. I'd pull a belt, as others have suggested, and see if it goes away or stays.

When you say you rebuilt the engine, what did that entail?

[D-O]

Now that is more than a little bit cool. Nicely done sir.

[liam821]

Cool engine swap!

[grannyknot]

Thanks guys, I really appreciate it, wasn't sure how it would be received by this crowd. I love 240z's and love BMW engines, the S54 is one of the finest straight 6's ever designed and I can't wait to drive it, the whole car weighs 2600 lbs. I screwed up one of the oil cooler lines so I can't start it up until I build a new one.
Arith2
That's a great idea, I removed the belt and all the pulleys, idlers, water pump and alternator spin freely with no sound but can't start the engine without the oil cooler line.

r4dr, here is the build thread, the first 25 pages are the tear down and rebuild using an M6 S38B35 engine, bottom of page 25 is the start of the S54 swap. https://www.classiczcars.com/forums/...ge=25#comments

Obioban, PO spun a rod bearing so block was overhauled, the crank had some light scratching so the journal was hard chromed and the rest polished, good used rods replaced the originals, compression was excellent so pistons and rings were left alone, the cylinder head was also in very good shape so only the valve seals were replaced.
A whole new timing set was installed except the original chain tensioner which was good, all seals and gaskets replaced, new water pump, coils,plugs, wires, sensors, starter, alternator, new pulleys, belt and belt tensioner, Vanos bullet proofed with Beisan and Kassel Performance deleted all the unnecessary stuff from the ECU and put in a street tune.

[r4dr]

I missed what you said about starting with an S38 and was going nuts trying to figure out why it didn't look like an S54... lol. Great build, I'll be killing time reading through that thread. Good quarantine reading.

[Slideways]

Great build! Thanks for the link to the journal 👍