Hi folks,

I bought a Nikasil 530i back in '03, at a suitably discounted price
given the excellent condition of the body and interior and the
likelihood of engine failure. It ran great for 3 years, but now it's
starting to burn oil when the engine is cold, and the compression is
getting a little lower than I'd like in a couple of the cylinders (6
of them top out around 180-185; the other 2 are down around 160).
There's also a new, high-pitched periodic sound (not really a tapping;
more of a squeak) that varies in period with engine RPM. My mechanic
buddy says it sounds a little like blowby from a shot piston ring, but
that the compression readings seem too high for that to be the case.
Anyway, we're thinking of at least new head gaskets, probably new
valve guides and seals too, and possibly just tearing the whole engine
down and rebuilding from the bottom up. I've been looking for a
machine shop that can bore out and sleeve the cylinders, but my
impression from reading old posts here is that that's a dicey job and
possibly much more trouble than it's worth.

What I'd like to know is whether anyone here has tried dropping a US-
built engine into a BMW. My friend claims that a Chevy 350 ought to
fit in the engine compartment easily, and it would be much cheaper
than buying a rebuilt BMW engine and about the same cost as doing the
rebuild ourselves (probably about $1000 once machining and new parts
are taken into account). Alternatively, we could go to a scrapyard
and pull a non-Nikasil M60 or M62 to rebuild ourselves, which would
presumably avoid the need to do any cylinder work other than perhaps
honing. I'm not very experienced with engine work myself, but my
friend assures me that we can get the job done.

What sounds like the best course of action here?

Thanks,
Zach

On Feb 26, 2:26 pm, zkke... (AT) gmail (DOT) com wrote:

Find a friend who's not that stupid. Then, find a used BMW V8 to drop
in there. What you don't spend in actual cash outlay stuffing a used
Chevy engine in you will spend in aggravation getting it to work
satisfactorily.
--
C.R. Krieger
(Been there; wouldn't do that)

totally, you need to hang around with less rednecks, and more germans!.
Chevy 350, damn, that is a stupid idea.
You can pick up a 4.0 on ebay without nikasil and be done with a major
upgrade.

By the way, YOU make it sound like all nikasil went bad, which is FAR from
the truth... I would not hesitate to install a nikasil 3 or 4 litre with
proper compression stats, save you that much more $$.

You have to do some homework and FORGET everything your friend told you.


"E28 Guy©" <88.535is (AT) gmail (DOT) com> wrote



--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

You really believe that, don't you. It's better because it is BMW.

Wow, how narrow minded.


"SharkmanBMW" <sharkmanbmw at gmail dot com> wrote

On 26 Feb 2007 12:26:04 -0800, zkkeane (AT) gmail (DOT) com wrote:

Whether you meant to do it or not, (and I note that this isn't
crossposted) then I salute you for a near perfect incendiary question.

It's actually a pretty good question, and one that may have the
purists (hopefully) scrambling to defend their positions, depending
upon the quality of the arguments from either side. Let's see how
rational the argument is...
--
Dan.

In article <1172521564.120255.26070 (AT) a75g2000cwd (DOT) googlegroups.com>,
<zkkeane (AT) gmail (DOT) com> wrote:
You jest, I assume? The cost of fabricating all the one off parts needed
for such a conversion would be vast - and at the end of the day you'll not
have achieved anything worthwhile.

--
*Gun Control: Use both hands.

Dave Plowman dave (AT) davenoise (DOT) co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

You don't seem to be considering what should be the most 'reasonable' course
of action.
Drive the car for another year as is while you find a good deal on a direct
replacement used engine.
It won't be as interesting as the V8's that require new computers, wiring
harnesses, exhaust systems, etc. but you'll be back in business with the
least amount of cash and downtime. I agree with Psycho that engine changes
are only attractive if you're looking for a resource consuming hobby and
don't care when the car will be back on the road.
<zkkeane (AT) gmail (DOT) com> wrote

I guess then, you are a redneck, or you wouldn't have been bothered.

I said nothing about BMW being better than chevy engines... I said it was a
useless idea when used V8 bimmer motors are readily available and FIT
EASILY.....

Even you can understand that, no?




"Tom Scales" <tjscales (AT) gmail (DOT) com> wrote



--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

<zkkeane (AT) gmail (DOT) com> wrote

For what it is likely to cost, you would probably do better to part out the
530i and buy a newer one with the proceeds and whatever your budget for the
repair was.

A redneck? Because I like a Corvette.

again, narrowminded.
"SharkmanBMW" <sharkmanbmw at gmail dot com> wrote