M42 1.8 to M44 1.9 swap

djsilver · 12-23-2004, 09:29 PM

What are the issues if just swapping long blocks but sticking with the M42 intake/exaust/OBDIsystem, etc?

kowalski · 01-14-2005, 07:53 PM

why would you do it for the xtra .1 liters? doesnt make sence, you could just spend that money on a good set of cams, and some head work, and an intake and exhaust and a computer chip. and if your going to go that far get some hicompresion pistons. i got a set of kick A$$ cams for the M42 1.8L if you want them, well i got 2 sets, ones in my car right now, a and i have another set up for sale. they are 388 lift and 264* duration and my number is 1604-837-3306 u can gimmy a call if you want them, they're made with the original cams so they're bloody strong, none of that OEM crap. so yeah other then that id just recomend going straight to the 6 cyl or 8...

personaly i plan on going to a chevy 350 some time in the near future, buy myself a shell and stick her in, or a corvet 283 cause i have one in my garagdge, but anyways... yeah call me or email me, or good luck on the find.

Jared at Pelican Parts · 01-14-2005, 08:04 PM

a 283 in a 318? How you are going to mount it? I personally wouldnt put a 45 year old hunk of cast iron in my car.

I agree with you though, the swap from the M42 to the M44 is not worth it.

kowalski · 01-14-2005, 08:09 PM

well for one its balanced and blue printed with high compression pistons and so its good to rev to about 8 or 9 grand, i just gota buy a cam for that, which shouldn't be hard cause i can get all that stuff at cost, and i love the sound of a V8 but i dont want to pay for a bmw V8, and plus id be at like 300hp

kowalski · 01-14-2005, 08:11 PM

i havn't checked but also a long block well is a long block therfore the heads going to be longer i would imagine, and the intake ports for the head will be in a difffernt spot wich would cause problems when one tries to bolt on the intake stuff.

Jared at Pelican Parts · 01-15-2005, 01:34 AM

Yeah, but the mounts on a 283 are right at the front of the engine, on the BMW, they are near the back ont he side

kowalski · 01-15-2005, 07:38 AM

ahh yes this is true, but you fail to realize that i am a certified welder, and and plus changing the mounts was a must in the first place, a v8 wont on the stock mounts i wouldn't think... but thats ok, and i believe it is possible to change the mounts on a 283, but i can't remember, i was gona put one into my chevelle because i toasted the 350 and i needed the car for the weekend but the crank didn't mate with the tranny, so i couldn't put it in, i believe i had the mounting figured out tho... ahh well ill figure it all out when the time comes and i find my rolling chasis with nothing but a body...

kowalski · 01-15-2005, 07:40 AM

o and when i was talking about the long block iw as talking about the M44 to M42, not the 283 swap, but yeah your right about the mounts but i think i had a solution i have to go look at the engine again to see if i had one or not...

Jared at Pelican Parts · 01-15-2005, 10:09 PM

283's are nice revving motors when built right... Friend of mine had one built up in his Nova 2. This reminds me that I've got to get my 76' GMC stepside up and running again. It's an awesome truck, but i really cant drive it as a daily driver. It's got a built for torque 400 with Hookers, Edelbrock dual plane, Holley 750, Mickey Thompson 44's, and a 4 inch body lift. I blew the transfer case a few years ago and havent gotten around to fixing it.

djsilver · 01-19-2005, 10:06 PM

You guys can let this die now. I only asked because I found an M44 long block in good shape for real cheap. I let it go since I could only get opinions rather than useful info.

ak96ss · 01-21-2005, 12:14 PM

FWIW, I would seriously consider it just to get the single serpentine belt, vs. the multiple belts on the M42.

Presumably, as long as mounting points and bolt hole locations remained the same, you should just be able to bolt on the externals and drop it in.

I'm not entirely sure what the significant differences were between the M42 and the M44 other then the marginally larger displacement and the switch to the serpentine belt.
There is a comment here http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=232944 about cast internals, though, rather than the forged that come with the M42. You may want to investigate further...

And, BTW, a "long block" generally means that the engine comes with the head, where a "short block" does not come with the head. It doesn't mean the engine is any longer.