I don't care if insurance rapes me, I'll have one of those before I turn 25, FD though

 

stirring the pot a bit...but I have done extensive research on engine swaps and have even don a few myself, I actually wrote a techie page on swapping a V8 into a BMW E21 chassis, and was planning on doing this my own 320 but when I got a good look at the S2k engine I decided to go with that instead...

in the case of the S2K I can only tell you that the exact same reasons that I am working on swapping one into my 320 is the main reason for not going with a V8 swap....at least not a GM engine....

for all the people looking into this I highly suggest you take a good look under your S2K....maybe you should consider a Ford powerplant instead..as the trouble lies within the oil sump....you would have to either severely butcher the front crossmember...or completely rework the oil pan and pickup...on a GM engine to get the clearance to mount it in the engine bay...while you can still get a front sump oil pan for a SB Ford.

but then there are about a million other issues that you would have to cover as well either way...after all we are all aware of the occasional rear diff failure...and I doubt it would stand up to the torque of the V8 for long...then you have the other oddities that you need to cover....getting the a/c to work....cooling system changes, electrical issues, emmisions control issues...(even for you non smog areas) it is still a Federal offense...and I can assure you that it will become an issue... just try and get your stock instrument panel to work? I am not saying that its impossible....but I must declare without question that it is completely impractical and would signifigantly reduce the value of your fine collectable...

and as far as weight is concerned....I will do my own research on the engine weights, I know that the All Aluminium completely aftermarket and costing over $10,000 without any accessories....Ford Small Block ford that I planned at one time to put into my 320 weighed nearly the same as my 320 Iron block engine...I cannot imagine that the S2K four is any heavier and a GM performance parts all aluminium block weighs more than the all aluminium block I was using for my Ford engine....

anyhow....the bottom line is that you would spend nearly as much as the a used S2K is worth just to get it all together correctly...and you car would no longer be streetable in over half the country...but if you choose to do this...then I'll gladly take your "scrap" F20C and Trannie for a transplant into my 320... I figure I'll even pay you for your "scrap" I figure since you feel so lowly about it I'll give you the going rate for hamburger....how about $2.00 per pound? just my $.02

 

Don't worry Koala- I know what you are talking about. Apparently old farts like us are few and far between on s2k Talk

 

Anyone remember a car called the Cobra, from the 60's?

Similar situation where Carroll Shelby took a well balanced 4 cylinder British convertible and turned it into a V8 monster.

Though I'm not in favour of this conversation with my car, I sure as hell am hoping that someone is going to do this with a light weight high-revving V8 soon. I think a previous generation M5 8000RPM revving V8 would suffice.

Cheers,

Manu

 

Would a dry sump system alleviate most of the crossmember problems?

 

yes a dry sump would help with the clearance issues, you could refab the oil pan to have a very small front sump and the rest would be history...it can be done...would be interesting, but then the biggest question is why? after all it is painfully obvious why I would want to put anything other than my lowly M10 BMW engine in my old school 320is....RELIABILITY! not to mention modern engines of similar displacement have much better power delivery both in torque and horsepower, and then there is the cost....a decent "rebuild" of my M10 to very stock power levels (107hp) would cost over $4,000.00 and then of course the transmission would probably need major work about a week later....murphys law....and the S2000 engine is a natural fitment....but then I really need to make the primary point, though you do have a Honda, you also have one of the most refined engines sold to the "general" public as a production unit under your hood, and though there really is no replacement for displacement and the quickest way to horsepower is cubic inches and square dollars, you should not use the "need more power" as the only excuse for attempting to refine an already well balanced machine....and also a bit of a note....you think the rear end gets away from you now on a rainy day.....imagine V8 torque hitting the rear end? and again I also say how long will it last.....my money is on one good burnout. if I was really unhappy with the S2000 engine I would be willing to consider a rotary? say like a JDM Cosmo 20B triple rotor with the twin sequential turbos? now we are talking....BTW still looking for the "scrap" F20C, and my 320is only weighs about 2000 pounds so even a bit tired it should scoot pretty good...