wtb: m42 complete motor

[b-rad]

I'm looking for a complete m42 motor, preferably from a '95, but if you have one from an older e36, that may do as well. I really prefer a COMPLETE, assembled motor, minus accessories(a/c, p/s, etc).

Thanks!!
Brandon

[pnosker]

What about an M44 with OBD I conversion? They're not too difficult to do. The M42 management system should work I think.

[Xenocide]

dangggg, i just trashed mine.

I have a good head though if you need it and most of the accessories.

[b-rad]

Pnosker- unfortunitely, that will not pass inspection here in california. I would have to convert the cr up to OBD-II.
Xenocide- pm me a price on the head, I maybe be interested.

Just to clear up, I have a good running m42 in my ti, but I'm looking to build another, shooting for 180whp. Ill start a thread about it as soon as I get a decent parts pile going.

[pnosker]

I'm building up an M44 too. Slowly. Why wouldn't it pass emissions? It looks almost identical to the M42 and it runs with the same sensors/etc. The car wouldn't even know. You wouldn't even need the 2nd O2 sensor.

[b-rad]

Youre correct that it should pass emissions, however to a trained eye, it would probably fail visible inspection.. I will consider it if i cant get a decent m42, but for now im trying to stick with a '95 motor, just to avoid possible issues in the future..

[cooljess76]

Brandon, I'm pretty sure that the engine must come from the same year or newer vehicle. So you can install an OBDII engine in and OBDI vehicle and still remain compliant within OBDI specifications. You cannot however do the opposite. Meaning that you can't put an OBDI engine in an OBDII car and still pass emissions since the OBDII equipment would no longer be installed. I regret selling my M44 now because I was thinking of how awesome it would be to install a modern fuel injected engine in a BMW 2002 or an e20.

Talk to the smog shops and perhaps call a state referee. I'm fairly certain though that the engine must come from the same year OR NEWER vehicle and must be OBDI or OBDII compliant with the vehicle to which it is being installed. So If it's an OBDI vehicle and meets OBDI specifications, you're good to go. If it's an OBDII vehicle, it needs to meet OBDII specifications. As a general rule, you can upgrade, but you can't downgrade. So if you wanted to install an M44 on an OBDI car, just make sure it meets the minimum OBDI specs and is OBDI compliant.

Now, if you're planning on building a high performance engine, the M42 may be a little more suitable due to it's forged internals. However, that doesn't really mean much considering most M42's have higher mileage and conditions may vary depending on it's maintenance history. Personally, I'd prefer a lower mileage M44 out of say a '99 than a higher mileage M42 out of a '95. Especially if you're going to be rebuilding it anyway.

[pnosker]

M44's reverted to OBDI tend to produce ~148-155 hp based on a couple I've seen. That's all stock too. In preparation for my build up, I force-tested spare rods from the M42 and M44. The m42's rods are forged, but weigh ~25% more than the M44 rods. The M44 could handle the equivalent force of producing 340 hp with 10.5:1 CR. The M42 could handle 390 hp. Unless you're up in that ballpark, I would just go for the M44 OBDI conversion. Talk to your smog referee. I'm 95% sure you can do this, for not too much money, and have a good amount of power.

Search this forum for a guy who swapped a 5.0L Mustang motor (from the 80s?) into his 95 ti and passed SMOG with the help of a referee.

[cooljess76]

Originally Posted by pnosker

M44's reverted to OBDI tend to produce ~148-155 hp based on a couple I've seen. That's all stock too. In preparation for my build up, I force-tested spare rods from the M42 and M44. The m42's rods are forged, but weigh ~25% more than the M44 rods. The M44 could handle the equivalent force of producing 340 hp with 10.5:1 CR. The M42 could handle 390 hp. Unless you're up in that ballpark, I would just go for the M44 OBDI conversion. Talk to your smog referee. I'm 95% sure you can do this, for not too much money, and have a good amount of power.

Search this forum for a guy who swapped a 5.0L Mustang motor (from the 80s?) into his 95 ti and passed SMOG with the help of a referee.

+1 Patrick's exactly right. As long as your OBDI car meet's OBDI specs or your OBDII car meets OBDII specs, you're good to go. Marv just got his s52 swapped ti referee'd. IIRC, his donor was a '96 and his Ti is a '97. I think my previous statement of the engine coming from the same year or newer is just a "rule of thumb" told to me by the smog shop to keep people on the right track as far as emissions go.

[Bluebimma]

I have one, but its in Ohio.

[96cali]

what happened to that Korman built race motor that was on/off ebay a while back? Was that thing an M42?

[b-rad]

Hmm... the more you guys mention it, and the more I think about it, I will find a local referee shop to talk with and see what my options are.. if obd-2 swap is feaseable, I may just hold out for an s52. Hmm... some thinking to do..