What is this engine?

[kontango]

Can anyone help identify this engine for me? I know its an M10 but can I know which era?

 

Could I convert it to a Weber DCOE setup?

 

I tried look up the engine block number but didn't find any resources online. Hoping here might help.

 

 

Edited December 20, 2018 by kontango

[Jimmy]

Looks like a 1.8 from a late E21 or early E30.

[kontango]

@Jimmywhat gave it away as a 1.8 and not a 2.0?

[Jimmy]

Because it looks like a 1.8 and it doesn't look like a 2.0.

 

Early E21 2.0 engines look like this:

 

 

[Conserv]

A seven-digit engine number below 150xxxx reminds me of an NK VIN. But I’ll freely admit I’m not particularly familiar with NK VIN’s and I’m not at all familiar with the convention of a “0” placed ahead of the engine number.

 

The block and the head will have casting dates, however, that might shed some light on the engine’s origins.

 

The block’s casting date will be on the right side of the block, approximately in the vicinity of the number one and two freeze plugs, as described more fully here:

 

 

The head’s casting date and type designation are generally on the left side of the head, approximately in the vicinity of the number three and four intake ports, at least during the 1970’s.

 

My ‘76 was manufactured on April 23, 1976. Below, its block was cast on March 26, 1976 (“26C76” in an oval frame) and its E21, 2-liter, head (“E21 2,0”) was cast in April 1976 (4 “nubs” surrounding “76”). That is the number three intake port at the center of the head photo.

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

Edited December 20, 2018 by Conserv

[Lee]

The engine in the picture is clearly a 1.8l late e21 motor with the dreaded K-Jectronic injection.

[tzei]

Could be 1.8 - 2.xx. Casting would tell what it was originally but needs to be opened up to be certain what it is now.

 

Webers? Why not. That head has same i/e ports as 2.0 so dual carb intake fits. Injectors are fitted to head iirc so those holes needs to be blocked and there is no place for OE fuel pump so one needs to go electric on that one.

[Conserv]

5 hours ago, Lee said:

The engine in the picture is clearly a 1.8l late e21 motor with the dreaded K-Jectronic injection.

 

Yes, assuming this injection and top end left the factory with this block — and that is certainly possible. But, by now, I’ve also seen 1.6-liter heads on 2.0-liter blocks, 2.0-liter heads on 1.6-liter blocks, etc.

 

When I put “1232992” into RealOEM.com, I get a June 1986 e30, a Euro-spec 325e, and thus an M20. So what does the number on this engine, 01232992, indicate?

 

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/select?vin=1232992

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

 

Edited December 20, 2018 by Conserv

[Lee]

2 hours ago, Conserv said:

 

Yes, assuming this injection and top end left the factory with this block — and that is certainly possible. But, by now, I’ve also seen 1.6-liter heads on 2.0-liter blocks, vice versa, and etc.

 

When I put “1232992” into RealOEM.com, I get a June 1986 e30, a Euro-spec 325e, and thus an M20. So what is that engine number?

 

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/select?vin=1232992

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

 

Hey Steve.

1.6 engines were not US models. So, seeing that you are in NY, probabilities that it is a 1.6 are pretty slim. That being said, if you really want to know the whole truth, simply take the engine apart and measure. No big deal, especially that these motors are not worth much these days.

 

[Conserv]

1 hour ago, Lee said:

That being said, if you really want to know the whole truth, simply take the engine apart and measure. No big deal, especially that these motors are not worth much these days.

 

 

Lee,

 

Agreed, 100%! But sometimes you can’t break down an engine unless you buy it! My “1.6-liter heads on 2.0-liter blocks” language was simply emphasizing that 40-year-old engines are not always factory-intact after 40 years, and people sometimes knowingly and sometimes unwittingly make bad decisions...but I don’t think this is a 1.6-liter block.?

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

Edited December 20, 2018 by Conserv

[TobyB]

4 hours ago, Lee said:

The engine in the picture is clearly a 1.8l late e21 motor with the dreaded K-Jectronic injection.

yup.

 

that injection 'body' weighs more than the alternator...

 

note the 'diagnostic' port cap- that almost guarantees it's a US motor.

 

The alternator, though, is not BMW issue.

 

I can certainly say with no doubt over the internet that what you have right there is...

 

 

 

a dusty internal combustion engine.

 

t

 

[Conserv]

9 minutes ago, TobyB said:

 

The alternator, though, is not BMW issue.

 

 

Maybe “classic Chrysler Motors Corp”?...?

 

Best regards,

 

Steve

 

[TobyB]

Or maybe Nippondenso.  Certainly one less VANOS than the M52 behind it, no matter...

 

heh

 

t

 

[Jimmy]

11 hours ago, Lee said:

The engine in the picture is clearly a 1.8l late e21 motor with the dreaded K-Jectronic injection.

 

Early E30s got K-Jet too. Maybe not here. 

[kontango]

Do you think someone could add Weber Carbs to this engine?