M54B30 ZHP engine swap into 323

Hello,

Just bought a M54B30 ZHP engine off a wrecked car for about $2600. Next week the shipper is sending it out to me and I will start doing my swap. I am going to replace my M52TUB25 engine.

The ZHP engine has about 90,000 miles.

Planning to do the VANOS seal, vanos rattle and change out all the gaskets.

I am planning to run my original injectors, MAF, throttle body (mechanical), and DME (sharked).

Of course I will get it DYNO after the swap and report back. Currently my car has about 175HP (Dynojet) so I am very anxious to see how many ponies I will see after the swap.

More to follow. the update will be slow because I have to wait for the engine to arrive but I will start updating with pix and of the build as soon as I get the parts.

so excited!!!

cool!

Kkkeeewwwlll you must up pics or perish!! Lol

Dyno will look really wierd i suppose , get yourself a 328 tune atleast

Sounds fun. I don't get how you will run a mechanical TB. Wouldn't that throw codes as the DBW is wired?

Anyway I'd guess you would be around 205 whp. (After a proper tune)

You need to consider upgrading your trans to handle the extra power, and also I do not think the DME from the m52tu will run right with the ZHP engine. At minimum you need bigger injectors. Seems like a lot of expense for a 30hp gain. If you are putting down 172hp at the wheels (don't see how that is possible with a 323) then why bother? A stock ZHP only puts about 200hp to the pavement. And with the wrong DME, you won't be able to take full advantage of the 3.0 motor anyways. A $100 set of headers and pullies would probably be about the same.

How do you propose running a car with all of the sensor for a MS45 DME on the block yet have an MS42 DME and harness?

Originally Posted by lejeunebimmer

How do you propose running a car with all of the sensor for a MS45 DME on the block yet have an MS42 DME and harness?

that's what I was wondering but considering she's been around here for a while, I'd assume she had taken care of that and didn't want to question.

well the cat's out of the bag now! sooo??

Originally Posted by Pir4t

Dyno will look really wierd i suppose , get yourself a 328 tune atleast

I am going to dyno the car first and see my results before I invest any more money on my getting a tune.

from the top of mind the most cost effective method is for me to to manually flash my DME (MS42) from the 323 stock tune to the MS42 328.

Hopefully I could reuse my shark injectors (finger cross). I am under the assumption that the shark injector is copy protected only by VIN # and all of their tune is based on the DME version number regardless if you have a 323/328 (MS42), 325/330 (MS43), etc.

Originally Posted by lejeunebimmer

How do you propose running a car with all of the sensor for a MS45 DME on the block yet have an MS42 DME and harness?

There is an easy way around that but we will see.

I am going to reuse my MS42 wireharness and skip the MS45 harness.

Beside the Throttle Body, MAF, and a few other things....every single sensor/componets on the M52TU and M54 are interchangable so things should (in theory) be plug and play (sensor wise).

Now...I know I am not going to run the ZHP engine at 100% efficiency/optimum without the proper MS45 tune, injector, MAF, throttle body, etc but I am willing to live with that until I am ready to upgrade.

How do you know you won't run lean with smaller injectors and restrictive tune with increased cylinder volume and cause irreversible heat damage?? (just a theory)

be careful!

Can anyone tell me whether there is anyway for me to do a compression test on the engine without it being hooked up to the car? Can I just manually cracked the car to do my compression test.

I am going to inspect the valve cover gasket for any sign of sludge, reinforce my engine pump nut, replace all gaskets, but need help with the compression test.

Originally Posted by E46Mango

How do you know you won't run lean with smaller injectors and restrictive tune with increased cylinder volume and cause irreversible heat damage?? (just a theory)

be careful!

yes running lean is a big concern for me that is why I am going to hook it up to my GT1 and see the 02 reading. If I am going to run lean then I have no choice but to droppe in the 330 purple injectors and send my car off to get a custome tune.

There are a few members on here than swap out their M52TUB25 and M54B25 to the b30 version and ran on their stock tunes and reported no issues so I am hopefull. I think Angie swap out her 2.5 for a 3.0 and ran stock tune for a while.

You can always flash your DME for to the ZHP tune in the meantime

I think the car will run ok as long as you use the b30 injectors. You will likely lose some power at the top end because of the smaller intake.

Doubt the car will run lean..

Have you updated your DME anything at all ? Otherwise you need to move over your 323 CAS'es

Compression test can be done by just jumping the starter, dunno about manually turning the engine..

The starter is bolted to the transmission.
You could probably make really simple jig to mount it but you'd still need extra flywheel

Originally Posted by TrickTizzle

You can always flash your DME for to the ZHP tune in the meantime

good point but I am afraid to get a bunch of weird error codes such as

-IAT (MS42). the MS45 IAT is integrated into the MAF
-3/2 way valve (Ms42), MS42 doesnt use the 3/2 valve and has the pressure regulator integrated into fuel filter
-Mechanical throttle (MS42). MS45 has an electronic throttle

until I get the engine and start working on my car everything is a guessing game so I will try to keep my replies to a min.

In the mean time, can anyone can chime on my compression test question?

Originally Posted by lab rat

I think the car will run ok as long as you use the b30 injectors. You will likely lose some power at the top end because of the smaller intake.

I am currently running a M54B30 intake manifold on my M52TUB25. I have the turner throttle body adapter plate so I can mount my mechanical TB into the B30 intake manifold.

I am going to use the same throttle body adapter.

Originally Posted by lab rat

The starter is bolted to the transmission.
You could probably make really simple jig to mount it but you'd still need extra flywheel

good insight on the starter. when i replaced my tranny...getting that starter bolt off my bell housing was the biggest pain in the butt for me

No, you can't flash it to ZHP tune, that's only available for MS45.
With a project this big I would consider converting the car completely to MS45. As far as I know it just requires your other computers (LCM, EWS) to be reflashed.
But you would obviously need all the b30 goodies - DME, intake, MAF, harness ...