M5 Headers

[TerryY]

These are from a '97 540 motor



And the other side



What they are on



What it looks like now

[dinan540]

Terry, what are you doing with the engine pulled? Thanks for the pics, they look the same as the M5 headers. I wonder if I can modify them to make them more efficient.

[TerryY]

Originally Posted by dinan540

Terry, what are you doing with the engine pulled? Thanks for the pics, they look the same as the M5 headers. I wonder if I can modify them to make them more efficient.

This is my new toy to go in the 840.

I am converting the engine to OBD1 and installing it and the 6 speed in the 840.

10% additional displacement and an unavailable in the US 6 speed 840 has a bit of promise

30,000 mile engine and trans to replace my 145,000 mile engine and trans is appealing too.

[dinan540]

Did you buy the engine and trans together?

Now would a good time to upgrade the headers .

[c1apton]

Originally Posted by dinan540

C1, if the headers are the same, do you think that I can bring them to a machine shop and modify them to increase air flow? Maybe I can modify the collector? If I can't, I am stuck with some very large paper weights .

Sure. They can polish the ports, extend the collector ends for more torgue - there's a ton of stuff they can do. From the pics they look like a fit to me. You might want to stop by your local dealer too and talk with some of their techs - your bound to find a gear-head amongst them too with some inside tricks.

[TerryY]

Originally Posted by dinan540

Did you buy the engine and trans together?

Now would a good time to upgrade the headers .

If there were aftermarket headers I would consider it.

The 840 and 540 headers are the same but end in different places. I am trying to do this a a "Simple" upgrade for those 8 owners with bad Nicasil engines.

So far I am at one bracket to build and I need to modify the camshaft position trigger. The M62 trigger ring is an $8 part so I could even screw a couple up getting it right.

The engine and transmission came together with a complete set of accessories (Alternator, starter, hydraulic pump and A/C compressor). I have most of the 540 shifter parts too. Useless to me but I have them. Sort of like the headers on the motor now. good for keeping it from sliding around on the pallet

The shifter parts from Europe will be ordered tomorrow. There is an 840 six speed variant over there so the parts are available.

Driveline of Portland is going to lengthen my drive shaft the required 6". My chip guy in Europe is working on a chip for the extra 10% displacement.

So it is coming together quite nicely so far.

[devinwwu]

driveline services are great! did my e30 335 there for my driveshaft.

Paul. let me know if you need help with anything. looks like they are the same on the 540 and m5 in terms of headers. take it to a local machine shop if you wanna polish em for better flow. you are better off trying to get a custom setup system to replace the rear pipes which is probably where more of your power robbing is coming from if the headers are the same. i can't remember if yours is a 4.0 or 4.4 but either way it should benefit from some true dual 2.5 or 3" madrel bent pipes to the rear muffler setup...

[dinan540]

Thanks for the offer Devin. Where is driveline service, portland?
I have the 4.4. You are probable right about doing a custom setup to the muffler, getting rid of the resonator, better flowing cats too.