M3 Engine Booklet
M3 Engine Booklet
M3 Engine Booklet
Copyright© June 2012 by Metric Mechanic Inc™ 505 East Main, Richland, MO 65556
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Sport 2500 M3 Engine
Metric Mechanic’s Sport 2500 HiFlo ST S14 M3 Engine
M3 Engine Anatomy
Head
Porting the 4 Valve M Head
A 16.5% flow increase is achieved by
machining the intake ports to 29.5 mm
(26 mm stock). See “Metric Mechanic
HiFlo ST M3 Head” chart on the next
page. By using stock cams and porting,
the engine ends up with a very flexible
power band on the street. Stock camming
also helps the engine pass emissions.
Metric Mechanic 29.5 mm M3 Intake Ports
compared to stock port sizes which are about
ST Valves & Guidelines the diameter of a quarter
Our ST valves (Surface Turbulence)
improve fuel economy, reduce emissions
and detonation and facilitate easy tuning.
Surface turbulence looks like concentric
grooves machined into the head of the
valves. We also replace the stock valve
guides with extremely wear resistant man-
ganese bronze guides. The valve springs
we use increase the seat pressure by
about 20% to reduce valve float and they
decrease the nose pressure by about 15%
to reduce wear on the valve train.
MM Surface Turbulence valves with
Manganese Bronze valve guides
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2500 Sport M3 Engine
Metric Mechanic’s Sport 2500 HiFlo ST S14 M3 Engine
Copyright© June 2012 by Metric Mechanic Inc™ 505 East Main, Richland, MO 65556
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Sport 2500 M3 Engine
Metric Mechanic’s Sport 2500 HiFlo ST S14 M3 Engine
Exhaust Flow
On a well designed engine, the intake side by 120%!!! We
exhaust flow would be 85% do not modify the exhaust
of the intake flow. On the ports in an attempt to
stock M3, exhaust outflows improve this already excellent
flow.
Timing Chain Assembly
In the Metric Mechanic that reduce the load on the
M3 engine rebuild, we replace valve train. By reducing the
the timing chain, guide rail, pressure differential between
tensioner arm and tensioner the nose and the seat pres-
piston. Unlike a single over- sure, our valve springs reduce
head cam engine in which chain snatch or jerking. Also,
these parts generally sell for by lowering the nose spring
$100, this assembly is 5 times pressure, they reduce chain
the price at $500. To save pull which in turn reduces
wear and tear on this costly chain stretch.
assembly, we use valve springs
The M3 timing chain assembly
Copyright© June 2012 by Metric Mechanic Inc™ 505 East Main, Richland, MO 65556
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Sport 2500 M3 Engine
Metric Mechanic’s Sport 2500 HiFlo ST S14 M3 Engine
After grinding the seats and valves, The shim pads, cam buckets, and cams Cutting the valve stem on a valve grinder using the
valves are mated with their guides and are installed in the cam box which is micrometer knob to precisely measure material removal
numbered front to back then bolted to the head. Having done
this, it’s possible to check the valve lash.
This is done by pushing the valve firmly Upon final
up against the seat and using a feeler assembly,
gauge to check the clearance between the half the
back side of the cam (opposite the nose) valves will
and the shim pad. usually be
within our
After grinding the stem specifica-
for the valve clearance of tions, with
.013”, the shim pads are the others
numbered to correspond needing only
with the valves they’re minor shim
matched with adjustment
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Sport 2500 M3 Engine
Metric Mechanic’s Sport 2500 HiFlo ST S14 M3 Engine
Block
Larger Pistons
We over bore the M3 engine by 1.6
mm in order to use a larger 95 mm
11.5:1 CR high silicon content (17%
silicon) forged piston that is also about
15% lighter than stock. On the picture
to the right, notice our MM piston
with vented skirt and the two larger half
moon quench pads which are used to
induce more turbulence in the combus- Left: a stock M3 piston and pin
tion chamber under compression. The Right: MM’s forged alusil piston and pin setup
stock wrist pin that weighs 130 grams
is replaced with a 89 gram tapered wall
wrist pin.
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Rally 2500 M3 Engine
Metric Mechanic’s Rally 2500 HiFlo ST S14 M3 Engine
High Compression
Without Detonation
Detonation is greatly reduced in our
motors through two routes.
First, our patented “Surface Turbu-
lence” (concentric grooves machined
into the valves) mix air and fuel particles
for easier ignition.
Second, our MM lightweight forged
pistons run cooler in the engine, further
reducing detonation. Forged aluminum
pistons are more dense than the stock
cast aluminum pistons and consequently
they conduct heat from the skirt to the
cylinder wall more quickly - hence the
“cooling effect”. Our Rally engine run-
ning at a 12.5:1 CR can perform well on
mid to premium pump gas.
Options
Rally Ported Throttle Body
To match the 260° dura-
tion Rally Cam, we enlarged
the intake ports to 30.5 mm
which increases flow by 20%.
When combined with ported
throttle bodies, the intake Ported Rally throttle body matched Left: Metric Mechanic’s 12.5:1, 95 mm Lightweight
track flow increases 22.5% to the Evo M3 intake gaskets Forged Alusil Piston. Right: Stock 10.5:1 cast piston
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Race 2500 M3 Engine
Metric Mechanic’s Race 2500 HiFlo ST S14 M3 Engine
Copyright© June 2012 by Metric Mechanic Inc™ 505 East Main, Richland, MO 65556
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Race 2500 M3 Engine
Metric Mechanic’s Race 2500 HiFlo ST S14 M3 Engine
Block
Reciprocating Mass
In a race engine, effort Starting with the pistons, if
should be made to reduce they are designed as light as
reciprocating mass (mainly in possible, then the wrist pins
the pistons, pins and rods), can be lightened, which in
while maintaining structural turns allows for lighter con-
integrity. This protects the necting rods which leads to
engine from “beating itself increased rod bearing and 2500 Race Bottom End -
apart” at the higher rpms. crankshaft life. the main objective in lower-
ing the reciprocating mass
Piston & Pin is to extend the life of the
The 95 mm, 13.5:1 CR, forged alusil crankshaft
piston we use on race M3’s features a
flat top design with 4 valve reliefs and
weighs 395 grams. The 75 gram tapered
wall wrist pins are 20 grams lighter than
those used in our 2500 HiFlo ST engines
for street use. The combined piston and
pin weight in our M3 race engine is
470 grams versus 590 grams for stock. Left: Metric Mechanic
This totals removing 1 lbs of piston/pin piston & pin
weight from the engine. Right: Stock piston & pin
Left: MM lightweight rod Left: stock 2.3 crankshaft Holding a baffle extension
Right: stock rod Right: lighter 2.5 crankshaft above one that has been installed
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Race 2500 M3 Engine
Metric Mechanic’s Race 2500 HiFlo ST S14 M3 Engine
Left: Metric Mechanic forged 95 mm, 13.5:1 CR, M3 race piston weighs in at 354 grams with a 71 gram wrist pin.
Middle: Metric Mechanic’s forged 95 mm, 12.5:1 CR rally piston weighs in at 398 grams with an 89 gram wrist pin
Right: Stock M3 cast 93.4 mm, 10.5:1 CR piston weighs in at 490 grams with a 120 gram wrist pin
Copyright© June 2012 by Metric Mechanic Inc™ 505 East Main, Richland, MO 65556
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Race 2500 M3 Engine
Metric Mechanic’s Race 2500 HiFlo ST S14 M3 Engine
Left: Lightened Harmonic Balancer Single Row Timing Chain from the early Euro M5 Lightweight engine parts istalled in the
with AC pulley groove removed and Lightened Sprockets Metric Mechanic M3 Race Engine
Right: Stock Harmonic Balancer
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Race 2500 M3 Engine - Clutch Assemblies
Metric Mechanic’s Racing Clutch Assemblies
M3 Flywheel and Clutch Assembly Photos ... Photos continued on next page
Rally and Race 10.5 lb. flywheel with critical outer weight milled away and a “U” Channel groove machined into the ring gear on the back
side. Using a ridged disc combined with a stock pressure plate, this assembly will weigh 23.5 lbs..
When combined with an aluminum pressure plate the weight will drop to 21 lbs.
M3 Clutch Assembly Notes such as bucking below 2000 grab and jerk when moving the car off
1. Dynamic Weight refers to the rpm, off-line stalling, and idle the line. This worsens with reduced clutch
weight that the engine experi- roughness up to as much as size. These are “in and out” clutches
ences from the flywheel as it 2500 rpm. which perform best when engaged and
spins as opposed to it’s actual 4. The Organic clutches listed disengaged, not slipped or ridden.
Static Weight i.e. weight as above are capable of being 6. Two disc clutches will disengage and
measured on a scale. “slipped.” Even the 185 mm, engage rather high up and require a
2. The lighter the Flywheel and (7.25”) organic disc can be clutch pedal stop just below the disen-
Clutch Assembly, the greater slipped but it will feel rather gagement point.
the acceleration gains. grabby due to it’s light weight 7. In summary, the lighter the Assembly, the
3. If a Flywheel and Clutch and ridged disc design. higher the acceleration gain but with a
Assembly is below 21#, it will 5. Metallic Clutches SHOULD sacrifice to driveability.
manifest driveability problems NOT BE SLIPPED! They will
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Race 2500 M3 Engine - Clutch Assemblies
Metric Mechanic’s Racing Clutch Assemblies
M3 Flywheel and Clutch Assembly Photos ... Continued from previous page
Assembled and exploded views of the 185 mm (7.25”) M3 Clutch & Flywheel Assembly with 2 discs organic at 19 lbs.
This small Clutch Assembly behaves as if it is 15 lbs. lighter than a stock flywheel and clutch assembly.
Although the clutch will feel a bit “grabby”, it can be slipped for street driving and used on the track by a hard core weekend racer.
The 185 mm (7.25”) Regarding the exploded views above and below:
Clutch and Flywheel Shown is the breakdown of a 2 disc clutch Assembly and Flywheel.
Assembly: 2 metallic discs Diaphragm pressure with a raised ring, the first disc, a floater plate,
at 18 lbs. dynamic weight the second disc, the flywheel, a curved face throw out bearing and a
reduction of 16 lbs. under raised fork arm used in proper clutch assembly release.
stock, a lot more forgiving
and long lasting than the
140 mm (5.5”) Clutch
Assembly.
Assembled and exploded views of the 140 mm (5.5”) M3 Clutch & Flywheel Assembly with 2 metallic discs at 14 lbs and a 27.5 lb. dynamic
weight reduction. We do not recommend slipping this clutch because it is small and prone to burn up when slipped.
It’s designed for use in the “in” or “out” - “engaged” or “disengaged” postures. When loading a race car onto it’s trailer, avoid the “Big Slip”.
Driveability sacrifices are richly compensated for by acceleration. For the serious racer ONLY!
Copyright© June 2012 by Metric Mechanic Inc™ 505 East Main, Richland, MO 65556
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