M20 Head Assembly! | How-To

For those doing a head gasket job, or a 'stroker' m20 job, you can spend a lot of money having the machine shop take apart your head for cleaning/resufacing. Will teaches you whats required to do it yourself, and save a couple of dollars in doing so!
This How-To is the same for all m20 variants - the m20b267, m20b25, and super ETA are all the similar, but the process is the same.
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@DenverBeerAndOil
@Mile_High_Euros
@DBOChris

[@DENVERBEERANDOIL]

Hey guys, adding some supplemental info here, when reinstalling the rocker shaft @21:00... Make sure the large oiling holes on the rocker shafts are facing downwards to line up with the holes in the rocker shaft journal.

[@joninspite]

Thanks for the video. A couple of comments after rebuilding my own head. 1. Rocker shafts are in fact directional. If it’s installed backwards, the retaining clip grooves won’t align with the rockers. 2. After damaging one of my rocker shafts from too many attempts of hammering them in and out (see comment 1), I discovered you can in fact install the shafts with no hammering at all. Move all of the rockers away from the cam lobes as you install them and you can simply push the shafts in with your fingers. Then once in place, move the rockers onto the valves. Do all of the ones that don’t line up with the cam lobes, then rotate the cam to get the last 1 or 2 rockers in place.

[@rickyderas1279]

Thank you for the video, you kept my little 885 head alive

[@SilverZepp]

Really glad your making this series. Can wait to see the engine block assembly. I wanna see the techniques for the wrist pins

[@SilverZepp]

I need some help my 2.7 L Block is at the machine shop and so is my OEM crankshaft and my OEM connecting rods I need to buy oversized bore 84 1/2 mm pistons and I can’t find any is it possible to use the i Pistons

[@SilverZepp]

Also is there a better place to where I reach you at?

[@andybencomo4992]

@@SilverZepp )ĺ

[@iamCairn]

thank you for all the videos you do

[@bullethelldemon]

awesome video. i literally just took my m20 head to the machine shop last week. if this video would have been out then i couldve saved a couple bucks since i had them disassemble it for me. but now i know for next time so it's all good!

[@Oleman72]

I am going to have to do this soon. A whole lot of ticking. Great vid.

[@savantart]

Loving the new content fellas! Keep up the great work.

[@navedukes9592]

Thank you for tips huge help. Currently working on my I. Head 👍🏽

[@Belozw]

Cant wait for next episode! :D

[@REALSHYT666]

Dang y'all are putting in work with all the videos 🤘 awesome Stuff Bromigos

[@theox8]

This seems a lot easier than I expected. I'm less worried about pulling my head apart now.

[@DENVERBEERANDOIL]

Glad it helped!

[@blablaman38]

Great video(s)! I'm getting my head gasket done now. The previous owner installed a 272 cam. My mechanic says it looks like used a screwdriver on it. Maybe it will need replacing. I've done my timing belt, dashboard swap among others. Looking forward to seeing more👍

[@tw0million]

so much good info

[@johnhannah8079]

I wish you did one of these on the M30 head that you did the gasket video on.

[@rivermccoy2433]

Should do another turbo m50 e36 video or just a little clip of getting rowdy! Love the channel brothers🤘

[@lvshonda2852]

Just sounds expensive but s54 r32 ? These guys are so underrated they actually work on their own shit

[@magnum357225]

Great video, keep them up.

[@eddiefury]

Great video

[@barborisov]

Just did this a couple weeks ago. Almost ready to fire after 5+ years of sitting

[@josephcosta2879]

You guys do awesome vids. Love the info. Would like if you guys do a full rebuild of a m30 and/or give Info on how to prep for boost

[@DENVERBEERANDOIL]

Would love to! Have an m30 sitting in the shop right now we can do that to.

[@gregmanouchehri6351]

My roommate is trying to boost his m30 too, will tell him to support the channel 🤙

[@Triiodide1]

M30's love boost, or maybe i just love M30's with boost :)

[@josephcosta2879]

Cus I got a b32 and b35 laying around for an e24 so would love info like the m20 Frankenstein but for m30 turbo

[@brettsinclair1521]

BMW has a special tool to set up the rockers on the shafts first, then lift all valves at the same time and introduce the camshaft afterwards. Avoids stress on the rocker shafts (hammer and radial stress, rocker shaft retainer slides right in, no need to hammer it in). I remember a feared mechanics teacher : if you reached for a hammer in the toolbox, you wouldn't pass the exam :-)

[@JD-ky8td]

Info on this tool?

[@CookRacingUK]

Thanks for this. Hopefully I job i get around to during lockdown!

[@alouiciousjackson5812]

Damn, you absolutely HAVE to adjust the valves to max clearance and you have to ROTATE THE CAMSHAFT as you remove the rocker shafts, sliding the rockers out of the way and moving one position at a time. Never force the shafts out under pressure or you risk damaging the head. Something everyone misses is the fact that you CAN INSTALL THE ROCKER SHAFTS INCORRECTLY. The large holes face downward, and the small holes face inward.

[@gafree8996]

Great instructional video like all of yours I have watched. You mentioned about removing the valves in this video that were going to be addressed on another video. I can't seem to find it on your listings. Please let me know which one I should be looking for. I have cracked M30 B32 head on my 81 733i that was recently done with new valves and camshaft. I am going to be installing the valves on a new head casting from BMW so getting the valves out safely and withour damage will be paramount. You seem to know what tools work. Since the is will be a new untouched head is there anything that I need to do before swapping the parts from one to the other. Thanks

[@nsheehy9953]

Nice work.

[@gregmanouchehri6351]

First of all props and thanks for putting out videos like every day, new favorite channel for sure. So: If I use my b27 head, I’d have to use a b25 cam and oil passages would need to be drilled in the head right? Where would those be? Also are the rockers different? I know the valve springs are and I’d need to change those if I were running a b25 cam. Is the process as simple as this video with the swapped parts? Thanks!

[@alpineweissm7501]

You have to use the whole b25 head

[@KeatonDee]

Wow this is amazing, thank you!

[@DENVERBEERANDOIL]

Glad the video helped!

[@nkosanamabena3484]

Nice video, when is the next one coming???

[@SlowEuros]

What’s the best place to get wood to put the cylinder head on?

[@blakeyou538]

been waiting for the next video for a while:/

[@afterthoughtsgarage320]

At what point do i need to worry about setting it in time?

[@laserfalcon]

How do you determine if valve guides are worn?

[@RaMa-kr9gm]

hii, loved this vid, quick quest. do i need to set the engine in TDC for this type of cleaaning ??? thanks !!

[@DENVERBEERANDOIL]

That is a difficult question. Yes and no. To remove the head no it does not need to be at TDC... To install, unless you are EXTREMELY familiar with engine mechanics I would HIGHLY recommend you set @ TDC before installation. This includes the short block and head. This is indicated by #1 piston aligned with timing mark or with #1 @ upper maximum of travel as measured with a dial indicator. On the head it is indicated w/timing mark or both followers completely off lobe and in the middle of travel between the 2. Align cam and crank with marks when installing belt to insure no "oopsies"

[@andresavilez5836]

very good

[@linkinpark21585]

Have you replaced a valve guide on a m20 885 head?

[@chromeuser3692]

thank you thank you thank you

[@Vapid_Idiot]

You mentioned that valve adjustment specs are with the engine warm, but I've always heard it was engine cold. Is there that much of a difference or is it personal preference?

[@DENVERBEERANDOIL]

There are warm and cold specs, just make sure you use the correct values for your engine condition.

[@cvaz7623]

7:30 i cant help but look at the guy in the back scratching up that car Dx

[@DENVERBEERANDOIL]

Lol, that hood 🤣 has the worse respray ever and that was the day Chris discovered it.

[@doctortruth4094]

It looks like you might have loosened all the eccentrics just before 20:30 in the video and slid the rockers off the valves. Is that right or am I seeing things?

[@StephieButtercup]

When will part 2 be up?

[@therealboofighter]

Do you think you could do a video or series of videos on the modern BMW engines and why they fail so often, or seam to have the reputation for failing. What to look for or what to do to stop them from failing. Maybe you don’t think they are bad. I only was thinking about this because of Tyler Hoover and his crap box’s. Maybe a video of why his cars are bad.

[@DENVERBEERANDOIL]

Most definitely

[@LukeF-98]

boofighter I can give a quick tip for you from my own experiences: never ever in your life buy a BMW with an engine that has less than 6 Cylinders! Never buy a 4 cylinder bmw unless it’s an e30 M3. That’s why they have the reputation to fail often. It’s really mostly the 4 cylinder bmw engines that brake down or destroy themselves because of timing chain failure.

[@douglascushing9199]

Question I was try to remove crankshaft bolt and my crank turned about a half a turn without timing belt am I screwed? Valve damage ?

[@DENVERBEERANDOIL]

Was it with an impact?

[@douglascushing9199]

@@DENVERBEERANDOIL thanks for.your quick reply I have eng on stand crank was turned with breaker bar I didn't even know it was moving i secured back of crank with a chain to stand 7 foot breaker bar Kroil wd40 pentrants, heat will not budge any suggestions

[@johnpatterson2157]

Can the valve guide seals be changed on an m20 without removing the cams? Thanks,

[@DENVERBEERANDOIL]

You have to remove the rockers and rocker shafts, cam can stay in.

[@johnpatterson2157]

@@DENVERBEERANDOIL I have an 850i which is basically two m20s and guide seals need to be replaced. I should have done it a few years ago when I pulled intakes and valve covers to check cam oiling lines and banjo bolts.

[@thorkildbrgger2682]

So i have the m20b20 late model, and im going to buy the m20b27 block with 325 pistond and a 885 top with 325 manifold. What would it require to be able to run?

[@DERRICKK72]

Is it worth putting a 272 or 284 can in a m20?

[@SilverZepp]

Is the 272 stock for an 885 head?

[@phynixvang7053]

Can you do a E30’s m5x/s5x wiring breakdown? I’m putting a s50 into a 89 325i and I’m at a roadblock because I don’t want to pay $400 for a harness.

[@DENVERBEERANDOIL]

Sure, easy peasy. However we already sort of have. Watch the s52 E30 swap start to finish video, there is a part where we explain the wiring. If it isn't sufficient let me know and I'll make a video for you tomorrow.

[@E306cyl]

I brought my vert into your shop to swap out an old m20 with another over two years ago it was great but now it’s knocking, should I rebuild it, build a stroker or pull another m20 just can’t seem to find one ? And maybe I’m trying to stay within the ball park of 800-1k

[@DENVERBEERANDOIL]

Shoot me a DM or a text message if you still have my number Omar. -will

[@DENVERBEERANDOIL]

@mile_high_euros

[@E306cyl]

DBO DM Sent

[@nsheehy9953]

Going through withdrawals here boys. Any e30 videos coming?

[@DENVERBEERANDOIL]

Sorry man! We’ve been on catch up mode for service work, the m20 build will be getting a part 2 hopefully soon, but we ran into an issue that we’ve gotta resolve first. Tinky winky is getting filmed today though, and there’s a few other projects we’re getting going too

[@andresavilez5836]

fine

[@spearpatrol5702]

I dont see the rest of the séries

[@ivarinio100]

Is this 731 or 885 head?

[@radb0253]

Must have known, quick search on an ad break of Gold Rush........now paused 😂😂😂😂

[@joegermaine4208]

No.1 comment

[@DENVERBEERANDOIL]

Hell yeah!

[@joegermaine4208]

@@DENVERBEERANDOIL do i get a prise😂

[@blakemarschall2568]

Joe Germaine prize😓

[@bigsur175]

PAINTED?

[@jeancharlesrabaux5658]

Hello in thé frenchy please seur one e30 e36 toue porta one motors strokeur turbo yeee is for sale just one

[@PhyteByte]

Spent 900$ on this lmfao..