How-To: BMW M54 TO M50/M52 MANIFOLD ADAPTER Port match!

A job came in for a port match an M54 to M50/M52 intake manifold, Dave searched KZbin and the internet looking for some pointers on how to get this done and didn't find much...So we have a video now on how to get it done using HeadGames burrs!
3/4 burr - headgamesmotorworks.com/colle...
1/2 burr - headgamesmotorworks.com/colle...
Grinder - headgamesmotorworks.com/colle...

[@GTRliffe]

this is a good thing because 1 horsepower isnt much gain but over 14 hours of racing its huge

[@KgiMedia601]

Restrictions are friction and friction is heat so definitely a must have on an endurance build

[@bimmertbear4474]

I’d love to see your flow numbers on this head.

[@Gtbtd]

Yes please

[@Marko-JZX100]

Did this same exact thing a week ago on M54B25 head with M50B25 intake manifold with a bit different approach. I cut 10mm aluminium flange on waterjet using M54 port diameter and spacing. Blended that flange to M50 manifold the same way, so intake ports are untouched in the head and only the adapter flange is port matched. Made zero max hp gains, only 3000-6000rpm torque increased 5-6Nm across the rpm range. Interestingly peak power was at 5900rpm after the adapter flange, and 6100rpm before. Had to make slight adjustments to intake cam timing to get same max hp. Dynoed and tuned the car before the adapter flange and after port matching the flange to the manifold. 190whp with M54B30 intake cam, headers (unequal lenght), 3" single exhaust, B30 injectors and E85. My old M54B25 with same mods otherwise but stock intake manifold made 199whp and more torque everywhere. The runners are too long and big volume in the M50 manifold compared to M54 manifold. Might make some gains on 3 liter B30, but waste of time on 2.5 and 2.8 engines.

[@headgames]

@@Marko-JZX100 man! Thanks for validation on my theory!

[@Gtbtd]

199 whp ???? On M54b25?

[@highpsiguy4085]

Another very informative video as usual. Great job documenting the steps involved and the process in general. Have a great day Dave

[@headgames]

You too! Thanks!

[@invader_viv]

Im buying my 4th M5xx car soon, did SCCA stuff with my 330ci, but never thought of porting and polishing until like 3 days ago, and here you are one day ago on this exact application lol i just dont know how id feel about it unless it was for a turbo application with M50 runners from VAC motorsports, might have to pick up a spare Head and a lower compression gasket just to test things

[@teddyroweshow5643]

Great KZbin channel. M54 heads have potential. 🍻

[@bhagvedsingh2147]

Thanks Dave! Another great video!

[@headgames]

Thank you for watching!

[@adamyearsley1204]

Thanks for sharing 👍

[@CJ5EVOLUTION]

Great information, because I had a lot of question marks in my head with the cylinder head you send me and installing a intake that I have not purchase yet.

[@headgames]

We sent you this head?

[@CJ5EVOLUTION]

@@headgames no you send me a 4G63 2G, and like you had mention castings are very inconsistent, I guess I may need to look how the intake manifold match the Cyl head.

[@AmrinderSingh-zx9hr]

Very good..!!!

[@GiovanniJulius]

Hi Dave can we see Nissan SR20 cylinder head videos it will be much appreciated

[@headgames]

We haven’t worked on them in many years. You might be able to find some of the magazine articles online when we did them for modified mag and import tuner.

[@superconscious.]

🔥

[@CJ5EVOLUTION]

I know what you mention about flow numbers don't tell the sorry, and speed is king, did you check a before and after to see what was affected or improved since this is a new cylinder head for you.

[@headgames]

No, I just did it. Because it’s a head we don’t see at all. If it’s a popular one, then it would get on the bench.

[@goyocarreras]

Hi Dave, just next week they will bring me a cylinder head like that to do the same thing. My question is what honest opinion do you have about doing that and if the intake port is already excessively large. People go crazy with the m50 intake manifold, but I think that with the m54 it has enough air. Greetings and thanks for your time. Goyo

[@bimmertbear4474]

If you can get the m54 head to flow like an m50 then the intake swap is worth it. I did this to my e83 x3 and several others.

[@headgames]

@@goyocarreras I agree it probably is already big and okay. Problem is, I don’t anything about this head or the combo so I can’t speak intelligently if it’s a gain or worth it. When I know these things, I won’t let people hurt themselves by just doing what they want. I try to stick to what they need.

[@goyocarreras]

@@headgames thanks Dave

[@Gtbtd]

Ich hoffe wir werden erfahren welchen spec der M54b30 mit M50 brücke fahren wird. Und welche leistung das bringen wird . Danke sehr 👍

[@Supra_Kewl]

Can you do 1uz head flow bench test? I keep hearing the heads do not flow very well.

[@headgames]

@@Supra_Kewl we don’t work on them

[@Christopher-re2hl]

This might be a dumb question. Stock to mild cam verses wild race cam with lots of duration ...etc. Do ported heads make more power difference as you go from stock smooth cam to radical cam? I'm building a Pontiac 400 and I'm wondering if it would be worth the effort to port the heads if I'm using a BP6014SP cam and I wonder how much it would gain with that cam I'm thinking about 25 hp? increase with #13 heads? I still can't decide what valves to get for it

[@myrx2]

What process do you use when doing something like this? 100% complete one port then use it as a reference for the rest or rough out all of them at once then sand then all?

[@headgames]

If it’s a whole port, I would do one and then match it

[@ICTPerformance268]

🇦🇬 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. 🙇🏾‍♂️

[@arturozarate1752]

What was the white template for?

[@kostadiamantis5637]

I believe I have bought the same kit from "seems legit garage" and quickly had a look when inspecting the same question on my cylinder head and from memory it was for the front and possibly the rear inlet port as the studs are in a different position as per the rest of the inlet runner

[@headgames]

@@kostadiamantis5637 that is correct

[@rcr286]

What the heck is up with the casting of that head? Did they just press a bunch of aluminum beads together, or actually cast it? It looks like painted styrofoam. Building that way seems like you are asking for cracks, etc. with no consideration for longevity. Is this the current trend in OE manufacturing? Can you do a video on the evolution of head manufacturing?

[@headgames]

@@rcr286 this head is 34 years old

[@dan1906]

What are you on about? All cast parts have a texture. There is nothing out of the ordinary with that head. To be fair, the lighting, along with some dirt in the low spots, does make it appear exaggerated in the video.

[@rcr286]

@@dan1906, I realize that. However, look at how the head was made and it looks like a bunch of beads were pressed together like styrofoam. It doesn't look like aluminum was poured into a sand mould. I've simply not seen a head made like that before.

[@rcr286]

@@headgames weird. Was this manufacture technique normal 34 years ago? Has it continued?

[@5angles114]

@@rcr286 I see the styrofoam looking alloy heads pretty often both import and domestic. It's a thing.