Porting a BMW E30 325i Head. Could Be a Disaster!

The casting on our new replacement AMC cylinder head for the BMW E30 325i was terrible! So bad, we had to fix it before we could install it! Every port needed to be reworked so, Lewis went to town and thoroughly ported, polished, gas flowed, valve lapped and gasket matched the head to try and get it to the standard our E30 M20 engine deserves! If we had known how bad the manufacturing was, we would have sourced an original head or another aftermarket head to use! Luckily Lewis was able to save it......after removing a lot of excess material! Will it start after all that reworking?? Tune in to find out!
If you're thinking about buying an AMC head for your E30, watch this video first!
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#bmwe30 #325i #porting

[@barkster1971]

That mouse having it's breakfast is a vole!

[@WhitelandRestorations]

Technically it's a bank Vole! 😂

[@andrewhaines3259]

​​@@WhitelandRestorationsHow to Bank Vole a project!.....I'll get my coat.

[@chrisw266]

Great video, love it. Can't tell you how lovely it must be to have a wife that rushes down to hear the first start. What an amazing couple you both are.

[@WhitelandRestorations]

We're both very lucky indeed, neither of us would want to miss the first start! Thank you for watching 😊

[@eugeneburgundu]

AMC is shit I know because I’ve had one of their cylinder heads before it should never had been re manufactured because it was basically scarp from euro-carports.😩😩😩

[@djambrosia]

The AMC heads are just as bad on VW WBX engines. The ports are ok but the seat/bowl area is comically bad. There are also some worrying QC issues as a recent batch of WBX heads have a partially unmachined chamber seal leading to head gasket failures. Not good considering recent price hikes.

[@Grooty79]

Going too big on the exhaust will rob low end torque, even the amc exhaust is sufficient for 220+hp , most people will go big on the port and just slow down airspeed, best mod on the amc or 885 is a 43mm intake and only a mild port, theres not a lot of power in the roof, and smoothing the intake port doesnt affect the m20 head as its a straight shot at the valve and the only bend is the short turn, good too see m20 content, i share as much info as i can on the m20 our personal m20b29 is 340-350hp

[@jas-_-hug6851]

Hi when is the fiesta coming back

[@williamebrahim2612]

horrible music

[@colmsherlock9918]

What exhaust manifold are you using?

[@WhitelandRestorations]

It's a 6 branch equal length stainless manifold. I've had it for for so long I can't remember the details but I remember it was quite expensive and came from Germany 😁

[@martinneumann7783]

Hello Happy! Good job, Lewis. The engine start did sound a little bit like a midget version of a Rolls Royce Merlin... 💥👍💥

[@WhitelandRestorations]

It was throaty wasn't it!

[@pumphodl9540]

The alignment dowels looked missing from the block. I know you probably don't want to hear this after the AMC saga but without these I have heard the head to shift during running and can potentially cause oil feed issues to the head.

[@harryharker9564]

Big thanks for recommending Classic Swede for my 240 bits they have been fantastic ..

[@grayfool]

That first turn of the key is a mind bending moment. The feeling when the engine fires up and rube smoothly cannot be beaten. Good job.

[@WhitelandRestorations]

Oh what a moment! Lewis is still on a high!

[@daraprak6498]

That cam lobe sounds so dirty 😮‍💨🙌

[@shaunhenryengineering]

Sounds rather sexy 🎉 Whether its your first or your 100th rebuild, that first start is always nervous 😂

[@davidflamee]

Great work. Massive job, so many variables. Much, much, much respect. well done!

[@markwgoldsmith]

Chuffed to bits for you! Cracking video, & great result!

[@huwdavies6650]

So, when does Monica get a Fast Road cam and a polished and ported head?😉

[@denguefever9489]

Would you port them on a stock build?

[@bojanlegner7051]

Lots of time and patience went into this engine, well done to both of you!

[@ghaalibadams]

Cherish this woman forever!

[@paulleeson8670]

What a fab video well done 👍🏼

[@markstott6091]

Apologies if i'm teaching granny how to suck eggs - did you check the tappet clearances whilst you were in there? Great video, Lewis, cheers!

[@WhitelandRestorations]

Yeah of course, 20 thou on the tappets.... If you have a keen eye you might spot me doing it in the video. Had to cut a fair bit of footage out or the video would have been 5 hours long 😂

[@peteredwards7872]

So pleased for you 👏👍

[@mikeweston4061]

Professional car restoration without being up it's own backside !!

[@Andy-sh9eq]

You'd have been better off getting a good secondhand BMW head and rebuilding that.

[@WhitelandRestorations]

Your 100% correct, should have gone bmw but at least you guys got an entertaining video out of it 😂

[@bigsquatchsasfoot1964]

Nice one Lewis nice brave job mate 👍, I used to drive one of these as a company car years back I used to thrash it about everywhere it was good fun

[@WhitelandRestorations]

Nice choice of company car!

[@DocBenson]

Thanks for the inspiration! I'm about to do a head R and R on one of my 240s and it is nerve-wracking.

[@WhitelandRestorations]

Good luck, hope it goes well!

[@neilwilliams6716]

I know that nervous excited feeling only too well. Engine sounds incredible, nice job 👏

[@WhitelandRestorations]

Nail biting times!

[@brendonhearn8778]

"Whiteland Machineworks"? Thanks for another video. cheers ...Or is it "Whiteland Wildlife Photography"? LOL! And that first start tho! AWESOME!!!! Maybe a poll voting for/against leaving the exhaust off?

[@WhitelandRestorations]

Lewis is toying with the idea of a remote exhaust valve now!

[@brendonhearn8778]

@@WhitelandRestorations Change the E3's name to "Rowdy"? The look on both of your faces, was just magic (on start-up).

[@SimonHarvey-i4z]

I love the m20 engines I have always wanted to turbo one apparently they will take a fair bit of boost with standard internals as long as they are in good shape of course excellent work m8 well done

[@WhitelandRestorations]

We're excited to see how much power we've added with the mods!

[@barkster1971]

I've also got a genuine e30 m3 rear spoiler for sale in black

[@WhitelandRestorations]

Snap! So have we! 😁

[@philtucker1224]

What made you choose an un ported AMC head? Do you know what wall thicknesses are remaining?? 🤔

[@WhitelandRestorations]

It was supposed to be ported and ready to fit. The casting work was shocking. We estimate about 3mm left on the walls... Maybe more

[@philtucker1224]

@@WhitelandRestorations well I bet the old bent & welded original looks nicer now than it did when you first examined it! Best regards to you both. 🙏

[@maggiedellow57]

Well done Lewis,what a fantastic sound and a pure joy to hear. 😊

[@WhitelandRestorations]

What an epic tune!

[@micheltebraake7915]

Great, the E30 is one step closer to driving.

[@WhitelandRestorations]

Another step closer indeed!

[@Invisibleman7]

Wahey!! She runs. Enjoyed this one 👍👊

[@WhitelandRestorations]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@roseybut]

Brilliant!! What a fabulous sound. Well done.

[@WhitelandRestorations]

Thank you!

[@steveb5584]

Man of many talents .. good work sir

[@WhitelandRestorations]

Thank you!

[@e30mark]

Get that E30 finished now! 😎

[@WhitelandRestorations]

If only we could take a month off work.... We'd have it done!

[@aftergrowth]

the joy of you both so happy with the car starting 🙂

[@WhitelandRestorations]

Huge moment! It's been 4 years nearly since she last ran. She's had a fair few engine upgrades too.... Exciting!

[@davecarnaby6329]

Well done, Great job 👍🏻

[@WhitelandRestorations]

Thank you! 👍

[@giulianomarco]

All of the blub-blubs! 😁👍

[@WhitelandRestorations]

You can feel them!

[@matthewwhite7663]

Wow, cracking work.

[@WhitelandRestorations]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@daddypeet257]

Lewis your face as you were putting the plugs in you looked scared !!!

[@Kenny_P_abz]

I’m curious, if it’s new, why you decided to port it yourself rather than return it? Nice job though!

[@WhitelandRestorations]

Couple of reasons really.... 1) we imported it and paid a lot on delivery/duty. 2) it was lock down and we had no other options. 3) we'd rather just do it ourselves and make sure it's done properly!

[@scottyetman2706]

That sounds absolutely awesome. I will definitely be up again when passing just to see and here her, great job.

[@WhitelandRestorations]

She does sound amazing! 😁👌