Will a head off of a 1981euro 733i fit on a 1988 535i?

E28 technical advice asked and given! Troubleshooting, modifications and more.
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Mike in Seattle
Posts: 1561
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: Maple Valley, WA

Post by Mike in Seattle »

I picked up a head from an 81 euro 733i at the Pull A Part. It looks to be almost new. No varnish and very bright under the valve cover. But it looks to be a reproduction, not a BMW part. The only markings I have found on it so far, are the letters AMC cast into the intake manifold side. The intake runners are not real smooth. They have some pits from casting in them. The engine did have the high compression pistons in it. will this head work and is it worth using on a 1988 535i? I am planning on rebuilding a head, with some agressive porting and polishing, a 280 duration cam and a B35 intake manifold. I also have a BMW head off of a US 85 735i, but it has an extremely worn cam lobe. Would I be better off using the US head? I also got the 001 ECU from the car. I don't think it is Motronic. Is it worth anything? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Mike
1988 535i
shifty
Posts: 2552
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: Greenville, SC
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Post by shifty »

[QUOTE="Mike in Seattle"]The only markings I have found on it so far, are the letters AMC cast into the intake manifold side[/QUOTE]

Woops, sorry Mike. It looks like you did NOT pick out a Euro 733i head but instead got a really good deal on an AMC Gremlin head! :D
Al Canuck
Posts: 658
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM

Post by Al Canuck »

The AMC cylinder heads are a Spanish case aftermarket heads for BMW's. I have one on the 2.3L M20 that is going in my 323i. The castings are a bit rough, but I did a bunch of research on them, and they seem to work just fine. Never heard a bad thing about them.

Al
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