Thanks!
This idea came to me when I saw an M70 lying on the floor without its intake manifolds in a junkyard. It's a very compact engine thanks to its 60deg. V and SOHC (as compared to the MB M120 DOHC for ex.). It's also a beautiful engine, pure lines, all aluminum.
So I started reading about it on the net and on one of the pages featuring all BMW engine pictures and characteristics I saw that the M30 weight is 143kg and the M70 is 155kg. Not much of a difference, and shifting the battery in the trunck or fitting a flat dry cell battery under a rear seat would re-establish the car's balance.
I also read that it's basically two M20s stuck together through an alloy block, and there were no real reliability problems.
The issue is indeed the electronics which are quite complicated. My idea would be to convert to manual throttle bodies and manage the whole thing with Megasquirt. I did it on an MB V8 engine and MS can handle V12 management also.
Brakes and suspension may not have to be upgraded more than what is already done with other power increases with L6 engines, as weight and its distribution may remain similar and power would be in the 300-350hp range.
I realise similar or even more power can be had with tweaked L6s, but it's for the fun of having a V12 and for it's sound. Also, these engines can be had relatively cheaply, at least for cheaper than tweaking an L6 to get the same kind of power and torque.
For now it's just an idea. I'm reaching the end of my euro MB 5.0L manual trans swap into my '62 MB W111 Coupe, so it's time to think about a new project.
What do you all guys think?
