M54B30 NA Beast Build Attempt. Help Needed. Save The NAs.

[shadow032]

Hey guys,

I'm currently attempting to build an NA M54B30 on a budget. Building engines is currently not a skill I have mastered and I'm going far and wide outside my comfort zone, learning as I go. I've got the block bored to 84.5, balanced new pistons, gaped the piston rings, plastigauged the bearings, the whole 9 yards. I have researched pretty much everything that I think I need, except the valve spring options and cross compatibility between the M5x engines family, since online information is scarce. I'm trying to figure out how valve springs rates relate to valve float at high rpm in these engines and what is high rpm for the M54 engines. I've seen claims that stock m54 valve springs are good for around 7000+ rpm. Also, I've read that the M50 non-vanos engines supposedly had stiffer valve springs. Recently I found a local place that offered me a regrind of my original B30 cams, which got me thinking about supporting valve train upgrades (budget ones).

Can you please share some experience and opinion on whether or not I need to upgrade my valve train in order to run 264 camshaft at 7000-7200rpm without valve float.

If stiffer valve springs are needed, is it possible to use a spring set from a M50 non-vanos?

Also, I read that stiffer springs might lead to more stress on the valve train and a lazy revving engine. Any thoughts?

Thanks guys,
Jeff

[hohusa]

I spoke to riot racing which does regrinds and their profile was something like 270/ 246 and he’s said that stock valve spring would do it. Not sure if that helps any. I think the valve float that you speak of can definitely be remedied by doing a solid lifter conversion.