"OPERATION TURBO" - well as you can see thus far, I really like working on my car. I have been happy with the power output to date but am wanting more now. I researched heavily the idea of boosting the output of the engine by 200 hp with NO2 but have decided to go with forced induction (FI) instead. I am going to use a M106 short block (754i) with my Hartge cylinder head for the engine. The turbo system is a TCD Stage II kit (TCD's website, click here) and the engine will be run by an Electromotive TEC3 ECU. We are expecting the engine to develop over 500 HP.

"OPERATION TURBO" - The BMW M106 engine is a true turbo motor designed to be that by BMW. The piston crowns are thicker with the piston rings spaced farther apart to handle the boost better. Oil jets are installed that spray the bottoms of each piston with oil for additional cooling. The dished pistons provide a perfect 8:1 CR which will allow high boost.

M106 Engine preparation. I sourced a BMW test engine that had very little time on it. Once I received the short block, I disassembled it to have all of the internal parts cleaned, checked, weight matched (pistons, connecting rods) and balanced (crank).

Here are a couple shots of the engine as I received it. It is a M106 turbo motor, 3.5L with 8:1 CR. No numbers are stamped on the ID plate due to it being a test engine.

Once the pistons were checked and weight match I sent them to Industrial Ceramic Coatings located in Dallas Texas. I have had three coating applied to the pistons; Dry Film Lubricant (DFL) on the skirts, Ceramic coating on the crowns and a oil repellant inside the piston (looks to be a type of Teflon coating).
I also had the new 264 cam's lobs and rockers coated with the DFL.

Here are some pictures of the M106 fully assembled and ready to go. The only exception to the stock BMW block is the Electromotive TEC3 knock sensor that is installed on the intake side of the block. She is a beauty.

Note the ceramic coated pistons and the ARP head studs.

This is the famed Fank Fahey hub. A very pricey piece of metal. With all on the $$$$ invested thus far, I have fallen victim to the marketing and purchased. I guess it is one less thing to worry about.

I had to fabricate a running male tee adapter for the oil filter housing. The turbo kit gets the oil for the turbo from the same port I currently have the oil temp sensor in. So, I found a running male T adapter and then with various taps and dies, made it work for my application. Now I will have a healthy supply of oil to the turbo and a accurate oil temp of the oil going to the turbo.

I spent a lot of time and effort trying to decide on the best head gasket to use. I even looked into having the head O-ringed. I found a "cutting ring" head gasket that is used on very high compression M30 racing engines. It has a raised sharp ring on both sides that will cut into the head and block and thus make a great seal.

Here are a couple of pictures of the short block with the head gasket ready for the head install.

The Hartge H6S cylinder head had the 284 CAM removed and it was sent to the states to have the CC, valve faces and exhaust ports ceramic coated. The new cam is a 264 cam out of a M30B35 engine. The following are pictures of the cylinder head that has been completely prepped for turbo use. This will give a much greater margin of safety for high boost and the possibility to catch detonation before it does any damage.

Here is the new 264 cam installed with all new running gear.

Here is some pictures with the head on and the turbo kit being istalled.

I installed five more vacuum ports to the bottom of the intake manifold. With a total of six ports, I can have dedicated vacuum lines for the RRFPR, Boost Gauge, Waste Gate, Boost controller, interior temp sensor and the MAP sensor.

Here are some pictures of the engine with most of the component dry fitted. i am really happy how my vision of the completed engine came out. The parts were all over the states having work completed on them and this is a first look at the engine together.

The engine compartment %90 complete