Here it is on You Tube - never liked the big bumpers
Edit: Ooppps - meant to add the link!
Re: E30 with a Corvette engine
Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 1:55 pm
by jaistanley
This was the engine I was hankering after when I came upon my S50 on ebay...
Awesome power delivery and potential, just too much for the E30 chassis I'd say (having an S50 which is just about as much as it'd ever need IMO)
Good stuff..
Jai
Re: E30 with a Corvette engine
Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 2:31 pm
by jmc330i
Ive been thinking about this conversion as well Jai. Too much power/torque for the E30 you think?
My original aim before doing the S50 conversion was around 350bhp with an M20 turbo, but then the S50 came along......
Im still considering supercharging the S50 for around 350bhp, but then a nice V8 rumble always gets my attention
Re: E30 with a Corvette engine
Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 4:30 pm
by E30BeemerLad
SBC FTW!
Re: E30 with a Corvette engine
Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 4:49 pm
by Ziggy
Oh the temptation. Anyone wanna buy a convertible?!
Re: E30 with a Corvette engine
Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 5:30 pm
by jakkerd
Best of both worlds imho. E30 looks with an American V8 rumble.
Re: E30 with a Corvette engine
Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 5:32 pm
by DanThe
Id love one of these donks for my E34 touring
Re: E30 with a Corvette engine
Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 5:34 pm
by nickso
cost is the issue though. not all that easy to find an LS engine over here, then you need a gearbox.
Re: E30 with a Corvette engine
Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 6:37 pm
by oakey
Awesome!
I'd like go for an m60/2 though. "De-catted" it should make around/over 300bhp with mpg and smoothness the LS would never equal. Saying that it an m60/2 will never sound as good as the yank donk
Re: E30 with a Corvette engine
Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 7:00 pm
by winx
I'm looking into this in some detail at the moment, have had a good few chats with Steve who carried it out. Engines are easy to come by in the US and I have contacts for shipping.
I also went up to Gama Motorsport at the weekend for a chat about it and it does seem possible, Steve had his reservations about the starter motor being where the steering column should be but after speaking with Gregg at Gama today we don't think it should be a problem
Hopefully have some more news in the next month or 2 when we have borrowed a ls3 and t56 box to trial fit
Re: E30 with a Corvette engine
Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 7:01 pm
by DanThe
Dont forget the yank lump is 365lbft compared to Germanys 295lbft
possibly, thanks for the links. I do however have a hatred of DV having dealth with them on porsche parts a few years ago, complete and utter rip off merchants, it would not surprise me if they wanted over 8k for the engine drop out kit. I can buy a new crate LS3 engine for £8k with all the bits!
(They will be getting a call in the morning though just to check they havent turned over a new leaf!)
Re: E30 with a Corvette engine
Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 8:24 pm
by Tedswagon
Alwas worth a call - but the old saying about spots and leopards comes to mind. let us know how you get on.
Re: E30 with a Corvette engine
Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 10:43 pm
by Kos
oakey wrote:Awesome!
I'd like go for an m60/2 though. "De-catted" it should make around/over 300bhp with mpg and smoothness the LS would never equal. Saying that it an m60/2 will never sound as good as the yank donk
the m60 does sound pretty sweet wigh M5 manifolds and good exhaust system
colins old donk, which is now is shaz's car sounded mental
Re: E30 with a Corvette engine
Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 10:48 pm
by don2009
That must be mad to drive!
Re: E30 with a Corvette engine
Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 10:52 pm
by hazd31
how did they only get 350bhp out of it?
Must have been trying hard!!
Re: E30 with a Corvette engine
Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 10:55 pm
by Tedswagon
don2009 wrote:That must be mad to drive!
You have to remember our cousins across the water are not allowed to go above 50mph.
Re: E30 with a Corvette engine
Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2010 1:30 pm
by Motorhole
hazd31 wrote:how did they only get 350bhp out of it?
Must have been trying hard!!
350bhp is stock power for an LS1 450bhp is easily acheivable with bolt-on upgrades, cams and standalone ECU. Not bad for an engine that weighs less than an M20.