E30 Zone

ok i need to get some info how hard it is compared to the m60 (with evereything ready, motor mounts etc...) to do a ls1 or something similar (give me some advice, dont now poo about usa v8's).
So anybody done it? a walkthrought would be amazing

There's an M3 kicking about with an LS1.

Think it's a great idea myself, but other than buying the lump and offering it up I can't be any help I'm afraid.

Good luck with it, it can be done

I agree.. Awesome idea. Trouble is you wont find much info here on the zone.

First things: Find a model of american car with the LS1, the 6 speed manual box if possible and that has the sump bulge in the right place for the E30 cross member (If I remember correctly that means not from a 'vette, probably a firebird).

Next will be to offer up the engine and box, then make up some engine mounts. Surprisingly easy.

The only dificult bit is going to be the exhaust manifolds. You could either track down Wayne from the BMW owners forum (the chap with the Orange LS1 powered M3) and find out where his were fabricated or have a go at it yourself. To be honest, there should be a fair ammount f clearance there (the LS1 is surprisingly small) so any decent fabricators should be able to make a pair of manifolds for less than £1500.

As for propshafts etc, they are easily sorted. Normally about £100 for a prop company to make one custom one from two props (rear of an E30, front from your donor car).

Keeping the LS1's electronics is desirable as it has handy things like running on 4 pots on light throttle loads by alternately firing the injectors in banks of 4. Saves a bit of fuel. They will however run lovely on megasquirt/aftermarket ECU's. They'll release power/torque and allow you to tune to match the engine's new home. You may have to get an ealier cable throttle to replace a fly by wire affair from the american tank the engine comes from. I think you'd be looking at 350-400 BHP from a std engine with a cam and aftermarket ECU and INSANE torque. The car would wipe the floor with 99% of the beemers I've seen in the acceleration stakes.

Anyways... Good luck. Dont be put off. True there are no off the peg sollutions but it shouldn't be too hard, they are excellent but very simple engines.

I remember seeing a chap had done a write up on how to fit the LS1 into the BMW compact somewhere on the zone. It'll all be applicable to you, except the bulge on the E36 sump is at the rear, not on the front like the E30.

Jai

dream e30

ok first of all thanks for the info, especially jaistanley u made me excited but anyway, this sounds a "little" expensive but i work in a workshop that fixes tractors and worl machines so i have a pretty decent area to do the swap. But u say that i should buy the whole car :I is that the cheapest? but anyway IF i will do this swap maybe santa will bring some phots but i still want to do the m60 a little bit

I've had a 454 Big block sat in the engine bay of an E30, it will go it, the SB series and Windsor fords are a lot smaller and would leave more room for decent headers, that was the issue on the 454, the pipes would have been 90' straight outa the ports.

Sumps seem to be an issue, most are rear pickup but that could be sorted easily enough.

I get to play with V8's, I live next door to a corvette specialists

I think if i ever went for another conversion it would be a Yank V8 of some sort, not an easy conversion but i dont think any v8 BMW or not would be.
Thing is there are so many tuning parts compared to the BMW V8 and there a damn sight cheaper too.
Ok its not BMW, but who cares, it wouldnt bother me.

I say go for it Maxel

fit one of these

whipsey wrote:fit one of these

F#cking get in

it's slightly too scary when your a passenger

whipsey wrote:it's slightly too scary when your a passenger

Balderdash, i bet you love it

oguz327 wrote:I think if i ever went for another conversion it would be a Yank V8 of some sort, not an easy conversion but i dont think any v8 BMW or not would be.
Thing is there are so many tuning parts compared to the BMW V8 and there a damn sight cheaper too.
Ok its not BMW, but who cares, it wouldnt bother me.

I say go for it Maxel

If i had the folding i'd be running an LS1, mid mounted though

imagine being in a pick up wearing no seatbelts dashboard bouncing doors rattling nothing to hold on to that's got a smaller engine

hmm i may get a good deal for sum m60 so it will be more likely that i go for the m60, but ls1 has grabbed my mind and wont let go... but mooooooney

think about it as a long term project buy bits and pieces as you can afford them

i had an e30 m3 with an ls1 in it over 500 bhp went in no probs now doing lexus is 200 ls1

v8m3 wrote:i had an e30 m3 with an ls1 in it over 500 bhp went in no probs now doing lexus is 200 ls1

Can't believe you sold that, was one of my favourite M3's ever!

ok, i kinda decided to do a sbc but can't find any one. I have no idea what sbc's are good. All i want is hp for no money, and also 300+ would be a plus Aren't the 350's popular?

maxfield wrote:

v8m3 wrote:i had an e30 m3 with an ls1 in it over 500 bhp went in no probs now doing lexus is 200 ls1

Can't believe you sold that, was one of my favourite M3's ever!

trying to buy it back at present moment as he does not use it