I've been driving e36s (mainly autoX) for a while and can handle them pretty well. None of them ever had a lot of power.

I decided to do this project about 2 years ago, got the motor a year ago and just put it in.

please email me if you have any questions. calesmith AT gmail.com

The Car:
http://www.slowdowntogofast.com/host/upload/DSC_4863.jpg

The Motor ('99 Camaro LS1):
http://www.slowdowntogofast.com/host/upload/DSC_4862.jpg

LS6 Manifold:
http://www.slowdowntogofast.com/host/upload/DSC_4910.jpg

Comp Cams Valve Train Upgrade Kit (Springs, Pushrods, Retainers):
http://www.slowdowntogofast.com/host/upload/DSC_4869.jpg

Euro Trash Motor Delete Mod.
http://www.slowdowntogofast.com/host/upload/DSC_5066.jpg


Started working on the cam swap...

Money shot in a dirty garage....
http://www.slowdowntogofast.com/host/upload/DSC_5715.1.jpg

Pulling the rocker arms and pushrods. I haven't done too much motor work, but everything went smooth....
http://www.slowdowntogofast.com/host/upload/DSC_5723.jpg

Pulling the stock cam out.
http://www.slowdowntogofast.com/host/upload/DSC_5724.jpg

The new cam slid right in.
http://www.slowdowntogofast.com/host/upload/DSC_5731.jpg

LS6 Timing Chain and New Oil Pump
http://www.slowdowntogofast.com/host/upload/DSC_5741.jpg

Installing the New Springs, Retainers and Locks was pretty easy.
http://www.slowdowntogofast.com/host/upload/DSC_5753.jpg

Valvetrain back together.
http://www.slowdowntogofast.com/host/upload/DSC_5775.jpg

Subframe and rear trailing arm bushings
http://www.slowdowntogofast.com/host/upload/DSC_5897.jpg

Upgraded Rod Bolts for revving to the moon.
http://www.slowdowntogofast.com/host/upload/DSC_7172.jpg

LS7 Clutch for trips to clutch kick city.
http://www.slowdowntogofast.com/host/upload/DSC_7687.1.JPG

Tranny Bolted Up.
http://www.slowdowntogofast.com/host/upload/DSC_7695.1.JPG

Headers and Mounts
http://www.slowdowntogofast.com/host/upload/lsgun6.jpg

Stallcup ABS Relocation
http://www.slowdowntogofast.com/host/upload/DSC_7930.jpg

Motor went in easily
http://www.slowdowntogofast.com/host/upload/DSC_7951.jpg

Motor mounts on
http://www.slowdowntogofast.com/host/upload/DSC_7997.jpg

Ballin' Headers
http://www.slowdowntogofast.com/host/upload/DSC_7984.jpg

Decent Stance
http://www.slowdowntogofast.com/host/upload/DSC_7983.jpg

Big thanks, to everyone who helped.

Very nice!

is it running or just installed engine and tranny with stage 0 kit?

The motor is just bolted up, I hope to wire it up this week.

I would also like to add that Vorshlag did a phenomenal job on Stage 0. The pictures are nice and everything, but you don't understand the quality until you install it. The headers fit in very tightly yet go in easily and all the mounts line up perfectly. Taking our time, we got the mounts and headers bolted up in 2 hours.

beautiful...can't wait to see the finished product

Wow, you're moving quick with it now. So this is gonna be for drift huh? Can't wait to see it sliding around, as I can imagine it'll be very good at;)

Keep us posted

What diff are you going with? Also what size wheels/tires you going with?

Niiiice! Good luck and keep this thread updated.

Also what are you going with for a Radiator?

Looks good - so who will be the first to get a vorshlag car to move under it's own power and when? ;)

Looks good - so who will be the first to get a vorshlag car to move under it's own power and when? ;)

Hopefully me


I don't want to install the LS1 until I get my heads and cam installed, and the heads won't be shipped out until the end of the month. But I did get my cam today:)

I'm running the brake lines to the relocated ABS today, but I'm having trouble trying to find the size the lines are

Looks good. Hopefully Ill start my swap this winter.

Looks good. Hopefully Ill start my swap this winter.

Perfect on one hand, sucky on the other hand.

Upside is that if you start in the winter, you should be done and ready for the summer. Downside is it's fucking cold in the winter. Hands get numb, joints become sore, can't feel your balls:shifty

Looks good - so who will be the first to get a vorshlag car to move under it's own power and when? ;)

I think you mean 2nd

http://eddyp.smugmug.com/photos/260208898_tRyVt-L.jpg

I think I mean first ;) Not a shop car, a customer car, but I could be wrong :ponder

I think I mean first ;) Not a shop car, a customer car, but I could be wrong :ponder

That is a customer, of Dallas Performance.

Very Nice.

Maybe I should do this :)

Thanks for sharing that awesome project with us! Can't wait to see more !

Perfect on one hand, sucky on the other hand.

Upside is that if you start in the winter, you should be done and ready for the summer. Downside is it's fucking cold in the winter. Hands get numb, joints become sore, can't feel your balls:shifty

Hopefully Ill be in my friends shop with the lift. That always makes things easy.

Hopefully Ill be in my friends shop with the lift. That always makes things easy.

No shit. I wish I had a lift:(

Hey buddy, I heard you were up to something fun like this...nice work!
Can't wait to go for a ride:)

What diff are you going with? Also what size wheels/tires you going with?

I am also curious to see what kind of diff you are going with. I am assuming you can use the BMW diff, and just run a different gearing, based on your preferences, correct?

I also want to build my E36 M3 to do some drifting. How much power do you plan on putting down with your engine?

Also, how much did you ultimately spend, to get the car to run?

It's a lot of questions, so hopefully you don't mind :) The more I see these swaps, the more eager and impatient I get with doing my own.

I am also curious to see what kind of diff you are going with. I am assuming you can use the BMW diff, and just run a different gearing, based on your preferences, correct?

I also want to build my E36 M3 to do some drifting. How much power do you plan on putting down with your engine?

Also, how much did you ultimately spend, to get the car to run?

It's a lot of questions, so hopefully you don't mind :) The more I see these swaps, the more eager and impatient I get with doing my own.

Throwing a stock LS1 into the E36 and running stock wheel setup will burn enough rubber easy :stickoutt

It's not a stock set up. I want to be able to burn 295s.

Even a stock LS1 will light up 295mm street tires with a 2600 pound car.

I think I mean first ;) Not a shop car, a customer car, but I could be wrong :ponder

You stand corrected, again... ;)

Funny :lol

Even a stock LS1 will light up 295mm street tires with a 2600 pound car.

Good to know, but my car is still currently at stock weight.

Not too much has happened on this car recently. I had to do a bit of work on my daily driver. It was hard to work on that car right after putting the motor in.

It's a painful story but I had to steal the rear subframe out of this car to get my daily going. Not a big deal, I have another subframe already

This last weekend I did get a bit of wiring done. The car cranks and HPTuners is talking to my ECU.

To answer a few questions.
I will be starting out with a stock 188mm diff (I have 2 for this car, both 3.15). Killing diffs is nothing new to me. If it happens too often, I'll have to do some sort of upgrade.

I could guess how much power the car will make, but that's not my thing. I'll just get it dyno'd later.

As for the drifting... Yes, I plan on attending drift events. I also plan on doing a bit of drag racing. Grip events, mainly Autox and some HPDEs have been my life for the last 6 years. I've been really enjoying other types of motorsports recently. The car may not be sorted well enough for grip this summer. Probably next year though.

Motor started on the first try last Thursday.

Running straight off the headers...... It sounds pretty cool. :)

Motor started on the first try last Thursday.

Running straight off the headers...... It sounds pretty cool. :)

Sound clip n00b. :shifty

good job, more pics

Sound clip n00b. :shifty

I'll skip the sound clip and go for video. Should be driving the car next week....

:jump

I'll skip the sound clip and go for video. Should be driving the car next week....

DAMN that was a fast build/install

After I had the motor in, this build has taken way longer than it should have....

These are the only new pics I have on my comp right now:

When I had to get a new subframe, I picked up some other new pieces.
http://www.slowdowntogofast.com/host/upload/DSC_8133.jpg

Added some more Rice.
http://www.slowdowntogofast.com/host/upload/DSC_8193.jpg

Looks good. I am just waiting for the right time, or the right excuse, to start doing this.

Looks good - so who will be the first to get a vorshlag car to move under it's own power and when? ;)

Not sure if I'm the first, but I drove the car to the exhaust shop today.

Not sure if I'm the first, but I drove the car to the exhaust shop today.

I don't care if you're the first, second, third, or whatever, as long as you post a vid of that beast smoking the rears around a bend

That thing is sweet!

Got the car back from the exhaust shop today....

http://www.slowdowntogofast.com/host/upload/lsgun15.jpg

that is an amazing front end shot!!! what size tires are those?

Got the car back from the exhaust shop today....

http://www.slowdowntogofast.com/host/upload/lsgun15.jpg

Wicked! Definitely looking forward to some action shots/vids. Please tell me you have a 2way diff to go with that.:cool

that is an amazing front end shot!!! what size tires are those?

x2, also what radiator is that?

The tires are 285/30/18 A048s all the way around. They came with my wheels...

I got the rad from a local rad shop. There is also a really nice fan and shroud on the other side.

I have a couple of stock M3 diffs laying around. Will have to see how long these things hold up. I'm also thinking about experimenting with a welded diff.

The tires are 285/30/18 A048s all the way around. They came with my wheels...

I got the rad from a local rad shop. There is also a really nice fan and shroud on the other side.

I have a couple of stock M3 diffs laying around. Will have to see how long these things hold up. I'm also thinking about experimenting with a welded diff.

You have any side shots? What all body work did you have to do to get those tires/wheels to fit? Also what route did you go on for the exhaust?

Car looks good man. Really good. Makes me more anxious for my car to be done

How does the T56 6-speed feel? Seeing these is really tempting me but I'm worried I won't like the feel of the T56 compared to the smoothness of the current BMW gearbox.

T56 > zf/getrag

edit: Capital, the T56 is internally gated too.

T56 > zf/getrag

edit: Capital, the T56 is internally gated too.

Thanks for the info. I guess from just looking at F-Bodys I've been given this perception that it would be some bullish sloppy mess for some reason :stickoutt

Thanks for the info. I guess from just looking at F-Bodys I've been given this perception that it would be some bullish sloppy mess for some reason :stickoutt

My mom had a 02 V6 camaro, and although it wasn't the T56, it shifted REAL smooth. Much smoother than my M, so if the 02 V6 tranny shifts anything like the T56, then you have nothing to worry about:)

Not too much has happened on this car recently. I had to do a bit of work on my daily driver. It was hard to work on that car right after putting the motor in.

It's a painful story but I had to steal the rear subframe out of this car to get my daily going. Not a big deal, I have another subframe already

This last weekend I did get a bit of wiring done. The car cranks and HPTuners is talking to my ECU.

To answer a few questions.
I will be starting out with a stock 188mm diff (I have 2 for this car, both 3.15). Killing diffs is nothing new to me. If it happens too often, I'll have to do some sort of upgrade.

I could guess how much power the car will make, but that's not my thing. I'll just get it dyno'd later.

As for the drifting... Yes, I plan on attending drift events. I also plan on doing a bit of drag racing. Grip events, mainly Autox and some HPDEs have been my life for the last 6 years. I've been really enjoying other types of motorsports recently. The car may not be sorted well enough for grip this summer. Probably next year though.

What a great project.

How does the T56 6-speed feel? Seeing these is really tempting me but I'm worried I won't like the feel of the T56 compared to the smoothness of the current BMW gearbox.


the same T56 that is found in many other cars, not just in the GM's platform.. i cant recall the whole list but a few that i do remember is the Dodge Viper, Chevy Corvette Z06, Ford SVT Mustang Cobra. Also found in Aston Martin DB7 Vantage and V12 Vanquish, and Holden Commodore and Monaro.

* Aston Martin DB7 Vantage, 1999–2003
* Aston Martin V12 Vanquish, 2001–2006
* Chevrolet Corvette, 1997–2007
* Dodge Ram SRT10, 2004–2006
* Dodge Viper, 1992–2007
* Ford Mustang Cobra, 2003–2004
* Ford Mustang Cobra R, 2000
* Ford Falcon XR6, XR6T, XR8, F6 Tornado/Typhoon, GT/GT-P 2004–2008
* General Motors GM F platform V8 cars, 1993–2002
* Holden Commodore 1998–2008
* Holden Monaro, 2001-2006
* GM M12
o 2001–2004 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
o 2004–2006 Pontiac GTO
o 2004–2006 Cadillac CTS-V
* GM MN6
o 2004–2007 Chevrolet Corvette
* GM M10
o 2005–2006 Chevrolet SSR
o 2006–2008 Holden VE Commodore
* GM MZ6
o 2005–2007 Chevrolet Corvette Z51

wow this thing is nuts. Never new folks did these to bmw's.

Show us some pics of the exhaust setup!

Also, I am interested in how the diff is going to hold up. If you got "longer" gears I wonder if the power would be more controllable / tame for HPDE and the like. (But in your case with drifting, I'm sure that you want it to break loose pretty easily.)

I really want to do this swap, but I have promised myself that I won't start a project until AFTER college is over with.........

Also found in Aston Martin DB7 Vantage and V12 Vanquish

But the Vanquish was never offered in manual form?

If you decide to start doing some more advanced drifting, I would recommend you lose the ABS, or install a switch to turn it off. With high speed entries sometimes you initiate VERY early to put the cars sideways, and then lock all 4 in order to scrub speed and still hold angle, also sometimes to adjust line.

The 188mm rear end should be fine. My car is all stock M3 parts in back and just recently killed the driveshaft, but I think it was damaged at the previous competition when the diff bolt broke. Get the DSB for sure, and/or retap your diff. for a 16mm bolt. I'm running the 16mm bolt and it seems to be holding with no DSB

Quick calcs here: It's not an LS1, but she does put 300lb-ft to the rear tires, so 360ish tq at the crank, and the ZF first gear is 4.2:1, so 1500lb-ft going through the driveshaft. Stock LS1 I think makes 335lb-ft and uses a 2.66 first gear, so the driveshaft sees 891 lb-ft

There are travel limiting spacers on the inner tie rod part that bolts to the rack shaft, Take those out and use loktite and you will gain a few degrees of steering angle. If you want more than that, take a look at what stops the rack from traveling further and you can figure it out.... (cant give everything away for free) :)

Of course you need to adjust wheel offset in order for clearance. E39 offset is a good start and they sit really nice with a slight fender roll.

I really want to do this swap, but I have promised myself that I won't start a project until AFTER college is over with.........

See that's where I went wrong. I always said the same thing, now I'm out of college and have a mortgage payment and find myself buying boring grownup things like a lawnmower and a new mattress :bluecry1

See that's where I went wrong. I always said the same thing, now I'm out of college and have a mortgage payment and find myself buying boring grownup things like a lawnmower and a new mattress :bluecry1

haha nooooo! i don't want to leave college and go into the boring grown up world yet :(

and to the OP, your build is AWESOME, i'll be checking back for vids lol

OK I now can say I have seen ever single LS1 Swap possible. Dude that thing is going to ride out. Very clean swap man. Very nice you need to start posting up some vids now.

Keep the 285's up front!

very nice build. looking good. just need some updated photos and video.

nice dude good workk

always been a dream mod of mine

congrats on standin out in the crowd
cant wait to see some vids

Feed the hungry OP. :shifty

Feed the hungry OP. :shifty
+1

Thanks again for the kind words.

I'm happy with the results, but not completely satisfied with everything. This is actually my first motor swap. I'll probably be re-doing a few things over the winter.

The car has been pretty much ready to go since last week, but have been having some problems with the water pump. I should have a new one this weekend. I'll get some more pics and maybe some video when the car is ready.

I'll be in Seattle this weekend for the Formula D event though. :D

What are the specs on the cam

Where are the vids where you tear up those sweet mountain roads north of Boise?

reinforced subframe ?????

willing to help me do ls6 into e46 sedan ???

Thanks again for the kind words.

I'm happy with the results, but not completely satisfied with everything. This is actually my first motor swap. I'll probably be re-doing a few things over the winter.

The car has been pretty much ready to go since last week, but have been having some problems with the water pump. I should have a new one this weekend. I'll get some more pics and maybe some video when the car is ready.

I'll be in Seattle this weekend for the Formula D event though. :D


please help me build e46 ls6 beast lol :buttrock

What are the specs on the cam
Thunder Racing 224/224 .563/.563 114 LSA

reinforced subframe ?????
The subframe isn't, the subframe mounts are though.

willing to help me do ls6 into e46 sedan ???
I'm not very close, but might be able to help out....

Where are the vids where you tear up those sweet mountain roads north of Boise?
Work is going to be killer this week, hopefully by next weekend though.

Got the car going this weekend. It sat for two weeks, with a bad water pump. It was real easy to replace, just have been real busy at work.

I drove the car a 100 miles this weekend. Can't really describe it, but the thing is an absolute blast.

Funny, someone just told me last night that the water pump on the LS1 is difficult to replace. Maybe the E36 engine bay length makes it easier?

Can the guys who have done this swap comment on the ease of maintenance? How difficult is it to replace spark plugs, water pumps, starters, oil filters, and other wear items? I just changed a starter on an M52, and I do not want to do that again (at least not with the engine in the car).

Awesome build Postmaster, any idea what the swap ended up costing you?

Those front tires are massive...

videos and moar pics!

The hardest part of the water pump swap is draining the coolant. It is literally a less than one hour job on the LS motors. Nice o-ring gaskets between the pump and block.

BTW, a cam change is just a few hours more:

remove radiator
remove pump
remove front timing cover
remove valve covers
loosen rockers
rotate crank 2 turns to move lifters off of cam lobes
remove timing chain
pull out old cam
install new cam
... put back together

4 hours maybe

What ECU do you run, after the LS swap?

What ECU do you run, after the LS swap?

The stock GM one is plenty capable and is pretty much open to tuning.

How does the T56 6-speed feel? Seeing these is really tempting me but I'm worried I won't like the feel of the T56 compared to the smoothness of the current BMW gearbox.

The T56 is a brute of a transmission. I wouldn't get your hopes up that it compares to the BMW M tranny, in terms of feel, cause in my experience it doesn't. I have a Pro 5.0 shifter and a steeda handle and it is short throws and precise, but it isn't light and quick like my old RX7 tranny or my E36M tranny. That being said...these trannies can take more than 500lb/ft of torque before they need any work and getting a tranny to be light and quick and maintain that torque rating just isn't going to happen.

So in summary...I like the tranny...LOVE the engine, but the the T56 is totally different in feel than the BMW E36M tranny. You might complain at first about it...but once you get used to it...it is fine and fits the character of the engine.


OP... Really like this swap. I want to do it, I think it is next up on my list. Just can't decide whether I want to do the E36M3/LS1 swap or do an S50 into my E30. The later has a big cost advantage and I already have one LSx car. Threads like these are doing a lot to convince me to do the e36.

This was weird, a friend sent me this link today - http://speedhunters.com/archive/2008/09/04/car-spotlight-gt-gt-ls1-powered-m3-project.aspx

HAHA you're already famous :)

Tranny Bolted Up.

http://www.slowdowntogofast.com/host/upload/DSC_7930.jpg



:D:DDon't forget about that hand you left in the tranny tunnel:D:D
I want to know how YOU took this picture

You're using the middle finger for the driveshaft right? Niiiiiiiiiice.

MMmmm that wheel/tire combo is nice!

http://ll.speedhunters.com/u/f/eagames/NFS/speedhunters.com/Images/Mike%20Garrett/Brabus%20Bullit/v8e362.jpg

you might have a copy cat :devillook...

http://eddyp.smugmug.com/photos/359412201_72CSQ-M.jpg
http://eddyp.smugmug.com/photos/346625167_CbN5B-M.jpg

This was weird, a friend sent me this link today - http://speedhunters.com/archive/2008/09/04/car-spotlight-gt-gt-ls1-powered-m3-project.aspx

Thats how I found out about your car .... lol

I reposted it on the Time Attack Boards:

http://www.timeattackforums.com/forums/general-discussion/867-ls1-e36-project.html

So your project is getting around :D

Alot of us over there thought you might be building it TA due to the A048s ... You car has totally sparked my interest in building one of these.

How hard was the swap? Fitment on everything was good? no need to modify any of the kit parts? did you go with just their stage 0 or did you go for any of the stage 1 parts?? Is the roll bar custom or a Autopower weld in? Sorry for the 1,000 questions.

that car is amazing! cant wait to see some vids of it

wow great progress!

The stock GM one is plenty capable and is pretty much open to tuning.
You might wanna have a look at this Roadrunner (http://www.moates.net/index.php?cPath=53_56)
This is the RoadRunner, which is a replacement PCM that allows realtime tuning for the LS1 PCMs. It works with the 1999-2002 F-Body LS1 setups as well as many of the 2000+ V8 trucks. Also works with the 2003+ LS1 and the LB7 Diesel. Please see the product webpage for additional details. Comes with a 10-foot weatherproof USB cable for PC connectivity. Bluetooth capable, but requires add-on module. Will work with either EFI Live or TunerCat software (licenses available here online). PLEASE NOTE! Software is required to interface with the RoadRunner. Please acquire a license at time of purchase.

GM tuning options > BMW tuning options.

wanna see some video

the same T56 that is found in many other cars, not just in the GM's platform.. i cant recall the whole list but a few that i do remember is the Dodge Viper, Chevy Corvette Z06, Ford SVT Mustang Cobra. Also found in Aston Martin DB7 Vantage and V12 Vanquish, and Holden Commodore and Monaro.

Also remember the Corvette trans are mounted in the back behind a tq tube which really changes the feel. Shifters can make a big change as well. Love a T56 mounted directly behind the motor with a B&M Ripper.

GM tuning options > BMW tuning options.

I really don't understand why someone doesn't come out with something like HPTuners for the BMWs.

Bump for Vids!!!