Is this idea of transplanting a Grand National Turbocharged/IC'ed V6 into an E34 525i with 5 speed even plausible?

I am well aware that new mounts and stuff will need to be fabricated, as well as the use of a new BRAIN to run the engine electronics,... is it do-able?

I have owned and raced a few Grand Nationals in the past and love them...would like to see if possible to turn an E34 into a similar horsepower beast!

any and all thoughts, ideas, ... welcome :)

You can make big power with BMW engines... why go through the pain?

Boris

cheaper to get 550+HP from a GN drivetrain than from a BMW, even if it FI...the FI on BMW alone would be more than the entire GN drivetrain!

thoughts? :)

You can make big power with BMW engines... why go through the pain?

Boris

Sorry Boris but you might be wrong. Grand Nationals can produce over 1000Bhp with stock internals. My buddy has a 1997 with 857Bhp I think, give or take a few BHP

thoughts? :)

I think it's a GREAT!!! Idea.
Do It, Do It, Do It, Do It, But don't do it with an M3 use a 318IS or even a 328IS.

My buddy has a 1997 with 857Bhp I think, give or take a few BHP


I think you mean 1987...GNs were produced 1982-1987 only...1982 was carbed turbo non-intercooled, 1983-5 were EFI turbo non-intercooled, 1986-7 were EFI turbo intercooled with a very limited 547 GNX made in 1987... The "GNX" is what wet dreams are made of :buttrock


Also, not that I am thinking about it, I would probably also swap in the 200R4 tranny with the engine, as I know from past experiences of other people trying to use this engine with manual tranny...everytime, the explode into bits...too much torque for manual tranny. and besides, that would only slow down ET times. A number of Buick Turbo Regal gurus have confirmed this phenomenon and all have recommended to stick with the original tranny which come with the turbo regals.

Do it. That would be unreal. TA perfomance has an aluminum block, it would be half the weight of the BMW motor.

The TA aluminum block is a work of art! I know a couple of die-hard TR (turbo regal) fans running them and it's insane what they have been able to accomplish! Speaking of which, there have been a number of eBay auctions with these blocks for sale...run from them as they are ALL fake!

If anyone has gone through process of creating a Hybris, how intensive would it be to fabricate new mounts, and other stuff? What are some of the biggest headaches/obstacles you come across?

I am trying to figure out a ballpark cost of doing this. I can get a mild motor setup with appropriate 200R4 tranny for $1500-$2000. Would a guessitmate of another $1500-$2000 be fair to make the transplant happen, including fabrication and all the other stuff?

If you could do that and mate it to a getrag 260 or 265, that would be killer...

I have done a few of the GN motors, and it would be one hell of a swap!!! Just get a wrecked GN and remove everything, trans and all, start cutting do a semi-tube front end and let her rip! You might want to put a nice 9" rear in there while you are at it. We did a similar to a 240Z, swapped in a alum. 430 sbc with 18deg heads etc, that one made 724hp at the crank, a real blast to drive! :jump :jump

I don't get it.Why not just keep that great engine in the frikken Buick?It will be worth alot more.

I don't get it.Why not just keep that great engine in the frikken Buick?It will be worth alot more.

I need to keep a 4 door for the fam (soon to be 2 kids, wife and I) but miss the power of the mighty "underdog" pitiful Buick V6! :devillook :buttrock

You can always pick up an E39 M5 :)

So you're building a super BMW to scare the piss out of your kiddies? Sounds like fun! :redspot

I don't get it.Why not just keep that great engine in the frikken Buick?It will be worth alot more.

Well if the Buick has been written of, then why not.

You can always pick up an E39 M5 :)

I agree....for about $38K+

OR I could have E39 M5 performance for $4K-$5K

hmmm....? :confused :stickoutt

Trust me, I will have an E39 M5 in my stable one day...I love the BEAST! :evil2


Also, I can pick up the entire TR drivetrain for dirtcheap... just located a TR in distress (non-running condition) in need of engine rebuild and a full paint job, complete bumper to bumper, including complete for $500 :buttrock can't go wrong with that! hehe :alright

For that kind of money, if you have the brains, the skills and the time, you can't go wrong. I'd be the last one to tell you it can't be done. Go for it, take lots of pics, do lots of write-ups, lots of updates, and lots of video during the buildup and when it's done. You owe us vids of tire smoking burnouts, smoking unsuspecting vehicles, etc...and I still stand by my belief that you should sell the 200R4 and use the money from that to have an adapter made to mate the bellhousing from a getrag 265 to the TR motor, bimmers deserve a few key things...lots of power, a loving owner, and a manual transmission :D

I have never owned a hi-performance car with manual (vette, M5, ...) so I am not familiar with handling the combo or 550+hp with manual shifting...I know this is the perfect scenario, but...

Anyone wanna share their experiences with Hi-perf manual cars?

How much would a Getrag 260/265 speed cost (I am going to guess...A LOT!)? What sort of gearing would I be needing? what about getting an adapter to the bellhousing made...cost?

What do the Getrag 260/265 come from? what's the diff b/w these and ZF?

The TA aluminum block is a work of art! I know a couple of die-hard TR (turbo regal) fans running them and it's insane what they have been able to accomplish! Speaking of which, there have been a number of eBay auctions with these blocks for sale...run from them as they are ALL fake!

If anyone has gone through process of creating a Hybris, how intensive would it be to fabricate new mounts, and other stuff? What are some of the biggest headaches/obstacles you come across?

I am trying to figure out a ballpark cost of doing this. I can get a mild motor setup with appropriate 200R4 tranny for $1500-$2000. Would a guessitmate of another $1500-$2000 be fair to make the transplant happen, including fabrication and all the other stuff?


Who would go to the trouble of making a fake/inferior block? Some people. haha.

If you have access to minor fab equiptment/ welder, and have some skill, I would think it would'nt be that much work to get it all mounted. The only thing that would worry me it the wiring/electronics, but that always worries me.:)

I would go with an auto.

I have never owned a hi-performance car with manual (vette, M5, ...) so I am not familiar with handling the combo or 550+hp with manual shifting...I know this is the perfect scenario, but...

Anyone wanna share their experiences with Hi-perf manual cars?

How much would a Getrag 260/265 speed cost (I am going to guess...A LOT!)? What sort of gearing would I be needing? what about getting an adapter to the bellhousing made...cost?

What do the Getrag 260/265 come from? what's the diff b/w these and ZF?

265s come from an assortment of early-mid 80s bmw 5 and 6 series cars. They're plentiful, cheap, and can hold stupidly huge amounts of power...well over 1,000hp. Driving a high HP with a manual is the only way to do it on the street, IMO

The only thing that would worry me it the wiring/electronics, but that always worries me.:)

I am not too worried about it. I am sure there will be loss of some of the electronic functions, like the IP display telling me "F/Fog light out" or "Headlamp out" or ... I think I can figure those out w/o the car telling me! ;)

BTW, if you have access to or know of E34 w/o engine/tranny, for cheap, let me know!

Also, looking for anyone to sponser me so I can make this car a reality! I got my mental juices flowing...now need to make this happen! :)