I will start off by saying I know some of you guys will hate what I am doing..oh well. At least I didn't hack up an M car. My donor is a 94 318ia with 130k on the odo. Not a very desirable car and it was cheap. http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q132/sprbxr/PC300013.jpg
The LS1 is a remarkable compact engine. http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q132/sprbxr/P2010011.jpg
The 1.8l BMW engine is about the sale size.http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q132/sprbxr/P1010022.jpg
I will be using a Jerico WC4 transmission. It is a 4 speed but there is a huge selection of gear ratios available. It is a dog box that is plumbed for an oil cooler w/ an optional built in pump.http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q132/sprbxr/P2010009.jpg
So far I am stripped the interior, removed the engine and trans and removed the stock wiring harness. It is amazing how much wiring is in one of these cars.http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q132/sprbxr/P1010020.jpg
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q132/sprbxr/P1010025.jpg
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q132/sprbxr/P1010021.jpg

Here is the last car I built:http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q132/sprbxr/965-04.jpg

Anyway I thought some of you guys would like to see my build and I am sure others might hate it. It will be NASA GTS legal but I am not sure what the power/weight ratio will be yet. Right now the weak link is going to be the diff and axles. I am sure other things will crop up. I will deal with those as they come up.

Feel free to make any comments. I like constructive criticism just don't be too harsh:D

Great project.

How about some details (more pictures?) on that Porsche?

Sounds like an awesome project.

I personally think that's the weak link in NASA GTS...the ability to use an engine that is not German. Maybe I'm just jealous.:stickoutt

The downside would be that the car won't be able to compete at all in any BMW Club events.

Should be a monster of a car though.

Good luck. Keep us updated with the build.

Ken Arutunian

There is a guy who has put the LS1 into a Z3 roadster who goes by JoeZ. This should be very interesting. Definitely plan on beefing up the differential or you'll be seeing it rip to pieces. Have fun and good luck.

I sold the Porsche about 8 months ago. It was a 91 C2 Turbo. 400hp 2890lbs. Lots of fun but I thought I was finished going to the track and I had an offer for about 95% of what I had in it so I decided I should probably take the offer.

I am definatly going to beef up the rear end of the car. I figure if I don't do any standing starts I should be OK for a while.

AS far as not being able to go BMWCCA racing...that is fine with me. If BMWCCA is anything like PCA I won't miss it.

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q132/sprbxr/dscn0550.jpg
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q132/sprbxr/2882b.jpg
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q132/sprbxr/965-06.jpg
http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q132/sprbxr/965side.jpg

I would swap the front and rear axles for the M ones or do a custom set up if the rules let you. Reason is because of the possible extra weight and the extra force that the motor will be putting on the drivetrain.

Got that covered. I won't be using any 318 stuff. I have M front and rear suspension going on the car.

Got that covered. I won't be using any 318 stuff. I have M front and rear suspension going on the car.

My hats off to you then. :D

Anyone know anything about Euro M3 diffs and carriers? I imagaine they are relatively hard to get. Can you get one w/ a 3.15:1 gearset in it? Or is that a non-stock ratio?

what are you going to do about the subframe?

nice work. like you said, the 318 is not valuable so nobody should throw a fit about making it a hybrid. be cool to see the finished product

what are you going to do about the subframe?

I am working on that. I can't decide if I should saty BMW or pick something else. My friend who is a master fabricator seems to think I should go with a Quick change rear.
http://1speedway.com/Images/Quick%20Changes/8000a(right).jpg

That is going to be sweet. The quick change seems like it would be a great rear provided it is within your budget. That was a sweet looking Porsche as well. Keep us posted

You can put a double wishbone coilover suspension all around. Can be made from corvette parts.

Anyone know anything about Euro M3 diffs and carriers? I imagaine they are relatively hard to get. Can you get one w/ a 3.15:1 gearset in it? Or is that a non-stock ratio?

The '95 Euro M3 had a 3.15 diff stock. The '96+ M3's had the big diff that was a 3.23, so not much change there.


I honestly think you'd be fine with whatever diffs came in the 6 cylinder E36 cars, which I think is bigger than the stock 318 stuff. They've been proven to hold more TQ than a NA 5.7L engine will be making, especially if you're not launching the car from a standing start.

If you need stronger axles, there is a vendor supplying some of the horsepower nuts over on the Forced Induction board. Not cheap, but should handle whatever you dish out.

Be sure to reinforce the subframe. M cars have the reinforcing, non-M E36 do not. They are plates that weld in. Of course, you could get some custom fab stuff too, just realize it's a weak point, esp. on track cars.

I have the M subframe for the rear diff. One thing I will need to do if I use the US M3 diff is mod the housing to put the front lower mount in double shear instead of single shear. The single lower mounting bolt on the diff tends to allow the diff to twist under high loads. Also getting rid of all of the rubber bushings helps this situation.

NOthin but love for your LS1 swapped 318. In fact, your car looks almost exactly like the one that the Vorshlag guys are building (www.vorshlag.com). You could talk to them if you have any questions, or maybe vice versa, depending on who is farther along.

What kind of weight are you expecting to reach? Are you going to document the build?

I have corresponded with the Vorshlag guys. Their conversions integrate the LS1 wth the BMW electrical system very nicely. This is a must since their cars are street cars.
I have inquired about some of their hard parts: headers, mounts etc. I can make those parts myself but to save time I would consider buying parts if they are available. Really, there isn't much off-the-shelf stuff available as far as the conversion parts are concerned.

AS far as weight is concerned, I am removing anything that isn't necessary. I don't know where that puts me weight wise.

I will document the build as much as I can. Sometimes I forget to take my camera to the garage.

Really, there isn't much off-the-shelf stuff available as far as the conversion parts are concerned.


First of all let me just say that your p-car was :eek:

I also wanted to point you to Mike Collins (www.nash8503.com) as another option if you are searching for off the shelf parts. I got my mounts, headers, driveshaft and some other swap bits from Mike and I have to say his stuff is 1st class all the way. The mounts are a fantastic design which allow you to use an unmodified front crossmember (utilized stock BMW mounting location), and this system also accepts an unmodified f-body oil pan.

I am not sure if Mike is actively marketing his kits anymore, but if he is I would definitely recommend doing business with him. His parts, and his customer service are awesome!!

Oh, and we finally have a new section here on bf.c dedicated to motor swaps:D http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=208

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q132/sprbxr/965side.jpg

Justin,

Love the color on your 911 :)


<a href="http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=4773875" target="_blank"><img src="http://img1.putfile.com/thumb/2/4418185143.jpg" alt="Click to enlarge"></a>


Late model Euro differential/subframe is the way to go for sure, much beefier not only in physical size but in mounting as well. The rear subframe is a wet noodle with a LSx twisting it so get out the welder and brace it up.

These cars work incredibly well on the road course, suspension setup is a bit different then a standard M3.

Here's a motivational video clip for you ;)

http://media.putfile.com/E36-LS1

Good luck with your build

Paul


http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=3911791

fwiw Some of the Rx7 guys use a Cobra rear end on a custom sub frame.

info on torquecentral.com or rx7club.com

I love the idea and getting ready to build my own streetable, LS1-T56 E36. I want to wait for the Vorshlag's kit. Everything I've seen about their kit is exactly how I would want it done. If you run into any strange problems definately let me know.


Scott Fraser
and here is the picture of my 911 I'm selling to do it. if anyone is intrested?

You can put a double wishbone coilover suspension all around. Can be made from corvette parts.

Any pics?

thanks,

Dave Menheere

Paul
That video is what inspired me to do this project. Originally I had planned on keeping it all BMW but After researching the the engines available it was easy to conclude the LS1 was the way to go.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y171/morerevsm3/LS1BMW2.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y171/morerevsm3/ls1BMW1.jpg

Love the flat black paint on the 964; I am thinking about the same thing for my M3. Good luck on the build, looks like a fun project.
k

Paul
That video is what inspired me to do this project. Originally I had planned on keeping it all BMW but After researching the the engines available it was easy to conclude the LS1 was the way to go.

Justin,

Glad to have inspired, shoot me a PM if you need any help, mines apart right now for a new engine :evil2. I'm redesigning some parts which I found suspect from the original design. Also looking at some 285/30-18's on 18 x 10.5" for the rear wheels all under the factory bodywork.:eek:

Paul

Send me some pics of your motor mounts and headers. I have some GTO LS2 mounts on the way. For the hell of I thought I would see if they would work. The were cheap. If they don't pan out, I will fab some stuff myself.

Justin

Justin,

Glad to have inspired, shoot me a PM if you need any help, mines apart right now for a new engine :evil2. I'm redesigning some parts which I found suspect from the original design. Also looking at some 285/30-18's on 18 x 10.5" for the rear wheels all under the factory bodywork.:eek:

Paul

insanity... how are you going to manage that? I'm sure more traction couldn't hurt a thing. Is your ls1 modded or no?

Good luck on the build OP, I've got to admit, I'm jealous.

It's funny how if you post this project anywhere else on bimmerforums, the "purists" come out of the woodwork ripping on you for "disgracing" the BMW logo on the hood.....but not here in the track forum.....we just like making things go fast....damn how you do it!

Thumbs up.

I am just about finished stripping sound deadener from the chassis. I thought I would be able to enslave my teenage brother to do this job for me but he learned his lesson while helping me build my Porsche racecar. I finally received my Quartermaster Low Ground Clearance Bellhousing w/ reverse mount starter. Pretty trick setup. I got a 5.5" multiplate clutch for the car too. Since the LS1 engines were used alot in ASA stock car racing, there are tons of race parts available for this kind of thing. My next job is finish stripping the engine bay and removing misc. brackets and such that I won't be using. After that, I am going to bolt the engine and trans together and slip it into the engine bay for a test fit. I will try to post some pics.


As far as traction is concerned, I am hoping my right foot will be good enough. I really want to keep the tires under the stock bodywork. I am considering this build as my personal version of a V8 Supertouring Car even though it is a Frakenbimmer.

Justin

You should be able to get the wheels under there using the E46 metal flares, but it will take a skilled body guy. When done, it will look stock to anyone who doesn't look hard. Search for posts by vjlax on this issue.