Is anyone out there manufacturing engine mounts to fit an LS1 to the stock front crossmember in an E30? I was also curious about the possibility of using mounts designed for an E36, as the crossmembers seem to be similar considering they are both compatible with the same BMW engines (ie. an E36 engine with stock mounts can bolt to an E30 crossmember).

Not sure if that was a clearly stated thought, so in summary, are there any mounts out there which will put an LS1 on to a stock E30 front crossmember, or would these need to be custom?

I've never seen any.

Frankly, the mounts would be the easy part.

He's right... the mounts wouldn't be the hard part, it's the smaller engine bay that is the challenge. Major firewall and tunnel surgery is almost a certainty. Not to mention that lovely E30 rear suspension.

Why do you want an E30 LS1? Instead of say... an E36 or E46? Weight? Looks?

Not to mention that lovely E30 rear suspension.




:shifty

:shifty

You know it's true... the e30 rear suspension sucks major ass. I still own one. :dunno

We are far along in the e30 LS1 swap and have all the info including CATIA v5 models and drawings of our mounts. We will probably consider selling one-off's for reasonable prices if anyone is interested.

You know it's true... the e30 rear suspension sucks major ass. I still own one. :dunnoWould you rather own a Honda?


~Zar4

Would you rather own a Honda?


~Zar4

Sometimes, yeah.

He's right... the mounts wouldn't be the hard part, it's the smaller engine bay that is the challenge. Major firewall and tunnel surgery is almost a certainty. Not to mention that lovely E30 rear suspension.

Why do you want an E30 LS1? Instead of say... an E36 or E46? Weight? Looks?

Actually the "smaller engine bay" has yet to pose itself as a problem. We've only had to do minor tunnel expansion and the t56 comes RIGHT up through the original hole. The real "problems" were that we had to modify the oil pan (a gto front sump) quite extensively to clear the cross member, and that the e30 steering shaft is in a really inconvenient place for our exhaust headers. Yes the smaller engine bay makes it necessary for tight block hugger headers, but w/e.

Actually the "smaller engine bay" has yet to pose itself as a problem. We've only had to do minor tunnel expansion and the t56 comes RIGHT up through the original hole. The real "problems" were that we had to modify the oil pan (a gto front sump) quite extensively to clear the cross member, and that the e30 steering shaft is in a really inconvenient place for our exhaust headers. Yes the smaller engine bay makes it necessary for tight block hugger headers, but w/e.
Hey, that's good news then. You guys doing the E30 LS1 swap? A buddy did a Ford 5.0L E30 swap and had to get medieval with the 5 pound hammer on the firewall, to get the motor back far enough to avoid interference with the Ford's front oil pump location/oil pan double sump with the K-member. LS1/LS2's front cover oil pump location precludes any fixed sump location in the pan, unlike the Ford302/351Windsor.

As for the stock steering shaft... drop me a note. We have a custom smaller diameter steel shaft assembly we're almost done with. Billet alloy steel U-joints with a collapsible shaft and the most important part - BMW specific metric splines on the joints. This will allow the removal of the big rag joint at the rack (for more motor mount clearance) and reduce the diameter of the shaft (for added header clearance). More soon... very soon. Supposed to be done this week. Might even be possible to swap in the E36 rack into the E30 (E36 rack is infinitely better and faster).

It's very possible to swap the e36 rack in.

Has your friend posted any information on his ford swap anywhere? I'm considering either an E30 or an E36 ford swap. I already have the ford running gear. It would be nice to make some use of it.


Hey, that's good news then. You guys doing the E30 LS1 swap? A buddy did a Ford 5.0L E30 swap and had to get medieval with the 5 pound hammer on the firewall, to get the motor back far enough to avoid interference with the Ford's front oil pump location/oil pan double sump with the K-member. LS1/LS2's front cover oil pump location precludes any fixed sump location in the pan, unlike the Ford302/351Windsor.

As for the stock steering shaft... drop me a note. We have a custom smaller diameter steel shaft assembly we're almost done with. Billet alloy steel U-joints with a collapsible shaft and the most important part - BMW specific metric splines on the joints. This will allow the removal of the big rag joint at the rack (for more motor mount clearance) and reduce the diameter of the shaft (for added header clearance). More soon... very soon. Supposed to be done this week. Might even be possible to swap in the E36 rack into the E30 (E36 rack is infinitely better and faster).

We've found that the E30 is easier to fit the larger motors in. It gains some and losses some in size comparison to the e36. Just the trans tunnel seems to be a different mold

All right guys...I'm gonna man up and make an e30 LS1 buildup thread...here's a teaser

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v517/M_ER_CU_RY/Mounts4.jpg

:devillook

Bumping this to the top please....as I may have found a cheap 325e in town...

looks like the general concensus is that it needs to be a custom piece at this point, although garretvs mentioned that he might be willing to make his mounts for sale in the future.

I look at those mounts and think... "You needed CATIA to come up with that?"

i want some mounts :(

I look at those mounts and think... "You needed CATIA to come up with that?"

Those are different then our original. With a very limited shop it's hard to make use of a high powered modeling program.

Where'd you get the plastic LS1 mock-up motor? Did you get a T56 mock-up too? I have a junk LS1 block/heads/pan/front cover/trans that I use for mock-up but that lump is still fairly heavy and cumbersome to drop in and out when making swap parts. :D

(we're never making an E30 LS1 swap kit, so we're not trying to horn in on your E30 work)

Where'd you get the plastic LS1 mock-up motor? Did you get a T56 mock-up too? I have a junk LS1 block/heads/pan/front cover/trans that I use for mock-up but that lump is still fairly heavy and cumbersome to drop in and out when making swap parts. :D

(we're never making an E30 LS1 swap kit, so we're not trying to horn in on your E30 work)

Looks like the P-Ayr replica block. I bought one from Summit for my swap, and was able to sell it no problemo when I completed the project

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=PYP%2D2046&autoview=sku