I am driving my 94 e36 convertible while I dial in the suspension and brakes leading up to the engine swap. I have already gotten the brakes where I want them and now it is time for sway bars. At this time I dont plan on lowering the car (I like how it sits) because I like the suprise factor of not giving away what you got till it is too late.....Anyway, is there anyone on here that can give me a little educated direction? Its a toy but if it turns out real well I plan on selling my other car and will drive it everyday so lets keep it on the street side of the conversation and off the track.(for now). Thanks T.J. Lets keep it on the economy side to keep the wife happy.

I don't really understand the question.

It seems to me that the last thing you want is sway bars; the car has oversteer on demand and you don't want it to be twitchy.

I thought the stock suspension would need to be up graded a little, my mistake..... This is a new area for me because all I am use to is cars that fall into the catagory of "Stab it and Steer it." I never have had a car in this class and don't want to mess it up. Please overlook my lack of knowledge in this area. Any info you can offer in this area is more than I have at this time Thanks, T.J.

I am hardly an expert. Just think of it as building a BMW with a lot more power. The car will weigh basically the same.

A lot of people would use a race type suspension depending on what they were going to use the car for. For the street kept it stock, like I said the last thing you want is a car like this to be overly sensitive.

Thanks! That tells me I will save a little $ in this build. NOT WHAT I AM USE TO!

Oh you will spend it elsewhere :lol

I am sure I will.......Did you use a "Kit" or did you fab.your car? Also I REALLY like your car! I saw the pics. you had. T.

I am sure I will.......Did you use a "Kit" or did you fab.your car? Also I REALLY like your car! I saw the pics. you had. T.

Please use more periods in sentences...thanks................................ .................................................. .................

While were on the suspension topic......Does anyone know how to get 155's on the front without going to coil overs? I'm thinking of going with a more "stock" type suspension as far as dampers but I want to put some wide rubber on.

You mean 255's?

You mean 255's?
Yes. Sorry.

what kind of suspension do you have now?
Have you already beefed up all the weak links of the E36 suspension?
Is your car a M3 or standard E36?

Who's kit are you using for the LS1 swap?

There's one company making an E36 LS1 kit that also happens to be a well known suspension manufacturer for BMWs. Kind of a nice combination, if you ask me.

What's their name again.... :devillook

And can you actually buy a kit from them ;) I have heard they have been working on a kit for a few years but I don't think they have ever delivered any parts.....

The car is a standard 94 e36 convertible. All I have done is up graded the brakes and Contour wheels and tires off a 99 M3. I am a old school "Hot Rod / Street Rod" guy so I am not Above fabbing up what I need. I put a SBC in a Volvo and also did a SBC into a Miata. I really enjoy fab. work but if it gets too deep I would rather not.

Dont bother dialing in the suspension if you're going to alter the cars weigh to that degree (engine swap). If it's just a street car, dont both dialing the suspension at all save for adjustments in ride comfort. On the street it wotn make a difference. If you want a tight handling street car, just get springs/shocks/sways. None of it is necessary, all of it is fun.

You're going to want hefty brakes if you're going to be using the power.

Thanks for your input, you are right I should do the swap then dial as needed or as used. T.

The LS1/T56 swap doesn't alter weight or balance appreciably over stock. The LS1 is within 10 pounds of an M52/S50 inline 6 and any added weight from a T56 over a Getrag (about +40 pounds) is dead in the middle of the car. Our LS1 car weighs 2475 pounds, and still has a lot of weight we could remove (rear and side quarter window glass, OEM steel hood and trunk, big battery, heavy 17x11" 3-piece wheels, OEM M3 brakes, etc) so weight isn't going to be a downside.

The only significant suspension alteration we might recommend is a softer rear spring rate than we normally run on an E36, due to the added power and need for weight transfer to help put power down. Our Alpha LS1 E36 has 700#/in rear springs, though, and it seems to be working (this car has set fastest time at most solo events it has entered in 2007). We will be racing this car more extensively in 2007-2008 and might tweak those rates (and bars and shocks) and other settings. We will share whatever we learn on bf.com.