LS1 in an E31 8 SERIES BMW- How much would a shop charge for install?
09-02-2009, 08:57 PM
#1
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LS1 in an E31 8 SERIES BMW- How much would a shop charge for install? I found an LS1 and T56 for less than $4k with ECU and all the little goodies, and my dad said he'd buy my 850ci so I can find a blown 840i to work on. Now how much is an average price for a shop to charge for a swap like this?
09-02-2009, 11:03 PM
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Design and integrate, if it ends up costing too much, I guess all I'd need is the motor and tranny mounts, the rest shouldn't be too bad.
They engine bay in an E31 is pretty damn big, they shouldn't have a hard time.
They engine bay in an E31 is pretty damn big, they shouldn't have a hard time.
09-02-2009, 11:10 PM
#4
You might have a hard time finding a shop to undertake such a big project, especially if there's not a kit out for it. There is A LOT of trial and error design and fabrication work that will need to be done. To have a shop do it for you will probably cost a lot of money.
Do you have any info on the swap? Has anyone done one before, and if so, do you have nitty-gritty details on how they did it?
Do you have any info on the swap? Has anyone done one before, and if so, do you have nitty-gritty details on how they did it?
09-02-2009, 11:44 PM
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I only know of one shop and they mostly work on Audi's and VW's, so they said it would take them longer to finish the job, he couldn't tell me how many hours it would take though, they charge 125-150 an hour.
I mean people are always swapping them into e30s, e34s, e36's etc. I think there was an 8er in a magazine with a v8 swap, but it wasn't an LS motor. There was only a few threads on ls swaps for our e31's but they all just died off with no conclusion. I'll keep looking though. It's a little sad than a v12 bmw only has 298hp, especially when it weighs over 2 tons and looks like a supercar, with no performance mods worth paying for.
I mean people are always swapping them into e30s, e34s, e36's etc. I think there was an 8er in a magazine with a v8 swap, but it wasn't an LS motor. There was only a few threads on ls swaps for our e31's but they all just died off with no conclusion. I'll keep looking though. It's a little sad than a v12 bmw only has 298hp, especially when it weighs over 2 tons and looks like a supercar, with no performance mods worth paying for.
09-03-2009, 01:56 PM
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There is a guy who swapped an LS1 into an E34 and it was a major undertaking, as are the e30 swaps. If you want to have a swap done by a shop, you better stick with the E36 swap that has been many times before. There is also full product support for it. Look to see how long it took Vorshlag to get their car done.
So many things are one step forward, two steps back. Unless you have a bottomless wallet, you do not want to be paying by the hour for R&D on a swap that has never been done.
Keep in mind I love the idea of the swap, I know where there is an 850 that has been sitting for months outside a mechanics shop. Every time I drive by, the LS2 6L80 idea runs through my head. That would be a heck of a ride.
So many things are one step forward, two steps back. Unless you have a bottomless wallet, you do not want to be paying by the hour for R&D on a swap that has never been done.
Keep in mind I love the idea of the swap, I know where there is an 850 that has been sitting for months outside a mechanics shop. Every time I drive by, the LS2 6L80 idea runs through my head. That would be a heck of a ride.
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09-03-2009, 02:11 PM
#8
Well, first off I'm glad to see you will leave the 850ci unmolested, and hack apart an 840, but as to your main topic, I'd guess a shop would charge in the $6-7k neighborhood for a motor swap. As stated, there is tons of trial and error involved, not counting fabbing motor and trans mounts, wiring and having a driveshaft made.
It would be a great swap, I love (and want one) those cars, but man, it would cost a ton to have it done.
It would be a great swap, I love (and want one) those cars, but man, it would cost a ton to have it done.
09-03-2009, 02:26 PM
#9
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****, well I guess I'll just give the 850ci to my dad and get an e36 with the nash ls1 swap kit, I'd have just enough left for suspension and wheels, yea I'd never hack into a 850ci, 840i with a nikasil block sure, but not an m70/73. Damn, a procharged 600whp e31 would have been badass 
Thanks for the help guys, I'll ask mwrench how far he got on his project too.
Thanks for the help guys, I'll ask mwrench how far he got on his project too.
10-26-2011, 08:14 AM
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Can't wait. Please post some pics/build thread. Growing up, a friends father had a black 850. That thing was hot! I got passed by an 840 on the highway yesterday and it brought back some memories. Maybe I'll put this on my to do list someday.
09-06-2012, 10:17 PM
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