Introductions & Greetings - LS1 Swapped M3 Saying hello!

Hey guys,

Ive been lurking the forums and though I should finally introduce myself. My name is Ryan Castro and I have a 1995 Avus Blue BMW M3 with a great running LS1 and T56 tranny from a 02 Camaro SS. I have raced BMWs all my life and will be road racing this one too!

I haven't done much to the motor yet but this is what i have done so far:

-install Long tube headers becuase of the lack of space on the sides of the motor
-dual 3in pipe from the headers, to two 3in high flow cats to a single 4in outlet
-low temp thermostat
-4in intake
-MSD APS starter
-40% lock up 3.46 rear differential

I hope to do some cam/head work soon.

here are some pics:
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL242/889495/23879394/398277144.jpg
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL242/889495/23879394/398298814.jpg
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL242/889495/23879394/398409268.jpg
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL242/889495/23879394/398409270.jpg

Sound clips to follow :)

Hey man, welcome to tech! Awesome m3!! European handling and raw american muscle must give for an awesome experience! Post up a couple sound clips and more pics.

Nice bimmer I like rims .... How much does it weigh

Btw what rims are those

looks great , more pics.

Looks great! Any chance you have any video? I'm curious how the exhaust sounds.

excuse me while i go clean myself off... lol

thats sick! id drive that :)

Hey man, welcome to tech! Awesome m3!! European handling and raw american muscle must give for an awesome experience! Post up a couple sound clips and more pics.
Looks great! Any chance you have any video? I'm curious how the exhaust sounds.

Will do soon. I hope to get some vid at its maiden track day at CVR (Chuckwall Raceway) first week of October.

Nice bimmer I like rims .... How much does it weigh

The car is roughly 2500lbs, but I will be weighing it soon

Btw what rims are those

Thanks, they are Miro 111. I get a great deal on them if you are interested. send me a PM

looks great , more pics.

More pics to come soon!

excuse me while i go clean myself off... lol

lol...Thanks? haha

thats sick! id drive that :)

Thanks! Its easily one of the most exciting cars i've driven

amazing... im in the middle of a e30 swap and my brother has an e36 and will be doing this as well

Damn that's super sweet sleeper, those wheels are killer

Damn, that thing looks awesome!

my dream right there.. i sold my M3/4/5 last year.. ive always wanted to swap for the LS1..what kit did you go with? Vorshlag? or was it homemade?

:drool: :hail:
Gorgeous car, I love E36's, and that blue is awesome...

Hey guys,

Ive been lurking the forums and though I should finally introduce myself. My name is Ryan Castro and I have a 1995 Avus Blue BMW M3 with a great running LS1 and T56 tranny from a 02 Camaro SS. I have raced BMWs all my life and will be road racing this one too!

I haven't done much to the motor yet but this is what i have done so far:

-install Long tube headers becuase of the lack of space on the sides of the motor
-dual 3in pipe from the headers, to two 3in high flow cats to a single 4in outlet
-low temp thermostat
-4in intake
-LS6 intake manifold
-MSD APS starter
-40% lock up 3.46 rear differential

Are you saying you bought an LS6 intake manifold? FYI all 2001 and newer LS1s came with LS6 intakes on them.

would be cooler if it was an e30 m3 or even an e46 m3. but it looks good none-the-less.

my dream right there.. i sold my M3/4/5 last year.. ive always wanted to swap for the LS1..what kit did you go with? Vorshlag? or was it homemade?

I'm wondering this as well. Do you have any build pics or a build thread on another site?

:drool: :hail:
Gorgeous car, I love E36's, and that blue is awesome...


Are you saying you bought an LS6 intake manifold? FYI all 2001 and newer LS1s came with LS6 intakes on them.

Yes you are correct. This wasn't really an upgrade.

would be cooler if it was an e30 m3 or even an e46 m3. but it looks good none-the-less.

Since I road race, the E30 chassis isn't the ideal chassis for me on a high speed track

I'm wondering this as well. Do you have any build pics or a build thread on another site?

Its a homemade kit but its close to the vorshlag kit.

Since I road race, the E30 chassis isn't the ideal chassis for me on a high speed track


there are thousands of people who road race the e30 chassis with great success. what would make it less then ideal for your use ?

That is awesome man. I have a BG '98 328i that I almost dropped the LS1 and T56 outa my old SS into. Wish I could have done it but couldnt afford it at the time. I can only imagine how much fun that thing is. E36s are a drivers car for sure mines just not fast enough, you have endless possibilities with that thing now. Nice work.

there are thousands of people who road race the e30 chassis with great success. what would make it less then ideal for your use ?

Well this is just my opinion. The rear suspension geometry of the e36 for me I feel is better especially on a larger track. My S50 e30 was perfect and well balanced on track. Ive raced e30s for a while now but I do think that they have their high speed limitations due to their chassis and suspension. I would not go over an S50/52 as the car feels perfect and not over powered.

My 89 S50 E30
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL242/889495/23621730/396709839.jpg
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL242/889495/23845675/397629953.jpg

That is awesome man. I have a BG '98 328i that I almost dropped the LS1 and T56 outa my old SS into. Wish I could have done it but couldnt afford it at the time. I can only imagine how much fun that thing is. E36s are a drivers car for sure mines just not fast enough, you have endless possibilities with that thing now. Nice work.

Its never too late to get into it. This combo really combines my loves. The handling of the M3 with the torque and reliability of good ole American displacement.

Hey guys,

Ive been lurking the forums and though I should finally introduce myself. My name is Ryan Castro and I have a 1995 Avus Blue BMW M3 with a great running LS1 and T56 tranny from a 02 Camaro SS. I have raced BMWs all my life and will be road racing this one too!

I haven't done much to the motor yet but this is what i have done so far:

-install Long tube headers becuase of the lack of space on the sides of the motor
-dual 3in pipe from the headers, to two 3in high flow cats to a single 4in outlet
-low temp thermostat
-4in intake
-MSD APS starter
-40% lock up 3.46 rear differential

I hope to do some cam/head work soon.

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL242/889495/23879394/398409270.jpg

Sound clips to follow :)
first question
how did you reg it to pass smog in CAlI
and 2nd are you running a harness to the bmw dash to light up (check engine light ) and other various indicators
:offtopic:

Well this is just my opinion. The rear suspension geometry of the e36 for me I feel is better especially on a larger track. My S50 e30 was perfect and well balanced on track. Ive raced e30s for a while now but I do think that they have their high speed limitations due to their chassis and suspension. I would not go over an S50/52 as the car feels perfect and not over powered.


i am a former 24v bronzit owner as well :

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g285/forsakenceo/Picture036-1.jpg

i havnt had any high speed problems in any of my e30's. ive never gone above 140, but i didnt have to slow down fast from that speed or make any kind of turns like you could encounter in a road race.

Goodluck with the e36. im sure its a blast to drive with the LS1.

first question
how did you reg it to pass smog in CAlI
and 2nd are you running a harness to the bmw dash to light up (check engine light ) and other various indicators
:offtopic:

We all have our ways... and the PCM is wired to the check engine light but its not wired to the service indicator so now it says I need service everytime I turn on the car but its not big deal. It goes away after a few seconds and if it really bugs me, it only 2 wires in the on the left over bmw harness.

i am a former 24v bronzit owner as well :

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g285/forsakenceo/Picture036-1.jpg

i havnt had any high speed problems in any of my e30's. ive never gone above 140, but i didnt have to slow down fast from that speed or make any kind of turns like you could encounter in a road race.

Goodluck with the e36. im sure its a blast to drive with the LS1.

Nice Bronzit! what are you rolling on now?

Need a cam or any other parts contact Lashway Motorsports they will hook you up

Nice Bronzit! what are you rolling on now?

i currently have an 84 E, 85 ES, 87 E and an 89 IS. i DD the 87(auto) and the 89(manual), i switch depending on traffic conditions. i will be getting my 91( e30 not e36) calypso back in a few days to start my next project. i had big plans for an ls1 swap in it but yesterday an m52 kind of fell in my lap. so ill just be boosting that instead.

i currently have an 84 E, 85 ES, 87 E and an 89 IS. i DD the 87(auto) and the 89(manual), i switch depending on traffic conditions. i will be getting my 91( e30 not e36) calypso back in a few days to start my next project. i had big plans for an ls1 swap in it but yesterday an m52 kind of fell in my lap. so ill just be boosting that instead.

Nice you can make good power with the forged rods in the M52

Here is my official build thread for LS1Tech:
http://ls1tech.com/forums/conversions-hybrids/1467567-avus-blue-ls1-m3-project-vids.html

Nice you can make good power with the forged rods in the M52



ya, its the perfect motor for boost.

exhaust sounds good.

Here is my official build thread for LS1Tech:
http://ls1tech.com/forums/conversions-hybrids/1467567-avus-blue-ls1-m3-project-vids.html[/QUOTE]

nice dude ! thanks I know we all do have are ways :) just wondering if you had to change your reg to hot rod or something like that.
Also did you do it all in house or you have a local shop. any info would be great i plan on making my e31 into a nice sema 2012 project :)

You M3 is nasty looking. One of the best bodies BMW ever made imo.

Cool swap

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL242/889495/23879394/398277144.jpg
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL242/889495/23879394/398298814.jpg
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL242/889495/23879394/398409268.jpg
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL242/889495/23879394/398409270.jpg

Sound clips to follow :)
Snap! But with an LS3
http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy162/101geo/IMAG0102_zps6b7e6bb7.jpg
http://i788.photobucket.com/albums/yy162/101geo/IMAG0101_zps44ae419e.jpg

Sweet! I love the color and wheels