The BMW Z3 is a sporty little roadster that can handle the turns, but it is far from fast by the standards of any V8 powered Chevrolet product.
Fortunately, the owner of the BMW Z3 featured in this week’s Dyno Blast video has swapped out the boring 138 hp 4-cylinder engine to make room for a worked LS1 V8. The result is a little German convertible that (finally) packs enough power to get the attention of the performance world.
The LS1 V8 packed under the hood of this 1996 BMW Z3 has been modified with an LS6 intake manifold, a GM “Hot Cam”, LS6 valve springs, SLP chrome moly pushrods, Nash long tube headers, 2.5” custom exhaust with Magnaflow mufflers and fuel system upgrades to feed the hungry American engine.
The result is a compact BMW that puts 357.6 horsepower and 372 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels…likely making this the coolest Z3 I’ve seen – all thanks to the GM LS1.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
