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BMW E39 With 5.3, Cam, Springs, 4l80E and chinese GT45
Hey all,
I picked up this 100k mile creampuff 528 as a daily. It was "over heating" per the P.O.
I got it for $750. Brought it home, properly got the air out of the stock cooling system. Found out the cap was bad, replaced it, then realized the water pump was bad. Replaced that, then realized the head gasket was blown
After not being able to source a cheap M52, and not wanting to deal with doing the head gasket, I decided to swap it.
I am not new to working on cars, I have 2 drift cars, I swapped my last daily (JDM B20 integra , it was fast and cheap and great on gas), a lift and a garage with all sorts of tools and I've got my F350 I can daily while this is down.
5.3
Eldridge Cam (sloppy stage 2)
Pac Springs
New timing chain, oil pump, cam plate, gaskets
Camaro Pan (so far)
A few weeks ago I got the stock drive train pulled out.
I then picked up a 5.3 from a 2002 Suburban and a new welder (Hobart 210mvp) to help with the swap. I cleaned up the motor and started playing in SolidWorks a little bit. I plan on designing the mounts in 3d so I can reproduce them someday if needed.
Next step was to get an LS1 intake and from the same person, I grabbed some truck manifolds with V bands welded on.
Next, I got the motor fired on the engine stand, went through the wiring, got my turbo, spark plugs, turbo oil kit, and removed a broken exhaust manifold bolt.
After this I pulled a 2WD 4l80E from a friends 5.7 / 350 box van
I threw the cam in, new valve springs.
Going to test fit the motor into the chassis soon to start getting mounts together.
after that, pulling it out to do oil pump, pickup, tap the pan etc. Ive got TONS of more pics to post and upload.
properly got the air out of the stock cooling system. Found out the cap was bad, replaced it, then realized the water pump was bad. Replaced that, then realized the head gasket was blown
you just summed up every M50 motored bmw with 120k + lol
I've got the engine in temporarily. I need to make the mounts still. Trans tunnel will require a lot of hammering to fit this HUGE 4L80. also put up some pics of the coilovers so far, ac delete, valve spring install. rapidly making progress!
check out all the pics on www.troxellautomotive.com/e39 and check instagram @dtrox90
Looks like you're off to a great start. I did this swap back in 2012/2013 and still miss the car, should have gone turbo right from the start. Keep the pics coming, I'm subscribing!
Awesome progress. I am about to start the same build on a touring. How is the f body oil pan fittment? I know most people use the Autokraft pan but I already have an f body pan. I am also going to use a 4L80e so where should I expect to have interference issues other than the by the connector?
Looks like you're off to a great start. I did this swap back in 2012/2013 and still miss the car, should have gone turbo right from the start. Keep the pics coming, I'm subscribing!
Thanks, I am real excited to get it going. Are you on bimmer forums? Ive read so many e39 builds to prepare lol.
Originally Posted by SHARKBITEATTACK
where'd you find the 3D engine cad model?
I think it was grab cad. I dont remember to be honest
Originally Posted by pdsq98gt
Awesome progress. I am about to start the same build on a touring. How is the f body oil pan fittment? I know most people use the Autokraft pan but I already have an f body pan. I am also going to use a 4L80e so where should I expect to have interference issues other than the by the connector?
I think I am going to have to notch the F body pan. It is sitting on the rack / cross member and the back of the engine is touching the firewall. theres pretty much no way you could get it in with the trans attached. Fortunately I have a lift, so I am going to drop the subframe and lower the car down onto the engine/ trans package as a whole.
As for the 4l80, this thing really is HUGE compared to the e39 trans tunnel... I will post a couple of pics so far of the massaging I have done. I cut the double wall part of the tunnel out too. I am going to run banjo fittings for the cooler lines, and I am trying to figure out if I can relocate the connector on the side.
the engine and trans are both in. the 4l80 is tight.
The engine oil pan is resting on the cross member / rack as we speak.
I have the trans held up by a pole jack. (not sure why I didnt take any pictures?)
I am staying late at work today to use our engineering lab to mill out some slots in the plates im using for a trans mount. Once that is done, I will finish the mount. milling slots so I have some forward and back adjust ability.
cross member fabbed up. I slotted where it bolts to the chassis to fine tune the location. I will weld and gusset a tab to the crossover pipe to bolt the mount to, but for now it holds the trans up nicely.
Going to either tackle some suspension stuff or engine mounts tonight I hope.
I have to pull my drift car out from under the BMW to work on it, and with no windows I dont like leaving it out in the rain or snow. So it depends on the weather what I willl get done tonight.
Progress has been slow. I was lazy with the cold weather lol.
Got the motor mounts made up. going to pull the motor this weekend to do the oil pump and button everything up. moving forward now!
01-16-2019, 07:25 AM
BMW E39 With 5.3, Cam, Springs, 4l80E and chinese GT45 
, it was fast and cheap and great on gas), a lift and a garage with all sorts of tools and I've got my F350 I can daily while this is down.
