Can anyone help please? I'm trying to establish once and for all the weight comparisons for LSx & T56 versus BMW S50 / 52 / 54 M Power engine & transmission.

It is much publicised on many sites that the weight of a BMW S50 / 52 / 54 is about 360lbs but this seems light for a cast iron engine and gets contradicted by BMW themselves:

In their literature about the E92 M3's S65 alloy V8 motor they claim: "The resulting engine weighs 202 kg (445 lb): 15 kg (33 lb) lighter than the straight-6 engine it replaces, while also being shorter."

An extract is on: http://wapedia.mobi:80/en/BMW_S65

According to BMW then, that puts the S54 at 478lbs.........Perhaps a more believable comparison for a cast iron straight six vs an all alloy V8 LS1 fully dressed at 490lbs?

Are the much publicised S5* engine weights just for the short or undressed engine perhaps?

Anyone done a conversion and compared weights? Am i right in thinking LSx & T56 is about 630lbs?

 

I've taken apart an e36 m3 motor and its not light at all. The head is ginormous, and even though its aluminum isn't really light (two cams, all the other crap in them). The block is HEAVY! Really heavy! I'd say you'd lose a little bit of weight putting the LS motor in, depending on accessories and if you were using cast iron manifolds or not. Sorry I don't have an exact number for you, but the LS isn't going to be heavier. Vorshlag has their 318 car that weighs nothing..

I will say that the t56 is a heavy **** and if I were doing an E36 I'd consider a TKO500 or TKO600. The t5-esque trans weigh nothing by comparison. Keep in mind also that the LSX motor should be shorter than the big ol straight 6, putting your weight further back.

 

^^^what themachasy said.

 

Thanks guys.......Anyone got any actual figures please?

 

I believe the motor BY ITSELF is right under or right at 400lbs. Depends how you weight it and with what accessories.

 

I know it doesn't help now, but I have scales and an e36 325i I plan to swap in a LS1. I plan to weigh everything coming off/on the car and get total before/after weights so future swappers know what to expect, and not just have guesses.

Sadly, likely wont get around to it until late next year.

 

We put the LS1 & T56 into our "86 BMW E30. Along the way, we weighed the powertrain by putting three scales under the LH & RH engine mounts and tranny mount. The powertrain was complete, with all engine accessories, intake, engine mounts, harness, T56 etc.

Weights were: 265# on each engine mount, 81# on the tranny mount -- 601lbs.

We also weighed our E30 before and after: 2765# before, 2850# after -- 85# weight gain. Not bad for 2.5x more hp and torque! See our car at:

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/show...&highlight=ls1

 

man y everyone keep saying the t56 is heavy??? i picked up my original z32 5spd tranny and that **** is heavy compared to the t56...t56 i can manhandle by myself...with a bad back...the z32 tranny will break my back...