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BMW M3 E36 LS1 swap

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Old 11-01-2011, 11:26 AM
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It has no AC at the moment, since the LS1 compressor will not fit with the mounts I am using. I am going to install 318 e36 compressor with custom brackets since it's like half the size of the LS1 unit.
Old 11-11-2011, 05:14 PM
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Originally Posted by Kaane
It has no AC at the moment, since the LS1 compressor will not fit with the mounts I am using. I am going to install 318 e36 compressor with custom brackets since it's like half the size of the LS1 unit.
PM me if you haven't bought this setup yet. I have the compressor, bracket, and one custom line you will need. I pulled it off my car in working order to make room for a down pipe
Old 11-15-2011, 04:39 PM
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Is that MGW shifter the standard F-Body one from their website?
Old 11-15-2011, 04:48 PM
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Yes, Standard F-Body one.
Old 11-15-2011, 05:11 PM
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Thanks. Also you said the Corvette FPR/stock fuel pump combo is only good to 450hp? That's the same set up I'm going with but I estimate I'll have 500hp at the crank. I take it I might have fuel issues?
Old 11-15-2011, 05:17 PM
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I don't have any fuel issues at all - do the match on an6/3/8" line and you should be fine for a ways - granted the filter/reg is going to be a restriction but not something i've seen in practice on the stock fuel system.

I'm still running the single original in-tank fuel pump and 42LB injectors with no issues. I probably could have squeeked by with the stock ls6 injectors but as I spend the majority of the cars life on the track or autox I didn't want to starve it out anywhere unexpectedly so in went the bigger injectors
Old 11-15-2011, 05:29 PM
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Originally Posted by Tongboy
I don't have any fuel issues at all - do the match on an6/3/8" line and you should be fine for a ways - granted the filter/reg is going to be a restriction but not something i've seen in practice on the stock fuel system.

I'm still running the single original in-tank fuel pump and 42LB injectors with no issues. I probably could have squeeked by with the stock ls6 injectors but as I spend the majority of the cars life on the track or autox I didn't want to starve it out anywhere unexpectedly so in went the bigger injectors
Thanks. Gotta' say, I'm shocked to see you're selling your car.
Old 11-15-2011, 06:21 PM
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I searched everywhere about the limits of the stock E36 M3 pump and no one had real answers. Most people said it was good to around 450crank hp. Since I am putting a bit over that I didn't want to take any chances. Plus pumps are cheap.
Old 11-15-2011, 06:30 PM
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Originally Posted by mbrouder
Thanks. Gotta' say, I'm shocked to see you're selling your car.
you and me both, what can I say? because race car

Originally Posted by Kaane
I searched everywhere about the limits of the stock E36 M3 pump and no one had real answers. Most people said it was good to around 450crank hp. Since I am putting a bit over that I didn't want to take any chances. Plus pumps are cheap.
everyone pushing that limit is going to be running boost which means they are going to be pushing a lot more fuel - like 11.5:1 levels of fuel instead of 12.5:1-12.8:1

more than enough extra headroom on an NA motored car
Old 12-17-2011, 09:26 AM
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Very clean BMW. Swap looks great!

How do you like your ACT clutch?

I am looking into getting the same, but few people have it.

It's the full-face friction disc, not the 6 puck ceramic, correct?

How is pedal effort?

How is engagement?

I'm a little skeptical of their claims of holding 745 ft-lb....
Old 12-20-2011, 11:19 PM
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Default EVAP, PCV - Catch cans and Tank Ventilation ( Ls2 Mz3)

I am looking for some feedback on what if anyone has done in regards to keeoing emissions compliant.

I am planning on running 4 02 sensors
I will run the PCV through a catch cam
Use the Evap Solenoid
And vent the tank to the BMW charcoal canister.

There is an additional vacuum line fomr the bmy that went to the fuel relulator on the return line???? and and line that goes to the charcoal canister.

Any guidance on whether I need this stuff or I can have the PCM tuned to say its al there and skip it??

Thanks
Old 01-17-2012, 07:20 PM
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Do all the factory gauges work? Did you just use the stock BMW sending units? Also do you need a speedo conversion box? To go from the GM speed signal out to the BMW, or is the ?BMW mechanical speedo? Nice job looks great!
Old 01-18-2012, 12:38 AM
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I skipped emissions since it's impossible to fit any manifolds that you need for CARB compliance. Find tongboy's post on bimmerforums, he hooked up all his emissions stuff.

All the gauges work, Speedo has a signal from the rear diff so that is unchanged, Tach is compatible with LS1 ecu once you make some changes to the programming.

the ACT clutch is fantastic, I used it on a lot of previous import cars and never had any issues. The stock BMW master makes the engagement normal, but on a different car I bet it would be a bit stiffer. I am using a full faced street disc, so engagement is as good as stock.
Old 02-03-2012, 12:11 PM
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OK, been a while since my last update. I had a valvetrain failure that took out my bottom end.

Heads are fine, but shortblock is damaged. So this was perfect time to upgrade to a 6.0 bottom end. Only issues are my heads are 59cc chambers, so with flat top 6.0 LS2 pistons, compression would be almost 12:1. So I am selling my entire setup and basically building a new motor. Already ordered the LS2 shortblock. Here is the part list.

LS2 Shortblock with 24X reluctor
New LS3 Heads Milled 0.30 to achieve 11:1 compression
LS3 Head Gasket
ARP Head Bolts
EPS 222/230 114LSA Cam
Knock Sensor and Cam Sensor Extension Harness
PRC Dual 650 Springs
LS3 Rockers
LS2 Valley Cover
LS2 Front cover
Ported LS3 Intake Manifold


I will reuse my lifters, timing chain, oil pan, and accessories. Hoping for 450-470whp.
Old 02-21-2012, 11:19 AM
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Few changes again

Ls2 shortblock didn't pan out, but I found a low mileage ls3 from 2010 camaro.

Should be here next week.

I took the motor out again and stripped it. 2 bad rod bearings and 1 bad main bearing. Rest looks salvageable even the crank has only minor dmg.
Old 02-21-2012, 03:04 PM
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What happened to the valvetrain? How many miles were on that motor you bought from the junkyard?
Old 02-21-2012, 05:19 PM
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ill be interested to see what you do with your throttle cable setup; switching to an ls3 (ptm 95mm tb) style topend gave me slack w my SDPC throttle cable so i dont get full TPS now; been thinking about getting a lokar setup but i havent decided
Old 02-21-2012, 05:28 PM
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Originally Posted by blueshark123
What happened to the valvetrain? How many miles were on that motor you bought from the junkyard?
My Edelbrock heads had different depth holes for the rocker mounts, so they bottomed out using stock bolts and rockers were able to rotate of the valve, destroyed one rocker and dropped a valve, valve mangled a piston and ate 3 bearings. I had 40K miles on the motor.
Old 02-21-2012, 05:29 PM
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Originally Posted by Irish350
ill be interested to see what you do with your throttle cable setup; switching to an ls3 (ptm 95mm tb) style topend gave me slack w my SDPC throttle cable so i dont get full TPS now; been thinking about getting a lokar setup but i havent decided
I already have a lokar cable. I installed the Fast TB and I had slack, I just shortened the cable and it worked fine. I will be using a PTM 92MM TB now.
Old 03-09-2012, 08:38 PM
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New wheel setup.

BBS CH 18x10 square.



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