SWAGON

While waiting to hear back from the machine shop, I went ahead and got something to make sure I don't get fade etc. And it looks awesome. Used set of Brembo GT brakes from an M5. Front 4 pot GT calipers with 355x32mm 2 piece rotors and the rears are Lotus calipers with 345x28mm 2 piece rotors.

SWAGON

Spent a good amount of time on the phone with Matt at Tick Performance today. Went with Morel link bar lifters and one of their cams. Just a tad milder than the last cam with a softer profile.

jmilz28

iTrader: (13)

Good choice. You can gain a lot of reliability and livability by giving up a bit of performance in the cam. It's easy to love the lope and rush of the cam but when you have a motor throw up on you, it's common to look back and say "Was the extra 20-40 ponies at the tire really worth this?" What flavor cam/lobe did you go with?

Love your build BTW, ended up going with a V1 CTS-V just recently after years of dithering about an E39 swap.

SWAGON

New specs

Rubans

Hi Swagon
Amazing work you are doing. I'm from Sweden and new in this forum. I have a nice project as well, it's a Karmann Ghia BMW m3 rear axel, and BMW E39 front axel and LS1 in front.
At the moment I'm install the front axel, but I got problem. Caster for e39 should be around 6 degrees , but my questions is IF the front axel are in same degrees or parallel with ex ground??? If I have my subframe parallel (0 degrees) then I need to force the suspension to get 6 degrees caster . Do you know if the subframe is (0) or 6 degrees ???? Sorry for my English and thanks in advance // Ruban

Chucklee

iTrader: (3)

cool ride. unfortunate this is your third motor install. You know how it goes, takes 1/3 of the time to do it now that you have done it on this car

SWAGON

I finally got my motor back (and had the BBK installed). I cranked it and after about 3 seconds of building fuel pressure, it fired right up. However, I have a problem with the slave cylinder. My old one had developed a leak. Probably from sitting without pressure for almost a year. It seems that no one makes my old version anymore and it's back to the standard quick connect. Here are two images of my old one with the black base and the new one. They both are the same height (plunge depth) same OD of the bearing and same ID of the tube even though they are visually different but the clutch does not work. I vacuum bled it myself and then had my wife come help do the pump bleed. I had nothing but fluid coming out and continued to bleed 5 more times. The pedal built pressure but doesn't feel right and the fingers don't press in so I cannot get it in gear while running. Not sure what is going on.

Both are 98-02 Camaro/Firebird. Which is also the only one that D&D sells with their Magnum's (also where my T56 came from) so it's unlikely I got the wrong application. Furthermore, it seems that almost all the slaves are the same just with different connections. I got fluid and pedal so it's working. Just won't engage the clutch.

gnx7

iTrader: (28)

Did you bleed the clutch master as well? Probably some air in there.

SWAGON

The E39 master is self bleeding by gravity and was never open. When I removed the quick disconnect, the system should have been self contained without air since the reservoir was still full. I never had to bleed it when converting from auto to manual the first time either. And the master reservoir is shared with the braking system. The clutch master only has 5k miles on it btw.

jmilz28

iTrader: (13)

You might try calling Tick or Monster Clutch. Only guys that pop to mind that might have something on hand to help.

SWAGON

I noticed the bleeder fitting had a few drops of fluid under it when I got home. So I tried to give the fitting one last good wrench. And viola, it worked. I would say it barely even budged at all but was enough to allow the extra pressure to build up it seems. Drove it around the neighborhood but it really needs a tune with the new cam.

Some photos with the new brakes. Now all 3 cars have Brembo's front and rear

Lolvo

Is that an 04-05 V70R underneath the E class?

Also, goes without saying your taste in cars is fantastic, as a fellow 5 door Vo (times 3) and W221 owner who has always wanted an E39 wagon.

SWAGON

Yes sir. 2004 V70R. My old DD but now the wifeymobile.

Thanks!!! This is my first MB. 2007 E63 with only 34k miles. I absolutely love it and feel like it's the perfect DD.

SWAGON

Back together

BudRacing

iTrader: (3)

Just in time for summer cruising. Nice job. Envious of this one.

droopyzda1

I have been eye balling this swap since the beginning. I have always loved the e39 wagons and love the LS based motors. Dropped in a 5.3 in my '94 c1500. Great looking ride, keep it up.

Lolvo

Nice, I've got an 07VR, thought I recognized that wing.

Congrats on getting this wrapped up yet again! (If you want to sell it let me know!)

gnx7

iTrader: (28)

Summer is approaching! Get that car down the strip with some sticky tires..... We need to know what it runs and especially the trap speed.

SWAGON

Will do!

It's been tough to break in the motor with all the rain. Looks like better weather is on the horizon so I plan to drive it to work this week and am trying to schedule a tune ASAP. The brakes are getting better as I drive it more too. Dave Zeckhausen thinks this is normal because the rotors are used and had been improperly broken in. He seems convinced that another week or so of driving with an occasional bedding procedure on the new pads will do the trick. But worst case, I get new front rotors. I also need to get a quote on getting the back seat upholstered to match the rest of the M5 caramel interior. Then the car will be complete. I don't intend to ever paint it because then I would just worry about it all the time. As it stands, I don't mind beating on it or leaving it unattended while parked next to soccer moms

BLKMGK

Love this thing, if you're ever in NOVA I'd love to see it! I think the color is perfect btw, damn good looking.