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My LS swap is underway so figured I'd throw out some pics of the progress. Posted pics of the inbound LQ4 in the Gen III internal forum but bottom line it was a complete LQ4 for $350. Had a spun main and crank was trashed. The block and heads are at the machine shop getting prepped and I have the 408 rotating assembly headed that way on Monday.
Transplant recipient is a 2001 BMW 330ci I picked up a few months ago for the swap. It runs like a top and I've been driving it to work now and again, but it's got a date with a road course and the I-6 that's in it won't cut it in the power department. The previous owner had installed a Stop Tech big brake kit on it so that was a plus. Ultimately it'll have the NA 408, a T56, an M3 LSD rear, and M3 suspension.
Got the front end pulled apart
Trans and engine pulled
And the recipient bay awaiting the 408 (after some cleaning and prep)
Last edited by Matt330LS; Sep 16, 2016 at 08:23 PM.
Thanks. I gave $4500 for it. It's not bad but it's a 20 footer for sure. After I really got into the car and found all the little things that need fixed I think that was probably a little higher than I should have gone, but eh, you can only see so much in a parking lot and a short test drive.
Well the short block is back from the shop, as are the 317 heads. Block got tanked, bored over .030, line-bored mains to clean up spun #2, all new King coated bearings, and quick spray paint. I also had them clean up the casting flash on the oil galleys. It probably wasn't totally necessary but it was pretty nasty and I kept having images of a piece breaking off and killing this motor. Inside is a K1 4" crank, K1 6.125 rods with ARP hardware, and Wiseco -8cc pistons. Assembly was balanced by the shop prior to install in the block. Stock 317 heads were cleaned up and reassembled with Brian Tooley .660 double spring kit and stainless Ferrea valves.
Finally getting back to the project after a hiatus for a significant shoulder surgery. I spent almost 10 hours yesterday cutting down the wiring harness from the donor truck and making a rough plan on where to put the ECU and fuse block for it. Got a bunch of parts in, and once I have the cam from Cam Motion I'll be able to button up the long block (for the most part).
The E46 BMW swap guys are familiar with the whole CANBUS-factory gauge issues, and I kicked it around a bit. Decided I'm just going to skip all that and run aftermarket gauges straight from the GM ECU and engine. The speedo takes a sensor from the rear wheel, and the ABS is controlled separate from the BMW DME (their term for ECU) so cutting out the DME should have minimal impact on my end result. But one step at a time. Need to make this 408 live...
Thanks. Looking forward to the double takes I'm expecting when I get it rolling down the road. Particularly from all the modern Mustang guys around here running around town near the rev limiter for no reason other than to hear their own exhaust.
Spoke to Bob at Cam Motion last week and got a cam ordered. I really appreciate the time he took to explain cam tech to me and explain why he spec'd what he did for this build. I was somewhat concerned that it was on the small side for the 408 but not after he talked me through it. Once I have the cam and stroker windage tray from Mast Motorsports I should be able to button this thing up and get it set in the car. One step at a time.
Sounds like it'll be a helluva fun car. My brother has an '04 330 that he's done some track days with; I've enjoyed blowing by him on a few occasions. That certainly wouldn't be happening if he was packin' a 408!
You mentioned a Stoptech kit, but looks like a stock type caliper rather than a big ST caliper in the first picture. What's the story there?
You mentioned a Stoptech kit, but looks like a stock type caliper rather than a big ST caliper in the first picture. What's the story there?
What the previous owner did was painted the stock calipers (I think) and put ST performance pads and 13" cross-drilled and slotted rotors on all four corners (as opposed to the full big brake kit).
awesome. i'm just getting into beemers, but it seems like the e46 platform is the boss as far as suspension and fitment of big rubber
I've always liked the E46 looks, which is the main reason I picked this for the swap. The CANBUS and BMW wiring setup is the big mystery for me right now. I know there are solutions out there to run the factory dash cluster with the LS, as it seems like most of the E46/LS swap owners wanted fully stock looking setups interior-wise. I've decided to go with aftermarket gauges though, so the mystery is what will quit working without the BMW computer/cluster, do I need it, and if so what do I do about it.
Made a little progress today. The cam showed up in the mail so I got that installed along with the timing set, oil pump, oil pickup, front cover, and oil pan. Tomorrow will be lifters heads and intake. Then I'll set the motor mounts and test fit.
On an interesting note, the donor vehicle for the 6.0 was a 4x4 Silverado (that was apparently used offroad a lot, given the amount of mud and rust caked on the parts). I ended up cleaning off the bolts with carb cleaner and a wire brush first. I wasn't sold, but then ended up throwing them in my brass polisher for a couple hours in treated corn cob media. Turned out pretty good, so I think that'll be my new standard for cleaning nuts and bolts I'm reusing.
Nice looking swap. How much room in in there for the trans? Going to be a quick little car.
I haven't done official measurements for the T-56 yet. Based on photos I've seen of other builds it looks like there's as much room as there was with the BMW 5 speed that was previously there. Looking forward to getting it rolling under its own power for sure!
Got motor mounts in place and did a test fit. Looks pretty good, but the driver's side of the bay is pretty tight. I ended up trimming back the shielding above the steering shaft in order to gain clearance for the headers. I'd really like to find some standard long tubes that fit, but it would seem there are only a couple sets out there for this swap and they both wrap around the steering shaft, which I'm not a fan of. May not have a choice though.
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BMW E46 awaiting 
That certainly wouldn't be happening if he was packin' a 408!
