ls2 318i rear-end help!!!

[WheelE30]

Hey guys I just picked up an 84 318i a few weeks ago and im doing a ls2 swap. I'm in the middle of working out all the things and I am planning on doing work to the motor planning on having at least 450rwhp. my question is I heard the stock rear is not going to handle the power I know the car weighs like 23xx but just want to beef up the rear if I can? The car will be a full track car mainly and plan on a full cage and slicks and stuff like that so any info would b great. Also I'm not on to much of a strict budget, but id rather do it right the first time and not have to worry about blowing it up but not have to pay more for the rear than the hole build. also if any suspension or other things that would help me at the track and not handle that power please let me know thanks

[SA E30]

Well we have to ask how much fabrication work are you prepared to do? That would give us an idea as to the extent of modifications we can suggest.

Like e39 rear subframes, e36, or just a a beefed up M coupe stuff...

[JakeP]

Here, I fixed it for you:

Hey guys, I just picked up an 84 318i a few weeks ago and I'm working on an LS2 swap. I am planning on doing some motor work and hoping to have at least 450rwhp. The car will be a full track car and will have a full cage and slicks, and end up weighing around 23xx pounds. I'm not on too much of a budget, but I would rather do it right the first time.

I heard the stock differential is not going to handle that amount of power and traction. Should I beef up the rear end? Are there any suspension components or other things that would not handle that power?
Any info would be great.

Thanks!

[z31maniac]

From my limited understanding, it's not the diff itself more the mount (guys are using E36dual ear mounts with modded subframes).

If you're willing to fabricate/pay to have it fabricated, it shouldn't be a big deal.


Kind of surprised no one is offering a modded subframe for that purpose. With how common V8 and big turbo builds have become.

[freeride53]

lol JakeP ftw

[iflytii]

The lifespan of the rear end depends totally on your driving style.

I don't quite have 450rwhp, but I'm not far from and I've been running 188mm diffs with a single ear mount (solid and reinforced) with no problems. All my road racing is from a roll and I know better than to do 6k clutch drops on slicks at an auto-x. I'm sure if I tried I could tear things up but I just don't see the point in that.

If your rough on things you might consider a 8.8" diff from an IRS Cobra. They can be made to work without much effort and there is a ton of aftermarket support for them.

[JakeP]

You could also look into a IRS Dana 44 diff.

[WheelE30]

Thanks guys for all the help the car will be mainly a street racing fun summer car and track car but only a few times out of the season. So I want to be able to launch the car not at 7 grand but enough to get a good 60ft and To kick ass on the street so any set up you guys suggest I will consider Doing to help breaking shit. Also I am able to do some custom fab work so any points that will need to be reinforced let me know

[iwnagofst]

I am currently in the middle of an LS1 swap and I got a secondary diff mount fabricated. One thing I added though is the mason engineering 3 point strut bar with the floor plate diff mount support. you can find it here.

http://www.masonengineering.net/Subpages/E30.htm

I have big expectations for the product but am confident it will help.

[Massimo]

Thanks guys for all the help the car will be mainly a street racing fun summer car and track car but only a few times out of the season. So I want to be able to launch the car not at 7 grand but enough to get a good 60ft and To kick ass on the street so any set up you guys suggest I will consider Doing to help breaking shit. Also I am able to do some custom fab work so any points that will need to be reinforced let me know

Your an idiot.

[Wh33lhop]

Your an idiot.

Trolling is a art.

Seriously though he's right, you ARE an idiot.

[Doughnut]

Your an idiot.

Trolling is a art.

Seriously though he's right, you ARE an idiot.

I love r3v...

[Vtec?lol]

Your a dumb ass.

Don't be so harsh dude.. :drink:

[TimR]

188 LSD will allow 279-445 gears, Diffsonline does HP, custom driveshaft, chain the block to the frame, might want cage all the way up to rad and crossbar, Where's that thread with the guy in Europe with the 8 sec car, he was running some obscure Alpina diff,