School me on swaps: OBD1 S52 or LS1?

[Lavalamp]

From my research it seems an LS1 wouldn't be much more than an S52, would have more power in stock form, and would have a lot more potential for the money. Only thing is it would be a lot more work and custom things done.
So tell me which I should go with and why.

[Yeee30]

s52, cause its a bmw.

[Wh33lhop]

If you are an experienced fabricator and want something retarded fast and different than most other E30 guys are doing, do the LS1. Have fun fabbing up remote brake booster linkages, motor mount arms and the like.

If you want something that will still kick you in the pants but drop in with minimal effort, the S52 is where it's at.

Simple as that.

[Pudmunkie]

I don't have my fraankenstein 3 liter swap running yet, but if I had to do everything up to this point again... LS1. Maybe my opinion will change once the dirty slut is running.

[Dominic49]

Ls1 requires a lot of fab work. From headers and mounts to driveshaft its no easy task. M52 plus some boost is my vote

[etxxz]

I don't have my fraankenstein 3 liter swap running yet, but if I had to do everything up to this point again... LS1. Maybe my opinion will change once the dirty slut is running.

if your swap aint running *YET* it means it has potential of someday running, but an LS1 swap will never turn over with you working on it.

My first engine swap ever done entirety by myself was an s52...OBD2.. and took me about 3-4months. The LS1 swap is very involved both electrically and specially, mechanically. Lots of fabrication and custom parts nec. The s52 drops in like a lego.

I also don't see an LS1 swap done for any less than 8-10k. you can s52 it for 4-6k so you can't compare budget. Bang for your buck, now that COULD be a different story... its debatable $ for $, not counting effort which you WILL save tons on time on.

[BigD]

With regards to custom fab work, I wonder how much of Vorshlags E36 LS1 kit is usable. I mean, we know that the E36 drivetrain drops into the E30 from the diff flange forward. So if we have a kit designed to place an LS1 in an E36 engine bay and bolt up to the E36 diff then most of that "should" work on an E30.

[DannyE30]

With regards to custom fab work, I wonder how much of Vorshlags E36 LS1 kit is usable. I mean, we know that the E36 drivetrain drops into the E30 from the diff flange forward. So if we have a kit designed to place an LS1 in an E36 engine bay and bolt up to the E36 diff then most of that "should" work on an E30.

Garretvs "E30LS1", just announced last week, that they'll be making kits for the E30 LS1 swap. Said they should be out sometime this summer. As far as I know, it's going to be the Motor Mounts, Trans Mounts and Hydro Booster. Should make things a bit easier, just waiting for pricing.

[Adrian_Visser]

Garretvs "E30LS1", just announced last week, that they'll be making kits for the E30 LS1 swap. Said they should be out sometime this summer. As far as I know, it's going to be the Motor Mounts, Trans Mounts and Hydro Booster. Should make things a bit easier, just waiting for pricing.

Keep us updated on this I would like to hear more on this.

[Dominic49]

Garretvs "E30LS1", just announced last week, that they'll be making kits for the E30 LS1 swap. Said they should be out sometime this summer. As far as I know, it's going to be the Motor Mounts, Trans Mounts and Hydro Booster. Should make things a bit easier, just waiting for pricing.

Mounts are the easy part the big help would be headers.but they would also be alot more expensive.

[etxxz]

at $4K just for the swap kit + add't parts, then engine, tranny electrical etc etc etc that answer's the original poster's question. Going this route, you'll spend 15k before it runs. DIY'it, 10k as you'll probably DIY a lot of other things. That's a pretty badass boosted s52, painted/kitted and 5-lug'd e30.

[Lavalamp]

i can get an LS1+T56 for under $4k, and from the swap thread I was reading ebay headers will work. add $1k for custom mounts etc i would need to have made.
$5k + misc = total

an S52+tranny would probably run about $2.5k, OBD1 conversion $500?
$3k + misc = total

so yes it may cost about twice as much for an LS1, but it would put down more power stock and would be alot cheaper/easier to mod in the long run.

[jahnaboi]

They already told you to go do an s52 swap.

You asked and you were answered.

Now you try to convince them that the LS1 is better.

What's the point of asking if all you're going to do is argue what you originally wanted to do?

[Dominic49]

the ls1 is a better motor yes. but unless you know how to do the work and if you did you wouldnt of asked us you should stick with the s52

[Lavalamp]

They already told you to go do an s52 swap.

You asked and you were answered.

Now you try to convince them that the LS1 is better.

What's the point of asking if all you're going to do is argue what you originally wanted to do?

You're right, they told me to do an S52 swap....
PS: I was replying to Dominic49's mention of having to have custom headers and etxxz's mention of "prices".
So please, if you're always like this keep it to yourself. If you're having a bad day, I feel bad for you son (I got 99 problems and you ain't one).

If you are an experienced fabricator and want something retarded fast and different than most other E30 guys are doing, do the LS1.

I don't have my fraankenstein 3 liter swap running yet, but if I had to do everything up to this point again... LS1. Maybe my opinion will change once the dirty slut is running.