S54 vs LS1 Swap for my E30...???

[Elysian]

I want to keep a bmw motor in my e30, but as you can see from the prices I found they are twice as much as a ls1.

Meh. IMO that's like the people who worry about keeping a rotary in an RX7... It's almost like the RX7 was designed for the LS1, yet they're so tied up in tradition. Truth be told, if I had the funding, I'd own both a BMW powered BMW and an LS1 powered BMW, much like I'd own a rotary powered RX7 and an LS1 powered one. That's just me though, I'm not super traditional.

[87e30]

:stupid:Probably because a lsx swap would have the same motor/upgrade paths as a zo6. My buddies zo6 has heads,cam,lt's,int,exh, and put down 465rwhp. Why wouldn't an e30 w/ same upgraded motor keep up w/ his zo6?

p.s. When :hitler: I say "zo6..." I'm talking about the ls6 zo6 that has 385hp or 405hp stock depending on year and put down about 340rwhp stock.

Because of suspension geometry, ability to put down the power, fitting tires, and aerodynamics.

Not saying it wouldn't be fun in an e30, but it would be an entirely different animal.

[Bimmerfreak87]

Meh. IMO that's like the people who worry about keeping a rotary in an RX7... It's almost like the RX7 was designed for the LS1, yet they're so tied up in tradition. Truth be told, if I had the funding, I'd own both a BMW powered BMW and an LS1 powered BMW, much like I'd own a rotary powered RX7 and an LS1 powered one. That's just me though, I'm not super traditional.

Since I'm new to bmw I don't really worry about the tradition part, but more the engine sound part. Bmw's w/ a nice exhaust sound awesome and exotic, but an ls1 w/ a cam sounds badass. IMO its just kind of weird to hear a huge badass cammed v8 in a little bmw e30. It just doesn't "sound natural" if that makes sense, but its not weird enough to stop me from doing it.

[Ara]

neither, boost a M10 , cheap + lighter than both engines by over 100 pounds + easy to break 330whp

[e30polak]

Because of suspension geometry, ability to put down the power, fitting tires, and aerodynamics.

Not saying it wouldn't be fun in an e30, but it would be an entirely different animal.

In the 1/4 mile maybe, but from a 2nd or 3rd gear roll the e30 would have a decent weight advantage. ;)

OP I say go LS1, you will be much happier in the long run when you look at performance per dollar spent. :D

[Bimmerfreak87]

Because of suspension geometry, ability to put down the power, fitting tires, and aerodynamics.

Not saying it wouldn't be fun in an e30, but it would be an entirely different animal.

The only somewhat valid reason ^above is the aerodynamics, which an e30 doesn't compare to a zo6. To improve that I ordered an aero kit and a front splitter so the difference won't be so drastic. The suspension, tires, and power down is unknown. You have no idea what suspension, tires, etc. I will run... I can tell you it's not stock... duh.

Either way the car will keep up w/ my buddies zo6 when I'm done and there sure isn't a good reason why I would be "called out" since every reason you gave is pure speculation. It's just funny to me you think there is no way a toally reworked e30 w/ lsx swap could possibly keep up w/ a zo6 around the track. I hope your not a bettin' man. :p

neither, boost a M10 , cheap + lighter than both engines by over 100 pounds + easy to break 330whp

This will be part time track car so I would like to use N/A setup.

In the 1/4 mile maybe, but from a 2nd or 3rd gear roll the e30 would have a decent weight advantage. ;)

OP I say go LS1, you will be much happier in the long run when you look at performance per dollar spent. :D

The s54 or s62 would be really nice, but at double the price of a ls1, I'm not sure I can justify that so I will most likely go lsx swap. Now I can start my performance motor research (my version of window shopping). :D

[87e30]

In the 1/4 mile maybe, but from a 2nd or 3rd gear roll the e30 would have a decent weight advantage. ;)

OP I say go LS1, you will be much happier in the long run when you look at performance per dollar spent. :D

I wasn't thinking in a straight line. Here I agree with you.

The only somewhat valid reason ^above is the aerodynamics, which an e30 doesn't compare to a zo6. To improve that I ordered an aero kit and a front splitter so the difference won't be so drastic. The suspension, tires, and power down is unknown. You have no idea what suspension, tires, etc. I will run... I can tell you it's not stock... duh.

Either way the car will keep up w/ my buddies zo6 when I'm done and there sure isn't a good reason why I would be "called out" since every reason you gave is pure speculation. It's just funny to me you think there is no way a toally reworked e30 w/ lsx swap could possibly keep up w/ a zo6 around the track. I hope your not a bettin' man. :p



This will be part time track car so I would like to use N/A setup.



The s54 or s62 would be really nice, but at double the price of a ls1, I'm not sure I can justify that so I will most likely go lsx swap. Now I can start my performance motor research (my version of window shopping). :D

The suspension geo of the e30 isn't so happy when lowered... I guess you can solve this by making it very stiff and adding negative camber but I'm just saying the corvette technology is much newer AND designed for the power. You really don't think there is anything to that? A stiffened chassis with racing suspension may do the trick, but that's not exactly comparing apples to apples, and I still question it.

I'm very interested to see what happens, and I'm also sure a lot of it will be the driver.

I'd like to hope in the e30, but at the same I'd like to hope the car built with newer technology and more power would have some proper engineering.

[Danny]

Stfu Clayton your car is sl0000000000w

[87e30]

Stfu Clayton your car is sl0000000000w

True, I really want cams. :(

Oh and I hate corvettes. s54!!!!!!

[Bimmerfreak87]

The suspension geo of the e30 isn't so happy when lowered... I guess you can solve this by making it very stiff and adding negative camber but I'm just saying the corvette technology is much newer AND designed for the power. You really don't think there is anything to that? A stiffened chassis with racing suspension may do the trick, but that's not exactly comparing apples to apples, and I still question it.

I'm very interested to see what happens, and I'm also sure a lot of it will be the driver.

I'd like to hope in the e30, but at the same I'd like to hope the car built with newer technology and more power would have some proper engineering.

Don't you usually stiffen the chasis and add neg camber to a car that you are going to race on the track??? :p zo6 suspension tech. is newer, but that is why I'm adding newer tech. suspension to my e30. :roll: Also, who said I was comparing apples to apples? I'm building my e30 w/ race suspension, tires, etc. while my friends zo6 has all stock suspension and street tires, but a highly upgraded motor. I just want to keep up w/ him on the track, which wouldn't be hard if I had a comparable motor since I would have the advantage i.e. weight, tires, suspension, etc. Like I said, there's no way anyone would know what either of us will be running so all you need to know is that :hitler: I said our cars should be comparable on the track. :D

Stfu Clayton your car is sl0000000000w

Lol

[87e30]

Don't you usually stiffen the chasis and add neg camber to a car that you are going to race on the track??? :p zo6 suspension tech. is newer, but that is why I'm adding newer tech. suspension to my e30. :roll: Also, who said I was comparing apples to apples? I'm building my e30 w/ race suspension, tires, etc. while my friends zo6 has all stock suspension and street tires, but a highly upgraded motor. I just want to keep up w/ him on the track, which wouldn't be hard if I had a comparable motor since I would have the advantage i.e. weight, tires, suspension, etc. Like I said, there's no way anyone would know what either of us will be running so all you need to know is that :hitler: I said our cars should be comparable on the track. :D

I'm genuinely curious what happens. Regardless, I'm sure the e30 will be a blast.

[Danny]

Bimmerfreak, you ever ridden/driven in a swap car?

[Bimmerfreak87]

I'm genuinely curious what happens. Regardless, I'm sure the e30 will be a blast.

It's going to be a lot of work so I hope it will be a blast. :)

Bimmerfreak, you ever ridden/driven in a swap car?

Yes. Ridden, driven, and raced.

[Danny]

Oh right on, then you know what you're talking about. Carry on.

[Bimmerfreak87]

Oh right on, then you know what you're talking about. Carry on.

Lol