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

[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

[Ara]

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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[Bimmerfreak87]

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.

[Elysian]

LS1, any day of the week.

[Bimmerfreak87]

I'm surprised nobody called you out on thinking a 400whp e30 will run with a z06.

: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.

[87e30]

I'm surprised nobody called you out on thinking a 400whp e30 will run with a z06.

[Bimmerfreak87]

I wonder how hard the s62 swap is and how it compares to the s54 and ls1 swaps...???

[Farbin Kaiber]

s62.

[Bimmerfreak87]

So I found an ls1+6spd for 3k, a s54+6spd for 5k, and a s62+6spd for 6k... Any thoughts on these? These all seem to be pretty good deals and I can afford to pop for anyone of them, but of course more money saved can be used elsewhere.

[Bimmerfreak87]

There are tons of variants on the LSX motor, unless you are set on having the aluminum block. I like the 6.0 truck motors out of the junkyard :)

I hope you don't mind a little thread jack, but here is a photo of a 6.0 I built and swapped into the '68 Chevy (last project)

I want the aluminum block to keep the weight down. That is nice. ^

For your goals, I'd say LS1. I'm going s54 to keep a real M engine in my e30 M3. I was going to swap an LS6 into my s52 car, but found the M# instead. The LS1 and s54 drivetrains will be very similar in weight, with the s54 actually being more front heavy then the LS1.

For power there is no question as far as hp/$ > LS1. Put a nice cam, LS6 intake manifold, do some head work, bolt-ons, headers and a dyno tune nets you 400-450 whp. The torque will be nuts, and the gear ratios that the e30 has to offer are perfect for the LSX + T56.

Either way WILL be sick! 8)

Yeah, If I had an M3 I would stick with an M motor for sure. I have a regular e30 so I want something that will make your jaw drop.

[e30polak]

For your goals, I'd say LS1. I'm going s54 to keep a real M engine in my e30 M3. I was going to swap an LS6 into my s52 car, but found the M# instead. The LS1 and s54 drivetrains will be very similar in weight, with the s54 actually being more front heavy then the LS1.

For power there is no question as far as hp/$ > LS1. Put a nice cam, LS6 intake manifold, do some head work, bolt-ons, headers and a dyno tune nets you 400-450 whp. The torque will be nuts, and the gear ratios that the e30 has to offer are perfect for the LSX + T56.

Either way WILL be sick! 8)

[LuckyHenriksen]

There are tons of variants on the LSX motor, unless you are set on having the aluminum block. I like the 6.0 truck motors out of the junkyard :)

I hope you don't mind a little thread jack, but here is a photo of a 6.0 I built and swapped into the '68 Chevy (last project)