My '90 325is LS3 Swap Build Thread

[shiboujin]

I chatted with sikky. They said they are working with you to make an airbag version. is that right?

[CLM21]

Spline count is different between non-airbag/airbag shafts.

[LoneWolf]

What about an airbag column is preventing you from using the flaming river parts?

[TeXJ]

Also thought about just buying one with a LS already swapped. Just depends on price.

[CLM21]

Anyone here done manual brakes and retained the abs? Considering the MC is just moving farther back in the engine bay, i could probably just reuse the stock hardlines and put some unions in there for extension or something.

[CLM21]

Yeah ill probably go with a new column. I recall there being a website that has a bunch of e30s that the guy just parts out. Anyone know what it is? I dont think theres any salvage yards by me.

[shiboujin]

I dunno about the column. Seems easier to me in the long run to swap them out.

About the brake setup, I'm not a fan of manual brakes. That's just me though. Plus most of those replacements are single pot. Meaning, if it goes out, you lose ALL brakes.

[CLM21]

Ive been deabting today whether or not to swap out my steering column for a non-airbag one...

Would make the steering shaft situation easier. I could just build a shaft out of flaming river parts, which makes that situation much easier. Instead of having to weld 2 different steering shafts together which sounds like an absolute pain.

I also would like to replace the stock pedal assembly with something like a wilwood pedal box. I know garagistic sells a booster delete kit which works with the wilwood pedal box. But this doesn't work on an airbag column. So my only option for a booster delete kit is the massive kit, which must retain the stock pedal assembly I believe.

Would it be worth it to swap out the columns or no?

[shiboujin]

Yep, pretty sure that one. Fits between the frame rails fine. I can measure mine to verify.

[CLM21]

I could be wrong... but I think its this one:

http://www.mishimoto.com/mishimotorsports-dual-pass-race-radiator.html

[Jean]

http://www.slidewaysonline.com/images/Sale04/IMG_4232.JPG
That's the best I got on me right now. The rad is a mishimoto generic race radiator. Thickest one they got I think. Then the shop that did my swap tig welded better outlets onto it. You can easily get some of your own 90s and do rubber hoses. They just like things nice and tidy.

The intake isn't that bad. It's really just in there for the sake of being huge. There's plenty of space in that whole area. Especially compared to my old M50 based swaps.

Dunno about those pedals. I took out a pedal box on an airbag car once but I don't remember it being that big of a pain.

What's the part number on this radiator? I want to see if they have a bunch of different ones that would fit the e30 chassis, looking for a good one for m6x swap.
Does it fit between the e30 "frame rails" w/o cutting them?

thanks

[shiboujin]

The problem with the wiring is that LS motors don't have consistent wire colors and sometimes the pins are different per ECU.

[CLM21]

Well coming from someone who doesnt know shit about electrical stuff.... its really not that bad when you take a step back and look at the entire picture. Its really just a shit ton of really simple tasks that seems overwhelming when you think about it as a whole.

Garretts guide does a pretty good job of explaining the entire harness ordeal with diagrams and whatnot. I really think anyone could do it if they just took the time to do the research and figured everything out.

As far as the ecu goes, not doing any of that myself. Any of the reputable LS tuners will be able to get all that stuff done. And theres been plenty of ls e30s done at this point, Im sure its well documented enough so tuners know, or can at least find out, what does and doesnt need to be turned off.

Oh right and like shiboujin said, as long as you go LS1, wiring specialities already has a harness ready to go. Unfortunately they dont for an ls3....

[TeXJ]

mmm that sounds quite tempting :D

[shiboujin]

Sikky did my harness but wiring specialties does a wiring harness. The VATS has to be flashed out of your ECU but anyone that deals with LS motors can do that