Thoughts on LS1 swap

[e30Matt]

I was reading up on this, and was surfing on the 'bay and came up with some incredible bargains on LS1s, wiring, all accessories, ECU, and transmissions.

Can anyone redirect me to more sites containing info on this swap? I've read in places that the LS1 fits like a glove in the E30 chassis, right down to the shifter sitting dead center.

I'm definitely looking into this as a project, hopefully I'll own a 357is in the near future. ;)

Now I'll don the flamesuit for the purists around.

[Ryan Stewart]

check roadfly or bfc in the e30 section. There was a guy named derick that did it and has it up and running. He doesnt have a step by step writeup but he has a lot of pics and stated that he managed to do all that for like less than 8000.

[Jand3rson]

Flaming is to become a thing of the past on this forum.

I think it sounds like an awesome idea.

[LikeCDoos]

that would be a great straight line car...but thats about it. Especially if you transplated the LS1 into an m10

[Jand3rson]

that would be a great straight line car...but thats about it. Especially if you transplated the LS1 into an m10

It would be a great car for everything. The LS1 is lighter than the M20.

Shit, the LS1 is lighter than the 1.8 4 cylinder in my brother-in-law's MGB.

[LikeCDoos]

that would be a great straight line car...but thats about it. Especially if you transplated the LS1 into an m10

It would be a great car for everything. The LS1 is lighter than the M20.

Shit, the LS1 is lighter than the 1.8 4 cylinder in my brother-in-law's MGB.

wow thats news to me, i assumed the V8 beast weight at least more than a m20

[Ryan Stewart]

The new V8 smallblocks are all aluminum so they save a lot of weight. the new BMW V8 is magnesium with aluminum sleeves so they are considerably lighter than the S54.

You can also move the V8 farther back into the engine bay centering and lowering the mass. The downside is it would be a track car. There isnt much room for A/C compressor and other ameneties.

[rwh11385]

You want my thoughts?
1) LS1's are cheap HP. Why do you think people shove them in everything?
2) V8 would be unexpected and cool sounding
3) It's be fast as fuck

4) Completely bastardizing your car. Even worse than SR20DET - old school displacement.

But loyalties/purity aside, it's kickass.

[Streetspec_iS]

yeah, purity aside, i think they would make a kick arse little slugger.

[sovann]

Yeah I'd do it just for the sound. I love the sound of V8s, they just sound so freaking tough 8)

[Rob]

lets see, lighter than an m50, more power than any NA i6 could ever dream of, more aftermarket than any BMW motor ever, cheaper parts than any european motor..............fuck yes, if you can figure out where to put your brake booster and such accessories, i'd be all for it.


As for the people that talk about bastardizing a car, how many e30s are there? 800,000?

[nando]

it'd be fun in an older E30 chassis, say a bone stock bronzit '86 eta.. aside from the huge rear tires you'd need, nobody would see you coming :twisted:

it might not even handle that bad, if you can get the engine low enough and far back enough.

[e30Matt]

I'm not worried about A/C... I've been running without it for over 6 months now and I don't really miss it b/c my windows are down whenever I'm in the car. I'll have to do more research on the brake booster issue, but I'm positive I can find something that fits.

I've seen pictures of this engine mounted in an E30 with over a foot between the front of the block and the radiator.... cool shit, if you ask me.

I'm thinking about getting a pair of valve covers made with "E30 LS1" machined into them... my uncle has a CNC mill and can do about anything I want. :)

I'm glad this was accepted as well as it was, and I can't wait to do more research.

[M-technik-3]

I'd do it, in a heartbeat then go look for new GTO's and CTS-Spec V's to stomp. Oh wait I can do that with a TCD car.

[Spaz]

I'd do it, in a heartbeat then go look for new GTO's and CTS-Spec V's to stomp. Oh wait I can do that with a TCD car.

:twisted:

greg is in the right mindset.