My E30: an LS3 Powered 1991 318iS

[LJ851]

We're currently thinking that the greater problem will be if I ever have traction, various bits of drivetrain may end up on the road behind me. I can't wait to try it out, but I think it'll be a better 30-100 car than a 0-60.

More like 60-130

[Supadave]

is your glove box full of cassette tapes? i laughed, were did you find this car?

sick project by the way... get her running and then boost it!

[OldsCool]

Fuckin awesome.

exactly that was my first thought

[OldDrunkenSailor]

is your glove box full of cassette tapes? i laughed, were did you find this car?

sick project by the way... get her running and then boost it!

I actually bought it from a second owner pretty recently. First owner was a used car dealer's son, 2 years later some folks bought it in Vancouver, WA and held onto it until a little over a year ago. I got it for $2500 and put a grand into a decent paint job, and did the little things necessary to keep it on the road. The glovebox was broken and unopen-able until a day or two before we started this nonsense, so I didn't have a chance to clean it out.

It had 175k on the clock when we started, I want to reset the odometer though, since so much of it will be new. I wanted this to be done a month ago so I'd have time to get the interior done, hopefully it'll at least be back together in time for the show next week.

[OldDrunkenSailor]

Some more pictures:


Exhaust going underneath it.


Shot of the transmission tunnel with heat shielding.


Shot of the hydroboost from a 97 Mustang Cobra, fits perfectly, ABS is intact.

[DREWHALL]

This is awesome.

[markseven]

Wow. Love it.

[CHIF8008]

i wanna see this done. ahhh! this is sweet!!!!!!

[pilotskillse30]

Wow. Love it.

[zxert]

Wow. Can't wait. Friggin awesome.

[GaryE30]

Well executed... pro job!

[MattAvino]

What would be better: LS swap or e39 540i motor or maybe even S62 swap?

[Philo]

Exhaust is killer. I can't wait to hear how it sounds.

[OldDrunkenSailor]

I can tell you that with the instructions from the LS1e30 guys and their parts kit on hand, this was still an extremely difficult (and expensive, unfortunately) project. I can't say if it'd be easier to do a BMW motor, but just be prepared to spend more than you'd like to and have it take longer as well.

If you're thinking LS1 on an early e30, their guide is spot on, but there are enough changes between theirs and a 1991 318iS, and a TON of changes between the LS1 and LS3, that it was more difficult than we had thought it'd be.

[OldDrunkenSailor]

Exhaust is killer. I can't wait to hear how it sounds.

The GoProHD comes in tomorrow, I can't wait, either! The guy who welded it all up almost made up his own headers too, the guy's work is incredible.