M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS

DISCUSSION => Swaps, Turbos, Buildups => Topic started by: magnum2066 on July 30, 2007, 09:54:45 PM

Title: 318 GM swap questions
Post by: magnum2066 on July 30, 2007, 09:54:45 PM: I was curious if anyone has followed any threads in the past where someone did a 3.8 supercharged GM swap and if there were any problems that would come up? Any information off the bat? I am considering trying to fit one into my 91' 318is. Thanks for any and all replies in advance.
Title: 318 GM swap questions
Post by: Shocker on July 30, 2007, 10:06:07 PM: Quote from: magnum2066;30765
I was curious if anyone has followed any threads in the past where someone did a 3.8 supercharged GM swap and if there were any problems that would come up? Any information off the bat? I am considering trying to fit one into my 91' 318is. Thanks for any and all replies in advance.

This is what I think of a GM motor in a BMW.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHzdsFiBbFc

:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D
Title: 318 GM swap questions
Post by: Bill-B on July 30, 2007, 11:46:15 PM: Quote from: Shocker;30769
This is what I think of a GM motor in a BMW.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHzdsFiBbFc

:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

:Dlol
Title: 318 GM swap questions
Post by: magnum2066 on July 31, 2007, 10:19:32 AM: Alright, someone took me seriously at bimmerforums so I'll ignore this thread.

Just think, it takes about 5-6000$ US to get a mere 200hp out of the stock BMW... A smallblock can easily put out 400-500 to the wheels with very few or no mods to the engine. I asked in the first place because I have a bud holding one and is asking about 900 for the beast and all the wiring. But whatever if this happens you guys missed out on a write-up.
Title: 318 GM swap questions
Post by: thebigbadyeti on July 31, 2007, 10:41:29 AM: Here, we love out m42's. And we love our special M42 club. If we swapped in a 3.8 we would never get to realize the dream of maybe oneday walking down the street in our M42 club jackets and having hell's angels piss there pants.... Because we wouldn't be in a special club anymore. Besides, we are WAY more mature than those OTHER forums
Title: 318 GM swap questions
Post by: magnum2066 on July 31, 2007, 06:57:42 PM: I posted here because this board has been great to me in the past, but I found the replies in this thread to be quite insulting. I understand that this website virtually revolves around the m42 but it wouldn't hurt to try anyway.

Quote from: thebigbadyeti;30800
Besides, we are WAY more mature than those OTHER forums

Quote from: shocker
This is what I think of a GM motor in a BMW.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHzdsFiBbFc

Right...

Anyway I am done whining.
Title: 318 GM swap questions
Post by: bmwman91 on August 01, 2007, 12:57:29 AM: Post the swap up in the off-topic or maybe the general section. While this IS an M42 specific club, I see no reason to stifle creativity. That, and I happen to think highly of a couple GM motors. Now, go do it!
Title: 318 GM swap questions
Post by: tjts1 on August 01, 2007, 01:35:36 AM: Quote from: magnum2066;30765
I was curious if anyone has followed any threads in the past where someone did a 3.8 supercharged GM swap and if there were any problems that would come up? Any information off the bat? I am considering trying to fit one into my 91' 318is. Thanks for any and all replies in advance.

Why are you selling yourself short?
(http://wp1016621.wp027.webpack.hosteurope.de/fotost/f01420/06.jpg)
Title: 318 GM swap questions
Post by: thebigbadyeti on August 01, 2007, 05:27:21 AM: Yea.... go with the ls2 if anything. Honestly I think a 3.8 would be in contradiction to the 318is nature... Light and tossable... Seeing as the only 3.8 supercharged motors have a cast iron block. I'm pretty sure the ls2 weighs less.
Title: 318 GM swap questions
Post by: RED IS 91 on August 01, 2007, 07:38:57 AM: Quote from: tjts1;30845
Why are you selling yourself short?
(http://wp1016621.wp027.webpack.hosteurope.de/fotost/f01420/06.jpg)

I like that ......................:cool:
Title: 318 GM swap questions
Post by: gearheadE30 on August 01, 2007, 10:06:49 AM: DUDE!!! THAT'S AWESOME!!!

Wonder what it runs in the 1/4...

BTW the video is hilarious ;)
Title: 318 GM swap questions
Post by: tjts1 on August 01, 2007, 10:55:31 AM: (http://fotky.members.winisp.net/images/m3transplant/IMGP0014.Jpg)
http://www.s14.net/forums/showpost.php?p=126221&postcount=14
Title: 318 GM swap questions
Post by: christophbmw on August 01, 2007, 03:35:29 PM: NOT BAD^^^^

but dont forget......BMW's middle name is "motor", meaning; for it to be a try bmw it has to sport the bmw motor. just my 2 cents.
Title: 318 GM swap questions
Post by: tjts1 on August 01, 2007, 05:37:40 PM: General Motors Corporation

(http://www.vorshlag.com/pictures/e36ls1/bmw_mockup01.jpg)
http://www.vorshlag.com/ls1bmw0.php

(http://hasanmotorsports.com/Images/initialinstall/meanangle3.jpg)
http://hasanmotorsports.com/fittingthemotor2.htm

(http://www.members.aol.com/hagancue/webpictures/newengine.jpg)
http://www.members.aol.com/hagancue/

(http://www.bmwpugetsound.com/vbb/attachment.php?attachmentid=1316&d=1147366103)
http://www.bmwpugetsound.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=31203

(http://nash8503.com/sitebuilder/images/TI_motor-562x390.jpg)
http://nash8503.com/

Motor, motors whats the difference? BMW chassis with an LS engine gives you the best of both worlds. You better look up the numbers before you start talking about weight.
Title: 318 GM swap questions
Post by: DaywalkeR on August 01, 2007, 06:23:30 PM: Quote from: tjts1;30886
You better look up the numbers before you start talking about weight.

I believe what he means is that the car will lose its great (almost 50-50) weight ballance, not that it will lack performance ;)
Title: 318 GM swap questions
Post by: tjts1 on August 01, 2007, 09:30:35 PM: Quote from: DaywalkeR;30890
I believe what he means is that the car will lose its great (almost 50-50) weight ballance, not that it will lack performance ;)

Look up the weight of an LS1.
Title: 318 GM swap questions
Post by: christophbmw on August 02, 2007, 08:29:53 PM: that Z3 would have looked better with a bmw quad turbo V12 :D
Title: 318 GM swap questions
Post by: 2002maniac on August 02, 2007, 08:50:52 PM: Quote from: tjts1;30896
Look up the weight of an LS1.

The OP stated that he wants to do a 3.8 swap. that would be quite a bit heavier than an LS1
Title: 318 GM swap questions
Post by: 1991 E30 M42 on August 02, 2007, 09:14:57 PM: Why stop at a V8 if your going to kill the balance of the car anyway
Title: 318 GM swap questions
Post by: thebigbadyeti on August 03, 2007, 09:08:16 AM: Thank you 2002 maniac for understanding my thoughts on the subject. If memeory serves me correct, and believe me i am not speaking with the confidence of jesus, but i think that the CAST IRON SUPERCHARGED 3.8 from gm weighs more than the superb ls2. I think the ls2 may actually weigh less than bimmers sixes... but a 3.8 swap is nonsensical in my opinion.

BY the way tjts1 i was knocking the weight of the 3.8, not your precious lsx i actually like those motors.
Title: 318 GM swap questions
Post by: gearheadE30 on August 03, 2007, 10:07:37 AM: Many of the new LS- motors are aluminum, and are actually very light for the massive displacement. I'd be more worried about chassis twist with the massive torque...
Title: 318 GM swap questions
Post by: tjts1 on August 03, 2007, 10:00:31 PM: Quote from: 1991 E30 M42;30964
Why stop at a V8 if your going to kill the balance of your check book anyway

fixed! :p
Title: 318 GM swap questions
Post by: christophbmw on August 04, 2007, 01:10:57 PM: Quote from: gearheadE30;30991
Many of the new LS- motors are aluminum, and are actually very light for the massive displacement. I'd be more worried about chassis twist with the massive torque...

plexiglass windows :D. i forgot where i saw it but some guy on the internet put a blown 350 in a 2002 or something (i forget it was like 2 years ago, i saw the video on the i-net) but anyways he was doing the 1/4 mile and he blew out like 3 windows or something from chassis torque.....it was wicked!
Title: how about a an s2000 motor
Post by: kramerica5000 on August 04, 2007, 11:11:13 PM: A buddy of mine just bought a wrecked s2000 with a perfect motor for $5400. As noted above, that's less than what it would cost to get about 200hp from the m42, plus you picked up a wrecked s2000 you could part it out and prolly break even. I have no idea what it would take to pull off the swap, and I wouldn't try it myself . . . but it did make me think: 240hp bone stock, similar weight, totally reliable . . . not bad.

Here's one that was stuffed into an e36 in some quirky Japanese show.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCo00asduEQ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCo00asduEQ)
Title: 318 GM swap questions
Post by: thebigbadyeti on August 05, 2007, 12:21:27 PM: ooo. now thats interesting... wish i didnt hate hon duhs... but that is really a nice thought. (no sarcasm)
Title: 318 GM swap questions
Post by: D. Clay on August 05, 2007, 04:38:30 PM: Quote from: gearheadE30;30991
Many of the new LS- motors are aluminum, and are actually very light for the massive displacement. I'd be more worried about chassis twist with the massive torque...
Definitely given the look of those two frame rails on the Z roadster in the picture above. Soft tops are notorious for flex to start with.
One source gives the weight of an LS2 with all the accessories at about 448 pounds. Then you would need a little more weight in a transmission to handle the extra power.
How much does a 3.8 supercharged motor weigh? An M42?
Title: 318 GM swap questions
Post by: christophbmw on August 06, 2007, 07:22:58 PM: Quote from: D. Clay;31105
Definitely given the look of those two frame rails on the Z roadster in the picture above. Soft tops are notorious for flex to start with.

ha, now that you mention it, i remember "getting on it" in a newer 2.5 Z3 and watching the whole windshield frame flex......you could actually see it move :eek:, but then again i was pretty sidways at 30mph doing a speedshift to 2nd :o.