[Texaz3]

Originally Posted by betrezra

So I've come full circle on this build..... at first it was all LS Swap.... then a stock Rebuild.... but my engine builder talked me into an S54 Swap.

He's sourcing a suitable donor S54 now..... will keep the 5spd for low weight...… will sell off the running S52...… drop off the car 12/15 for the start of E36/S54 fun. Will keep you all posted.

Looking forward to another 50rwph!

Nice! You'll love it. S54 E36s are nice beasts.

[betrezra]

good progress today ;::::







Hit me up if you want any of the s52 parts or trans.....

[Texaz3]

Nice.
Still have stock S52 airbox? They are plentiful on eBay, but if you getting rid of it...

[betrezra]

Texaz - never had a stock air box. sorry can't help.

[betrezra]

Progress today:

blew apart the 188k mile m3 rear today... going with upgrade axles, and new bushings throughout..... researching the need to add add'l reinforcements above m3 level for 450hp ls power, HPDE use.

[betrezra]

doing some research on mid pipe and cat back options to support the ls @ 420hpish.....

[Texaz3]

Cool, no worries.

[betrezra]

s52 m3 cams sold...... used this $ to buy a new tig welding machine.

going through a few subsystems since car is all apart now:
rear subframe dropped, getting all new poly bushings, rebuilt axles.
finally redoing the evap fuel tank system and lines. (a green hotrod),
will go through front sub frame as well.
Hoping to find a zhp or z3 rack...... like hens teeth.

[Nate047]

so... are you doing LS or S54? I'm confused because you said your engine builder is looking for an S54 for you, but now you're talking about LS again. and there's an LS on your floor so I assume the S54 is out lol.

[betrezra]

Nate - LOL! yeah I've been through the whole range of options on this long term project.... it went like this:

1) me: "I'm just going to freshen up the stock s52, keeping it original an all.... pure....."....
my engine builder: "oh that will be $8K....... why don't you put in an s54, way better, just did one only 10K"....

2) then I got on the s54 bandwagon..... then a call from my engine builder...."hey man, to be honest it's going to be more than $10k.. more like $15-18k to do this right".......... oh shi$!........ $15K for 330HP????

3) then one night after a bottle of port it hit me....... I already have that vorshlag swap kit for the ls........ so I pulled the trigger on a 57k mile 2002 Formula LS1-t56....... then......

I've got a Trick Flow Specialties head/cam package coming... for 515 FWHP!

Parts on order:
racing ls power steering pump... (stocker puke on track),
wiring specialties wiring kit (plug-n-play s52 to ls1),
wiring specialties start-up tune for my ls pcm,
Trick Flow Heads, custom cam, rr's, push rods, gasket kit,
ministarter (you have to pull the engine to replace this)....
new ac comp - using the gm variant......
dropped the rear subframe - at this power level 188k mile bushing will be toast..... so new poly on order... refreshing entire rear, and axles..... deciding on refresh stock m3 vs upgraded "1000hp billet axles".... guess it depends if I want to try and run 10's with drag radials at some point......
I've got the fuel system sorted out with a 255 in the main tank, and the bw starve pump in the 2nd tank.......
new trick oil pan road race baffle kit on order...... for obvious reasons......
it adds up FAST!

Then after all of this I'll get it dyno tuned..... then I'll need to address the stock tires/wheels, brakes....... but that is easy to dial in later........

Now that the car is all blown apart.... I've been able to address all the little niggling issues:::::: stupid gas tank exp tank was leaking giving codes and smells.... steering column squeaking....lubed up..... etc.... etc......

Hoping for:
Sub 3200lb,
400-440 rwph,
high 10's, low 11's quarter mile,
gt3 stalker machine..... upgrade brakes susp coming later as budget allows...... chasing down my buds new GT3....... it is FAST.

should be fun at cars and coffee.... not sure who to park with LOL......
ls peeps will hate...... bimmer folks will hate...... might just park with the hoopties


Oh BTW - pretty happy with the market for my used M3 stuff....
used shifter - $200
used cams - $500
used intake/tb/mas - $600
got people int in my long block/trans - ....... pending......
so that will offset some of my pain!