[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!

[betrezra]

1.23.19 update -

alot work involved is basic e36 resto.... so figured relevant to the gen crew here:

rebuilding stock m3 axles.
boldly tried to do inner and outer bearings.... and found out there are no replacement outer retainer cups..... WTF!... so after some research had to tig weld the holes made from popping them off..... then fit them back on.
upon putting the bearing back in they are tite as heck..... so putting this set in back of shop as cores IF I go with the 1000hp ds upgrade later. might want to run a low 11 sec pass...... later....

2nd set of m3 axles.... just soaked the outer bearings in toluene, to clean out the grease...... then will repack outers and inners with redline..... and back in business.

rear subframe - dropping this we for new poly bushings all around.

rica mounts have reinforce plates going in...... learning to tig.... so will be welding them in place as well.

then:
pull e36 engine harness/ecu - will be for sale.
install heads/cam/oil pan baffle for road racing/ racing ps pump/ etc.... to lsx motor. with goal of 515hp(ers).
jethot coated headers on way back to me.
wiring spec harness en route along with starting ecu (unlocked)
more to come.....

[lysamari]

The forum you shared was great, for me, it was very helpful, hope you will have more good articles in the forum so readers can know more about life, thank you for sharing.
run 3

[RickyN F355]

Originally Posted by betrezra

1.23.19 update -

alot work involved is basic e36 resto.... so figured relevant to the gen crew here:

rebuilding stock m3 axles.
boldly tried to do inner and outer bearings.... and found out there are no replacement outer retainer cups..... WTF!... so after some research had to tig weld the holes made from popping them off..... then fit them back on.
upon putting the bearing back in they are tite as heck..... so putting this set in back of shop as cores IF I go with the 1000hp ds upgrade later. might want to run a low 11 sec pass...... later....

2nd set of m3 axles.... just soaked the outer bearings in toluene, to clean out the grease...... then will repack outers and inners with redline..... and back in business.

rear subframe - dropping this we for new poly bushings all around.

rica mounts have reinforce plates going in...... learning to tig.... so will be welding them in place as well.

then:
pull e36 engine harness/ecu - will be for sale.
install heads/cam/oil pan baffle for road racing/ racing ps pump/ etc.... to lsx motor. with goal of 515hp(ers).
jethot coated headers on way back to me.
wiring spec harness en route along with starting ecu (unlocked)
more to come.....

can you say ballpark how much you have spent since purchasing the car?

[betrezra]

I was keeping track when up to end of 2018 when it was running as a bolt-on S52.

About $20K w/o the vorshlag swap stuff...…..


I stopped counting after the vorshlag swap kit, built ls motor, t56, wire harness, custom windage tray, cam, tfs heads, bushing kit, tig welder rig...….. custom pcm tune...…..


I have not even bought the BBK, bigger wheels tires....... ..... there is no budget for this build, just a pace of burn rate.

[Texaz3]

Nice.

[Mollzyie]

Keep the updates coming .. very good thread .

[betrezra]

OK you asked for it....... more updates LOL.

tonight:
rebuilt my m3 axle half shafts. WHAT A PAIN...... regreased, new cv boots. Waiting on 1 bigger cv boot cover clamp, then axles are done.

tomorrow - drop rear subframe and diff - replace all rear subframe bushings for poly.
Weld in rear lca mount point reinforcement plates.

Then my choice: (need to do)
pull e36 engine harness/ecu - sell same.
pull e36 steering shaft
relocate abs unit (dreading this)
cut off engine bay extra unused mount points.
Add all bolt-ons to my ls1 - Trick flow high flow heads, custom cam, roading windage oiling tray in pan, new blue-printed oil pump, new double roller timing chain, new harland sharp rr's.
Waiting for:
vorshlag headers to return from jet-hot coating for cool under hood temps and bling looking.
wiring spec loom in the mail
turn-one racing ls ps pump with billet underdrive pulley

all free time is used on this project...... cheers.

oh and someone buy my s52 short block and 5spd trans please..... will make a good deal to forum members.
also have dinan cat back, and a new SS race mid-pipe with resonator and no cats supersprint SS. Never used. Hit me up.

[betrezra]

1.26.19 update.....

glad I dropped my rear subframe..... 1 cracked RLCA mount point..... new reinforcement plates arrived today for welding! rust suggests this has been going on for a while.... and not an acute event...



redressed my rear cv joints........ major pain...... regreased inners and outers..... waiting on some longer boot retainers to finish.




rear dropped and degreased/ p washed.... ready for new poly bushings....