UK Project BMW E46 357ci V8

[bikealarmblair]

I thought I'd share my little project that's been keeping me busy for the last few months...

I do some wiring work for Craig Taylor @ DynoTorque apart from running a motorcycle dyno Craig is also an expert fabricator/engineer & puts LS 1/2/3 engines into different cars, I do the wirirng on them for him & the V8 rumble/torque has finally got under my skin so he's making me one

I bought a 2001 325 M Sport Coupe for the conversion into which is going an LS1 5.7l GTO engine & 6 speed box, it's not 'just' an engine swap tho it'll need hand made header pipes, prop, steering rod etc & while we are it were installing the rear end from an E46 M3 to give the car an LSD, upgrading the suspension & brakes as well as sorting all the niggles with the car.

The Car...
http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/200620_10150116480331375_591831374_6618702_1500432 _n.jpg
http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/198523_10150116477521375_591831374_6618676_4307844 _n.jpg

M3 LSD Diff & rear end
http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/196876_10150116482216375_591831374_6618728_2930704 _n.jpg

LS1 5.7l GTO Engine & box
http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/199926_10150119112551375_591831374_6646020_4605238 _n.jpg

Laser cut widgets for the custom headers
http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/199246_10150119889496375_591831374_6652816_8235678 _n.jpg

The Carbon cube trim was worn out on the drivers door & needed replacing as I had to the door trim off to fix the CDL I decided I'd have a go at painting the trim & see what it looked like
http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/199616_10150120736941375_591831374_6659929_8294956 _n.jpg
http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/189677_10150120737771375_591831374_6659934_7493791 _n.jpg
http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/188819_10150120738786375_591831374_6659939_4516094 _n.jpg

[bikealarmblair]

Rear AP calipers being sized up for brackets onto M3 read discs

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/208546_10150154931846375_591831374_6803334_4047541 _n.jpg

I sourced an M3 propshaft from a local breakers for £95

Put my old black MV1's on still not sure on what to do about wheels unlike most I really like MV1's but this is 3rd car that's had them,,,,

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/f02afadb.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/6c4bce22.jpg

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/71d1f42f.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/2afcc2d0.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/f35a3e60.jpg

Well the scales say 1421KG lets see how much it gains when it's finished.

Craig measuring up for the mounting brackets for the AP Calipers & bigger discs

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/b3a3462b.jpg

Brakes

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/be7e1220.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/642e8802.jpg

It needed a small spacer to clear the wheel but I'd intended to run spacers as the wheels sit to far in anyway so I popped next door & pinched some from driftworks....

[bikealarmblair]

Next up is the AP rear calipers

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/01ee7239.jpg

While I was @ driftworks I got Phil's old H&R anti roll bar off him for mine, my pile of stuff in the corner is getting bigger

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/ef0cee97.jpg

Ready for bodyshop

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/b4b9ea07.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/71a74129.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/1782d968.jpg

Rear brakes are done

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/63f07f64.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/a294c0a9.jpg

Car is back from bodyshop & Driftworks brought round a load of boxes (HSD's anti rollbars brakelines & loads of powerflex bushes.
The new radiator, engine mounts & fuel pressure reg/filter have been delivered too.

Shiny things

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/62f7dd7a.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/2bd5ed5a.jpg

[bikealarmblair]

Complete back end removed so Craig can stiffen up the subframe mounting points

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/71ebef8d.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/4487940a.jpg

Good job we were planning to stiffen the back end up.... the trained eyes will see the crack starting & the movement on the spot welds

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/93324cc3.jpg

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/139315ba.jpg

Removed the 2.5 engine/gearbox/wiring & front suspension.

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/0fa93e78.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/bd474c6e.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/0ad31b6a.jpg

There isn't a lot of the car I bought left...... More shiny stuff arrived today too :)

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/1f090345.jpg

[bikealarmblair]

The DynoTorque subframe kit waiting to be fitted

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/c6b08423.jpg

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/121742ff.jpg

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/6deed17e.jpg

Craig has had a look at the engine & the clutch is fubar'd It seems clutches are a weak point on LS1's & the clutch of choice is an LS7 but to fit an LS7 clutch you need an LS7 flywheel too all in about £700 ish :( Why did I buy that cam LOL after a bit of surching I found a brand new one that's been taken off a new engine for £300 :D

Ive put the new front shocks on

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/b101d603.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/4380ef43.jpg

[bikealarmblair]

Craig busy making a racket grinding & then welding in the DynoTorque subframe strengthening kit

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/bd1fa228.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/eb4a0a93.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/c7b9f863.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/6a861bfc.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/b33335f0.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/1eefc82b.jpg

Painted the repair

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/d1abf4a0.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/bc196ff6.jpg

Subframe poly bushed

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/2f05f86d.jpg

[bikealarmblair]

& then got it back into the car

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/f5e38f22.jpg

Got the rear suspension & brakes on & ran new braided brake lines to the front

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/b703f830.jpg

I'm so sad!!!!

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/07aeeb3e.jpg

Craig's made an new steering arm & relocted the ABS

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/65e795fa.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/b48cc578.jpg

When I ordered the engine I ordered it with a certain type of sump unforttunately the breaker didn't have one so he fitted a different one thinking it would be ok so after a quick measure up it defo won't fit with this sump & I've been able to source one in the UK so the sump he's fitted is being sent back & a the correct sump is being sent out to me, so just a case of being patient which is something I fail at!!!! The frustraiting thing is had he asked we'd have told him the sump he fitted wouldn't work.... until the sump is in Craig can't mount the engine, so he can't make the headers or get the propshaft modded & I can't start the wiring etc....

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/9c5c0b3f.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/ae4bf601.jpg

I've made a start on the wiring....

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/91ae6b31.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/31153d76.jpg

& pushed it outside for a wash

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/1dbad864.jpg

[bikealarmblair]

The black wheels look better clean & in the sunlight

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/9725d7bc.jpg


Done most of the engine loom

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/4df100ad.jpg

As I said not much can be done until the sump etc turn up but I've been doing my best to keep it moving along...

All the brake lines are now connected to the moved ABS pump

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/55608b27.jpg

Done as much of the wiring as I can for now

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/4df100ad.jpg

What do you do when you can't buy a big enough back box? Well if your Craig Taylor you just cut/weld/bend one till it's the right size....

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/060adf4b.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/0f2300cf.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/be4fb231.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/84e329bf.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/754bb24c.jpg

[bikealarmblair]

And then this morning Fedex handed me a package....

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/dedd6439.jpg

Just waiting (still) on the sump despite lots of assurances from the place I bought my engine (Calspeed & Performance) from were still waiting for them to sort their mistake out.

A minor update

Sump has finally tuned up late today :D so things should start moving forward, not that we've been idle while waiting for it..

Craig has fitted the new cam, cam chain, pushrods, uprated valve springs & collets

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/4e0dc185.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/481f109d.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/67705bc1.jpg

The engine just waiting for the correct sump.....

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/0b983226.jpg

We've been able to do a bit on the exhaust & some of the pipework under the bonnet

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/dbd268af.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/5ad20b79.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/6913e2b6.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/77a075e5.jpg

[bikealarmblair]

A friend of mine has been over today looking at the canbus side of things & it's quite involved & going to take some work to do so as temp quick fix I'm going to install a set of E36 clocks I have while Rob works on the can bus.

This morning Craig fitted the LS7 clutch & T56 gearbox together & then poked the engine into the hole.....

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/9757f9d5.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/e6db1545.jpg

& the he made some engine & gearbox mounts

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/fc013116.jpg

& it's in

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/52b28192.jpg

That's a very long difficult day made to sound very easy.... it's not trust me!

I've dropped the prop off to be shortened & have the correct end fitted for the T56 box & in the morning I'm off to Jetex to collect the bends & pipe/parts so Craig can start making the headers

[bikealarmblair]

It's been a busy few days for Craig @ DynoTorque he,s made the exhaust headers & connected them to rear section along with sorting power steering lines.

This

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/ec56dabf.jpg

+

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/887efb61.jpg

=

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/ca3d5ea4.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/63b863dc.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/4454e431.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/442e4b33.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/608ab072.jpg

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/d03e88cc.png
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/8e1873d1.png

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/f9b3b4e1.jpg

[bikealarmblair]

Waiting for the t**t that's borrowed efi live to bring it back so I can unlock the ECU then it will start :)

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/60f543d5.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/00f4c5ac.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/5fb0c3f5.jpg

It runs

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/th_b3371d83.jpg (http://s1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/?action=view&current=b3371d83.mp4)

http://emob1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/th_4c547a27.jpg (http://s1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/?action=view&current=4c547a27.mp4)

Still plenty of work to do before it's finished if a car like this is ever finished.....

Seems like I've got a faulty brake master cylinder as I no pressure to the rear brakes, not ideal
Needs to have the wheels aligned etc & still quite a bit of wiring/interfacing to sort out so still a few late nights left in it yet!!!!

But I'm a happy chap Craig's work is amazing I can't thank him enough for the work he's done & the endless advice & use of his workshop for the last month or two, I honestly wouldn't trust anyone else with car/van/bikes

Oh yeah it's gained a bit of weight..... It's 1499kg so 78kg heavier not all of that is engine tho, it's down to bigger brakes/wheel spacers/anti roll bars/diff/boot floor mods etc so it's about the same weight as a STD M3

I taxed it earlier & have done 5-6 miles in it, it's fast.... I love the way when you rev it the car rocks side to side, it's as quite as I could make it but you can still hear the V8 rumble it's almost wrong in a BMW. I've got lots to sort out before it's really roadworthy at the moment the brakes aren't working correctly, no abs, speedo or any gauges apart from fuel I think the can bus is connected to more of the car than I first thought. Lots to do but I can already tell this is going to be a fantastic car

I've got to the bottom of some of my issues today I've refitted the BMW engine ecu with hindsight I should never have removed it.... & now have a working temp gauge :) & I've been able to scan the car & the reason (or at least one of) I have no abs or speedo is because the car is not seeing the rear wheel sensors the M3 rear end is from a later 2004 car with DSC & it looks like the sensors are not compatible with my ASC unit so tomorrow I'm going to try & get some older sensors & fit them, with a bit of luck that will sort my brake issues too only leaving to decide which way to resolve the tacho either machine my front pulley & fit the BMW sensor or source a convert box from the chevvy crank sensor to the BMW one.

Todo list is very small indeed, aircon pipes/gas, bleed clutch, fit trigger ring for rev counter & clean it

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/67a5bf86.jpg

The last few days have been a blur!!!! I'd say the car is 90% now my todo list is almost empty :) I think all that's left is to have the aircon gassed, alignment done & tweak the map when it's got a few more miles on it, oh & fix it.....

[bikealarmblair]

I've gained control of most of my gauges, I made this really hard work for myself by taking out & selling the bmw ecu with the engine I didn't realise how much of the car was connected to the DME, heater, aircon, abs, speedo instrument cluster with the help of my mate rob & a bentley manual, bmw tis, bmw laptop software, chevvy laptop software, digital volt meter & a lot of time we refitted what we needed of the bmw DME & wiring and had a trigger wheel made to so the DME still thinks the bmw engine is fitted.....

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/a070ad0d.jpg

All of which gives it

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/7c697436.jpg

Took a couple of pics before I drove home in it last night

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/dd5ce6bb.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/3088f8e1.jpg

Unfortunately the bmw expansion tank has sprung a leak so I'm off to try & source one or there will be UBMW for me

Not really an update more just an excuse to post a pic or two

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/09c26631.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/746db5c5.jpg

Wideband sensor controller

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/cd0d7df5.jpg

Craig made me an adaptor to put the sensor in the exhaust

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/fb54f1eb.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/4057833e.jpg

[joecar]

Wow, that is a major project... 357ci very clever badge :cheers:

Thanks for posting.

[slows10]

Nice project, thanks for the pics.

[bikealarmblair]

Glad you like it, I love it :)

[bikealarmblair]

Over the coming weeks/months time & money permitting I'll be:
Sort ABS/brake issues, still have a long pedal & odd ABS performance I really don't want to remove the ABS but it's becoming an option & fit rear AP's
Sort Air bag faults (passenger seat pad override)
Connect oil level sensor from LS1 sump to BMW DME
Find/sort irritating noise from rear seat/shelf area
Get air con gassed
Replace front tyres
Decide how high/low I want the car & get Alignment sorted
Make front strut brace & mod tower so camber can be adjusted easier.
Fit Parrot hands free kit
Make it quieter
Map the fuelling
Drive it like I stole it

So over the last month I've been a bit lazy/unfocussed but I have done a couple of bits to it....
Brakes: I'm hating brakes at the moment! I found that the ABS module was faulty so finally gave in and ditched it another set of new braided lines were made up and fitted, I have brakes..... Well kinda it now stops in a straight line but pedal feel travel is still the same :( So it must be a master cylinder ratio issue even tho the maths say it's all fine.... So I replace it with a bigger one & also put the rear AP calipers back on & the difference is minmal :( Without Craig pushing me at this point I'd have just parked it up & sulked! Craig modified the pedal pivot but still no real difference it seems that everything makes it a 'little' better but nothing fixes it 100% we also changed the servo as we had one but no difference... I'm beaten!!! Craig isn't tho he checks the internal diameter of the pipes & it's dash 4 not the dash 3 he specified (means nowt to me either) so yesterday I made new front lines with dash 3 and the pedal is 75% better!!! Going to change the rear lines too & fingers crossed I should have the amazing brakes this car needs! Craig your a hero without you this would be just another unfinished project.

I've made a sensor pad bypass for the passenger seat airbag mean the pass airbag will always trigger now, these are on eBay for £15 but I made mine using 2 100ohm resistors & a diode so about a £1

I've replaced the front tyres with some awesome Dunlops (well Craig treated me to them as a unneeded thank you for getting his website up to date :) ) they have transformed the car the grip & turn in is fantastic wet or dry very impressed this is the first E46 I've had that doesn't understeer

I've been twiddling with the HSD's & have a decent compromise between looks & bottoming out getting to the garage, I've also backed the front camber off from 3degrees to 2degrees since fitting the Dunlops but will still get it aligned at some point if only to see how close to correct I've got it.

Been logging the fuelling/mapping & it was being restricted by the MAF/throttle body so before an E46 forum dyno day I decided I'd change the MAF with one we had just before I left for the dyno.... Car felt flat as a fart :( and made shockingly low 326bhp on the dyno, on my return to DynoTorque after some of the piss take had stopped Craig told me the MAF I'd put on was from a car that had been written off in floods..... No wonder it felt flat!!! So I took it off & Craig got busy porting the throttle body for me & also persuaded Pinhead to remove the LS2 MAF from his ute (he's had a mafless tune) so I could use it on mine a few new pipes later & it feels like a new car the bottom end is now so sharp the pick up is much faster :) much more mapping/tuning is needed but I can't believe the difference it's made so far.

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/92f476a5.jpg
http://emob1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/th_0221d56c.jpg (http://s1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/?action=view&current=0221d56c.mp4)
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/37946800.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/2745dd85.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/6f8ac2a3.jpg

So my to do list now looks like:
Replace rear brake lines again
Interface LS1/BMW oil sensor
Fit/gas aircon compressor
Front strut brace
Fit Parrot
Fix rattles
Mapping
And more destroying rear tyres :)

Blair

[bikealarmblair]

Brakes are now sorted and are amazing
Aircon compressor & lines fitted just need to get it gassed
Strut brace is being made this week
I've found two of the rattles (both are not conversion related)
I'm about to make my first mapping changes to the ecu
& it needs more tyres....

http://youtu.be/mCbg2CLWl50

[joecar]

Yes, LS1's give the vehicle the ability to steer-by-torque... :hihi: ...thanks for the vid.

[bikealarmblair]

Took the car over to Greg @ ProTuner for mapping today 14 hours of mapping....

I'll let the pics & vids do the talking

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/170027d7.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/b4ae46e1.jpg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOdkfmkJsSw&feature=youtube_gdata_player
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEbNuaz2SoY&feature=youtube_gdata_player
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7i6wCo-ZsbE&feature=youtube_gdata_player
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDeFLF9aV2Q&feature=youtube_gdata_player
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPc21hyNe1g&feature=youtube_gdata_player
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4ytKANFU6w&feature=youtube_gdata_player

And of course the scores on the door.....

407 bhp 430ft Lbs both at flywheel

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/c48c2192.jpg

[joecar]

Blair, thanks for posting :cheers: the puffs of blue flame in the exhaust tips look pretty cool :cheers:

[bikealarmblair]

The sound :) :)

[joecar]

Throttle response sounds to be very prompt.
When the throttle is wide the sound is the deep roar/rumble of a LSx V8 :cheers:

What RPM are you revving upto...?

There's alot of machinery whine which I take it is the dyno.

[bikealarmblair]

Dyno & fans :)

[L31Sleeper]

I have GOT to copy this car !!!! I'm thinking least expensive base model 318 or 323 and rip everything out
most of those issues could be resolved with a Race Pack Gauge set. If the ABS kicks in it means that you
should have used more throttle. I'm LOVING this.

[bikealarmblair]

I love this car B) I needed to go into brum earlier & left it parked in a side street, when I walked back to the car it just looked aggressive I walked past it & then back from the other way just so I could look it some more.... Not sure if it makes me a bit odd tho? I wanted to take a pic but felt like a twat so didn't lol

Popped into DynoTorque on the way back for a cuppa & cause the car keeps leaving lines.... Craig thinks it may be impossible to fix.....

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/7c1d8ded.jpg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQ6KdOJJi1w&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Any ideas on how I can fix this problem.... ;)

Took a few new pics & never being one to miss a chance to post them enjoy

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/f1776eb4.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/ab574f07.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/4db9f6ec.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/8140feee.jpg

My fav pic of the car to date :)

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/d53dbda1.jpg

[L31Sleeper]

After my last post I started thinking doesn't the 3 series platform
have almost the same specs as the GTO ??
Rear Wheel Drive
Independent Rear Suspension
Strut Front suspension
Rack & Pinion Steering

But a GTO already has an LS1 or LS2

[bikealarmblair]

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/d743a0a8.jpg

[ssvolvo]

Beautiful work. How are you dealing with the ABS light and VSC issues? Curious.

John

[bikealarmblair]

What's VSC?

I have removed the ABS & I had the pump was leaking and we thought that was the cause the cause of my braking issues but it wasn't, so I will get another unit at some point.

[ssvolvo]

Well most of those E46s here in the US had traction control and stability control. Since the network can't interface with your GM ECM you might be able to recode the other modules to either not see the ABS module or have just plain ABS without traction control. Thereby getting rid of the nasty yellow traction control light on the dash.

If you could find an E46 with just ABS you could use that hydraulic unit with module and recode the car. You must find a good BMW tech or Google to your hearts content.

This is the main reason people shy away from newer engine swaps. With todays technology sooner or later someone will reverse engineer networks enough to rewrite some language to use the GM ECM with whatever platform you are sticking it in.

I am a Volkswagen/Audi tech. On those cars one can simply pull power to the module not wanted (such as ABS) and simply recode the CAN gateway module (the module that looks for all the other modules) and a few others too so the car will function withoput all those lights on the dash.

Anyway not bashing you or your work because you my friend are a trendsetter. You have done something very few have accomplished. You took an already nice ride and made it VERY nice and now FUN to drive!

Regards, John

[bikealarmblair]

Uk car cars have ASC or DSC depending on age, mine had ASC, kind of the point of fitting an LS is to spin the wheels at will so I never had any intension of trying to make it work!!

ABS works, unless you make the mistake I made by removing the DME (BMW engine ECU) as this controls a lot of the car via the canBus.

As you say once someone makes a can writer available (many available for plant (diggers etc) over here but not for cars yet it'll make life easier for us.

[bikealarmblair]

Got Some E90 mirrors from VasJ he'd already started fitting the drivers one but some muppet decided to modify his car before he'd finished :(

A few hours with belt sander/air saw/drill I got the drivers one something like it should be still needs a small adjustment to get the top edge where I want it, altho the triangle is the same shape it's a different size so a bit of creativity is going to be required to make them look factory & I'm going to have install the motors from an E46 as the E90 is canBus.

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/dff71fb0.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/6bac6669.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/32b22286.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/dfa7bcc4.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/0ddcfd78.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/ada5542a.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/acc314db.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/92ad0950.jpg

[bikealarmblair]

I've done just over 2000 miles in it since UBMW @ SantaPod and I'm still loving it so much in fact it's become my everyday car I've still got a few bits to finish re-do but that's to be expected with a project of this scale.

My diff needs a rebuild while I'm doing this I'll be changing the ratio from 3.64 to 3.2 to make 6th gear a real overdrive.
The gearbox needs some love too I'm having difficulty changing gears at higher rpm so at the moment I'm deciding which way to go either the new Tremec T6060 box or rebuild my box with new carbon shift pads & syncro's.
I've got a patch of rust that's appeared on the inside of the left rear arch so this needs sorting too & I'm also considering refurbishing the dash trims & seat backs with Carbon Fibre.

SimonLpearce came over the other night to collect his HSD's for his track slag so took him for a quick spin around the estate & think he was impressed.....

Not sure how much or any of the above will get sorted before the magazines feature it as I have a new job so can't spend half my week at DynoTorque playing with it anymore but I'll do my best to make sure it's as close to perfect as I can.

[bikealarmblair]

Few more pics I've found

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/5230558d.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/0b7d95ab.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/50315d3f.jpg

Must have been dirty.... Daddy washing it for me!

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/6f323cbd.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/4799ca6a.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/cebf3991.jpg

[bikealarmblair]

A micro update
Had a bit of time to play with the E92 mirrors I've fitted some E46 6pin motors into them & wired them to my car which was 12 pin..

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/bf8d0450.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/33ceea7f.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/a1173d3e.jpg

[bikealarmblair]

It's the cover car in this months Performance BMW in the shops Thursday.

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s320x320/421162_341155862589195_165084813529635_940585_1304 435601_n.jpg

[joecar]

Hey, good job on making the cover. :cheers:

[bikealarmblair]

Hey, good job on making the cover. :cheers:

Thankyou :) not just the cover but a 7 page article & centre spread :D

[bikealarmblair]

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/8b91dbee.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/BMW_357Ci_2012-02-01_DSC_2215.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/e3d058aa.jpg

[bikealarmblair]

So after what seems like forever but in reality is only 6 weeks or so the car is back up & running and better than ever to boot! So why has she been off the road? Well I've had a little change in my work & I'm now working from DynoTorque's workshop full time doing wiring DynoTorque & Driftworks being my main customers, being here full time gives me more time to mess with my own motor....so... The gearbox hasn't been playing ball shifting gears when revving the engine hard hasn't been possible and over time shifting has become an unpleasant experience good job I've got plenty of torque, my quick shifter keeps coming loose, the rear seal is leaking and the diff input seal is leaking to.

Lots of parts are ordered even tho only spring washer for 1st gear was broken much of the box was slightly worn so we replaced as needed & fitted some upgraded shifter pads & filled it with some Redline oil. Craig noticed I'd bottomed out the quick shifter bolts which is why it kept coming loose..

While it was in bits I was offered some BBS LM reps for almost no money so I had to have them, they weren't in perfect condition & the polished rims were a bit to bling for me so I had them powder coated silver & binned the fake chrome pretend bolts & tapped the holes out & put some stainless steel bolts in.

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/5f2a3ed4.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/9d5ff039.jpg

Tried them on the car & they wouldn't clear the brakes so with Craig on the lathe some spacers were turned down so the wheels sit perfectly.

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/31e2501f.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/2b4e180d.jpg

Something that's bugged me for a while is the MPG needle it's the final bit of the cluster that won't do as its told! And I really wanted an oil pressure gauge but noway will an aftermarket gauge be getting fitted into my car so I stripped an aftermarket gauge & removed the mpg needle workings from the cluster

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/52967ba8.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/6ca73be8.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/8983b441.jpg

I used an old landrover gauge as they read right to left so here it is with the engine not running.
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/c0585911.jpg

Craig fitted a sender unit to the engine for me, unfortunately it didn't seem to work so doubting myself I pulled out the cluster & fitted a Mazda gauge only to have the same issue, after checking the sender unit it seems I've ordered the wrong one (NC at rest instead of NO) so a bit more creativity from Craig and a spare sender unit fitted & my mpg needle is now an oil pressure gauge :) I've ordered a new sender & gauge so I can do it again with better quality components.

Another part which I've not been 100% satisfied with is the air intake even tho it has a large Pipercross filter by the N/S fog light the intake was creating a slight vacuum so I ordered some 90mm tube & bends for Craig to make me a new intake, what I thought would be a quick job was a lot more involved than I thought & after much cutting & welding the filter now sits perfectly behind the N/S air intake & is no longer restricting the car. I've made a couple of other very minor changes the silver trim has been painted black and suits the car much better.

I've done a 100 or so miles in it now & the gearbox is superb, the shift is very positive & will shift as easily at WOT as at tickover :) it might be cause I haven't driven it for a few weeks but it really seems to rev faster too, corners keep throwing themselves at me! I'm still loving the car & making more & more like a factory car.

A friend of DynoTorque 'Lippy' called down the other day by day he works in car design & has driven way to many new cars and being a massive petrol head & nervously handed him the keys!

Lippy said


After working yesterday morning, and the previous day trash talking about monster V8's on FB went to see Craig's progress with his monster 7 litre twin turbo Mazda. Great fun shooting the breeze with old mates laughing at old pic's of us racing SM. Then Blair slid me the keys to his LS1 5.7 E46 BMW coupe and said....”Take it out for a spin, tell me what you think...”
Out the door faster than Usain Bolt, sliding into the drivers seat it feels just like my old E46 Coupe, until you turn the key and get the unmistakable crobba,crob thunder rumble of a big bore V8. There are many superlatives I could use to describe the almost OEM like ride comfort (really well chosen dampers and springs, firm, and precise but never jarring),lovely steering feel, superbly judged brakes etc, etc...but the engine is the dominant factor, but only in a good way. The whole car makes a stock M3 feel like an effete limp wristed barbie chariot. It really is that good, pick a gear, (any gear from the 6 available!) and you have major boost on tap, revs (ala stock M3) are good but torque is what we really want. The LS gives it in spades, and yet still revs like a crazed spinning top too. This car is like having yer cake and eating it...I could woffle endlessly about it, but I'm picking two words only....F*cking Sweet!!
I am currently in negotiation with Mrs L, we both have spare kidneys, if I can convince her to sell her spare one too, maybe I can get Craig to build me one “just like Blair's”
I would have offered my soul to the Devil but apparently I lost that several years ago in a tequila fuelled dice game in Germany....

Blair

[bikealarmblair]

A micro update by my standards!

The strut brace & new air intake were a bit to shiny/blingy for me so I had them powdercoated black to make them less in your face.

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/93918996.jpg

Apart from that most of the interior is back in after I removed everything searching for a few rattles & clunks just 2 are eluding me at the moment but I will silence them!

And then I think the car is finished!! Duno what I'm going to do with myself.... Oh that is apart from the audio install....

[joecar]

I like the understated/sleeper look :cheers: and that it'l blow the doors off various M5's :cheers:

[bikealarmblair]

One of the few original BMW parts failed

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/0b14879c.jpg

After falling over at the cost of BMW exhaust hanger I put on my best sad face until Craig took pity on me & made me a bespoke one so why he did his thing I went next door to driftworks & got one of their blue mounts

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/f2f55394.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/91732516.jpg

Cheers Craig :) the reason I (Craig) spotted it was broken was while trying to track down one of the last few noises, I'd heard and read about about M3's suffering diff noise and requiring oil with a Friction Modifier in but I kinda dismissed it as rubbish, how wrong could I have been all noises now gone :)

[bikealarmblair]

I've started fitting the audio system nothing flash but hopefully it'll sound better than the awful standard stuff.....

Amps mounted so they can be adjusted through the cubby box

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/e6400623.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/3f3d7797.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/96ec3e7b.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/54c5dce7.jpg

Playing hide and seek

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/7e0287ef.jpg

Modified the standard BMW fuse holder & added a 40amp fuse

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/cc847648.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/c1a1b005.jpg

[joecar]

I like the new exhaust hanger :cheers:

I'm not into audio, but I do appreciate neat/tidy :cheers:

[bikealarmblair]

Had a bit of an incident.... All my own doing.

Lost quite a bit oil with a leaking crank seal and messing with oil pressure sensors but I overlooked topping it up or even checking it, what an idiot!!!! I wasn't sure if I should make it public or not but if my stupidity makes someone else check their oil then that can only be a good thing?

I pulled the sump off to check the damage shells one of which had spun damaging the crank, the damage is pretty minor considering how low on oil it was.

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/11eb0eaa.jpg

Engine out and Craig stripped it. He also managed to source a crank & shells for me overnight!!!

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/6789648e.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/e4389b1c.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/77f4d31b.jpg

And back in

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/1f682476.jpg

[joecar]

Engine out and in overnight, that was quick.

I put an extra 1/2 quart (i.e. 1 pint) in mine (above the full mark on the dipstick), but make sure there is no signs of frothing if you do this.

[bikealarmblair]

New wheels?
Craig machining my 9j Style 32's

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/2f012419.jpg

Test fit with ballon size 255/35/18 pzero rosso

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/902f9780.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/49d11d57.jpg

[bikealarmblair]

Well my ongoing wheel saga continues I know have my own Style 32 mountain....

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/e71a53e7.jpg

While messing with the wheels I've spent some time looking at the front suspension I've had an irritating noise at parking speeds and over speeds humps which I've traced to the HSD drop links, they are rose jointed which is great for track but not for our pot holed roads and winters.

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/3fc0ea69.jpg

The problem is tho that they are shorter than standard BMW ones

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/a0f25f4e.jpg

Well by now you all must know that means Craig is going to have create again :) I ordered some replacements cut them in two fitted them to the car & clamped them together so Craig could weld them for me.

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/854c0c89.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/0e8d0914.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/61353a55.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/6a9b3267.jpg

And all clunk free, the really keen amongst you will notice I've upgraded to E46 M3 discs too.

Apart from replacing a leaking oil filter that's all that's been happening apart from using it everyday it's done about 6000miles now.

[bikealarmblair]

So today finally I got to fit my new AP 6 pot calipers and DS3000 brake pads, Phil from Dritworks sorted me out a deal on some performance friction 356 x 32mm discs.

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/59c1e134f9e22ad4e6448978864f47dc_zps84f58b9d.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/225661ebdaef801f2e7b724a929228f1_zpsc4dc2be1.jpg

Bolted them up

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/f22e9e4d13bc93f9468afc26a0f32735_zps28320dc6.jpg

And ET viola

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/18f5a5236a79c407957d0882cb9b94df_zpsdae8fdb9.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/93c541dc658c8047b7c6412bb35bd525_zpsde52c02f.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/f9fd899005716f813284016bb75892f5_zps90c0bd14.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/4de81dc082faa39b0e7e81a3ca5cb1c9_zpsed0215e2.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/08b95c77abcd86886f6750f1e9a01f34_zps78e45653.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/fbe250f32ffa863c59cf20559d1365e3_zpsa1ac3fd6.jpg

[ScarabEpic22]

Blair, great to see you back! Glad your ride hasnt given you any headaches in the last 6k!

Nice brakes, Im going to get a set of Baer 6p for the front and rear of my TBSS when it needs brakes. It will never be as fast as some rides, but weighing in at 4800lbs means I need all the stopping power I can get.

Side note-Where's your fender?!

[bikealarmblair]

The tin worm got it!!! New one is in the paint shop :)

[bikealarmblair]

Found some pictures that were taken @ Trax's last year first one is my new fav pic of mine being stalked by Craigs 1017bhp monster!

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/1d9c2b55707160ad0240ecf64d4a2234_zps47b88a68.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/522ccd51b2669b6073193e4a8077160c_zps3eb4b5f3.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/8095dafe637932666c8d298897208706_zps4f00d7a2.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/f7f03a519f5cc6f63ccbfdc13e029604_zpsf0268f53.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/968e0804de6a5e33a24c3e0e8e04d053_zpsce076539.jpg
Not sure who took the pics but Thankyou whoever you are :)

[bikealarmblair]

Got myself some new vibra technics engine mounts

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/ca67b0d850b143dc4b3c070092306fd2_zpscff9034d.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/c88b1b04ed12725220d82a4a191f2473_zps15671952.jpg

I was originally going to go for their standard stiffness but they decided I'd be best with the completion stiffness, I was mildly concerned they shake my car to pieces but I needn't have worried at tick over the car feels the same as normal infact if anything it's smoother and while I've not driven it yet the engine moves much less than before when its revved which was my aim.
while I was underneath I had to pause and look at my new brakes sad I know but that's me.

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/fd8ab123997b53ac0c5f655c738b666f_zpsce98555c.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/17896d8cd5a140f251efcfe999f1e15f_zps4ab974b7.jpg

[IJ.]

Great build!

Did you ever get it back on the scales with the LS?

[bikealarmblair]

Great build!

Did you ever get it back on the scales with the LS?

Thanks yes I did it was around 1430kgs standard and 1500kgs after, the M3 diff/subframe is quite a bit heavier than the standard E46 one, also recently weighed an M3 on our scales and that was 1680kgs.

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/75690110.jpg

[IJ.]

Thanks Blair, nicely balanced, almost bought one here that had already been done a couple of years back!

[bikealarmblair]

Got myself some new Cades Tyrus wheels but they dont clear my brakes!

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/null_zps040c998b.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/null_zpsb5bc3dae.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/null_zps1b04f46a.jpg


So today (well yesterday, today and a bit of tomorrow) I've made the Cades fit the front, well when I say I what I really mean is Craig has had to machine the calliper mount and wheel spacers (although he doesn't know this yet!) it sounds so simple when you type it but by the time it's all finished I'll have prob had the wheels off/on half a dozen times and the brakes even more so.

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/41170d3e5a5e9a392abd912cd1e384ef_zps4715e3f1.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/8006e3e16a9fc12a1a1b084f198e9bc4_zpsa5e75320.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/2fd2d2a5e01771ba5ef11a26f34b6cea_zps319bf899.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/8b48da9cabcc42fc6b30be0fe0e58bb2_zpsd3530d2c.jpg

We've fitted some of the new Nankang NS2R's so I'll be interested to see how these work, I wasn't keen on the Cades centre cap so I ordered some BMW ones.

http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/603ca491ba08e07a5bb44bdb4fe95a14_zps1b13cdb7.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/6865e7259c093ead95d906bbd8073d35_zps0eeab4ff.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/f74127e2082980d694ff6ff429edb541_zps07343252.jpg
http://i1196.photobucket.com/albums/aa404/Blair_McWilliam/My%20BMW%20LS1%20V8%20Conversion/69b4155f1e2721e20f1904002853a34f_zps6a984504.jpg

They look very chrome in the pictures but in the flesh they are less in your face but I may well have them powder coated silver in the near future.

[joecar]

That aluminium finish looks good (even when it gets brake dust on it)... doesn't look chromy to me.

[bikealarmblair]

Got it a little warm on the dyno :)

http://youtu.be/PkKNJEgTBzc

[joecar]

Got it a little warm on the dyno :)

http://youtu.be/PkKNJEgTBzcThat would have been at high load... they cooled off as the load was decreased, right...?

[bikealarmblair]

Yeah a lot of high load logging.