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...



M3 LSD Diff & rear end


LS1 5.7l GTO Engine & box


Laser cut widgets for the custom headers


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

[bikealarmblair]

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



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,,,,








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



Brakes




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



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



Ready for bodyshop





Rear brakes are done




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

[bikealarmblair]

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




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





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





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

[bikealarmblair]

The DynoTorque subframe kit waiting to be fitted







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

Ive put the new front shocks on

[bikealarmblair]

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








Painted the repair




Subframe poly bushed

[bikealarmblair]

& then got it back into the car



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



I'm so sad!!!!



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




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....




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




& pushed it outside for a wash

[bikealarmblair]

The black wheels look better clean & in the sunlight




Done most of the engine loom



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



Done as much of the wiring as I can for now



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....

[bikealarmblair]

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



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 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





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



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

[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.....




& the he made some engine & gearbox mounts



& it's in



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