LS1 swap in 325is

Kuya · #1 (**permalink**) 07-02-2002, 11:27 AM

A friend of mine was telling me about doing a LS1 swap in a 318i or 325is, which are the 98+ corvette engines with the 6 speed. I am still a bit a hesitant on the fact about putting a domestic motor in the car, but it does not seem to bad of an idea. I know u can swap in M3 engines, M5 engines in the 3 series, can this engine be swapped into the car with engine, tranny and ecu. Im not sure on the weight on both engines, cause I want to keep the handling the same without it being affected. My main concern is, will it swap in without chopping up anything and keeping all original body parts intact. The reason im considering this is I can pick up these engines with tranny and ecu for around 3k and that would put me in the mid 300hp..

Any thoughts would be great

VANOSNinja · #2 (**permalink**) 07-02-2002, 11:34 AM

Well, I'm looking at your current ride (Totaled GS-R) and I'd tell ya to go with a 92-93 318is with an awesome body and a shitload of miles... if you think you can throw in the engine and tranny for around 3000, you might be able to get the whole setup done for less than 8 or 9 thousand... Just the Ninja's 2 Cents!!

/// /\/\pty3 · #3 (**permalink**) 07-02-2002, 11:37 AM

it would be a b^tch to mess with the computers...yea it would be really fast, ive considering buying a 318 and doing this also......and my friend with a m3 was considering doing this too...but it wouldnt be the same... i like the sound of BMWs...and im not a big fan of muscle cars or american cars (bsides vipers and z06s), so i dont think i would really like the sound of the car...but it would be fast...i think it would cost a lot to have someone rewire the computer and everything...

Kuya · #4 (**permalink**) 07-02-2002, 11:49 AM

I feel the same way; I am not a fan of muscle cars and most American cars. I was thinking the M5 is a 8 and sounds somewhat like a v8 also, plus I would probably put a really quite exhaust on it. As for the install, I have a friend that would do most of the engine swap for me, we are just trying to get the specs on it, like weight, and any useful tips I may need If I do even pursue this project.

icemann633 · #5 (**permalink**) 07-02-2002, 12:10 PM

Dont do it. If you want to do an LS1 swap, do it to some domestic. Maybe a contour or cavalier or somethen. I know those dont look as hot by why would you want to do that. The engine and suspension make a bmw. Maybe not so much on a 318 but... I think their would be a ton of problems in the future, especially when somethen goes wrong.

Brekyrself · #6 (**permalink**) 07-02-2002, 01:26 PM

A remember awhile back someone dropped an LT1 into a 3 series. I was talking to him and he said it basically is an easy swap. He bolted it to his stock trans with some minor work. Ill try and find the website.

Don't let other people discourage you from your idea. Yea I know its a american v8, but those things are bullet proof, they have been around for ever. Or you could pay 20K+ for a M5 V8

Search the forum for LT1*

Aaron318iS · #7 (**permalink**) 07-03-2002, 01:49 AM

i always thought that one of those Lexus all-alloy quad cam V8's would of made a nice swap into a 3 series, light, relitavely high tech and very strong so they can take heaps of abuse.
theyre pretty easy to find here in Australia, not so sure about the states

Ferrone1 · #8 (**permalink**) 07-03-2002, 02:14 AM

You can't be serious!! A LT1, this is a bmw! Your handling will turn to shit, and the car would be so far off balance, that is a 5.7 liter, the motor that is in the car is less than half that size.

Matthew C Smith · #9 (**permalink**) 07-03-2002, 02:53 AM

Sounds interesting.

To each his own fellas...

I'd like to see that URL also.

crash · #10 (**permalink**) 07-03-2002, 05:15 AM

someone on this forum dropped a 5.7 liter chevy v8 in his m3. the webpage is www.m3supercar.com then go to "your car", then "the v8". Puts out almost 500hp...

here's a pic of the engine bay:

BASS · #11 (**permalink**) 07-03-2002, 05:28 AM

I plan on putting my grand national motor in my 325 when the 325 motor goes. Cant beat a 3.8 liter turbo v6 in a 325, plus that motor weighs the same as the 325 motor, so I will still have total balance and killer handling. By the way, the grand national motor will destroy the chevy 5.7 after a couple of mods (i.e. raising boost, bigger turbo). My only concern is what would happen to the stock 325 tranny after doing the swap? (gn motor has 355 lbs torque stock!)

Paddy Mack · #12 (**permalink**) 07-03-2002, 06:43 AM

How much heavier is the LT1? I'm really amazed that could fit into the bay.......is anything having to be sacrificed? (a/c, etc)

As long as the weight distribution is still close to 50-50, it would be interesting.

Planning to keep it a sports tourer or just become a tree timer?

Darwin · #13 (**permalink**) 07-03-2002, 06:53 AM

Gah, M3's sound like V8's? Most of the 3-Class can too.

Just with a nice exhaust and cold air intake... it sounds 100 times better than a V8 mustang...

IMO-- Don't ruin a beautiful bimmer with a domestic engine...

Techno Violent · #14 (**permalink**) 07-03-2002, 07:12 AM

If you want to do it just as a freaky project car, that's cool. But if you want to enhance the car, I would not do it. A tried and true swap is the Supra motor. Its a turbo I-6 of similar size to the bmw 6 and is said to drop in fairly easy. 500hp out of one of those suckers is like only 50% of its potential. I'd go that route before i'd go with a big heavy vette V8 motor.

Kuya · #15 (**permalink**) 07-03-2002, 05:27 PM

that supra idea sounds like a good idea too, btw do u how much a supra swap would cost, i would probably need engine tt, tranny, and ecu, probably be 93 and up.