LSx E36 swapped car weight thread

[shakenbake01]

I searched and didn't see one posted here so I thought we could start one. I've had a bunch of people ask about or question the weight of the swapped E36. Here is mine.


1997 4 door M3 LS3 swap, T56 tranny and Vorshlag swap kit. Full luxury package interrior, PS, AC, ABS, stock M3 wheels ect. 3/4 tank of gas.

[rao]

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...41&postcount=1

[jprx7]

Obviously not the weight with 3 passengers when you were "cruising" with the stroked 'Vette and other assorted turbo/nitrous cars.

[Fair]

1993 BMW 318is with 5.7L LS1 + T56. Heavy CCW 3-piece wheels (17x10F/17x11R), all the factory sheet metal, aluminum LTW doors, all the glass (minus the door glass). Gutted interior, 8 point roll cage.


Weight with race fuel (2 gallons) and no driver

With the upgrade to an LS2-based 7.0L engine, TR-6060 trans, 3 qt Accusump, oil cooler, and more racey bits added weight went up to 2550 lbs.

[MikeJTR]

At the risk of offending people, unless you have a full tank of gas, the weights are not accurate enough to provide a reasonable estimate of the true weight of the car.

Furthermore, when weighing cars with engine swaps, the best way to determine the weight gain of the swap, is to weigh the car before the swap (with a full tank of gas, and other fluids topped off), and after the swap, with a note of what else was changed during the swap.

Most of the engine swap weights posted on this forum were done without air conditioning, catalytic converters, heat shielding, etc. This has caused a number of people to mistakenly believe the LSx swap does not add weight to the E36.

[Bluebimma]

2947 with me, full tank, full interior, 3 batteries, a subwoofer. 2742 without me or the batteries, was hauling stuff to work that day.

2880 For my 325ti with full interior, 2.5" with cats and bmw mufflers, 18"s, blah blah blah.

My stock auto 318ti sport weighed more than the ls1 project car by almost 50lbs.

[ckpitt55]

At the risk of offending people, unless you have a full tank of gas, the weights are not accurate enough to provide a reasonable estimate of the true weight of the car.

Furthermore, when weighing cars with engine swaps, the best way to determine the weight gain of the swap, is to weigh the car before the swap (with a full tank of gas, and other fluids topped off), and after the swap, with a note of what else was changed during the swap.

Most of the engine swap weights posted on this forum were done without air conditioning, catalytic converters, heat shielding, etc. This has caused a number of people to mistakenly believe the LSx swap does not add weight to the E36.

rao and shakenbake's cars (with full interiors, ac, etc etc) both show that it doesnt. stock curb weight is ~3200 lbs. swapped curb weight ~3200 lbs. unless you're racing, who cares about a few pounds north or south of stock? +/- 50 lbs is +/- 1.5% of the car's total weight. negligible for a street driven car, imo

[Fair]

At the risk of offending people, unless you have a full tank of gas, the weights are not accurate enough to provide a reasonable estimate of the true weight of the car.

Respectfully, I disagree. No racer ever weighs a car with a full tank of gas. You never see that condition on track. Ever. And a street car almost never sees a full tank in use, either. You'd be comparing a condition that most people just don't ever shoot for or see.



Even for street only cars we still weigh cars dry on fuel without driver. We take the spare tire out, empty out the rest of the "trunk junk", and pretty much take them to what a "race weight". Everyone knows the dry weight - its easy to replicate, and it is what you shoot for at the end of the race.



Corner balancing a race car is different. We typically corner balance with the minimum fuel load needed for the beginning of a qualifying lap + the seated driver and helmet. If a racer wants his ideal handling at the beginning of a race we balance with his highest fuel load (for a 20-30 minute race session this is still nowhere near full). If he wants his ideal handling at the end of the race we use minimal fuel load.

Car manufacturers do it half a dozen ways. Some give Curb Weights for cars bone dry (no fluids), some with full tank, some with empty tanks, some use the avg weight of a single occupant, some with 2 people, etc. There is no industry standard for car makers.

Weighing cars with a full tank just doesn't tell you much. In my opinion.

[MikeJTR]

Car manufacturers do it half a dozen ways. Some give Curb Weights for cars bone dry (no fluids), some with full tank, some with empty tanks, some use the avg weight of a single occupant, some with 2 people, etc. There is no industry standard for car makers.

Weighing cars with a full tank just doesn't tell you much. In my opinion.

This OP wanted the thread to be about the weight of a swapped E36 (presumably an LSx/T56). The only way to accurately compare the weights of the LSx E36 cars is with a full tank of gas. The difference between full and empty is close to 140 lbs.

I have weighed a lot of cars with my own scales, and the curb weight of the stock car (or truck) has always been within a few lbs of the published gross vehicle weight, minus the maximum load. This information is usually on a sticker in the door jamb or in the glove box of the vehicle. This is with a full tank of gas, and all fluids topped off.

In my experiences, the E36 LSx/T56 swap will add at least 100 lbs to the car. Add another 70 lbs if the engine is an iron block. The weight increase can be reduced with a different flywheel, no ac, a lighter exhaust and a smaller battery. Of course, having a nearly empty fuel tank can drop at least 140 lbs.

Finally, if you are going to post the weight of a street driven E36 LSx, please top off the fuel tank so we can compare apples to apples.

[shakenbake01]

My tank was nearly full when on the scales. Plus I had a 35lb subwoofer in the trunk that I didn't feel like taking out. I have AC and PS installed with all fluids topped off. I even have floor mats and a glove box full of junk. I think I am about as heavy as I will ever be.

My purpose for the thread was to compare swap weight numbers with other cars no matter what trim they are in. As long as we post what all the car has or doesn't have it will give everyone an idea of what they can expect and how they want to build their car.

Mike. The full tank idea is a good one. Oh and BTW I love the coolant adapter you made for me. Thanks for all your R&D over the years.

[eurautodave]

hey brad,
wanted to let you and anyone who is interested know...my ls1/t56 four door, no interior, aluminum seats, roll hoop, no exhaust, no a/c, nearly empty tank, and no spare weighed in at ....2810 lbs.

[Ragnorak]

Respectfully, I disagree. No racer ever weighs a car with a full tank of gas. You never see that condition on track. Ever. And a street car almost never sees a full tank in use, either. You'd be comparing a condition that most people just don't ever shoot for or see.

How do you keep your shop so clean? Jello.

[SHhhhh]

3140 lbs

1997 M3 coupe
Spoiler, sunroof, and full interior
LS3/T56
Samberg kit
PS, PB, ABS, AC
1/2 Tank of gas+
Kosei wheels
No spare tire
No window washer fluid or reservoir

[GG Allin]

I put mine on a truck scale a couple weeks ago. 95 M3 with LS2 & T-56, no ABS, no AC, and no gas in the tank or very little at least. Weight without me in the car was 3160#.

[Bluebimma]

After some weight reduction, new parts, redesigning, ive come up with 2720 with a 1/4 tank gas and driver installed. I plan to gain another 60-80lbs with the a/c system installed.

[71Cruiser]

Respectfully, I disagree. No racer ever weighs a car with a full tank of gas. You never see that condition on track. Ever. And a street car almost never sees a full tank in use, either.

Weighing cars with a full tank just doesn't tell you much. In my opinion.

FYI. I ALWAYS weigh my race car (se30) with a full tank of gas. Should be ~2765 before the race with driver. Minimum weight is 2700 after the race.

I'm still not sure what my 5.0 e30 weighs.

[Nelson1]

I am using an intercomp scale for weighing my car but don't get the same weight before and after the race even i had the same level of gas in the tank. Can any one tell me why this happen with me?

[Nelson1]

I am using an intercomp scale for weighing my car but don't get the same weight before and after the race even i had the same level of gas in the tank. Can any one tell me why this happen with me?

[Inflame]

Anyone have before and after weight?