My e39 LSx swap

[natem31995]

I had a little leak on one of the vband clamps and I think it was due to everything not being 100% mated up together. the flex joint allowed enough flex in the pipe to make sure everything was flat and lined up properly.

Just wanted to let you know I took your advice and added in the flex pipe. Take a look at my build. By the way I love your build and you might just be over 550whp at 12lbs.

[M5Hunter]

The Mammoth is tagged and insured again. Ran it up the street yesterday to put some fresh gas in it. The new wastegate setup looks very promising. I was able to hold 8-9psi on the 9psi spring at 3/4 throttle in 3rd gear. Feels like a turd compared to before when I was running 15psi with more compression. I went with the 9psi spring on the advice of my tuner. He says with my setup and 9psi I should be good for 550whp after the tune. Time to put some miles on it and get the motor loosened up some(not too much I hope) then get it on the dyno!

[M5Hunter]

Got some miles on the car, so far so good. New wastegate location is working perfectly, no creep all the way to redline. While on the topic of wastegate.... one thing is for sure, this open gate has gotta go. I hate it. Just when the turbo starts spooling and sounding good, BBBBWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!! I want to hear turbo noises. I have stuck with the open w/g due to an inadequate exhaust system. I have a full 3" system and dumping the w/g back into that just seems like a dumb idea. I guess the next step will be a new exhaust system. Thinking 3" downpipe into oval 4" with a w/g merge there, then into a muffler with dual 3" outlets and run dual 3" to the back.

Other observations, the 3.15 gear has got to go. I'm very happy I swapped to the M5 diff for strength, but that gear ratio is garbage with the t56 in my opinion. I have put hundreds of miles on it and havent even used 6th gear yet, including highway driving of 75mph. Hope to swap over to the 3.6x gear set soon along with a bimmerdiffs clutch upgrade.

Lastly, 8psi is a joke. Tuner said 550whp is possible around that 8-9spi mark. I'm not disagreeing, but man, what a difference between 8psi and the 15 I ran before. The car is completely boring to me as it is. Keep in mind, its seeing 10:1 AFR in boost, so there is alot left on the table in the tuning department. I have a tuning appointment for Monday the 2nd. I foresee an eBoost controller installed before the tuning session... just in case.

Assuming the motor survives the tuning experience, that Friday(6th) I'm planning a trip to MIR dragstrip to see if the car is up for some 1/4 mile passes. A fellow forum member and turbo BMW owner(also owner of Bimmerdiffs) Jonathan has challenged me to side by side breakdowns on the track.

[Jesus Freak]

I've heard nothing but garbage reviews about the eboost, boost leash is supposed to be the ticket.... But I have no experience, just going off what I read on the interwebz.

[nsogiba]

I hear you about the rear end ratio. I have the 3.62 now, and even as it is, it's still too tall. I'm considering going to the next ratio up next winter (4.10? What else is compatible with the M5 rear)

[RVAE34]

I think the 3.62 is perfect.

Glad you want to ditch the open wastegate. I have always hated that sound.

[unnatrl]

I think the 3.62 is perfect. Glad you want to ditch the open wastegate. I have always hated that sound.

I did 3.64 on my turbo LS1. It's a ton better than 3.15 was. A 3.73 or 3.64/ 3.62 will work wonders!

[1NAWTY5]

I did 3.64 on my turbo LS1. It's a ton better than 3.15 was. A 3.73 or 3.64/ 3.62 will work wonders!

I just did a 3.73 for my build which was hard to find from a e34 m5. Glad to hear that this build is coming along the way you want it

[Bmwman528e]

3:91 LSD out of a e34 m5 or other e34 535's. Puts it right at like 1900-2000 Rpms at 70. I love mine.

[M3turboE36]

This is looking very very nice.

[M5Hunter]

The eBoost street came in yesterday. Installed it today and changed the oil. Went out and messed with the controller some. It's amazing how much of a difference there is between 8 and 12psi. Still don't like the 3.15 all around, but man does it help keep the tires planted! Of coarse I was still able to do rolling 3rd gear burnouts, but they held on pretty well with some peddling. Still seeing 10:1 AFR's even at 12psi, excited to hit the rollers on Monday!

[natem31995]

The eBoost street came in yesterday. Installed it today and changed the oil. Went out and messed with the controller some. It's amazing how much of a difference there is between 8 and 12psi. Still don't like the 3.15 all around, but man does it help keep the tires planted! Of coarse I was still able to do rolling 3rd gear burnouts, but they held on pretty well with some peddling. Still seeing 10:1 AFR's even at 12psi, excited to hit the rollers on Monday!

cant wait to see it. make sure you take lots of videos!

[M5Hunter]

Well, it survived!! Tuning session went very well. Got to a nice stopping point of 586hp and 608lb/ft at around 13.5psi. Concerns for the clutch kept me from wanting to push it any further today. I surpassed my goals which I can honestly say has never happened before. It made 495 and 497 on the spring alone at 8psi. I had completely decided to leave it around 11.5psi for normal driving, but you can bet it didnt get turned down on the way home.
Forgot to get a copy of the graph when I left, tuner is supposed to email me one. As soon as I get it, I will post it.

[natem31995]

Well, it survived!! Tuning session went very well. Got to a nice stopping point of 586hp and 608lb/ft at around 13.5psi. Concerns for the clutch kept me from wanting to push it any further today. I surpassed my goals which I can honestly say has never happened before. It made 495 and 497 on the spring alone at 8psi. I had completely decided to leave it around 11.5psi for normal driving, but you can bet it didnt get turned down on the way home.
Forgot to get a copy of the graph when I left, tuner is supposed to email me one. As soon as I get it, I will post it.

Did is you get any videos?

[M5Hunter]

yes, I will get it up in a bit

http://youtu.be/aQK5rI6BBS4

[rao]

Great results

[M5Hunter]

Thanks Rob! It's been a fun ride getting to this point.

- - - Updated - - -

image.jpg
Here is the graph. One pull at 13.5psi and one pull on the wastegate spring only which was 8psi.

[1NAWTY5]

Thanks Rob! It's been a fun ride getting to this point.

- - - Updated - - -

image.jpg
Here is the graph. One pull at 13.5psi and one pull on the wastegate spring only which was 8psi.

Wow thats great and the torque holds up. Congrats on exceeding your goals!!!!!!!!!!

[unnatrl]

Awesome #'s! What are the turbo specs? I tried to find it in your thread, but wasn't able to.

[Bsaint]

Nice work Clay and great numbers, glad you got that tq up I was worried lol

[M5Hunter]

I also wanted to note. The tuner mentioned to me that in his 12 years of tuning, he has never had a LS swapped car with a turbo come in, get tuned and leave with no issues at all. Made me feel pretty good knowing I built a pretty solid car.

[herrubermensch]

That is one HELL of a torque curve! Hits early, too. Great result. Would love to check out your beast when I am back in RVA later this month, Clay.

--Peter

Thanks Rob! It's been a fun ride getting to this point.

- - - Updated - - -

image.jpg
Here is the graph. One pull at 13.5psi and one pull on the wastegate spring only which was 8psi.

[RVAE34]

Great to know, Clay. If only it had been that smooth getting to that point lol.

[m5james]

I hear you about the rear end ratio. I have the 3.62 now, and even as it is, it's still too tall. I'm considering going to the next ratio up next winter (4.10? What else is compatible with the M5 rear)

If that 3.62 can be installed into an E38, I'd be interested in taking it off your hands.

[M5Hunter]

What a day today. Went to a dragstrip rental today and beat the car to death for 7 hours. I made no less than 30 passes and the car performed perfectly. I did break the accelerator pedal, pushing it to the floor as hard as possible but nothing a tie strap couldn't fix. No amount of tie straps could repair the clutch that gave its life at the end of the day. I will not complain at all about it, it held on way longer than I ever thought it would.

Getting this turd out the hole with the 3.15 rear and a 275 street tire turned out to be quite a challenge. Right off the trailer on 8psi it clicked off a 11.95 which was very inspiring. Up went the boost and down came the E.T.s! After running a whole afternoon of mid 11's I was finally able to knock out a 11.2@129. Backed it up with a handful of 11.3's and 11.4's. That being said, as far as I can find documented, my car is the quickest and fastest 1/4 mile E39 in the world. I was able to beat out the previous holder with a s/c'd M5 on drag radails by 4 tenths of a second.

I'm car #9