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Thread: Another LS Swap... 1994 325is 4.8 build!

  1. #1
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    Another LS Swap... 1994 325is 4.8 build!

    Hey everyone,

    Never really been an active forum member, mostly lurking for inspiration, motivation, or information! This is my second E36. The first was my 1995 325i sedan, stock block with an MLS/spacer boosted by an HX35 with an oversized gateless exhaust housing running the Miller WAR Turbo setup on 60lb injectors. That car eventually got parted out, and the chassis is now in the hands of a buddy building a Ford 302 to drop in it. After missing that car enough I found another E36 and traded another vehicle I had for it, and got the 1994 325IS Coupe, and in household tradition she got a porn name, so we welcomed Christy Mack!



    I was planning on just registering it and ripping it since I have a couple of other cars and a bike and just wanted something rear wheel drive to beat on, but since I can't own anything without modifying it I decided to go ahead and slowly start this build. Slowly turned into one of my friends saying "help me swap the engine in this Ford escape and you can have this 4.8", so... we pulled the motor from the truck and it all began! Pulled it and tore it down to the bare block and that was enough for one day.





    Since it was a good running motor with 180k on it, just giving it a full bottom end rebuild (rings and bearings, nothing fancy, just want reliable and fun), cleaning, paint job, cam, intake, valve springs... the basic fun stuff. After the motor was out and torn down the harness was next.






    Painful Performance I called it... took a while but I made a check list of what needed to come out and what needed to go to the chassis and just followed it, and we ended up stripping the harness all the way back so we could lay it on the motor and tuck/loom it as we see fit. Should be a very clean install when it's all done. Can't say progress will be fast by any means as I'm the only income of the house with my old lady going to school full time while we take care of our almost three year old daughter, but as it happens I'll post it up!
    Last edited by eturdysix; 08-05-2018 at 04:18 AM.

  2. #2
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    Another LS Swap... 1994 325is 4.8 build!

    Tore everything down, cleaned the pistons and the 180k worth of gunk from the ringlands.

    Block got the same treatment.

    And the first round of parts rolled in!
    Last edited by eturdysix; 08-05-2018 at 04:21 AM.

  3. #3
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    Little love for the daily this week, new front tires since one got the worlds biggest sidewall bubble the day I went and got my stage 2 put on her. BMW update late tomorrow night unless I get OT, otherwise Monday night should have the rotating assembly back together!




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  4. #4
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    Took forever to get my block back from the machine shop but things are coming together. Block paint got screwed when it got steam cleaned but live and learn I’ll repaint it tonight. Candids of myself since my GM mechanic buddy got a kick out of watching me work.








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  5. #5
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    Car made it to the shop after completely puking the pulley and shaft out of the power steering pump and having to get my truck to drag it, more progress Thursday/Friday!




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  6. #6
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    My friend and I somehow managed to get the motor and trans out in an hour and 15 minutes... proceeded to clean up the brackets and whatever other crap won’t be used in the bay, and got some sheet metal welded in some holes and a plate made for the ECU cover since I’m not reusing the factory plastic piece. Progress so far, finishing removing the seam sealer tonight and getting some filler where it needs to go. Not going full shave but I love a clean organized bay.

    IMG_9898.JPG

    IMG_9875.JPG

    IMG_9878.JPG

    IMG_9897.JPG




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  7. #7
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    More progress, found a little surface rust under the seam sealer at the base of the passenger strut tower but got it all cleaned up. Back to work for the week, should have her in sealer and hopefully mocking up the engine next week! Just waiting on mounts and headers.

    IMG_9906.JPG

    IMG_9905.JPG

    IMG_9904.JPG


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  8. #8
    JimLev's Avatar
    JimLev is online now Artifically Aspirated Moderator
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    Looks like fun, especially the rat nest of wires you straightened out.
    I'll be following your build.

  9. #9
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    All that work to the engine compartment means you will have a show car when complete!

    Wiring was the worst part of the swap...you have much patience!

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by JimLev View Post
    Looks like fun, especially the rat nest of wires you straightened out.
    I'll be following your build.
    That’s been the most rewarding part of the whole process so far. Still have a lot to do getting it in the bay all neat and tidy.

    Quote Originally Posted by Tim Mc View Post
    All that work to the engine compartment means you will have a show car when complete!

    Wiring was the worst part of the swap...you have much patience!
    It’s going to be a very driven and abused show car in that case! Hopefully it comes out as good as I hope. Spending a couple nights getting the bay looking good seemed like a small task for what should be a great result. Wiring was the easy part, the body work is what gets to me!! And I still have the rest of the car to do! That probably won’t be happening until spring time unfortunately but we’ll see.



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  11. #11
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    I really need to replace my phone camera, been dropped about 300 too many times. Primer laid down, have some things to fix and then I’ll be re coating it again then test fitting the engine and getting the harness built once my mounts and headers arrive.




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  12. #12
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    Phone pic? Looks pretty good, slightly out of focus.
    The paint job looks OK too.

  13. #13
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    Another LS Swap... 1994 325is 4.8 build!

    Quote Originally Posted by JimLev View Post
    Phone pic? Looks pretty good, slightly out of focus.
    The paint job looks OK too.
    Only half of it goes into focus ever and half the time it spasms. It’s done broke. I have a Nikon I’m pretty proficient with but not taking that out until it’s got actual paint on it.

    On another note, fixed some crap spots and re primed. On hold til I can test fit! Note (if you can see these crap phone pics) no brackets for anything, no hole where the AC lines used to go, and re seam sealed the absolutely ridiculous factory bmw job so it at least looks like I care.









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    Last edited by eturdysix; 09-16-2018 at 09:35 PM.

  14. #14
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    Finally some more progress, been slammed at work haven’t had much time for play. Did fix my phone camera tho so have some eye candy!








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  15. #15
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    Love to see another ls e36! Looking forward to the build progress.

    I really like how you eliminated and seals portions of the engine bay, I wanted to have that done too but just skipped it. Gives it a super clean look.

    Question for you, can you remove your valve covers with the engine in place and booster? Reason I ask is because you have the center bolt style valve covers and I have the older style which make it a fucking pain to remove then with the booster in the way, was thinking of switching to the ones you have

  16. #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by RulyLSX View Post
    Love to see another ls e36! Looking forward to the build progress.

    I really like how you eliminated and seals portions of the engine bay, I wanted to have that done too but just skipped it. Gives it a super clean look.

    Question for you, can you remove your valve covers with the engine in place and booster? Reason I ask is because you have the center bolt style valve covers and I have the older style which make it a fucking pain to remove then with the booster in the way, was thinking of switching to the ones you have
    Ummmm. Maybe? Hahahaha





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  17. #17
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    And for the not so fun part...




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  18. #18
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    That gold gives it that 70's look!

    I'd bet pulling the valve cover will be no issue. I've got less and it came off...as long as the back rocker is on the lift portion of the cam (depressed).

  19. #19
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    Quote Originally Posted by eturdysix View Post
    And for the not so fun part...




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    Looks good. You going to paint the front of the heads?
    You going to make/buy some covers to hide the coils?
    I need to do something with my valve covers too.

  20. #20
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    Another LS Swap... 1994 325is 4.8 build!

    I might make covers for the coils, I’m not overly worried about them honestly, it’s a car and they’re car parts. Eventually they’ll get replaced with billet brackets and MSD coils more than likely, I’m not remaking my harness (again) to relocate haha. Heads aren’t staying stock forever so I’m not worried about putting time or money into them, honestly this whole motor will probably be replaced next winter lmao


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    Last edited by eturdysix; 10-28-2018 at 12:24 AM.

  21. #21
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    Stock coils are better than aftermarket - especially the truck coils.

  22. #22
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    Quote Originally Posted by Liquidity View Post
    Stock coils are better than aftermarket - especially the truck coils.
    Perfect I’ll save my money hahaha


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  23. #23
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    Final progress of the night, got all the engine sensors routed and cleaned up, still need to do the trans and O2s, since I’m running the auto til spring. I’ll finalize and loom everything once it’s all done and i can fire the engine to verify it’s all right. CT winter the car won’t get driven anyway, the liquid salt they put on the roads here ruins absolutely everything, and going to save some pennies and buy a built trans once. Not sure if I’m going T-56, CD009, or sequential. Anyway, picture!




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  24. #24
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    The really nice thing about the E36 is the front sheet metal and cross member all unbolt. Makes sliding the engine trans in and out a piece of cake. I did a LS swap into a 71 Corvette a couple of years ago. The front clip doesn't come off on Corvettes. It was pretty scary hanging an engine and trans over the newly painted front fender.

  25. #25
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    Man I would love to see a sequential setup!!! IF not that I would go t-56 magnum!

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