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Thread: BMW V8 powered Rat Rod/T-Bucket.

  1. #1
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    '95 540i/6

    BMW V8 powered Rat Rod/T-Bucket.

    Hey Everyone, here's a few pics of what will be a long term build. It already has been a long time build with the engine and now it's time to build the little hot rod I've wanted.

    First I started with the Eaton M112 (Jaguar) supercharged BMW M62 4.4L with M60 4.0L heads and cams. Build thread in the E34 section.



    I originally started putting the engine together to replace the original 250k mile Nikasil M60B40 in my E34 540i/6. Part way through the build I began to feel that my old E34 was just too wore out, too tired and not the right car to receive the new engine. Instead I made a left at Albuquerque and decided to start building an entirely different car around the V8.

    I wanted to start building a little hot rod / rat rod / T-bucket. I had an idea in my head of how I wanted it to be so I began parts sourcing.

    I ordered a fiberglass standard '23 T body:



    Repro '32 ford grill:



    Mid 70's Jaguar independent suspension rear end:



    ...and "Borrowed" the Getrag 420g 6spd manual from the E34



    Since I had the rear end I could order up a set of wheels and tires for the rear. American Racing VM502 15"x10" and M&H 3-"x14.5" (12" tread) Cheater slicks.



    As of now I have a pile of parts, collecting more every day.





    The next piece of the puzzle is to acquire a frame/chassis. So far I've tried to collect parts as budget as possible. Mostly EBay, 2nd hand parts, discount parts...etc. However, for the frame I feel that doing it once, doing it right and spending the majority of the budget on the chassis is money well spent. By spending one large chunk of cash at once for a complete frame & suspension and steering would prevent from spending even more in the long term piecing it together. There is an outfit in Southern Cali that puts together a roller chassis for T-buckets that even allows the Jag rear end to bolt on.




    Once the rod is together, driving, a few kinks worked out and the EFI tuned well enough I plan to embark on a road trip from where I live in Arizona to Los Angeles, join the Hwy1 in Santa Monica and cruise north all the way to where I grew up, San Francisco. Perhaps even a bit beyond, Bodega Bay.

    Thanks for checking out my project and check back for updates. Cheers

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
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    Royalest of Oaks
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    Mazda 3
    Cool little build. Keep us updated!

  3. #3
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    1997 M3 / 5.3
    Definitely agree! It is hard for me to wrap my head about a 'new' technology LS engine...let alone a BMW V-8 with blower!

  4. #4
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    This weekends project; degrease, clean up and paint the jaguar rear end.





    Last edited by Mykk; 08-26-2018 at 09:19 PM.

  5. #5
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    '95 540i/6



  6. #6
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    Replaced rear main & pilot bearing. Removed pilot with wet toilet paper :-P Installed clutch and trans:










  7. #7
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    #Project333Ti & Z3 Coupe
    Wow, this thing is going to be bad a$$! Can't wait for more updates!

  8. #8
    JimLev's Avatar
    JimLev is online now Artifically Aspirated Moderator
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    00 540/6, '16 Highlander
    Looking good. I did consider using an M62tu in my build but after working on mine for 18 years I went LS3. Got tired of chasing oil leaks.

    image.jpg

  9. #9
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    ^^^^ That is an impressive project right there!I think keeping mine with the BMW drivetrain is what's going to set this build apart. Although, as is most think it's a jaguar engine :-P

  10. #10
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    Front wheels, front axle, spindles & brakes in the workd:




  11. #11
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    Mankato, MN
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    88 Mazda RX-7 LS Swapped
    Very cool!! Looking forward to updates!!

  12. #12
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    A bit slow on developments: Having a few expenses this month preventing me from ordering a frame. But soon.


  13. #13
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    Frame Day:











    I feel the front ride height is good and will even come down a bit with drivetrain weight. The rear is too high, my plan is to move the differential forward and tucked into the frame to lower the rear frame height. This will also close the gap between the rear wheels and body.

  14. #14
    JimLev's Avatar
    JimLev is online now Artifically Aspirated Moderator
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    It's starting to look good.
    Never notice that you had nitrous on it, it gonna be fast.
    I've got a dual stage 180HP juice setup on my 540.

  15. #15
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    Pulled the diff forward and tucked into the frame. Much better:






  16. #16
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    96 328is 6.0L
    Looks much better, but now it seems as though there is very little room for the engine. Is it just on pictures or is it pretty tight now?
    - 96 328is 6.0L. (LS1 to LS2 build thread: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...ad.php?2098938)
    - 96 328is 5.7L. (LS1 build thread: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1289987)
    - 95 ///M3 6.0L. (LS2 build thread: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1619249)

    - 97 ///M3. (e46 Fender Flares/track car build thread: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1727098)
    - 96 328is (Dual Fuel Pump to Surge Tank thread: http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh...ad.php?1964025)

  17. #17
    JimLev's Avatar
    JimLev is online now Artifically Aspirated Moderator
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    Looks like the body is still in the same position, the radiator was ahead of the front axle in previous pics which gave more room for the engine.

  18. #18
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    96 328is 6.0L
    Ahh that could be
    - 96 328is 6.0L. (LS1 to LS2 build thread: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...ad.php?2098938)
    - 96 328is 5.7L. (LS1 build thread: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1289987)
    - 95 ///M3 6.0L. (LS2 build thread: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1619249)

    - 97 ///M3. (e46 Fender Flares/track car build thread: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1727098)
    - 96 328is (Dual Fuel Pump to Surge Tank thread: http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh...ad.php?1964025)

  19. #19
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    I'll know more once drivetrain is sitting in the frame, I'm hoping I can get the grill behind the axle and leaned back a bit like in mock up. I read somewhere in order to have a proportionate looking T bucket start at the rear end and work forward. We'll see how it plays out.

  20. #20
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  21. #21
    JimLev's Avatar
    JimLev is online now Artifically Aspirated Moderator
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    Have you figured out how much juice your going to be spraying?

  22. #22
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    Quote Originally Posted by JimLev View Post
    Have you figured out how much juice your going to be spraying?
    Pictured above is a single wet shot, I've got a 2nd NOS solenoid and plan to convert the fuel side to a 2nd nitrous shot. The EFI is capable of increasing injector PW while nitrous is active. I originally planned for a 150 total shot starting with a 70 shot. The project is so light weight that I may dial it down to a 75 or 100 total shot. The idea that sparked the nitrous was to aid in keeping intake air temps down for short bursts. I am also considering plumbing the nitrous purge to a spray bar on the intercooler.

  23. #23
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    What do you guys feel is the angle limitation of the guibo flex disc? I fear the offset input flange of the Jag rear end and the short driveshaft distance is going to make for too extreme of an angle if I center the drivetrain, I also don't want to offset the drivetrain or angle drivetrain towards the diff.


  24. #24
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    That's completely unacceptable. There actually should be 0 deflection there. If you can't change that angle, you're gonna need to ditch that altogether and just run a U-joint with an adapter. And now that I'm thinking about this - you have a live axle, you need a U-joint anyways, you can't have the driveshaft moving around with a flexdisc. Flexdiscs are for vibration control, NOT deflection.
    Last edited by Liquidity; 10-31-2018 at 04:10 AM.

  25. #25
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    As Liquidity said, flex disc is for vibration isolation and can't be used to do a u-joit's job. Maybe as a solution try to design in a center support bearing?
    - 96 328is 6.0L. (LS1 to LS2 build thread: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...ad.php?2098938)
    - 96 328is 5.7L. (LS1 build thread: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1289987)
    - 95 ///M3 6.0L. (LS2 build thread: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1619249)

    - 97 ///M3. (e46 Fender Flares/track car build thread: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1727098)
    - 96 328is (Dual Fuel Pump to Surge Tank thread: http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh...ad.php?1964025)

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