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Thread: What's the Biggest LS motor that will fit to e46

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2019
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    Chicago, IL
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    2002 BMW 325 CI

    What's the Biggest LS motor that will fit to e46

    Have a 2002 325Ci manual e46. Wondering what's the biggest LS motor that can fit under the hood. Price not a concern. Additional info on mount kits would be helpful. Thanks

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
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    PNW
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    LS E46
    They’re all the same size.

  3. #3
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    Feb 2016
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    Rogers AR
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    1995 BMW M3
    8.1L lol jk

    I have no idea

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2019
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    '99 LS-swapped 323i vert
    Price not a concern? You could get a LSX crate engine (7.4 L, small block): https://www.chevrolet.com/performanc...ngines/lsx-454

    cp-2017-gallery-lsx454-1280x720.jpg
    Diving in at the shallow end!

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2018
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    Carlos MN
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    1999 E36 LS1 1998 TJ LS6
    All the LS blocks are the same size externally. They can be sleeved and stroked to 427 cubes with no problem or big and buy an iron LS block and I think you can do 500 cubes?

  6. #6
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    Jun 2019
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    Chicago, IL
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    2002 BMW 325 CI
    I guess I shouldve mentioned street legal cap Haha. That would be a fun project though. My limit is about 10k and DIY for an engine trans match.

    - - - Updated - - -

    Thank you all. I would just like the most torque filled power punching block I can find. Looks like I got some homework

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
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    Arizona
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    1998 328I
    The outer dimensions of the blocks are all the same. If you want the absolute craziest setup you can get then go with an actual LSX block



    IF your limit is 10k just for the engine alone then get an ls3 imo, hell get an iron block 6.0 and make up the rest with boooost.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2019
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    Milwaukee, WI
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    '99 LS-swapped 323i vert
    Quote Originally Posted by Skatecrete View Post
    I guess I shouldve mentioned street legal cap Haha. That would be a fun project though. My limit is about 10k and DIY for an engine trans match.

    - - - Updated - - -

    Thank you all. I would just like the most torque filled power punching block I can find. Looks like I got some homework
    Beyond the simple-but-useful Wikipedia page, I found these pages useful while "shopping":
    https://www.onallcylinders.com/2017/...ks-ls-engines/
    https://www.onallcylinders.com/2017/...ngine-vehicle/
    Diving in at the shallow end!

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
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    BMW 525i
    Quote Originally Posted by Liquidity View Post
    They’re all the same size.
    I heard your head slam against the table when I read this.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    2002 BMW 525i - 6.6L LS Turbo Swap
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  10. #10
    Join Date
    Oct 2018
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    Carlos MN
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    1999 E36 LS1 1998 TJ LS6
    I did a LS2 sleeved and stroked to 427 cubes. LS3 heads. Medium cam. LS3 intake. Only a bit of a lope at idle. Ran power brakes. On the chassis dyno it did just a few ponies less than 500 at the rear wheels with a mild 91 octane tune. And that was thru a built 4L60E. Came in way less than $10 grand for the engine.
    A company in CA called RED, Race Engine Development did the sleeving. Per the internet LS guys his ductile iron sleeve makes a LS2 stronger than a LS7 block.
    It would melt the tires at 50 mph. I had it in a 67 Nova.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Oct 2014
    Location
    Mesa AZ
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    242
    My Cars
    2000 740iL
    Technically, they are not all the same size. Some LSX Blocks come in a tall deck version, which is what you need if you wanted to do a big inch build, like more than 454. Or maybe if you wanted to have longer rods with a 454 build.

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