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Thread: Poor Man's Z8 Project

  1. #1
    Join Date
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    Poor Man's Z8 Project

    I am currently swapping a N62B44 with a 6 speed manual into a Z3... the images are links to a post I made on my website with a little more info on the backstory up to this point





    This is where I am now... I relocated the ABS module to get the engine in that far and am waiting on some parts to hopefully fit the transmission to the chassis. From there, I will build the custom engine mounts based on where I want the engine to sit once transmission is located in place. Or it'll be in a ridiculous spot and I'll build custom transmission mounts too. Only time will tell

    By the time it is finished and done it will likely be a 4.8L instead of the 4.4L but not entirely set on that... depends what parts cars come up for a reasonable price though I would definitely pay a bit more for a 4.8L. I mostly bought this engine because it was cheap (I'm under $2k into this project right now... car included) and came with the transmission included
    Last edited by BimmerBreaker; 02-15-2021 at 12:07 PM.

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  2. #2
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    Nov 2015
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    kelowna
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    Z3 Coupe 3.0

  3. #3
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    Mar 2019
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    Milwaukee, WI
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    '99 LS-swapped 323i vert
    I had to click on the missing picture icons, but that took me to your enjoyable writeup on another site. Nice project!
    Diving in at the shallow end!

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by fallguy View Post
    Custom headers im guessing?
    Current plan is to chop the cats off the stock headers. They hug the block very nicely and drivers aide even has an area for steering rack to pass by (unlike M62/S62, all N62 cars had steering racks)
    Quote Originally Posted by motorV8ed View Post
    I had to click on the missing picture icons, but that took me to your enjoyable writeup on another site. Nice project!
    Thanks. And interesting .. pictures should have loaded here. Ill check into it

    Lots of good progress today. Many fitment issues sorted and even got trans bolted in. But a new issue arises... What to do about the dang alternator... Currently wants to sit *in* the framerail. Notching framerail if I cant source an alternator with smaller outer dimensions...

    Pics soon...

    Going into my TENTH YEAR of providing high quality reproduction BMW fabrics!

    PRICE CUT on ALL FABRICS
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  5. #5
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    Very cool.

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by adonnan View Post
    Very cool.
    Thanks

    Going into my TENTH YEAR of providing high quality reproduction BMW fabrics!

    PRICE CUT on ALL FABRICS
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  7. #7
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    E36 Compact,Coupe,E30
    That looks awesome, Nice writeup on your website.
    S52 E36 Compact
    E36 325is Coronaproject
    08 Saab 9-3 in Oxford Green

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by ZEKTI View Post
    That looks awesome, Nice writeup on your website.
    Thank you sir. I try to be a little more to the point here in the forum, but more in depth on the site for those interested

    Today I will be doing the bulk of the wiring! Here we gooo!

    Going into my TENTH YEAR of providing high quality reproduction BMW fabrics!

    PRICE CUT on ALL FABRICS
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  9. #9
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    Woah woah woah guys, lets try not to be TOO helpful...

    I got it running though



    Is it because it's not an LS swap, nobody here cares? lol

    Going into my TENTH YEAR of providing high quality reproduction BMW fabrics!

    PRICE CUT on ALL FABRICS
    Offering the best prices on the best quality reproduction fabrics!

  10. #10
    Join Date
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    F30 328d X-Drive
    nice work! I am not longer tinkering on BMW's (for now) but still love build threads.
    1995 Mazda RX-7 Feed Widebody LS3 6-speed (Toy, project)
    2010 Cadillac Escalade Luxury (Daily, Pulls my 18' car hauler)
    2014 BMW 328d XDrive (Wife's Daily)
    Have owned 4 other BWM's I no longer have.

  11. #11
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    2008 BMW M5 SMGII
    A really good choice for an engine. I had an e60 545i, and the engine revs with ease. Just make sure its working properly. Stepper motor on my intake had failed, and once I got it fixed, the engine really came alive. Enjoy.

  12. #12
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    N62 is refreshed

    ElringKlinger Viton Valve Stem Seals
    Uro Premium Coolant Pipe W/ EPDM Seal
    Uro Premium Viton Alternator Bracket Gasket
    BMW Valve Cover Gaskets
    ElringKlinger Engine Gaskets
    New.... tons of stuff
    Last edited by BimmerBreaker; 04-29-2021 at 02:27 AM.

    Going into my TENTH YEAR of providing high quality reproduction BMW fabrics!

    PRICE CUT on ALL FABRICS
    Offering the best prices on the best quality reproduction fabrics!

  13. #13
    Join Date
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    F30 328d X-Drive
    so fresh
    1995 Mazda RX-7 Feed Widebody LS3 6-speed (Toy, project)
    2010 Cadillac Escalade Luxury (Daily, Pulls my 18' car hauler)
    2014 BMW 328d XDrive (Wife's Daily)
    Have owned 4 other BWM's I no longer have.

  14. #14
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    2019 Miata RF, 88 325i
    Just saw your notched subframe, I did the same recently for my E30 Ford V8 swap. This build is gonna be sweet.
    Last edited by AdamBath; 04-29-2021 at 09:32 AM.

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by Venom13132 View Post
    so fresh
    Thanks man

    Quote Originally Posted by AdamBath View Post
    Just saw your notched subframe, I did the same recently for my E30 Ford V8 swap. This build is gonna be sweet.
    Almost feels weird using the future tense on a build that's been going on now for... 8 months But yeah, it will be sweet when this thing finally hits the road
    I don't see a build thread for your Ford V8 E30?




    Also one thing I've been asked more than any other on this swap is... how much does that thing weigh
    Well the answer may surprise some of you but the N62 weighs 8 pounds less than an S54

    Here are some other common points of comparison I compiled last night as well, for my own record, thought some of you may be interested

    S62 | 394 hp | 500 n-m | 487 lbs+ | 5.0
    N62 | 367 hp | 490 n-m | 470 lbs* | 4.8
    S65 | 414 hp | 400 n-m | 445 lbs* | 4.0
    N62 | 333 hp | 450 n-m | 470 lbs | 4.4
    S54 | 315 hp | 341 n-m | 478 lbs* | 3.2
    M62 | 282 hp | 440 n-m | 487 lbs | 4.4
    S52 | 240 hp | 320 n-m | 436 lbs | 3.2
    M54 | 228 hp | 300 n-m | 375 lbs | 3.0
    M52 | 168 hp | 245 n-m | 375 lbs | 2.5

    +No published info on S62 weight but it would weigh close to, but a little more than an M62
    *These engines also require oil coolers which are not factored into the weights

    Full build thread is documented here for anyone interested: https://www.ascfabrics.com/z3v8
    Last edited by BimmerBreaker; 04-29-2021 at 12:41 PM.

    Going into my TENTH YEAR of providing high quality reproduction BMW fabrics!

    PRICE CUT on ALL FABRICS
    Offering the best prices on the best quality reproduction fabrics!

  16. #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by BimmerBreaker View Post
    Thanks man



    Almost feels weird using the future tense on a build that's been going on now for... 8 months But yeah, it will be sweet when this thing finally hits the road
    I don't see a build thread for your Ford V8 E30?




    Also one thing I've been asked more than any other on this swap is... how much does that thing weigh
    Well the answer may surprise some of you but the N62 weighs 8 pounds less than an S54

    Here are some other common points of comparison I compiled last night as well, for my own record, thought some of you may be interested

    S62 | 394 hp | 500 n-m | 487 lbs+ | 5.0
    N62 | 367 hp | 490 n-m | 470 lbs* | 4.8
    S65 | 414 hp | 400 n-m | 445 lbs* | 4.0
    N62 | 333 hp | 450 n-m | 470 lbs | 4.4
    S54 | 315 hp | 341 n-m | 478 lbs* | 3.2
    M62 | 282 hp | 440 n-m | 487 lbs | 4.4
    S52 | 240 hp | 320 n-m | 436 lbs | 3.2
    M54 | 228 hp | 300 n-m | 375 lbs | 3.0
    M52 | 168 hp | 245 n-m | 375 lbs | 2.5

    +No published info on S62 weight but it would weigh close to, but a little more than an M62
    *These engines also require oil coolers which are not factored into the weights

    Full build thread is documented here for anyone interested: https://www.ascfabrics.com/z3v8
    I only post my updates on r3v now, here. My build has been going on for literal years, but it's finally coming together.

  17. #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by AdamBath View Post
    I only post my updates on r3v now, here. My build has been going on for literal years, but it's finally coming together.
    Awesome build thread man - gonna read that sucker front to back in my free time

    You even bought a welder mid-way through your project like me! I love it haha. Here's mine as I loaded it in my coupe to take it my shop Barely fit...


    Going into my TENTH YEAR of providing high quality reproduction BMW fabrics!

    PRICE CUT on ALL FABRICS
    Offering the best prices on the best quality reproduction fabrics!

  18. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by BimmerBreaker View Post
    Awesome build thread man - gonna read that sucker front to back in my free time

    You even bought a welder mid-way through your project like me! I love it haha. Here's mine as I loaded it in my coupe to take it my shop Barely fit...
    Did exactly that, still learning

  19. #19
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    Me too, I busted my Everlast tanning machine out just the other day in fact to lay down some booger welds to make a crank holding tool lol. Got the job done and saved me $90

    Going into my TENTH YEAR of providing high quality reproduction BMW fabrics!

    PRICE CUT on ALL FABRICS
    Offering the best prices on the best quality reproduction fabrics!

  20. #20
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    looks like it fits!
    1995 Mazda RX-7 Feed Widebody LS3 6-speed (Toy, project)
    2010 Cadillac Escalade Luxury (Daily, Pulls my 18' car hauler)
    2014 BMW 328d XDrive (Wife's Daily)
    Have owned 4 other BWM's I no longer have.

  21. #21
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    Quote Originally Posted by Venom13132 View Post
    looks like it fits!
    Sure does, it fit very well. My eyecrometers were calibrated properly the day I marked the framerail

    Going into my TENTH YEAR of providing high quality reproduction BMW fabrics!

    PRICE CUT on ALL FABRICS
    Offering the best prices on the best quality reproduction fabrics!

  22. #22
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    '99 LS-swapped 323i vert
    Wow, very nice work!
    Diving in at the shallow end!

  23. #23
    Join Date
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    F30 328d X-Drive
    coming along. Nice to see more progress!
    1995 Mazda RX-7 Feed Widebody LS3 6-speed (Toy, project)
    2010 Cadillac Escalade Luxury (Daily, Pulls my 18' car hauler)
    2014 BMW 328d XDrive (Wife's Daily)
    Have owned 4 other BWM's I no longer have.

  24. #24
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    1994 "532i6", 1998 528iT
    This is sick, very thoughtful attention to details. I love seeing the 90s cars modernized, once you have it in there and running you won't run out of engines for a long time.

  25. #25
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    Looks like I am going to have to make a custom steering shaft, really no idea what I'm doing in that regard though. Need to get this done before I can make the engine mount so I can make sure the mount clears around the shaft

    "D" shaped shaft, set screws loctited in place holding the shaft into the U-joints. Heim joint to hold one of the shafts in place

    Any advice on making a steering shaft? Never done this before and I'm afraid something will happen and it'll break or disassemble itself while driving and I'll crash and die

    Going into my TENTH YEAR of providing high quality reproduction BMW fabrics!

    PRICE CUT on ALL FABRICS
    Offering the best prices on the best quality reproduction fabrics!

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