Watch the build-up of a Vorshlag E36 LS1

[BimmerBoyZ3]

Lets keep this thread on topic (Vorshlag conversion)

Agreed. This thread is about Vorshlag's build-up of their car and future products. Lets try to keep it on topic.

[DaveAZ]

Agreed. This thread is about Vorshlag's build-up of their car and future products. Lets try not to keep it on topic.

Typo, or humor? You decide...

(Note: bimmerBoyZ3 corrected it after this post)

[BimmerBoyZ3]

Typo, or humor? You decide...

Typo...hectic day today.

[Ahheck01]

I don't know about anybody else, but having a vendor with an established reputation in a community that i'm a part of, and having that same vendor document most of their R&D and post it for us to critique and ooh & aah at, speak volumes to me.....and will definately make me feel alot more comfortable doing business with them.......!!!

[Divergent]

Automatic question: Not supported in the initial kit, but we're willing to entertain the idea if there's a market for it.

I am sorry, I meant using an originally automatic vehicle and then going over to a LS1/T56 combo as you guys are accomplishing in the initial kit.

[joon]

would the shorty headers clear the steering shaft on a RHD vehicle? I'm pretty sure there are more than a few ppl interested in this conversion from UK and Asia

[hancheyb]

would the shorty headers clear the steering shaft on a RHD vehicle? I'm pretty sure there are more than a few ppl interested in this conversion from UK and Asia

Hmm, that's going to be a little tough since we won't have one around to mock up. Plus, your brake booster is on the other side, our motor mounts are designed to clear a LHD booster not to mention the hard lines that run from the M/C to the ABS servo motor are different as well. We're always open to help, but I think until Vorshlag LTD opens up in Asia, it might be a little challenging.

Automatic question: Yes, we have started with an automatic. It should be nothing more than finding a clutch pedal assy, m/s and a few hard lines to convert to a manual. The pedal box has mounting points for the pedal already on our car. Fewer parts required than converting a BMW auto to a BMW manual since we're doing the driveshaft AND the T56 has the clutch slave on the throw out bearing. I priced out buying the parts from BMW and it is actually fairly inexpensive. Pricing from salvage yards is dicey because no one really wants to get under a dash for a clutch pedal and a hard line from the clutch m/s to slave, $50 worth of parts. We will most likely locate the parts then go "pick a part" them ourselves.

As for a kit (your question), I'm speculating at this point, but we may provide the challenging parts, lines, etc then tell you what else you need to source. You can decide whether you want new stuff from BMW or salvage them from a car being parted out.

[PrestoMB]

Any update so far? Headers?

[Divergent]

Automatic question: Yes, we have started with an automatic. It should be nothing more than finding a clutch pedal assy...

Thanks for answering my question. Getting the option for the hard parts and the part numbers or such for the other parts (pedals, etc) would be great.

[elias11]

Nice work guys! Any new updates? I have seen this conversion done in Australia on a RHD car a couple of years ago. It was a car converted from a Holden Commodore SS. It also had a badly broken diff. It so happens that a standard 318is diff cant handle the power of a V8!

[joon]

Hmm, that's going to be a little tough since we won't have one around to mock up. Plus, your brake booster is on the other side, our motor mounts are designed to clear a LHD booster not to mention the hard lines that run from the M/C to the ABS servo motor are different as well. We're always open to help, but I think until Vorshlag LTD opens up in Asia, it might be a little challenging.

oh well.. thanks for the quick reply.. E36's are cheap and plentiful here and this would be an awesome project.. I can probably deal with the MC and all the accessories.. it's just the engine mounts and headers I'm concerned about.. if I'm seeing it correct, I think your LHD offset mounts would work if got rid of my RHD vacuum booster and ran a hydraulic-assist booster instead?

anyway.. looking forward to seeing the completion of the beta prototype

[Thaniel]

Thanks for answering my question. Getting the option for the hard parts and the part numbers or such for the other parts (pedals, etc) would be great.

Just pick up a pedal assy from the salvage yard. I did for mine. You could buy each individual piece from BMW but it will more likely cost more.

[TRAyres]

Pick up parts from a junkyard? AMERICAN engine in a BMW? This is all sacrilege!...

Just kidding, I've been waiting for this project to come to kit form for about a year and a half, and I can't wait to see the finished result!!!

ROCK. ON.

[Demon Speed]

Anyone have an idea of how this kit (or this engine in an M) is going to be for daily or semi daily driveability? Noise, vibration, excessive squeaks and rattles, higher underhood temps, etc.
Just wondering.

Either way, I can't wait to hear an update.

[PrestoMB]

Anyone have an idea of how this kit (or this engine in an M) is going to be for daily or semi daily driveability? Noise, vibration, excessive squeaks and rattles, higher underhood temps, etc.
Just wondering.

Either way, I can't wait to hear an update.

+1

[franka]

Anyone have an idea of how this kit (or this engine in an M) is going to be for daily or semi daily driveability? Noise, vibration, excessive squeaks and rattles, higher underhood temps, etc.
Just wondering. Either way, I can't wait to hear an update.

Its not for me to say but I will anyway.

It shouldn't be much different than the original motor. Same apprx weight and the motor runs well in a Chevy. The headers may give off more heat but it shouldn't be a problem.

There should be no squeaks and rattles from the kit or engine. In time the extra torque could concieveably lossen some welds though.

In general I would expect very little difference in the items you listed.

[dynamowhum]

You can always have your headers ceramic coated that greatly reduces underhood temps.

[Ahheck01]

There should be no squeaks and rattles from the kit or engine.

Do the motor mounts that will be provided in the kit have the same vibration-absorbing properties that the OEM BMW ones do? That would surprise me...

-Evan

[Fair]

Anyone have an idea of how this kit (or this engine in an M) is going to be for daily or semi daily driveability? Noise, vibration, excessive squeaks and rattles, higher underhood temps, etc.
Just wondering.

Either way, I can't wait to hear an update.

Update: Headers are being built. Tedious, tedious job we've asked a professional fabricator handle for us. Making them to work with a production cnc-bender adds more thought and tedium to the process. These things take time - a couple more weeks, hopefully.

As for squeaks and rattles, well, the E36 chassis is pretty tight. My daily driven '97 M3 has zero squeaks after 117K miles, 100's of solo events on sticky rubber, spherical bearing camber plates, and 750# springs. Will adding 150+ hp add to the stress on the unibody chassis? Surely, but not unbearably so. We'll see as we rack up the miles, but certain aspects are already planned for upgrading, including the rear subframe (some added gussets), the lower K-member brace (we'll make an alternate to the factory convertible/LTW "X-brace"), and an upper strut tower brace (our Mason Engineering braces fit with ease). Now on our customers 700+ hp version, considerably more chassis bracing will be added to this track terror, such as a 10+ point cage, thru-the-floor subframe connectors, etc.

Do the motor mounts that will be provided in the kit have the same vibration-absorbing properties that the OEM BMW ones do? That would surprise me...

-Evan

Prepare to be surprised. Our LS1 swap set-up uses our proven Polyurethane Competition Vorshlag E36/E46 motor mounts as a part of the LS1 motor mount assembly. These work well in the E36/E46 on the street - much firmer than OEM goo-filled rubber mounts but not vibration prone below 1000 rpms like our Nylon Ultra-Competition motor mounts. So, they won't be "factory BMW" NVH free, but damn close. More impressions will be posted when the headers are done and its running.

[joon]

it breaks my heart to see no RHD headers in development haha :P

damn I've gotta find a way to make this work on our RHD cars... LOL

[trebla]

HI there folks, some possibly dumb questions cumming up (i'm not technical)

I would like to know if the mod will be fully integrated with the current speedo and ref counter and i presume that the onboard computer will be out of a job (no range,distance,consumption,check and code?)

Cant wait to see/order the final product ! :-)

[PrestoMB]

Bump

[DaveAZ]

HI there folks, some possibly dumb questions cumming up (i'm not technical)

I would like to know if the mod will be fully integrated with the current speedo and rev counter and i presume that the onboard computer will be out of a job (no range,distance,consumption,check and code?)

Cant wait to see/order the final product ! :-)

Speedo is off the diff (yes)
rev counter requires a modification to make it read 8cyl instead of 6 cyl (yes)

onboard "Check ok" box goes away (no loss- you never know when your washer fluid is low or when your brake circuit is just fine but it tells you it isn't.)

You also get a new port to the LS-1 computer.

[trebla]

Thanks man ! :-)

"I need to see this car in action"

[wopperjr]

Any idea on price?