Supercharged 383 LS6/T56 in Z4

[v8z4]

I had posted this over on Bimmerforums and Z4-forum, but forgot to post it here. Currently in the process of assembling a 427CI/7.0Liter LS7 and a T56 into a Z4.

pictures:

the car:






the engine:






















the transmission:







the rear end:

[v8z4]

Here's the pictures/writeup from the M3 diff install. The diff install itself was direct bolt in (well obviously since BMW designed it to be interchangeable with the E46 rear).

I opted to machine the M3 diff cover rather than buy a new Z4M diff cover ($250 + shipping from Germany and 2 weeks wait). I just marked (actually sprayed bluing over the rear cross bars) where the bars would hit, mounted the diff cover in the mill, and removed fins as necessary. End result gives plenty of clearance while retaining more cooling capacity than the Z4M cover (not to mention I'm $250+ shipping ahead).

While I was swapping, I also converted from "BMW specific" steel braided brake lines to standard steel braided lines with -3AN fittings and lengthened by a few inches. This way I'm prepped to convert to Porsche calipers in the future.

I also scored a set of Eibach Pro-Kit springs a local guy was dumping ($50). He had purchased them new, never installed them, and traded his Z4 for a new 5 series. So being stuck with a set of "worthless" springs, he just wanted them gone.

The hardest part was getting the stock 5 speed drive shaft shortened. Not surprisingly, the drive shaft tube it's a metric pipe (so standard 1310 yoke ends won't fit it) and nobody around Phoenix has the flanges necessary to grab a BMW year diff yoke. I had to machine an adapter sleeve to convert the metric pipe ID to an American 1310 drive shaft yoke. Then I had to machine a hub for the drive shaft shop to be able to grab the rear flange.

In the end, it took a week of head scratching/trying different options, a half a day of machining parts, and 30 mins. for them to actually shorten/weld/balance the shaft. :rofl:

So, some pictures:

Most places they just swipe your rims/tires, around here they take the whole rear axle. :P






All in, ready to go.








Modified M3 Diff Cover:












Update: I was asked how to avoid buying a Z4M shaft (save money) and also avoid changing the pinion yoke/flange like I did. So, I suggested the following:

Start with the stock Z4 drive shaft (either 5 speed or 6 speed, whichever transmission you have), get a used M3 drive shaft (does not matter from what car). Cut the back flange off the Z4 shaft (in the straight section, stay away from the tapered/necked down area). Cut the M3 shaft (cut it long to be safe) so you have the diff end CV joint section. Make an adapter sleeve from steel bar that has steps, one end for the Z4 shaft, the other end for the M3 shaft (see picture):

The ID/OD interface needs to be around 0.005" press fit (is what I'm told by drive shaft shops and is what I used on my shaft).

[Blind32]

Awesome build! Looking forward to following it!

[Finnegan]

Holy cow!

[Walkurie]

Please keep us posted, and good luck!

[ricanbandit]

Wow! I wish I had the mechanical ability to tackle something like this. Please keep us posted

[ZStig]

I wanted to do something like this instead of supercharging, but the open checkbook approach scared me away

[a_riddler]

how and the heck did you keep this under your hat for a year??

/subscribed

[yousefnjr]

Awww yeah, can't wait to hear how awesome this is going to sound! Love American v8 noise

[v8z4]

I kept it on the DL until things started really rolling. Because I didn't know how long it was going to take to be able to fully afford the project, I didn't want to be "well... one of these days I'm going to do it.....".

Want to see something crazy cool, read what this guy is doing: http://ls1tech.com/forums/conversion...ls1-build.html

[jra]

staying tuned...

[VinnieAces]

dude you are the man

sub'd

[TSM330i]

Great project!
I know from reading enough of these swaps that the biggest issue is computer controls for the car vs. the engine.

I seriously thought about swapping an LS7 into my e90 330 and it basically came down to the fact that it would be "impossible" due to the computer issues. A local shop who is REALLY good at doing stuff like this said the "impossible" can be done, it just costs more

Good-luck!

[dre99gsx]

Engine sump clearance issues up front? Or still TBD?

[v8z4]

Originally Posted by TSM330i

Great project!
I know from reading enough of these swaps that the biggest issue is computer controls for the car vs. the engine.

I seriously thought about swapping an LS7 into my e90 330 and it basically came down to the fact that it would be "impossible" due to the computer issues. A local shop who is REALLY good at doing stuff like this said the "impossible" can be done, it just costs more

Good-luck!

I'm ditching the entire BMW ECU and running the LSx off of the GM ECU. I'm working with some guys over on Bimmerforums to create a CANBus interface that will take the GM tach/speedo/temps/etc. outputs, put them onto the CANBus, and drive the gauges/AC/etc. We think we have it all sorted out (or mostly sorted out), but none of us have a "driving" car yet to test with (we either have stock setup still/me, cars that don't run/blown BMW engine, or are in the middle of the project/pulled engine but nothing finished yet).

Worst case I am willing to ditch the factory gauges and build a new cluster around aftermarket gauges.

Originally Posted by dre99gsx

Engine sump clearance issues up front? Or still TBD?

Well I'm using a dry sump setup (LS7 pan and remote oil tank) so the sump is smaller, but numerous individuals have installed LS1s into E46s using camaro pans. In order to hit the shifter hole in the tunnel, the engine/trans will have to sit back 3" behind where it does in an E46, so oil pan clearance should not be an issue either way.

[Blind32]

Originally Posted by v8z4

Want to see something crazy cool, read what this guy is doing: http://ls1tech.com/forums/conversion...ls1-build.html

That is..... INSANE!

At first, I didn't realize what I was looking at... Wow an LS1..Big deal. Then I counted the headers

[Z4Murder]

awesome... best of luck to you. subscribed

[johanness]

Originally Posted by v8z4

I kept it on the DL until things started really rolling. Because I didn't know how long it was going to take to be able to fully afford the project, I didn't want to be "well... one of these days I'm going to do it.....".

Want to see something crazy cool, read what this guy is doing: http://ls1tech.com/forums/conversion...ls1-build.html

Holy crap! Did a Straight-8 cross your mind?

Good luck with everything. Sub'd

[Z@T]

Wow!! You took my dream and make it real!

I'm thinking since I bought my Z4 to put an LS engine in it.

Please keep us updated.

[v8z4]

Once I get it finished, it should be easy to duplicate.

[philjw]

This is insane. Very jealous

[Z4MGTO]

This is by far one of the greatest concepts I've seen on this forum thus far. I wish you the best of luck on this and am super excited to see this project completed. My other car ('06 GTO) has an LS2 in it and it hauls ass, I can only imagine what this car is going to be like when its finished. Keep us posted on the status of this project as I cannot wait to see a finished product. Badass!!

/Subscribed