Lots of progress this week. Initial test fit of the engine and marking of the frame rails and brackets that need to be removed. Two cuts were made into the frame rails, left and right, to allow the exhaust manifolds to fit. The ABS pump will be relocated and the steering shaft will be moved …
Read moreBuild Update Week #13 May 21, 2021: LS3 looks at home in the M3
When searching for the project car, it’s important to keep in mind the tradeoffs with a 25-year-old vehicle. Do I ship or drive the car from the seller to the builder? Do I repair rust or narrow my search geography to the Western US? How important is the interior? Do I repaint the entire car …
Read more58 Days,11 Cars, 3 PPI’s 4 States and Canada: Search for the Project BMW e36 M3
What a fantastic week. Jake and Tim removed the S52, ZF 5 speed, and insulation. The engine bay looked very good . There was a tiny bit of surface rust on the right shock tower. Jakes plan is to clean up the surface rust and make the seams look nice. We learned that the previous …
Read moreBuild Week #8: Engine is out and LS3 gets Delivered
The worldwide semiconductor “chip” shortage is delaying our LS3 and T-56 Super Magnum shipment. Its not an LS swap unless you have the LS. The M3 will get dyno numbers and weighed this week. We want to see what the car weighs before the swap and compare it after the LS swap. I am looking …
Following in the Footsteps of the Pioneering Professor Plum Professor Plum always wanted to build a BMW M3 California legal swap restomod. His rear wheel drive e36 M3 would enter the league of muscle cars with a more powerful engine. From his California Air Resources Board (CARB) BAR referee conversation, a California-legal e36 LS swap …
Once I took possession of the car and drove it for a few days, I started to notice problems and annoyances that I overlooked on the initial inspection and test drives. I made some mistakes by not adhering to my golden rule for buying a used car. Always get a PPI,pre purchase inspection, by a …
Two weeks ago, the emotional roller coaster of finding out that the EROD motor would not work for us since the car is a 96 sent us looking for a solution. We basically had 2 paths: 1, sell the 96 and find a 95 M3 and use an EROD Connect and Cruise set up, or …
Read moreDecision Time or the Path to a CARB-Approved LS swap – Build Week #3
I read a blog post about the Flyin’ Miata team and how they offer an EROD-powered LS swap Miata. I noticed that they only sold the kit for 1995 and older Miatas. This made me look at the CARB engine swap guidelines, and I started to sweat. The CARB EO for the EROD motor says …
Read morePanic Time “That EROD engine package won’t work” Build Week #1
My goal is to build a California-legal, LS3-swapped, 1996 Dakar Yellow M3 restomod. The LS M3 will keep its subdued 90s look but be transformed into a reliable, unique, fun, and comfortable daily driver. I get the question from people and my family why a 90s e36 M3? Why a yellow M3? Wait, you’re going …