BMW 4.4ltr V8 into E36 Saloon..!

BMWE36V8 · Post by **BMWE36V8** » Sun Dec 26, 2010 10:55 am

I live about 5 miles from there, my mate was there, big guy with burger van described your car to me, so I guest it had to be
the one, next time you come over this way let me know I'd love to see your car in the flesh...

Steve.

Frenchguy · Post by **Frenchguy** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 9:42 pm

What has been done to your engine for it to produce more power than stock? Chipped or something more serious?

I can't wait to read your driving impressions! A rev-happy torquey V8 has got to be quite something!

BMWE36V8 · Post by **BMWE36V8** » Tue Dec 28, 2010 12:37 pm

Well, the engine it self is stock, but if your familiar with the V8 BMW units they have a few issue's, exhaust manifolds
are rubbish to be fair, because of clearence issue's on 5's and 7's (steering box in the way), I have 4 - 2 - 1 manifolds,
1 3/4" primaries, 2" secondaries and 2 1/2" system, and no cats......

Also the engine is mapped for auto gearbox and rubbish fuel (91 ron), I have also fitted a 100mm throttle body
(stock 80mm), and I am using Emerald K6 engine managment, totally programmable and I only run it on
Shell V-power (99 ron) fuel... I have read that some guy's in the states have got upto 350hp out of these
and they still run cats... So hopefully mine will make 340ish.... Finger crossed.

I have driven it a couple of times, but it hasen't been mapped yet, it is a little scarey, and road condition's have not help...!!!

I will post some pic's of the exhaust in the next installment...

Steve.

stevieturbo · Post by **stevieturbo** » Tue Dec 28, 2010 4:20 pm

It should make decent power. Although really cant see the need for such a large TB. Even 80mm is far more than needed for 400bhp.

All it will do is make it nastier to drive at low throttle openings.

A Std LSx with 350-400 only has a 75mm TB, and even that is adequate.

Odd it would be setup for 91RON fuel. Does anywhere in Europe even use such fuel ??

Eliot · Post by **Eliot** » Tue Dec 28, 2010 5:51 pm

stevieturbo wrote:It should make decent power. Although really cant see the need for such a large TB. Even 80mm is far more than needed for 400bhp.

All it will do is make it nastier to drive at low throttle openings.

A Std LSx with 350-400 only has a 75mm TB, and even that is adequate.

Odd it would be setup for 91RON fuel. Does anywhere in Europe even use such fuel ??

Agreed.
Although I think my LS3 is 90mm? (happy to be shown wrong)
edit: it is 90mm, but mine is 6.3L with 430bhp. I used to own a 4.4 BMW and i can tell you the LS3 it significantly quicker.

BMWE36V8 · Post by **BMWE36V8** » Tue Dec 28, 2010 11:55 pm

Hello,

I believe that bmw in there infornant wisdom didn't build the 4.4 with power in mind more for torque,
and fuel wise it will basically run on any old rubbish, it also had four knock sensors to make sure it
would come to no harm..!!

TB was really abit of a gamble to be honest, a mate of a mate ran some calculation's on some fancy software that
he uses at work, and because I wanted it to produce max power higher up the rpm range, giving a wider power band
it was a case of shorterning inlet runner length (not easy on a plastic manifold) or increasing butterfly diameter, to
increase air flow higher up, only other choice is to fit individual throttle bodies.....To much money for now..!!

I understand that you guy's are running smaller throttle bodies, but a capacity of nearly 2ltr's more, so just by size
your already up, if you fitted a 60mm TB to a 6.3ltr it still make 350hp but at less rpm, the theory behind it is make it
flow better and hope I get it right...!!!

Which 4.4 V8 bm did you own, was it auto? I bet it wasn't in a 3 series..!! How much does your 6.3 ltr car weigh?

Steve.

Mark · Post by **Mark** » Wed Dec 29, 2010 8:58 am

What a great project

Makes me wonder why I've spent so much cash on an old iron V8 that will only be around 340bhp

Are you going to get the car on Emerald's rollers ?

Keep the updates coming

Mark

stevieturbo · Post by **stevieturbo** » Wed Dec 29, 2010 10:25 am

A larger TB wont compensate for a restrictive intake manifold though.

Ultimately a restriction is a restriction.

Bit like when that big dinner plate wants to get into your stomach....you're making your mouth bigger wont get it down your narrow throat any quicker lol

But it is a modern multivalve engine, I'm sure you will have no difificulty at all making the power you need. And Ive no doubt that with better mapping, it will rev quite happily.

Overall the LS engines arent heavy for what they are, but they arent overly revvy engines. Your BMW unit should be much better i that respect I'd think.

Either way, it will be great fun to drive !!

BMWE36V8 · Post by **BMWE36V8** » Wed Dec 29, 2010 3:37 pm

Thanks for all coments guy's.

Hope to have it upto dave end of feb ealy march time, I have been driving it a bit, its basically running off the afr target map at mo, but dave will set up properly getting fuel and ignition right, I'm just getting cold starting and that sort of stuff sorted at the mo, we just need some better weather really...!!!

I will post some more pics soon.

BMWE36V8 · Post by **BMWE36V8** » Sat Jan 01, 2011 12:03 am

Ok, next installment.

Exhaust... Well I did have my own company a few years ago doing this kinda stuff, but unfortunately it is no more... But used to make exhaust as part of the work I carried out..

I used the original BMW exhaust flanges, just cut them off flush. I then made new exhaust manifolds from mild steel (I have used stainless in the past but these can sometimes crack in my experience), I used a 4-2-1 design for clearence purposes more than anything else, I originally intended to make 4 into 1's but there is no room for the 4 way collector under the car.....

Nearside.....

Offside.....

You can see how tight it is round steering column.....

The system itself is made from stainless, 2 1/2" bore with an X-pipe and then an M3 Scorpion back box to finish it off....

So I think that cover's the exhaust.....

More soon.

Steve.

unstable load · Post by **unstable load** » Sat Jan 01, 2011 7:18 am

Nice work!
I noticed on the close up picture (3rd one) that one of the engine mount bolts has nothing to attach to on the structure. Is that from moving it back or is it a different part number mount?

Hope it gives you lots of good miles, I like your approach to problem solving.

BMWE36V8 · Post by **BMWE36V8** » Sat Jan 01, 2011 11:23 am

Hello,

Yeah, the rudder engine mount's are from an E34 V8 5 Series, and for some reason, which I haven't worked out yet, they have two mounting bolts, but the engine doesn't seem to move about....!! So I will leave it as is for now.

Steve.

beelzebubs · Post by **beelzebubs** » Thu Jan 13, 2011 11:05 pm

Hi mate, I have an e36 Ti, with a mk1 escort body kit, and I'm really enjoying reading your thread, as aspheticaly as I like the look of the 4 cylinder twink, I think I'm gonna be wanting a little more poke, and the inline 6 just doesn't look good in my opinion, so I really would like to V8 it....v12 with a 300mm shorter chassis than a standard e36 I think would just be lunacy, besides wiring a v12 in, is an issue for me...

anywho, now looking at your images, I think I'm gonna go the v8 route, so would like to ask you if you would be interested in making a set of those headders for me? Engine mountings, sump, oil pump all seam to be in my remit, it's just getting my eye round them curves.....you wouldnt even have to seam em, just tacked would be fine...

anywho, please get back to me either way

Pawl

p.s this is my asphetically pleaseing 4 pot

beelzebubs · Post by **beelzebubs** » Sun Jan 30, 2011 12:24 pm

It's ok, I found a company that make the manifolds for the E36 V8, slighly different to yours as you fit the engine, then feed the stearing rack and linkage, £319 + vat

Thanks again guy for your fast responce

Pawl

Frenchguy · Post by **Frenchguy** » Sun Jan 30, 2011 2:18 pm

Hi,

any news on this project?