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Vorshlag E46 Alpha - 330Ci LSx Build Thread

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  • #46
    Re: Vorshlag E46 Alpha - 330Ci LSx Build Thread

    Sorry guys, I am WAY behind in posting updates on E46 and E36 LS1 swap parts availability and progress! There are all sorts of sub-system kits and new parts we've developed that are not covered in the build threads just yet. So, yes, please watch our blog and the Vorshlag Facebook page for more timely updates.




    We have a lot of new things available for both models that are on our website right now. We are a bit understaffed at the moment and I am trying to fix that. Once we "man up" a bit I can catch up on several build threads and announcement posts.



    Our Alpha E46 LSx has the "pause" button pressed briefly while we finish the ST2/TT2 E36 LSx race car above, but the E46 goes back under the knife in December. The roll cage started yesterday for the E36 above, so it is moving fast.



    The NB Miata LSx project is also picking up major steam with a new tubular front crossmember, drivetrain is placed and measured, new front suspension and 18x10" wheels located, etc.

    More soon on all of these projects!
    Last edited by Fair!; 11-05-2013, 03:41 PM.
    Terry Fair - www.vorshlag.com
    2018 GT / S550 Dev + 2013 FR-S / 86 Dev + 2011 GT / S197 Dev + C4 Corvette Dev
    EVO X Dev + 2007 Z06 / C6 Dev + BMW E46 Dev + C5 Corvette Dev

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    • #47
      Re: Vorshlag E46 Alpha - 330Ci LSx Build Thread

      Originally posted by wolrah View Post
      Yes there were, sort of large updates, that for some reason no one at Vorshlag thought would be worthy of posting here...

      http://www.vorshlag.com/blog/?p=631

      Stage 0 bits are on sale since July. I wish I had checked the blog when I made my last post, but I assumed I'd get a thread sub bump when anything actually happened. Anyways for anyone else who had subbed here and doesn't follow their blog, click the link and see parts.
      Well i'm actually interested more in the ford 8.8" rear swap that they were planning but looks like no head way on that yet

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      • #48
        Re: Vorshlag E46 Alpha - 330Ci LSx Build Thread

        What about a driveshaft?

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        • #49
          Re: Vorshlag E46 Alpha - 330Ci LSx Build Thread

          any update?

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          • #50
            Re: Vorshlag E46 Alpha - 330Ci LSx Build Thread

            Originally posted by DougNuts
            Terry,

            I know there have been some updates in the last 3 years, but what's the status of LS swaps into E46 chassis these days? A close friend of mine is kicking around the idea of building one, just as a street car.

            I see that Vorshlag sells some swap parts, but what's new in regards to making it work in the chassis? Is there anything required to keep electrical items working, such as door locks, sunroof, etc.? Would a guy need to start off with a manual car? Is there a certain car (328 vs. 330) that is the clear choice to start from? Is it remotely possible to have working A/C?
            Yea, there's a lot of things that have happened that delayed a few things on some of the E46 swap development I had hoped to tackle by now. Its a bit of a long story on why we haven't done the CAN interface for the E46... but it is actually NOW being actively developed (by the 4th set of programmers we have tried to work with over the years). Let me try to explain in my long winded, picture-laden way you are used to...



            We had every intention of building this white 2001 BMW 330 Coupe into an LS1 monster "shop car", but initially we only used it for mock-up work to develop the headers, motor mounts, and other drivetrain bits. This car was purchased as a roller with no wiring harness or interior, and it would have been difficult to use it for a street car CAN-interface test bed. We did complete the LS1 "drivetrain mount" and header development a few years ago using this car.



            We have sold approx 20 sets of our E46 swap LS1 motor mounts, trans crossmembers, steering shafts and headers for E46 racers, drifters, and a few street car guys.



            During the time period where we should have started building this monster E46 LSx "Alpha" build for a shop car... we got side tracked as we developed this silly Mustang instead.



            And with the efforts learned from racing this S197 over 5 seasons we got buried in work on these cars, made lots of suspension/brake/wheel/aero/etc components for Mustangs, and it even bled over into the S550...



            After the development we did on the S197 had run its course we sold that car in mid 2015, but had two other "shop race car" projects already underway.



            One of those (C4) had a number of ideas we tested on it. We proved our theories and won the races we wanted to in that, so it is being painted right now and will be sold very soon. The red E46 above is a TT-Letter build that my wife races, but we have several development projects planned for this car so its staying around for awhile. But we do need a 2nd shop car to showcase our V8 swap efforts.



            The somewhat rare "sunroof-less" E46 330 white coupe above will now likely become a SpecE46 race car for a customer later this year instead of a V8 monster...



            ...because we got the word from a customer just yesterday to start the build on this E46 M3 chassis (above) into a MEGA-monster V8 track-only car. That we can drive at certain events. With that car we will also finally be able to develop and offer a driveshaft solution (this car will have a Tremec T56 Magnum 6-speed), an LS-capable clutch hydraulic system (clutch master + TOB + bleeder), radiator / hose solutions, and a few other bits and pieces. Since it is slated to be a "no holds barred" race car it will have: a digital dash, gutted interior, no air con, and a non-BMW ABS system, so there will be no need to make the CAN interface on this particular build.



            So yea, long story short - we haven't had a chance to build a 100% street capable LS powered E46, so we haven't spent the time to develop a CAN-BUS interface. There are a number of industrious forum folks who have working gauges, air con, ABS and more in their E46 LSx swaps. Bimmerforums has an engine swap sub-forum where you can find a few folks to help in those areas. It needs a lot of special wiring and programming to make a emissions legal, fully functional street car. I have yet to see a simple, plug-and-play solution marketed or available to help with this.



            Our CAN-interface efforts have not been for a lack of trying - we worked with 3 different programmers who said they could tackle the CAN-BUS integration of a GM computer with another computer to make the FR-S LSx gauges, electric steering, air con, and other CAN-wired bits work. So far we have very little to show for their efforts, but hopefully one of them will someday get the magic black box and programming to work. If I had a dollar for every person who told me "how easy" this should be to do...



            We've recently started working with another wiring harness supplier who makes very integrated V8 swap harness solutions for BMWs and other cars. They just purchased a set of our E46 LS1 swap headers and mounts so that they can build their own shop car E46 M3 V8, which they plan to develop a wiring solution and CAN interface for these cars. Their build is a street car so it needs ALL of the sub-systems to work.



            I also hired a technician/fabricator a month ago who can reprogram GM computers via HP Tuners, and we have that suite of tuning software here at Vorshlag now. Just earlier today he tweaked the programming to make the integrated MIL light on the 1999 Miata below to work. He wired in the Mazda water temp sensor, tach signal from the GM computer, oil pressure signal, and speed signal (through a programmable decoder box) to the Mazda gauge cluster. The MIL light works perfectly, too.



            So we're working on our own in-house "capabilities" to shorten development times on new and existing V8 swaps, hopefully trimming it down from "years" to "months". Again, we have JUST started a rather ambitious E46 M3 LS swap this week, but it will allow us to develop a few more "hard parts" for use in E46 swaps, and we have a new group working on E46 LS swap wiring / CAN interface solutions. I will update this thread when we have more to share.
            Last edited by modernbeat; 08-03-2016, 06:38 PM.
            Terry Fair - www.vorshlag.com
            2018 GT / S550 Dev + 2013 FR-S / 86 Dev + 2011 GT / S197 Dev + C4 Corvette Dev
            EVO X Dev + 2007 Z06 / C6 Dev + BMW E46 Dev + C5 Corvette Dev

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