Project LSX 4.6is

[m5james]

Originally Posted by bmwman528e

It's very doable just doesn't fit my needs at all and would require more fabrication etc.

We're in Seattle, so it's not that AWD is really a necessity, it'd just kinda defy the point of getting an SAV...but then again I've got a 2wd Harley F150 and most would say that's a waste of a truck lol. Nevertheless, it'd be nice in the bigger picture to have LQ* reliability. I've emailed you in the past about doing this exact build, so I hope you document the hell outta this build because it's going to save me questions later

[X53Jay4.8is]

Originally Posted by bmwman528e

It's very doable just doesn't fit my needs at all and would require more fabrication etc.

2WD in Michigan?

[bmwman528e]

Originally Posted by X53Jay4.8is

2WD in Michigan?

It wont be driven all year round or daily even in the summertime. That's what the 5sp e53 is for.

[bcredliner]

What do you end up with as an OBC, wiring harness, dash warnings, cluster info, etc?

[bmwman528e]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

What do you end up with as an OBC, wiring harness, dash warnings, cluster info, etc?

Speedo will work as it goes off of the ABS wheel speed sensors which will remain in their stock locations. I will use BMW 1.4 to get into the gauge cluster and turn the rpm signal from digital to analog and then run a wire from the GM ECU to the back of the cluster to have an operational tach. The factory water temperature sensor will be retro fitted into the cooling system I decide to run. The stock in tank fuel pump and sending unit will be retained so the fuel gauge will work as stock but I will replace the factory bmw fuel filter with a corvette fuel filter/FPR. There is a way to get the MPG reading etc to work with some fine tuning but it will not be my top priority. Wiring for this swap should be very similar to the E39 swaps I have done in the past. I'll document as we go along.

This is a toy vehicle for me so keeping AWD was not necessary and with higher hp goals down the road I didn't want to have to keep replacing driveline components.

[lo_jack]

As someone who spent a lot of time on LS1tech long ago, I am interested to see where this leads.

I understand keeping the costs down, but I would surely like to see some variety of T56. Maybe later?

[bmwman528e]

Originally Posted by lo_jack

As someone who spent a lot of time on LS1tech long ago, I am interested to see where this leads.

I understand keeping the costs down, but I would surely like to see some variety of T56. Maybe later?

I agree 100%! I have 2 t-56's in my garage but one of them needs to be refreshed and the other is bone stock with 70k on it. I don't think with the added weight and additional hp H/C/I setup a stock t-56 wouldn't last that long. A Magnum T-56 rated at 700 ft lb torque would fit the bill perfectly but they are $3500 + clutch flywheel etc and then having to change the car to accept the third pedal.

[SlickGT1]

I would think a third pedal would be the easy part considering the X did have a model with it.

[bluejeansonfire]

gonna cut up the half shafts? I've always wondered what the best route would be to hold the front wheel bearings together and delete the fwd half of it. Two things I dream of doing: 1 , gut an x-drive to make my x5 rwd only and delete everything starting with the front driveshaft. 2, weld an xdrive together so it's 50/50 all the time.

[bmwman528e]

***PLOT TWIST****

Car got delivered today and saw something hanging from the rear of the truck. The mechanical damage on the truck was a broken rear driveshaft not a bad motor. We jump started the truck and it sounds great. Not really sure what to do right now. It has a small coolant leak but not sure if I can tear it apart just yet. I'm going to throw a driveshaft in it today if I can and see how she does on the road.