So the idea came up about two years ago, a friend I were B.S.ing about cars and I said, M3 with LS1. Friend said great idea. I said it's been done many times. Back then I knew nothing about what was involved so it just remained as an idea. Then back in November of 2010 I was sitting on Oakton between Busse and Elmhust roads waiting for a car in front of me to turn left. I look in my RVM and see a Monte Carlo? Lumina? coming and I knew "this dude ain't stoppin'". Got hit fairly hard.
So my insurance company totaled the car, I bought it back and had $5800 difference to find another M3. I found a rust free '95 in Lexington and was able to get it for exactly $5800. Free M3! It's a car that had been in California up until 2009. High mileage, but who cares, everything is getting replaced anyways in my mind.
The day I bought it.
Over the winter of 2010 into the spring of 2011. I replaced every nut, bolt, bushing, spring, shock, strut, & mount on the front and rear suspension. A lot of the good parts from the 95 went on my 98. Everything on the 95 was going to be new.
In March of 2011 I found a conversion kit for sale locally that consited of headers, engine & trans mounts and a Hyroboost barke set up with a modified pedal assembly.
Got the car put back together around June of last year and at the same time I found a LS6 long block on eBay for $1200. It was from an '05 CTSv with 50K miles. Turns out the CTSv oil pan would clear the BMW subframe.
Once I had the car back on the road I put the engine and trans up for sale. Figured I'd enjoy the car until someone bought them. Plus it's easier to prove the engine is good if you can let them drive the car. The motor and trans sold quick.
At Road America last summer.
Engine and trans coming out in July 2011.
Will Continue.
So my insurance company totaled the car, I bought it back and had $5800 difference to find another M3. I found a rust free '95 in Lexington and was able to get it for exactly $5800. Free M3! It's a car that had been in California up until 2009. High mileage, but who cares, everything is getting replaced anyways in my mind.
The day I bought it.
Over the winter of 2010 into the spring of 2011. I replaced every nut, bolt, bushing, spring, shock, strut, & mount on the front and rear suspension. A lot of the good parts from the 95 went on my 98. Everything on the 95 was going to be new.
In March of 2011 I found a conversion kit for sale locally that consited of headers, engine & trans mounts and a Hyroboost barke set up with a modified pedal assembly.
Got the car put back together around June of last year and at the same time I found a LS6 long block on eBay for $1200. It was from an '05 CTSv with 50K miles. Turns out the CTSv oil pan would clear the BMW subframe.
Once I had the car back on the road I put the engine and trans up for sale. Figured I'd enjoy the car until someone bought them. Plus it's easier to prove the engine is good if you can let them drive the car. The motor and trans sold quick.
At Road America last summer.
Engine and trans coming out in July 2011.
Will Continue.