Re: [E28] Has anyone done a Chevy/Ford V8 conversion?

[John Edward Miller <jem@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> Well, you'd be adding a lot of weight to the front of the car, which will
> increase understeer a whole bunch, and that kind of ruins the nice
> handling balance you mentioned.  

According to published info, the iron-block small sixes are approx 400 lb.
The iron-block 3.3-3.5 sixes are approx 500 lb.  The aluminum-block M60 V-8
was 470; I'll assume the M62 is similar.  

With iron heads and aluminum water puimp, a Ford 302 is 460 lb, a Chevy LT1
350 is 550.   Aluminum heads will take about 40 lb off those numbers.  The
Camaro LS1 (all aluminum, under 500 lb, 305HP base-model rating but the
320HP-rated SS and 345HP 'Vette are reputedly all exactly the same save for
the brochures) and its 6-speed T-56 transmission are a beautiful powertrain
that begs to be put in a real car.   

So, the absolute worst-case scenario here (eta motor to iron-head Chevy
LT-1) you're adding 150 lb to the front end.  Not good, but no worse than a
535.  Best-case, a Ford 302 with aluminum heads and a T-5, you're adding
<50 lb but the CG of the Ford lump will be several inches further rearward
than the BMW lump.  If the tall Ford EFI intake will fit under the Bimmer
hood, 275HP from a streetable, smog-legal 5-liter is off-the-shelf stuff.  

There's lots of reasons not to do an engine swap - the weeks spent sorting
out plumbing, linkages, etc - but at least in this case weight and/or
balance isn't one of them.  

John.

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