Doing an engine swap is a little like having a baby. If people were honest with you about what a pain in the A** it is, nobody would do it. If anyone is contemplating this task give me a call and I will do my best to talk you out of it.
As everyone knows the engine swap was completed just in time to race a Summit September 24 and 25th. However, simply getting the motor running does not a fast car make. I was deviled the entire weekend by a drive train and transmission that wanted to tear itself apart as I approached 100mph. This forced me to lift at start/stop all the way to the brake zone at turn one. Not the fastest way to navigate a track.
The second issue was my “new� used LSD diff. Its tag claimed that it was limited slip but the diff had different ideas. Because the “limited slip� had become a “maximum spin� I drove the carousel all weekend my unloaded rear tire spinning wildly. The last time the world saw good tires turned to aerosol so quickly was when Vic and Han rented a 2005 Mustang(what person in their right mind would give those two a new Mustang for the weekend?).
Since Summit I have put a “new� transmission and diff in the car. Because Vic and I (as professional drivers on a closed course) were able to lay a 50 foot burnout with both rear wheels last night, I believe that the LSD is working as BMW intended. The conundrum remains the drive train vibration. It is MUCH better; however, at about 95mph under power there is a nasty vibration coming from the driveshaft. The vibration goes away if you lift off the throttle. To date, I have replaced the transmission, diff, driveshaft center bearing, pilot bearing, all four wheel bearings and axles. When I removed the driveshaft the universal joints appeared to be in good shape with no play. Does anyone have any thoughts? Drive shaft needs to be removed and professionally balanced?
Thanks to Bimmerworld for providing limitless tec. info and great parts at a fair price throughout this process.
See you guys at Summit this weekend
Alex
