The Miata will never be as cool as this car, and I don't care if it's 600 lbs. heavier. It really doesn't matter, especially if you put a LS in it, and you can pull up to a Gala with a beautiful woman on your arm in this SAME car! 💯🔥🔥🔥👌🏽😎
Agreed. I love hearing about the $800k super car I can't afford from time to time, but I want to hear about the sub $100k enthusiast builds for the most part.
Couldn't agree more. Sometimes I think the internet treats the difficulty of LS swaps to something akin to an intake swap. Motor swaps are not easy, especially if it isn't a prefab kit. And in any type of project, something always happens: fitment issues, electronics, parts availibility, shop time/issues, etc.
Thank you! I made a conscious choice to keep the stock look. If a cop is gonna roll into a car show and start popping hoods and busting chops, I'd like to look as subtle as possible.
If the owner is reading! Ref overheating: you might have a giant radiator but you don't appear to have any undertray or ducting. Radiators work by flow, and flow only occurs if there is a pressure differential across them. With no undertray, the pressure in your engine bay (behind the rad) won't be much less than the pressure in front. Have a go at modding and refitting the OE undertray to reduce the pressure behind and adding some ducting in front of the rad to increase the pressure.
Common on overheating turbo MX-5s where people have removed the tray and ducting to fit their intercooler pipes in. Oh and - your car is awesome. Classic small hot rod Roadster combo. Bravo!
just to clear up, z3 M has the same front fenders as all z3 roadsters, not wide. The rear fender is the same as the stock 6clyinder pre facelift, and the hoods are all the same apart from the side grills, but thar can be taken off and is interchangable
The stock PS pump for most LS applications is beyond overkill for most other steering racks. It leads to super light steering. A restrictor in the system drastically improves feel.
They always tend to sound raspy and tinny. Like there's no bass in the sound, just a bunch of metal clanking around lol. Induction noise is heavenly though
@@brandonsever2576 I had a 95 US s50 w/ SS rep headers, real SS mid pipe, and Corsa rsc36 tail and it sounded amazing and better than any “tinny” s54(though those can change with different rear boxes).
I’ve never heard you this animated before. It sounds like a kid Christmas morning who got everything they wanted plus the stuff you thought your parents couldn’t does. Awesome review.
Hey Zack or whoever reads these. Tell the owner the overheating issue is most likely air bubbles trapped in the heads because the steam ports arent connected to the radiator.
Isn't an aluminum block LS engine lighter weight than the M5x? Why is there more weight on the front axle? AND! What is that watch you're rocking there Zack?
Love the community cars. I like seeing the good ones. Maybe do a shit box every once in a while, something from the Roadkill fleet or Hotrod Garage, just to get a different review of them.
Personal cars are my favorite content. This one follows the recipe of the Shelby Cobra, so in that sense it's already a tried and true approach to the performance automobile.
Hi Matt… brilliant vlog and great lines. I am resident in the UK which is just one network of speeding cameras so you are living the dream. I also own a 2001 Z3 convertible which will be garaged over the winter for a full refurbish. The only replacement part I can’t attempt is the roof so off to the experts for that one. My question is: did you ever consider electrifying a Z3 which I intend to do summer 2023 do you think there any issues specifically changing the dynamics and mass. The Z3 you featured looks like it handles even better is that due to the increased width of the wheelbase? Your lines were impressively smooth and controlled (minor road) it was hard to get a feel of the handling which I don’t to lose when she goes EV.
I'm not so sure that the V8 is heavier. It is a bit difficult to get a straight answer out of the internet, but the S52 and S54 weigh anywhere from 375-478 lbs. An LS1 is 430 lbs. Given that the straight-6 is an iron block with a big DOHC head on top of it, that's not surprising. The weight with an OHV, V8 will definitely be lower and further back in the engine bay, so the car should be MORE balanced, if anything. But weight difference is probably a wash for all intents and purposes.
Once the S54 pops in my Z4M Coupe, I’m putting a S65 V8 in it. I think there is even a slight chance it can be done legally under California’s new engine swap laws. Unfortunately my 111k mile S54 is the most reliable engine I’ve ever owned. *grumble*
The power plant and drivetrain are important for performance But we all should invest more time in suspension, for no one wants there car posted on the media scene hitting another car or tree 😢
That engine makes it sound like a huge like 18feet (5.5m) barge of a car, then you look and see a little Z3 that's barely over 13ft (4m)... It feels so wrong, a tiny car like that should be screaming to 8-9k not rumbling like a muscle car. My brain is confused... And I love it😅
As an owner of a M54B30 Z3 (3.0L inline 6 228hp) I 100% approve of this swap lol. Don’t get me wrong, the B30 is quick (0-60 in ab 5.5 - 6.0 seconds) but there something mental about these tiny LS swapped cars.
That motorcycle rider was hanging way off the bike for the turn. He must've been carrying some nice speed through there. Good on you for letting him around. I'd love to make my C300 into more of a track and canyon car. It has the bones. It just needs a limited slip differential, a better intercooler, and adjustable coilovers and it could be a 300hp rwd carver. Only issue is my driveway is more difficult to get into than Matt's place was when he had the C5 Corvette and had to put boards out to leave. I'd never make it out of my driveway if I lowered the car. 😢
I guess that is one way to have a 90's/00's Corvette which doesn't have a cheap/lousy interior and has a classy looking exterior. 😛 The engine swap is a bit like swapping a nice steak for double the amount of hamburger meat. Sure it's more meat, but. Interestingly, the 1997 Z3 M with a 3.2 NA engine produced more power than the outgoing 1996 Corvette, which had a 5.7 engine and only 24HP less than the incoming 1997 Corvette again with a 5.7 engine. Technology is a wonderful thing. Love Corvettes, and the LS engine works best in that type of car. When you drop them in to replace sophisticated engines, kind of misses the point. Power is not the end all be all characteristic to have.
OK if anything was going to make me homesick for LA it's someone driving a LS swapped M Roadster on Angeles Crest. Used to take my turbo NB Miata up there basically every weekend, and for me it was the epitome of what the best of SoCal life was. But this....but this. Sorry, think I have something in my eye....
I used to follow a really clean 3 series BMW to work when I lived in NZ. Took me a while to notice the 350i badge on the back. Looked totally stock but had a BMW V8 in it 😎
I might do this with my 2,5 z4 e85 after the engine is gone, it has only 150k km on it so there's still a lot of driving to do. I just love the z series so much that I might just spend thousands on those mods. Or I just get the new manual g29
Ugh overly specific quirky analogy ever 5 seconds..... No longer watch these videos regularly. Only really watch if the car is interesting enough to hold up the video on it's own like this one.
His overheating problem is easy to solve .... doesn't mater how thick the rad is if you don't have enough air going through it!!! From the video, he is using a pusher fan instead of a puller fan which are always less efficient and then a pusher fan actually reduces the area of the possible airflow. Get a thinner rad (dual core instead of triple core) and mount a puller fan (or dual smaller puller fans if room doesn't allow for a single fan) in a proper shroud and then also shroud all the gaps between the grille and the radiator so that all the air that comes through the grille HAS TO go through the rad .... problem solved!!
While admittedly I don't have much experience in other cars, I have been quite pleased with this car's handling in the corners at speed, especially with proper tires at temp. Gotta be smart with when you hit the throttle coming out or you will for sure send it of the road as I've discovered at High Plains Raceway in Colorado.
I’m paused at 2:40 and reading the modifications. This had to cost a small fortune, and if it’s worth it to person with more money than me, I’m more than happy to watch their video. Resume.
Coming from an LS FD owner…a c5 or c6 doesn’t make you laugh maniacally like that. It’s the box of fireworks indoors feeling that is irreplaceable. What else can you buy that feels this way?
I was really disappointed by the steering feel and suspension of the Z3 I drove. It looks way cooler than a C5 and I like the size, but a C5 convertible is the same weight and far better feeling through all senses (if you replace the seats). I love that it was an educational process though.
Interesting fact about these cars depending on what it was before the swap and all the 4 cylinder steering rack Is a shorter ratio then the 6 cylinder cars
I'm really surprised the aluminum block LS is heavier than the iron block BMW lump. I've heard of the swap resulting in significant weight loss plenty of times.
It might have had the aluminum block M52 but the difference isn't much either way. The aluminum block weighs 52lbs less than the iron block. The engines are close enough in weight that the accessories and transmission make a bigger difference.
@@c0c0asauce They are... But having "benchpressed" both, it's not close. The T56 and later TR6060 are heavy. BMW tranny is 86 pounds and a T56 is 120-140 depending on version.
This kinda brings me back to 25 years ago when AC Schnitzer made a 4.4 V8 Z3 a year after it's release... BMW should've made a factory V8 Z3 for sure! Now we need an LS clown shoe...
I've missed the people's cars. Love seeing what mods people can do. This is awesome! More like these please! 😁😁
Fully agree! They were (for me) the original reason why I subbed this channel.
Quite possibly the best and most apt comment on RUclips!!!!
The Miata will never be as cool as this car, and I don't care if it's 600 lbs. heavier. It really doesn't matter, especially if you put a LS in it, and you can pull up to a Gala with a beautiful woman on your arm in this SAME car! 💯🔥🔥🔥👌🏽😎
@@Vamppas
The sound just does not compute. It's like looking at Emilia Clarke but hearing Ja Rule.
😂
Amazing
I think thats the point...Yah sounds way better... unless you like hearing a bunch of buzzing bees coming out of your tailpipe.
I’m very confused. Wow.
@@tehbrutenextdoor if you replace Ja Rule with Brian Johnson, then it makes sense. 😂
"The body of a German, and the heart of an American. Like this guy from Austria."
10/10 Zack.
Im glad I wasnt the only one that caught that
The same guy that said "fuck your freedoms" aimed at people that didn't want to be federally forced to take a vaccination.
That's not very American:)
I feel better analogy would just be an average white American, they probably have German blood somewhere in them
"On a long enough timeline... everything gets an LS"
-Mr Regular.
Finally a modified/engine swapped car again!
Agreed. I love hearing about the $800k super car I can't afford from time to time, but I want to hear about the sub $100k enthusiast builds for the most part.
True words of wisdom from Zack. "Pizza will never be played out and the LS will never be played out either."
Couldn't agree more. Sometimes I think the internet treats the difficulty of LS swaps to something akin to an intake swap. Motor swaps are not easy, especially if it isn't a prefab kit. And in any type of project, something always happens: fitment issues, electronics, parts availibility, shop time/issues, etc.
I like pineapple on my LS
Did it need the LS?..No..but is it better with an LS?...Yes lol
Amen Harman!!!
My dad had an LS swapped z3 for a few years. Now that he's gone, I'd love to find it and have it back. Was a ton of fun to drive.
Are we not gonna talk about the NSX being chased by an NB Miata at 12:14?? Haha.
I love how it's pretty much stock on the outside. No one would suspect anything until the engine starts.
Thank you! I made a conscious choice to keep the stock look. If a cop is gonna roll into a car show and start popping hoods and busting chops, I'd like to look as subtle as possible.
I've got a 1.9 Z3 (pretty much the furthest you can get form this while still being a Z3) and this gives me VERY dangerous ideas
This thing started as the 1.9 4 cyl. It's expensive, but so worth it.
Seriously lol The 1.9 with short gears is fun until halfway through 3rd and then the parachute comes out lol
If the owner is reading! Ref overheating: you might have a giant radiator but you don't appear to have any undertray or ducting. Radiators work by flow, and flow only occurs if there is a pressure differential across them. With no undertray, the pressure in your engine bay (behind the rad) won't be much less than the pressure in front. Have a go at modding and refitting the OE undertray to reduce the pressure behind and adding some ducting in front of the rad to increase the pressure.
Common on overheating turbo MX-5s where people have removed the tray and ducting to fit their intercooler pipes in.
Oh and - your car is awesome. Classic small hot rod Roadster combo. Bravo!
just to clear up, z3 M has the same front fenders as all z3 roadsters, not wide. The rear fender is the same as the stock 6clyinder pre facelift, and the hoods are all the same apart from the side grills, but thar can be taken off and is interchangable
The stock PS pump for most LS applications is beyond overkill for most other steering racks. It leads to super light steering. A restrictor in the system drastically improves feel.
S52-S54 definitely dont lack sound especially with a decent header/exhaust to let it sing. What it lacks is bottom end torque
They always tend to sound raspy and tinny. Like there's no bass in the sound, just a bunch of metal clanking around lol. Induction noise is heavenly though
@@brandonsever2576 I had a 95 US s50 w/ SS rep headers, real SS mid pipe, and Corsa rsc36 tail and it sounded amazing and better than any “tinny” s54(though those can change with different rear boxes).
If that’s an actual LS one it’s aluminum and should weigh about 50 pounds less than the S 52
it's an actual LS 1 and yes you are right on weight
Zach is the man. I love his wit and analogies.
The 225hp Z3 option was a decent powertrain - especially for a 17 year old when I got to drive my cousin’s :p.
Does anyone know if the e30 diff can handle the LS torque? What I've heard is LS swaps in cars usually torque breaks whatever isn't American 😂
Arnold Schwarzenegger is Austrian 🇦🇹 but whatever, this car is sweet! Thanks Zack for keeping the fan builds going strong 💪🏼
I’ve never heard you this animated before. It sounds like a kid Christmas morning who got everything they wanted plus the stuff you thought your parents couldn’t does. Awesome review.
I love that car!
*I also appreciate the Mario Kart speed boost reference! 🍄👃🏽🍄
Luckily no one threw a banana on the road.
This makes so much sense. Nailed it with Cobra reference. Great vid
Modded machines are TST'S wheelhouse... Keep it up, bruhs!
The german cobra! Perfect description Zack!
Hey Zack or whoever reads these. Tell the owner the overheating issue is most likely air bubbles trapped in the heads because the steam ports arent connected to the radiator.
Certainly glad I'm reading these comments, 😂
Now i gotta look this up lol
@@BrentGill lol no worries man
This channel has really stagnated since Matt stopped doing the reviews.
Isn't an aluminum block LS engine lighter weight than the M5x? Why is there more weight on the front axle? AND! What is that watch you're rocking there Zack?
I love these maniacal American-flavored swaps. Find (and film) a Triumph Spitfire with a 350 in it, and I'll laugh in glee.
Would love to! - Zack
Trust me. You no want☺.
Had a '66 Spitfire in high school.
It could barely handle the 1100cc four.😝
Love the community cars. I like seeing the good ones. Maybe do a shit box every once in a while, something from the Roadkill fleet or Hotrod Garage, just to get a different review of them.
Whoa badass. Serious Shelby Cobra vibes here.
I love this! and i am a BMW owner so of course i think the S54 is the best engine ever.
Have you guys ever had a 4cyl z3? They're a fucking RIOT-- they're slow but as a momentum car they're a peach.
Sweet v8 swap! That car was originally built in Seattle with a sr20det swap FYI
Arnold is Austrian.
Am I wrong or Z3 already came with E30s rear end?
Man Zack's content has gotten really good.
Z3 is beautiful. I own a 08 Z4 and can’t wait to get a Z3
Personal cars are my favorite content. This one follows the recipe of the Shelby Cobra, so in that sense it's already a tried and true approach to the performance automobile.
I don't remember subbing for this guy 🤷♂️? Where's Matt?
Jesus. That sound!!!! Need to get me a v8 dropped in. Sounds like heaven
I was hoping it wasn’t a real m roadster. There’s no reason not to ditch the slow engine.
Hi Matt… brilliant vlog and great lines. I am resident in the UK which is just one network of speeding cameras so you are living the dream. I also own a 2001 Z3 convertible which will be garaged over the winter for a full refurbish. The only replacement part I can’t attempt is the roof so off to the experts for that one. My question is: did you ever consider electrifying a Z3 which I intend to do summer 2023 do you think there any issues specifically changing the dynamics and mass. The Z3 you featured looks like it handles even better is that due to the increased width of the wheelbase? Your lines were impressively smooth and controlled (minor road) it was hard to get a feel of the handling which I don’t to lose when she goes EV.
I've always wanted an MGBGT with a V8 swap. Being a Toyota guy I'd love to see a 1UZ maybe a VVTi 2UZ like I have in my Tundra.
I'm not so sure that the V8 is heavier. It is a bit difficult to get a straight answer out of the internet, but the S52 and S54 weigh anywhere from 375-478 lbs. An LS1 is 430 lbs. Given that the straight-6 is an iron block with a big DOHC head on top of it, that's not surprising. The weight with an OHV, V8 will definitely be lower and further back in the engine bay, so the car should be MORE balanced, if anything. But weight difference is probably a wash for all intents and purposes.
Once the S54 pops in my Z4M Coupe, I’m putting a S65 V8 in it. I think there is even a slight chance it can be done legally under California’s new engine swap laws. Unfortunately my 111k mile S54 is the most reliable engine I’ve ever owned. *grumble*
I'm thinking of doing something similar. Once the N52 in my Z4C goes (or maybe before), an S85 is going in. That sound is so worth it.
The power plant and drivetrain are important for performance
But we all should invest more time in suspension, for no one wants there car posted on the media scene hitting another car or tree 😢
That engine makes it sound like a huge like 18feet (5.5m) barge of a car, then you look and see a little Z3 that's barely over 13ft (4m)...
It feels so wrong, a tiny car like that should be screaming to 8-9k not rumbling like a muscle car.
My brain is confused... And I love it😅
There's no replacement for displacement.
A lot of power always makes a car fun. Glad the owner is enjoying that car.
Does he still race it?
I think a z4 with a s65 would be a lot of fun! 🤙
I assume you've seen the factory M70 V12 build?
@@corystansbury I have not,
@@kentbeitel9966 i.redd.it/27c85k955mp31.jpg
@@kentbeitel9966 www.ausmotive.com/pics/2012/BMW-Z3-V12-01.jpg
As an owner of a M54B30 Z3 (3.0L inline 6 228hp) I 100% approve of this swap lol. Don’t get me wrong, the B30 is quick (0-60 in ab 5.5 - 6.0 seconds) but there something mental about these tiny LS swapped cars.
I Mean, the channel is called TheSmokingTyre..so, yes :)
Also, great vid :D
That motorcycle rider was hanging way off the bike for the turn. He must've been carrying some nice speed through there. Good on you for letting him around.
I'd love to make my C300 into more of a track and canyon car. It has the bones. It just needs a limited slip differential, a better intercooler, and adjustable coilovers and it could be a 300hp rwd carver. Only issue is my driveway is more difficult to get into than Matt's place was when he had the C5 Corvette and had to put boards out to leave. I'd never make it out of my driveway if I lowered the car. 😢
I guess that is one way to have a 90's/00's Corvette which doesn't have a cheap/lousy interior and has a classy looking exterior. 😛
The engine swap is a bit like swapping a nice steak for double the amount of hamburger meat. Sure it's more meat, but.
Interestingly, the 1997 Z3 M with a 3.2 NA engine produced more power than the outgoing 1996 Corvette, which had a 5.7 engine and only 24HP less than the incoming 1997 Corvette again with a 5.7 engine. Technology is a wonderful thing.
Love Corvettes, and the LS engine works best in that type of car. When you drop them in to replace sophisticated engines, kind of misses the point. Power is not the end all be all characteristic to have.
I owned a Z3 for about 3 years a while back, fantastic car with the straight six. But hearing an LS out of the back of a Z3 seems so wrong lol
OK if anything was going to make me homesick for LA it's someone driving a LS swapped M Roadster on Angeles Crest. Used to take my turbo NB Miata up there basically every weekend, and for me it was the epitome of what the best of SoCal life was. But this....but this. Sorry, think I have something in my eye....
This is the German-American version of the "Noisy Cricket"...
5:09 “steering is very light...devoid of feeling...not getting a lot of information...” OMG, did the (70 lb?) heavier V8 engine ruin this?
I used to follow a really clean 3 series BMW to work when I lived in NZ. Took me a while to notice the 350i badge on the back. Looked totally stock but had a BMW V8 in it 😎
I might do this with my 2,5 z4 e85 after the engine is gone, it has only 150k km on it so there's still a lot of driving to do. I just love the z series so much that I might just spend thousands on those mods. Or I just get the new manual g29
You're right, Zack: Brent *is* funny!
Thank you Wolfgang!
Loved the video Zack! Especially the intro - The hook, the delivery was great, big like :)
Not sure how much all that cost...maybe just buy an SLK55AMG instead?
this is awesome 🔥
What muffler is this running? Sounds great! Im doing the same swap
Ugh overly specific quirky analogy ever 5 seconds..... No longer watch these videos regularly. Only really watch if the car is interesting enough to hold up the video on it's own like this one.
His overheating problem is easy to solve .... doesn't mater how thick the rad is if you don't have enough air going through it!!! From the video, he is using a pusher fan instead of a puller fan which are always less efficient and then a pusher fan actually reduces the area of the possible airflow. Get a thinner rad (dual core instead of triple core) and mount a puller fan (or dual smaller puller fans if room doesn't allow for a single fan) in a proper shroud and then also shroud all the gaps between the grille and the radiator so that all the air that comes through the grille HAS TO go through the rad .... problem solved!!
Apparently I'm subscribed to this channel? Wasn't this Matt Farrah's channel? I got ten seconds in and am going back out the door.
I love built cars. Really makes them so unique and inspiring.
This Z3 V8 swap & the video is muuuch better, watch this instead:
m.ruclips.net/video/L8NXRAOLfRw/видео.html#dialog
I owned a 2.5L version of this car and I thought it was fun enough, I feel like this would get me in too much trouble
Same 2000 2.5 and I'd love to be able to afford a swap like this
You had me at V8 swap
full on in a straight line and dangerous in the corners ? 🇺🇸 loves their hotrods, I guess 😉
While admittedly I don't have much experience in other cars, I have been quite pleased with this car's handling in the corners at speed, especially with proper tires at temp. Gotta be smart with when you hit the throttle coming out or you will for sure send it of the road as I've discovered at High Plains Raceway in Colorado.
I’m paused at 2:40 and reading the modifications. This had to cost a small fortune, and if it’s worth it to person with more money than me, I’m more than happy to watch their video. Resume.
Nah bro the 2.8 in-line 6 sounds way better tbh. Huge waste of time but cool
Ride I guess
Well I have a z3 and my buddy has a non-running firebird. I think I know what I need to do
Coming from an LS FD owner…a c5 or c6 doesn’t make you laugh maniacally like that. It’s the box of fireworks indoors feeling that is irreplaceable. What else can you buy that feels this way?
5:21 the last modded z3 missed the curve-notice the skid marks right into the side of the mountain
I'm certain your opening description of the experience is accurate 🎆🧨🎇😂
I was really disappointed by the steering feel and suspension of the Z3 I drove. It looks way cooler than a C5 and I like the size, but a C5 convertible is the same weight and far better feeling through all senses (if you replace the seats). I love that it was an educational process though.
Interesting fact about these cars depending on what it was before the swap and all the 4 cylinder steering rack Is a shorter ratio then the 6 cylinder cars
Say good by to these swaps with the EPA enforcing clean act laws….
DMANIT!!! I want to LS swap my mountain bike now…
I'm really surprised the aluminum block LS is heavier than the iron block BMW lump. I've heard of the swap resulting in significant weight loss plenty of times.
It might have had the aluminum block M52 but the difference isn't much either way. The aluminum block weighs 52lbs less than the iron block. The engines are close enough in weight that the accessories and transmission make a bigger difference.
Factory M52 aluminum engine is ~340 pounds. But, as you noted, the M motor is iron and close to 400 (as the previous commenter noted).
Yeah I would think the engines will be the same weight. T56 is probably heavier than the original transmission though
@@trashbandit2449 From what I read the BMW transmissions are pretty overbuilt and heavy.
@@c0c0asauce They are... But having "benchpressed" both, it's not close. The T56 and later TR6060 are heavy. BMW tranny is 86 pounds and a T56 is 120-140 depending on version.
Those skid marks at 5:20
This kinda brings me back to 25 years ago when AC Schnitzer made a 4.4 V8 Z3 a year after it's release... BMW should've made a factory V8 Z3 for sure! Now we need an LS clown shoe...
bmw i6 sounds better than american v8 but this is a really good build
What’s ‘sunbeam tiger’ but in German?
an aluminum LS probably weighs less than the i6 lol
I prefer 2jz swaps in bmw's stays more true to their i6 engines
What's the cost of this I have a z3 and been looking at these ls swaps what's the est price tag on swap like this?
Did Zack film this in a pile of horse poop? Flies everywhere. lol
i think this is my fav one take for a lonnnng time yeahhh
Love the first 30 seconds we’re are the same! Lol 😂
ill never understand why they made this instead of making just z coupes. i hate convertibles so much.
God damn mice coming up in here and gentrifying everything.
1:12 arnold schwarzenegger is austrian
Arnold is Austrian not German lol😂
If you're going to do this, why not a Hellcat?
S52's sound great - the S54 sounds trashy AF.