V8 M Coupe Rebuild

[fok]

When I bought my car in 2009 as a recipient for an LS1 conversion, I focused on mechanical and performance improvements. In addition to the engine and gearbox conversion, the car got improved suspension, brakes and wheels, plus some weight saving measures and interior mods. Other than the boot floor, the rest of the car went largely untouched though.

The aesthetics weren't a massive priority as it was already a fairly original and tidy 2000 car, having done 114K with a decent history, but roll the clock forward a few years though and the car is definitely showing it's age cosmetically.

It's been super reliable with it's mildly tuned LS1 and is great fun, but having owned forced induction V8s over the last few years, whenever I drive the MC I get left feeling like it needs a bit more low down. I know it sounds daft, but I guess I've just been spoiled!

Anyway, I decided to give the MC a new lease of life. I didn't want to go aftermarket forced induction with all the potential problems so it's getting a healthy dose of cubes instead......A nice spec build LS3 with a stroker kit to about 6.9L should give me the bottom end shove I'm after.

As the motor is coming out, I wanted to sort the under bonnet tidiness and paint which was something I was never 100% happy with. Then I thought that I might as well get the car painted all over and sort all the corrosion associated with a 17 year old car.

It'll be getting some love in other areas along the way too.

So here we go......

How it looked with the LS1.....Tidy but a bit "ordinary" I always felt.


Into Dyno Torque for engine and gearbox removal. MC in good company with some other LS conversion cars.


LS1 and Tremec T56 removed and sold on. It's looking a little tired under there now.


At the paint shop.






As it's non-original already, I've gone for lacquered Estoril under the bonnet rather than the OEM finish. I prefer it.












Big thanks to Gary at TJR Body Worx in Birmingham!

Back to Dyno Torque soon for some LS lovin'.........

[Dave P]

Looking good

[Ian_C]

Looking very good Can’t wait to see how it turns out!

[mnbrennan]

This is a making something happen in my under crackers

[c_w]

This is going to be really good.

Is the LS3 a straight forward swap since you already had an LS1 on there? Wonder what a drive in drive out price would be for conversion from standard, it's definitely something that would renew my interest in using mine for track, having grunt to rival or better current fast cars like M3/4, GT3 etc.

[fok]

Originally Posted by c_w

This is going to be really good.

Is the LS3 a straight forward swap since you already had an LS1 on there? Wonder what a drive in drive out price would be for conversion from standard, it's definitely something that would renew my interest in using mine for track, having grunt to rival or better current fast cars like M3/4, GT3 etc.

Yep, LS3 drops onto the same mounts which I retained. Also, bespoke tubular headers can be reused. Most ancillaries would swap over but I chose to sell mine with my LS1 and buy new for the LS3 build.

I'm a bit out of touch with drive in, drive out pricing as it's been a while, but if you worked on about £5K plus parts I reckon you wouldn't be far off.

[petecossie]

Looking really good rebuild project, would look amazing in the flesh.
Any chance it will all be done by next July and bringing it along to Silverstone Classic weekend? If we could get Ragerover to come along aswell next year with his car what a centre piece the cars would be for the Z Coupe pitch with DaveP's car, three totally different versions of the same car in Estoril Blue.

[fok]

Originally Posted by petecossie

Looking really good rebuild project, would look amazing in the flesh.
Any chance it will all be done by next July and bringing it along to Silverstone Classic weekend? If we could get Ragerover to come along aswell next year with his car what a centre piece the cars would be for the Z Coupe pitch with DaveP's car, three totally different versions of the same car in Estoril Blue.

It'll definitely be done by July. Hopefully it will be finished and back on the road for spring.

I've never really been one for car meets, but there's a first time for everything I guess.....Do you organise the MC contingent?

[mnbrennan]

That'd be DaveP

[petecossie]

Originally Posted by fok

It'll definitely be done by July. Hopefully it will be finished and back on the road for spring.

I've never really been one for car meets, but there's a first time for everything I guess.....Do you organise the MC contingent?

Yes as Martin said Dave is the mainstay in organising the pitch for the forum. We have a lot to thank him for in putting all this effort in. Hopefully we can get a few more along to next years event.
Dave if you need any help just let us know, all being well next year I’ll do the full 3 days and get there earlier on the Friday.