LeForce

I'm about to purchase a new LS9 engine to use in an engine swap project. It will be installed in a BMW, an LS swap specialized shop will be supplying me with a swap kit including a custom oil pan that provides the clearance needed to perform such swap. The only problem is that the custom oil pan is a wet sump pan so I'll have to convert the LS9 to a wet sump oil system . Any tips how to do that or if there a kit offered for such conversion? I know for a fact that I need a wet sump oil pump, a some sort of a spacer for the crank snout, a hole for a dip stick, and perhaps a front cover.

I'd appreciate your feedback

pcguy2u

Not a common swap at all - what did the swap shop suggest?

LeForce

You mean the engine swap or oil system swap? It's very common to install LS engines on BMWs, in my case it's a 2dr BMW E30. The swap shop will be providing all swap related parts but I'll be installing the engine myself. As for the oil system conversion, I did some online search & found that converting an LS9 to wet sump is very similar to converting an LS7 using parts from an LS3, I might have to fabricate a crank spacer. But still I'd appreciate any feedback regarding the dry to wet sump conversion.

1Hotrodz

Hard to believe a wet sump pan has better clearance than a dry sump pan. But anyway, the easiest thing to do would be to find an LS-3 wet sump block and compare it to the LS-9 there are a lot of differences. This is not going to be easy. sorry I can't help more than this. Someone here with a lot of LS engine experience will chime in though.

But if you want to sell the water to oil heat exchanger (oil cooler) from the LS-9, I will buy it from you.

LeForce

Installing any LS engine on the BMW would require a 'front' sump type of oil pan to stay clear off the the cross member. I'll be installing a custom 'front' sump oil pan but it's a wet sump pan, thus I have to perform the wet sump conversion. I searched for a 'front' dry sump oil pan online to no avail! I'm purchasing a brand new LS9, the oil pump & pan will be for sale

Tech

The process should be the same as converting an LS7 to wet sump.

http://www.superchevy.com/how-to/eng...-ls7-wet-sump/

A local shop has done it for a friend of mine. Where are you located?

LeForce

I'm located in the UAE
It should be very similar to the LS7 conversion except that the crank snout in the LS9 is different than the LS7. In theory, installing the front cover from an LS3 should allow the wet sump oil pan to fit perfectly fine on the LS9. I need to install the slimmer LS3 oil pump & fabricate a crank snout spacer. Can anyone confirm my findings?

3X2

Stock LS2 front cover and your choice of oil pump. Scoggins Dickie spacer, part number sdls7spcr. Make sure whaterever balancer you use has the keyway slot machined in it. I've done a few LS7 to wetsump pan conversions. Also need a wet sump crank gear. I believe these GM numbers should get you where you need to be:
12600326 front cover
12591720 cam sensor
11588712 bolt, cam sensor & bracket mtg- need 2
12627501 LS3 cam sensor harness and bracket
12633904 front cover gskt
12612350 oil pan gskt
12585673 front seal
12580035 water pump gskt- need 2
12603843 diamond washer
11570163 balancer bolt
12586665 oil pump
12556582 crank gear

You may need the Lingenfelter crank/cam sensor translator box depending on what ecm you are using

Tech

How is the crank any different? They are both dry sump engines with longer crank snouts.

3X2

LS9 has a key way cut into for a key. The LS7 does not.

3X2

Another thing came to mind. You will need to drill the block for a dipstick tube. However if you go with a Dailey pan and pump, that won't be necessary but you will need to mount a oil tank. Don't forget to adequately vent the engine. A -10 hose in each rocker cover at the minimum.

MTPZ06

Interesting project...LS9 is a badass motor, but did you contemplate a forged LS3 already in wet sump configuration, and add a Manguson heartbeat, or or an E-force that will put out very similar power numbers, in the same size package as an LS9, for probably less money?

LeForce

I'll be using the LS9 stock ECM as I'm purchasing the 'connect & cruise' package which includes the ECM & engine harness, will I need a translator box for that?
Dipstick: Scoggins Dickie offers a kit to drill & install a dipstick tube.
Spacer: Scoggins Dickie claims on their site that the spacer won't work on an LS9! Thus, I think that I need to fabricate a custom spacer myself.
Do I need to change the LS9 balancer? That would be problem, since any replacement balancer would have to drive the supercharger.
Cam sensor, will the LS3 cam sensor produce the same signal as the original LS9 sensor?

3X2

No translator box if using GM LS9 ecm.

Contact Gary at drysump.com for a spacer if the SD one won't work. Or Bill Dailey at daileyengineering.com. Both are very helpful.

no need to change balancer

I believe the cam sensors are the same for both engines.

LeForce

I'll be contacting those guys.
One more issue, the only LS9 drive kit offered by GM includes an AC, what's the best way to eliminate the AC?

pcguy2u

No AC in the UAE?

LeForce

The car is for formula drift

The LS7 wet sump tutorial suggests an LS3 cover while 3x2 suggested an LS2's, what's the difference?
Also, the tutorial says nothing about the cam sensor, do I need it or not?

Thank you for all the feedback

3X2

It's been a while since I've worked on a ZR1. If I'm remembering correctly, just don't install the compressor, mounting bracket, or belt. Same mounting as a LS7.

3X2

should be the same part number 12600326

LeForce

I'm getting conflicting information regarding the need to change the harmonic balancer. In two LS7 wet sump conversion articles the builders had changed the balancer with LS3's! I can't see the correlation between the balancer & oil system! I assume that if I use the LS9 OEM drive kit as I plan then I don't have to change the balancer.
I'd appreciate your opinions.