[Hill27]

I want to take a GTM and put a BMW M5 v10 engine in it. I'm not sure if it'll work with it or if I'll have to do a lot of work to make it work with the car.

 

[REV2XS]

I highly doubt it'll work without extensive modifications to the chassis. Modifications so large that afterwards, the chassis would be so different that you probably wouldnt call it a GTM anymore. The LS engines fit exactly right because the car was designed with them in mind. So in other words, the LS engines fit leaving almost no room to spare.

I have heard of only two GTM's which have used engines other than an LS derived V8. And thats the Capstone turbine hybrid car and a 2liter VW turbodiesel. And thats it.

I was originally going to install a 4.0 liter turbo straight 6 engine which is found in a Ford Falcon from Australia. Even that engine proved to be far too long, so i stuck with the LS1 from a C5 Vette.

I want to take a GTM and put a BMW M5 v10 engine in it. I'm not sure if it'll work with it or if I'll have to do a lot of work to make it work with the car.

 

[In33anity]

I want to take a GTM and put a BMW M5 v10 engine in it. I'm not sure if it'll work with it or if I'll have to do a lot of work to make it work with the car.

I think about a variation of that swap for my to do list! I'm currently putting the BMW M3 S65 V8 (and 6 speed and full IRS rear) in a FF '33 Hot Rod. Everything has to be fabricated, but it's an amazing amount of fun. Check the bimmer forums for swap discussions. People have linked the V10 to the same transaxles people run with the LS. Ultimately, it's just a motor! Plan on making your own mounts, a trans adapter, and adapting the cooling and exhaust. The impossible part of the BMW S65/S85 is the electronics. Think about how you'll (or if you can!!!) stretch the bay if the motor is too long and what you may have to relocate with a little steel and welding (fairly addictive once you get going!) Give up any idea of using OEM and commit to a standalone EMS on the go in. Call Neel at Apex Speed Technology who's the guru on standalone systems for the S65/85 platform. All the big BMW Racing teams like Turner and Dinan use him. If that's your dream, go for it. Feel free to pm me if want to chat about it.

 

[flotowngtm]

I think about a variation of that swap for my to do list! I'm currently putting the BMW M3 S65 V8 (and 6 speed and full IRS rear) in a FF '33 Hot Rod. Everything has to be fabricated, but it's an amazing amount of fun. Check the bimmer forums for swap discussions. People have linked the V10 to the same transaxles people run with the LS. Ultimately, it's just a motor! Plan on making your own mounts, a trans adapter, and adapting the cooling and exhaust. The impossible part of the BMW S65/S85 is the electronics. Think about how you'll (or if you can!!!) stretch the bay if the motor is too long and what you may have to relocate with a little steel and welding (fairly addictive once you get going!) Give up any idea of using OEM and commit to a standalone EMS on the go in. Call Neel at Apex Speed Technology who's the guru on standalone systems for the S65/85 platform. All the big BMW Racing teams like Turner and Dinan use him. If that's your dream, go for it. Feel free to pm me if want to chat about it.

I don't know if you or the OP have ever sat in a GTM but if you look through some interior pictures you will notice a huge hump between the driver and passenger (we call the waterfall) that houses all of the front accessories on the motor like the belts, water pump, etc. The heads on the motor are less then 1 inch from the firewall. Just under that window you look through the back. I changed the intake manifold to one of those fatter FAST LSX 102mm and had to cut away some of the fire wall to make it fit. You can see it from inside my cabin. That's not even the bigger intake! The belts on the motor are just beside your seat under that cover depending on how far your seat is back.
This issue has been talked about extensively by many potential GTM buyers and owners alike. Finding things like adapter plates and welding up your own mounts is child's play compared to what you have to do to the body and chassis.
For any motor longer then a LS V8 you would have to cut the car in half just behind the rear hoop (behind the seats) and stretch the entire car I don't know 4-5 inches depending on not only how much longer the motor is but also enough to fit in the accessories. Welding the car back together after streching it to me would be the easier part of this ( as long as you get it straight and the car tracks perfectly ) but stretching the outside of the body that much will be pure hell ( to me anyway ) not to mention I have no idea how it would look proportion wise after that. Don't even think about moving the motor back!!
I don't know how much you know about completing a GTM but its already a labor killer! Just body wise your looking at an easy 600 man hours to make it nice (I know what they say on the FFR web site...) and 400-500 hours in the mechanics. This is with no modifications! 1000 hours for a nice street car. But I would plan on more like 1200-1500 hours.
Don't get me wrong anyone that has seen my GTM knows I am the last person to talk about wasting time changing what works. But just know what you're getting into in doing that. The is one guy on here name "Crash" that has extended his car but not to stuff a V10 into it. He did it to add more roll cage to make it track legal. I am sure he could tell you how much would be involved in that better than anyone else. I would love to see a V10 or 12 in a GTM but I would also like to see you get one and finish it one day.. Many Many Many GTM's still sit unfinished cause the owner decided to try to much on a already labor intensive project. But good luck!

 

[crash]

It's coming along. Going on two years worth of body mods and roughly 20 gallons of body filler. Car was cut into almost 40 separate pieces. I am making a plug to make molds and bodies from for racing so I don't really have to worry about weight. I really have no idea how one would do extensive body mods like I am and maintain the bodies integrity without going through the process of plug-mold-virgin layup body.

I have to agree that trying to do too much without first getting the car on the road is probably everyone's biggest downfall that just has a car sitting in their garage.

I've actually been developing parts along the way and racing Richard and Yvonne's beautiful FFR PDG GTM race car for the past four years. I have three businesses and a wife and two kids, so to say that I am a bit distracted is an understatement. It could certainly be done faster, but I just don't have the time to put in 8 hours a day on body work. 1-2, yes. 8, no.

Here's a teaser shot of what the front end looks like.

 

[In33anity]

I don't know if you or the OP have ever sat in a GTM but if you look through some interior pictures you will notice a huge hump between the driver and passenger (we call the waterfall) that houses all of the front accessories on the motor like the belts, water pump, etc. The heads on the motor are less then 1 inch from the firewall. Just under that window you look through the back. I changed the intake manifold to one of those fatter FAST LSX 102mm and had to cut away some of the fire wall to make it fit. You can see it from inside my cabin. That's not even the bigger intake! The belts on the motor are just beside your seat under that cover depending on how far your seat is back.
This issue has been talked about extensively by many potential GTM buyers and owners alike. Finding things like adapter plates and welding up your own mounts is child's play compared to what you have to do to the body and chassis.
For any motor longer then a LS V8 you would have to cut the car in half just behind the rear hoop (behind the seats) and stretch the entire car I don't know 4-5 inches depending on not only how much longer the motor is but also enough to fit in the accessories. Welding the car back together after streching it to me would be the easier part of this ( as long as you get it straight and the car tracks perfectly ) but stretching the outside of the body that much will be pure hell ( to me anyway ) not to mention I have no idea how it would look proportion wise after that. Don't even think about moving the motor back!!
I don't know how much you know about completing a GTM but its already a labor killer! Just body wise your looking at an easy 600 man hours to make it nice (I know what they say on the FFR web site...) and 400-500 hours in the mechanics. This is with no modifications! 1000 hours for a nice street car. But I would plan on more like 1200-1500 hours.
Don't get me wrong anyone that has seen my GTM knows I am the last person to talk about wasting time changing what works. But just know what you're getting into in doing that. The is one guy on here name "Crash" that has extended his car but not to stuff a V10 into it. He did it to add more roll cage to make it track legal. I am sure he could tell you how much would be involved in that better than anyone else. I would love to see a V10 or 12 in a GTM but I would also like to see you get one and finish it one day.. Many Many Many GTM's still sit unfinished cause the owner decided to try to much on a already labor intensive project. But good luck!

Of course you are correct which is why I said check to see if there's enough space or if it can be done. I was mostly commenting on the engine. I thought the pics in this link was to the V10 in a GTM:

Dreaming of S85 power - PistonHeads

If fixed on a BMW motor, consider the much lighter and shorter S65 V8 from the M3, shorter than a Coyote (I have no idea vs the LS), capable of over 700 HP (i'm putting an AA SC on mine and expect to be running 640 HP 413 ft lbs in a 2100 lb Hot Rod), and much more racing pedigree and support than the S85. 8300 rpm redline. Pound for pound, if you're going to race it probably a better choice than the V10. Check with the GTM guys about size as it is true, I have never sat in one and really have no info on the chassis.

 

[REV2XS]

The chassis pics in that link are definitely not of a GTM. They look more like an Ultima GTR or some GT40 replica of some kind. Even then, if you look at the pic of the side profile, you will see that the rear uprights/hubs dont line up with the transaxle.

Of course you are correct which is why I said check to see if there's enough space or if it can be done. I was mostly commenting on the engine. I thought the pics in this link was to the V10 in a GTM:

Dreaming of S85 power - PistonHeads

If fixed on a BMW motor, consider the much lighter and shorter S65 V8 from the M3, shorter than a Coyote (I have no idea vs the LS), capable of over 700 HP (i'm putting an AA SC on mine and expect to be running 640 HP 413 ft lbs in a 2100 lb Hot Rod), and much more racing pedigree and support than the S85. 8300 rpm redline. Pound for pound, if you're going to race it probably a better choice than the V10. Check with the GTM guys about size as it is true, I have never sat in one and really have no info on the chassis.

 

[dhanisch]

I personally own an M6 that has that V10 and a GTM with the LS motor. There's no way I would choose the V10 over the LS. Hell, I'd soon rather put an LS motor into my M6.

 

[REV2XS]

The sound of that V10 with an exhaust though cant be beat. I havent heard an LS engine that sounded that good Not even mine!

I personally own an M6 that has that V10 and a GTM with the LS motor. There's no way I would choose the V10 over the LS. Hell, I'd soon rather put an LS motor into my M6.

 

[Taz Rules]

You should hear an LS with 180degree headers at full song!

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