Typically, when enthusiasts and tuners do an engine swap, the engine of choice is almost always a Chevy LS. It’s cheap, it’s powerful and it fits into almost anything. So the Chevy LS is the go-to choice for most engine-swappers. The problem with that is that it’s boring. Everyone does an LS swap. Why not go with something more exotic, more interesting and more challenging? That’s exactly what the guys at B is for Build did with this old Datsun 240z by stuffing it with a BMW S85 V10.
For BMW enthusiasts, the S85 V10 is immediately recognizable. The BMW S85 engine is a 5.0 liter naturally-aspirated V10 that powered the E60 BMW M5 back in the day and made 500 hp doing it. But its power has almost nothing to do with why it’s so beloved by BMW fans. What makes it so revered is its noise as it screams past 8,000 rpm.
The BMW S85 V10 is one of the best sounding engines of all time, with a deep, angry burble at low revs and a motorsport-inspired wail as the tach need climbs to stratospheric numbers. It’s wild and it a genuine joy to listen to. In fact, it’s so good that it makes almost everyone that drives an E60 M5 overlook many of its glaring issues.
So the fact that B is for Build stuffed one under the hood of a Datsun 240z, an awesome car in its own right, is just fantastic. The Datsun 240z, for those of you who don’t know, was sort of the Mazda MX-5 of its time. Lightweight, simple and inexpensive but brilliant to drive. Its rear-wheel drive dynamics, pure steering and lightweight chassis made it great to drive and it still is today. So when you replace its 2.4 liter inline-six with a 5.0 liter, 500 hp, free-breathing V10, it becomes absolutely insane.
Check out the series of videos on it because it really is cool to see and the final product is really good looking, with its flared fenders, fat tires and baby blue paint.
