Project Ring-shed E36 325i
Discussion
Aero catches for sure, harnesses- never known an isue with brit cars on them, I've been going many yrs with just harnesses anyway, noise is a real issue but if its uk track day quiet day loud 'should' be fine.
Often see folks getting tugged at the barrier, but I've never had an issue or been tested & this yr was 10 trips so pretty high proportion.
Are always track days there rather than tf if you wanted to have it full racer (& run slicky slickytastics) ;-)
Often see folks getting tugged at the barrier, but I've never had an issue or been tested & this yr was 10 trips so pretty high proportion.
Are always track days there rather than tf if you wanted to have it full racer (& run slicky slickytastics) ;-)
Got the steering rack, wishbones, front struts and hubs, ABS pump, propshaft and exhaust on today. I managed to swap my standard cats for a nicely homemade decat pipe, with the standard back box it shouldn't be too much louder than the original. Can't wait to hear what it sounds like. Bit dark in the pictures but you get an idea:
Couldn't get the old track rod ends off the old steering rack so ordered some new ones that should be here tomorrow hopefully. Jobs to do tomorrow are all new brake lines, and swap the oil cooler for the larger one off my old 325tds, then I should be somewhere near putting the front end back on. I'm still not sure what brake fluid to use, I'd like something better than the standard DOT 4 but then I don't want to be changing it all the time like you have to with race fluids
Couldn't get the old track rod ends off the old steering rack so ordered some new ones that should be here tomorrow hopefully. Jobs to do tomorrow are all new brake lines, and swap the oil cooler for the larger one off my old 325tds, then I should be somewhere near putting the front end back on. I'm still not sure what brake fluid to use, I'd like something better than the standard DOT 4 but then I don't want to be changing it all the time like you have to with race fluids
Re: Brake fluid.
My principal is find the one with the highest wet boiling point. You lose a bit on the dry temperature rating but gain by not changing it so often.
I ended up with ATE superblue. Although I'm sure I lost some "feel" but I got no fade on track. Although the MX is a tad lighter than your car was...not sure the comparative weight now.
My principal is find the one with the highest wet boiling point. You lose a bit on the dry temperature rating but gain by not changing it so often.
I ended up with ATE superblue. Although I'm sure I lost some "feel" but I got no fade on track. Although the MX is a tad lighter than your car was...not sure the comparative weight now.
Munter said:
I ended up with ATE superblue. Although I'm sure I lost some "feel" but I got no fade on track. Although the MX is a tad lighter than your car was...not sure the comparative weight now.
Superblue is one of the options on the shelf in the workshop. I reckon the car will weigh the best part of 1200kgs once done (was about 1120kgs with the 325i running gear)My last day off today so did a bit more progress. Got the oil cooler off the old 325tds, 6 rows instead of 5 so should provide an extra 20% more cooling. It's BMW part number 17212244741 if anyone wants to order an upgraded one for their M3 from their local dealership.
And here it is fitted in the standard bracket under the radiator:
My track rods ends turned up so these were fitted with plenty of copper grease to save them seizing up like the old ones. Then I got the old wiring loom out of the car:
Only been in there 6 months since I salvaged it out of that old burgundy 325i, if anyone wants a ready trimmed down loom for an E36 track car give us a PM - it could save you a few days work.
Still got to connect the rest of the M3 loom up and trim the unnecessary bits off, fit the EWS gubbins, plumb in the fuel lines then it should be able to fire up for the first time hopefully.
Put the rest of the front end back on, starting to look like a car again:
And here it is fitted in the standard bracket under the radiator:
My track rods ends turned up so these were fitted with plenty of copper grease to save them seizing up like the old ones. Then I got the old wiring loom out of the car:
Only been in there 6 months since I salvaged it out of that old burgundy 325i, if anyone wants a ready trimmed down loom for an E36 track car give us a PM - it could save you a few days work.
Still got to connect the rest of the M3 loom up and trim the unnecessary bits off, fit the EWS gubbins, plumb in the fuel lines then it should be able to fire up for the first time hopefully.
Put the rest of the front end back on, starting to look like a car again:
bulletproofbob said:
hey sniff, where was the wiper module on yours?? mine have packed up and it's not in the usual glovebox area... mind i stripped all that and can't remember seeing it... hmmm
Can't remember where stuff was originally as I get a bit carried away stripping stuff out!.I'll have a spare somewhere if you want it Bob, just paypal us a couple of quid for the postage. sniff diesel said:
bulletproofbob said:
hey sniff, where was the wiper module on yours?? mine have packed up and it's not in the usual glovebox area... mind i stripped all that and can't remember seeing it... hmmm
Can't remember where stuff was originally as I get a bit carried away stripping stuff out!.I'll have a spare somewhere if you want it Bob, just paypal us a couple of quid for the postage. i have a funny feeling it may be rivetted under the passenger side floor plate!!! oops!
sleeper88 said:
Just wondering if theres eny progress.
I drove it home just before Christmas so I could spend a few hours here and there on the wiring. Had to use the M3 car loom as the clocks are different with it having the oil temp gauge instead of the MPG gauge. Haven't got any pics of it but there's even less wiring in there than there was on the old trimmed down loom - and everything still works!I filled the cooling system with just water in case there was any leaks and to give the block another good flush before sticking the antifreeze in there. Don't know if the cold had something to do with it but after a week the thermostat was jammed shut. Unfortunately I broke part of the water pump housing when I took the stat out, luckily Chris had a water pump and housing from a '98 EVO on the shelf he let me have. Filled it up with the antofreeze solution this time and it's been fine.
Next problem I found that the battery wasn't charging. Chris got me an alternator off another EVO engine and we swapped it over but had the same problem. Numpty here had missed to connect the 2nd positive wire to the starter motor, and for some reason this was stopping the charge get to the battery.
Took it out for a good spin and put some fresh V-power in there, and boy does she fly. Even on the dual carridgeway which has no ice or slush it was spinning up the rear tyres in 4th - gotta be ready with the oppo! Just want the weather to warm and dry up a bit so I can get some mileage on her to check everything's OK. Then will be ready to start booking some more trackdays
Just another small update on what I've been busy with.
I've been trying to get some mileage under the car's belt to check everything's working OK before my next trackdays. Booked for Bedford autodrome on Feb 22nd and Anglesea on March 6th, never been to either circuit before so should be a learning curve now I have 100bhp more than I was used to.
My old slicks were pretty worn after 3 trackdays on them, so I swapped them for some part worn toyo R888's I got for a bargain price on Ebay:
These will do for road use and as intermediates on track, I plan to get a set of Clio cup Michelin slicks to try next as they're similar price to the Yoko's but being a bit narrower should fit my 7.5" rims a bit better.
Untill now my front brakes were standard with OEM spec discs and pads. I've just replaced them with some cross drilled and grooved discs and Yellowstuff pads which should hold up a bit better. I also took the opportunity to remove the backing plates from behind the discs to help get more cool air in to the brakes.
I got hold of a used Scorpion stainless back box to replace the original one I still had on the car. Previous owner had painted it with some ceramic heat resistant paint for some reason, but at least tail pipes are still nice and shiney and you can't see the rest. It really does sound the buisness now, lovely and raspy with the decat - will have to post up some video footage of how it sounds. An added bonus is it's some 8kgs lighter than the standard exhaust too. Will have to check how loud it is first though before taking it on track.
Since the M3 conversion I've not been happy with the quality of the gearchange with the quickshift lever from the 325i, so I invested in all new bushes, washers and clips from the dealer:
Not had chance to fit them yet, I think I'll revert back to the standard M3 gear lever too as there was nothing wrong with the shift action with that.
I've been trying to get some mileage under the car's belt to check everything's working OK before my next trackdays. Booked for Bedford autodrome on Feb 22nd and Anglesea on March 6th, never been to either circuit before so should be a learning curve now I have 100bhp more than I was used to.
My old slicks were pretty worn after 3 trackdays on them, so I swapped them for some part worn toyo R888's I got for a bargain price on Ebay:
These will do for road use and as intermediates on track, I plan to get a set of Clio cup Michelin slicks to try next as they're similar price to the Yoko's but being a bit narrower should fit my 7.5" rims a bit better.
Untill now my front brakes were standard with OEM spec discs and pads. I've just replaced them with some cross drilled and grooved discs and Yellowstuff pads which should hold up a bit better. I also took the opportunity to remove the backing plates from behind the discs to help get more cool air in to the brakes.
I got hold of a used Scorpion stainless back box to replace the original one I still had on the car. Previous owner had painted it with some ceramic heat resistant paint for some reason, but at least tail pipes are still nice and shiney and you can't see the rest. It really does sound the buisness now, lovely and raspy with the decat - will have to post up some video footage of how it sounds. An added bonus is it's some 8kgs lighter than the standard exhaust too. Will have to check how loud it is first though before taking it on track.
Since the M3 conversion I've not been happy with the quality of the gearchange with the quickshift lever from the 325i, so I invested in all new bushes, washers and clips from the dealer:
Not had chance to fit them yet, I think I'll revert back to the standard M3 gear lever too as there was nothing wrong with the shift action with that.
Hi Rich
drop me a line when you going over to anglessey .i`ll drop in see how the car is now.....
my pug in bits a the mo ..having some major work done..suspension..neg cmaber kit etc.etc etc....hopefully be ready by end of march...will look really good...well hopefully anyhow..
paul..
drop me a line when you going over to anglessey .i`ll drop in see how the car is now.....
my pug in bits a the mo ..having some major work done..suspension..neg cmaber kit etc.etc etc....hopefully be ready by end of march...will look really good...well hopefully anyhow..
paul..
TheLurker said:
Just read the thread through. Lovely car you now have (although you seemed to go through enough of them building this one 
)
Have you tought yourself as you went along, or have people in the know helping you with it? Seems like your quite handy with a spanner!
Cheers, I've learnt a lot from doing this one, and from breaking the others. I had some one else do the welding, and another mate help us with the engine swap. I probably could have do the engine swap myself but it would have just taken a lot longer.)Have you tought yourself as you went along, or have people in the know helping you with it? Seems like your quite handy with a spanner!
There's a few things I'd do differently if I was doing it again. Next time I'll get a good late bare M3 shell, so that it's a proper M3 on the logbook which would make it easier to sell on and probably worth a bit more if I ever got rid. I'd get it properly acid dipped and seemed welded, and a proper custom cage tied into the rear diff mounting points, then the whole lot sprayed inside and out. Might even use a LHD shell as I've heard they have better left to right weight distribution.
Edited by sniff diesel on Friday 26th March 11:24
Have just read the whole thread.
b
ks.
Bought an E36 325i coupe last weekend with a view to turning it into a track car. I don't have one percent of sniff's technical abilities so the majority of the work will need to be 'contracted out'. I knew there was a lot to do, though maybe didn't realise quite how much. But the real revelation was the number of options available and, therefore, the number of opportunities for getting things right or wrong.
I thought I'd be on track within a month
b
ks.Bought an E36 325i coupe last weekend with a view to turning it into a track car. I don't have one percent of sniff's technical abilities so the majority of the work will need to be 'contracted out'. I knew there was a lot to do, though maybe didn't realise quite how much. But the real revelation was the number of options available and, therefore, the number of opportunities for getting things right or wrong.
I thought I'd be on track within a month
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