E36 cheap track day toy
Discussion
Oh we will get there in the end Helix!
So the car was drivable, ragged round the edges. The exhaust held on with wire as I found the mount from the old 328 exhaust had rotted through. Undertrays not fitted, coolant system only just about bled up. But we got out of the door at 5 o’clock as my mate was locking up. A very gentle drive home, but it’s home.
After that quite stressful couple of weeks I decided it was going back in the garage and staying there for a bit, while I got some exhaust mounts a gear selector arm etc.
The weekend after my wife and I were going to visit Oxford for our anniversary. The evening before I was flicking through Facebook and a set of old wheels comes up. Four wheels, one quite badly bent on the rim, four tyres two with good tread 40 quid.
I wasn’t particularly looking for another set of wheels, but I had been looking for some cheepish tyres to use while I’m running the engine in. They looked pretty shagged but it’s 40 quid, less than half the price of one of the semi slicks. I’ll just see where in the country he is, I thought. Just outside Oxford!
So the next morning my wife was extremely happy when half way to Oxford I told her we were making a little detour and I was putting some old wheels in her boot. I think she forgave me by about dinner time.
Anyway the following week I took them into work. Took the tyre off the worst one and spun it up to see how bad it was.
You can see the rim bend at the top, but to be fare it sun quite true. So I got the blow torch out, warmed it to about 200 degrees and gave it a damn good thrashing with a club hammer.
I’m not too disappointed with it really. I’m never going to put it on a show car, but when spun up again it was truer than two of the others.
I then gave them all a dust of a similar grey to what they already were. All had curb marks and chips, but they are only winter boots.
That is the one I hammered straight, not too shabby.
So the car was drivable, ragged round the edges. The exhaust held on with wire as I found the mount from the old 328 exhaust had rotted through. Undertrays not fitted, coolant system only just about bled up. But we got out of the door at 5 o’clock as my mate was locking up. A very gentle drive home, but it’s home.
After that quite stressful couple of weeks I decided it was going back in the garage and staying there for a bit, while I got some exhaust mounts a gear selector arm etc.
The weekend after my wife and I were going to visit Oxford for our anniversary. The evening before I was flicking through Facebook and a set of old wheels comes up. Four wheels, one quite badly bent on the rim, four tyres two with good tread 40 quid.
I wasn’t particularly looking for another set of wheels, but I had been looking for some cheepish tyres to use while I’m running the engine in. They looked pretty shagged but it’s 40 quid, less than half the price of one of the semi slicks. I’ll just see where in the country he is, I thought. Just outside Oxford!
So the next morning my wife was extremely happy when half way to Oxford I told her we were making a little detour and I was putting some old wheels in her boot. I think she forgave me by about dinner time.
Anyway the following week I took them into work. Took the tyre off the worst one and spun it up to see how bad it was.
You can see the rim bend at the top, but to be fare it sun quite true. So I got the blow torch out, warmed it to about 200 degrees and gave it a damn good thrashing with a club hammer.
I’m not too disappointed with it really. I’m never going to put it on a show car, but when spun up again it was truer than two of the others.
I then gave them all a dust of a similar grey to what they already were. All had curb marks and chips, but they are only winter boots.
That is the one I hammered straight, not too shabby.
Edited by Hamster69 on Wednesday 15th November 21:14
Believe it or not this will be the last update of the engine swap saga.
So I tracked down a 320 gear selector linkage arm. I bought some new back box hangers. I bought a bigger temp switch for the top hose yada yada yada, lots of little bits to tidy up. One thing I was struggling with though. The centre pipe on the exhaust has two brackets but I can see no where they attach to the car. I google image searched, I spoke to people, I looked at epc. Epc showed two hooks which appeared to attach to the transmission tunnel brace, but I couldn't see how.
When I picked up my wheels the very nice chap had a couple of e36s in pieces and I asked him, oh yeah the 328 has captive nuts in the brace.
I've got one in this box, do you want it, he said. Some times you just have to be in the right place at the right time. He gave me the hooks as well and I brought them home. As you can see a bit tatty round the edges, but they had come off the bottom of one of his race cars.
As you know by now, I'm not very good at bolting tatty bits on to my car.
First hammered back into shape, then sandblasted.
With the very last remains of my engine paint. I'm really not that obsessed with orange, but the black paint really did run out on the brace.
Saturday comes around and I limp into work with two gears. Its the no reverse that made life hard, especially as our garage is at the end of a road. I had to push it the length of in the rain past all the neighbours houses before I could get to a turning place.
The selector went straight in, then the exhaust hangers.
I swapped on to the winter boots, changed the temp switch, wired the gauges illumination into series instead of parallel as they were very bright at night. Checked the levels and it was a drivable car.
I left work just in time to drive to the village level crossing and watch Flying Scotsman go past!
Driving home it did feel rather lovely. There is a horrible little tinkling noise which I'm pretty sure is that beaten up centre bearing. I will sort that when I get round to fitting the ZF box. But for now I can just get on with putting some miles on the engine. Idle is a bit rough but they are big cams. It pulls lovely and smoothly. No I haven't been over 4K revs yet so I don't really know how quick it is, but it feels like it will be. Oil temp is sitting at 95 degrees which is nice, although I think the sensor is out in to much wind, its only really accurate when not moving. I may have to relocate it. Oil pressure is 4 bar cold, dropping to two when running and hot. Down to about one when hot at idle, but I think this is ok. The fans are keeping it cold and on the whole it seems to be working fine, fingers crossed.
Lastly this afternoon its had a good clean and been tucked up back under its sheet. I will probably put a hundred miles or so on it Thursday.
So I tracked down a 320 gear selector linkage arm. I bought some new back box hangers. I bought a bigger temp switch for the top hose yada yada yada, lots of little bits to tidy up. One thing I was struggling with though. The centre pipe on the exhaust has two brackets but I can see no where they attach to the car. I google image searched, I spoke to people, I looked at epc. Epc showed two hooks which appeared to attach to the transmission tunnel brace, but I couldn't see how.
When I picked up my wheels the very nice chap had a couple of e36s in pieces and I asked him, oh yeah the 328 has captive nuts in the brace.
I've got one in this box, do you want it, he said. Some times you just have to be in the right place at the right time. He gave me the hooks as well and I brought them home. As you can see a bit tatty round the edges, but they had come off the bottom of one of his race cars.
As you know by now, I'm not very good at bolting tatty bits on to my car.
First hammered back into shape, then sandblasted.
With the very last remains of my engine paint. I'm really not that obsessed with orange, but the black paint really did run out on the brace.
Saturday comes around and I limp into work with two gears. Its the no reverse that made life hard, especially as our garage is at the end of a road. I had to push it the length of in the rain past all the neighbours houses before I could get to a turning place.
The selector went straight in, then the exhaust hangers.
I swapped on to the winter boots, changed the temp switch, wired the gauges illumination into series instead of parallel as they were very bright at night. Checked the levels and it was a drivable car.
I left work just in time to drive to the village level crossing and watch Flying Scotsman go past!
Driving home it did feel rather lovely. There is a horrible little tinkling noise which I'm pretty sure is that beaten up centre bearing. I will sort that when I get round to fitting the ZF box. But for now I can just get on with putting some miles on the engine. Idle is a bit rough but they are big cams. It pulls lovely and smoothly. No I haven't been over 4K revs yet so I don't really know how quick it is, but it feels like it will be. Oil temp is sitting at 95 degrees which is nice, although I think the sensor is out in to much wind, its only really accurate when not moving. I may have to relocate it. Oil pressure is 4 bar cold, dropping to two when running and hot. Down to about one when hot at idle, but I think this is ok. The fans are keeping it cold and on the whole it seems to be working fine, fingers crossed.
Lastly this afternoon its had a good clean and been tucked up back under its sheet. I will probably put a hundred miles or so on it Thursday.
Edited by Hamster69 on Sunday 12th November 18:46
Another Saturday comes. Two hundred miles now on the clock. Not much in the way of teething troubles. I have a small leak from the back of the cam cover. Not surprising really, that gasket was rubbish! But it was trim it and fit it, or put the whole job back waiting for another to turn up. It’s only a drip, i’ll Sort before any track time.
I have done a quick front end toe adjustment to reset after the rack was changed.
I was going to do a full setup, but when I was looking around to make sure everything was good I found the N/S/R camber arm has decided to part ways with its bush.
So more work for another day.
I have done a quick front end toe adjustment to reset after the rack was changed.
I was going to do a full setup, but when I was looking around to make sure everything was good I found the N/S/R camber arm has decided to part ways with its bush.
So more work for another day.
Happy new year everyone.
As you may have guessed the BMW has been on the back burner for a couple of months as I had a large project on at work and Christmas getting in the way.
Now that’s all done I’m looking forward to another few steps forward. I would have started yesterday but I have been having some issues getting it insured with its new engine size.
Anyway, last time I drove her we headed out to a Sunday service. Got snapped leaving.
Winter wheels and grinning wife on show.
It was good to stick a couple of hundred miles on her in one day, but it did also bring some teething issues to the surface. The cam cover is leaking a little. Not suprising as the gasket that cam with my kit was rubbish.
Once properly hot, say after running for an hour. There is a definite hesitation. I get the feeling either the cam or crank sensor is on its way out. So I have bought both. The bent old prop bearing is getting really noisy too.
I have received some new rear camber arms for Christmas too. The next couple of weekends will be busy as I have booked it’s first track day for February. Time to see what it can really do!
As you may have guessed the BMW has been on the back burner for a couple of months as I had a large project on at work and Christmas getting in the way.
Now that’s all done I’m looking forward to another few steps forward. I would have started yesterday but I have been having some issues getting it insured with its new engine size.
Anyway, last time I drove her we headed out to a Sunday service. Got snapped leaving.
Winter wheels and grinning wife on show.
It was good to stick a couple of hundred miles on her in one day, but it did also bring some teething issues to the surface. The cam cover is leaking a little. Not suprising as the gasket that cam with my kit was rubbish.
Once properly hot, say after running for an hour. There is a definite hesitation. I get the feeling either the cam or crank sensor is on its way out. So I have bought both. The bent old prop bearing is getting really noisy too.
I have received some new rear camber arms for Christmas too. The next couple of weekends will be busy as I have booked it’s first track day for February. Time to see what it can really do!
Back too it yesterday with the first work of the year.
Cam cover off and new seals on. The old seal really was doing nothing.
Now since the new engine went in it hasn’t been behaving perfectly. Idle has been a bit erratic, when running for an hour or longer there has been a lack of power and last time I drove it there was a very sudden drop to idle then lurch forward. I don’t think any of this is the actual engine but the tired old sensors on it. So I bought a new cam and crank sensor. Really annoyingly on the day I couldn’t find the cam sensor. But I fitted the crank and it has definitely smoothed things out. The drive to work was very hesitant, while the drive home was lovely and smooth. The idle is still bouncing a bit, I will do some more investigation but I think I’m also going to wind the stop up slightly as being a track car, I would like idle around 1K anyway.
I still think whoever decided to put the cam and crank sensor plugs halfway down under the inlet manifold was a complete idiot.
Then finally the hard bit. Since I put the new cluster in the abs light has been on. I thought this might be a coding issue as it wasn’t on before. But when I put a tester on to see, it turns out to have a fault code for the N/S/R wheel speed sensor. This actually makes sense as I cant remember the last time the abs cut in. I had already replaced the other side a couple of years back. I suspect the bulb in the old cluster was blown. As this is the only driver aid on the car it would be nice if it worked.
The bolt actually came undone surprisingly after I hammered a torques head into the old rotten Allen head. The sensors themselves very rarely come out as the hubs corrode and wedge them in. I find the quickest way is to smash the back off.
Then put several 3mm drill holes through it around the core until the outer case can fold in on itself, then yank it out with some pliers on the core.
A couple of hours work, but this way you don’t end up damaging the hub and stopping the new sensor sitting correctly.
Finally give the hole a blast out with compressed air and pop the new sensor in.
On the way home the system burst back into life. The light went out and the pump buzzed. Hopefully all for the good of stopping on track.
Cam cover off and new seals on. The old seal really was doing nothing.
Now since the new engine went in it hasn’t been behaving perfectly. Idle has been a bit erratic, when running for an hour or longer there has been a lack of power and last time I drove it there was a very sudden drop to idle then lurch forward. I don’t think any of this is the actual engine but the tired old sensors on it. So I bought a new cam and crank sensor. Really annoyingly on the day I couldn’t find the cam sensor. But I fitted the crank and it has definitely smoothed things out. The drive to work was very hesitant, while the drive home was lovely and smooth. The idle is still bouncing a bit, I will do some more investigation but I think I’m also going to wind the stop up slightly as being a track car, I would like idle around 1K anyway.
I still think whoever decided to put the cam and crank sensor plugs halfway down under the inlet manifold was a complete idiot.
Then finally the hard bit. Since I put the new cluster in the abs light has been on. I thought this might be a coding issue as it wasn’t on before. But when I put a tester on to see, it turns out to have a fault code for the N/S/R wheel speed sensor. This actually makes sense as I cant remember the last time the abs cut in. I had already replaced the other side a couple of years back. I suspect the bulb in the old cluster was blown. As this is the only driver aid on the car it would be nice if it worked.
The bolt actually came undone surprisingly after I hammered a torques head into the old rotten Allen head. The sensors themselves very rarely come out as the hubs corrode and wedge them in. I find the quickest way is to smash the back off.
Then put several 3mm drill holes through it around the core until the outer case can fold in on itself, then yank it out with some pliers on the core.
A couple of hours work, but this way you don’t end up damaging the hub and stopping the new sensor sitting correctly.
Finally give the hole a blast out with compressed air and pop the new sensor in.
On the way home the system burst back into life. The light went out and the pump buzzed. Hopefully all for the good of stopping on track.
Another Saturday in the workshop. Prop off, the old bearing really is so noisy.
Pressed on really quite nicely. I cleaned up the splines and coperslipped the middle joint while there.
Finally had a chance to change out the camber arms
No time for a geo setup today, but I’m glad I got it done. The old one was definitely past it’s best.
So with all that off the underside it seemed like the right time fit the new exhaust. Was a bit of a sod, home made by the chap I got it from. I’m not massively happy with the centre mount. I will have to do some work in the future on it.
It’s not exactly pretty but it’s pretty straight though. Sounds quite good too.
Pressed on really quite nicely. I cleaned up the splines and coperslipped the middle joint while there.
Finally had a chance to change out the camber arms
No time for a geo setup today, but I’m glad I got it done. The old one was definitely past it’s best.
So with all that off the underside it seemed like the right time fit the new exhaust. Was a bit of a sod, home made by the chap I got it from. I’m not massively happy with the centre mount. I will have to do some work in the future on it.
It’s not exactly pretty but it’s pretty straight though. Sounds quite good too.
What seems to be the final jigsaw peice of the engine build suddenly came about this week. You may remember I was talking a while ago about getting a lightweight bonnet to offset some of the new engine weight.
Just need to sort out some washer jets, but the orange stripes are gone!
Also fitted the summer tyres, deglazed all the pads, changed the oil for some 10w60 and carried out a full geo setup.
So that’s it, engine is run in and our first track outing is next week.
On the way home I gave it the beans properly for the first time. Yeah it’s quick, really quick. I’m going to have to relearn how to drive it.
Just need to sort out some washer jets, but the orange stripes are gone!
Also fitted the summer tyres, deglazed all the pads, changed the oil for some 10w60 and carried out a full geo setup.
So that’s it, engine is run in and our first track outing is next week.
On the way home I gave it the beans properly for the first time. Yeah it’s quick, really quick. I’m going to have to relearn how to drive it.
Here we were back at Bedford yesterday.
I literally didn’t even have time to clean it. I was at work till late this week in the evenings getting some washers installed and the exhaust quiter.
On the whole a good day out. We did experience some clutch slip in the morning towards higher revs. So I started short shifting and it made it through the day. I was hoping to not spend any more money any time soon. But I guess an M3 clutch is on the cards.
It will be going away under its sheet for a while now though. I have been entered as a driver into the Porsche Club Championship Restoracing category. So for most of the summer I think my time will be devoted to getting this thing back together, set up and raced.
I won’t forget about the BMW, it is my home built baby. But at least this will give me some time to save up for the parts I need.
I literally didn’t even have time to clean it. I was at work till late this week in the evenings getting some washers installed and the exhaust quiter.
On the whole a good day out. We did experience some clutch slip in the morning towards higher revs. So I started short shifting and it made it through the day. I was hoping to not spend any more money any time soon. But I guess an M3 clutch is on the cards.
It will be going away under its sheet for a while now though. I have been entered as a driver into the Porsche Club Championship Restoracing category. So for most of the summer I think my time will be devoted to getting this thing back together, set up and raced.
I won’t forget about the BMW, it is my home built baby. But at least this will give me some time to save up for the parts I need.
Edited by Hamster69 on Sunday 18th February 11:06
Edited by Hamster69 on Sunday 18th February 11:08
There is a separate group of original boxsters running in class three. The porsche dealers have been asked to run. As one of the only people at our dealer with any track experience I have been asked to drive.
We are only competing at three rounds, but I’m going to try my hardest.
On a side note thanks for commenting. I was thinking if I got to posting a whole page with no comments, no one is still watching.
We are only competing at three rounds, but I’m going to try my hardest.
On a side note thanks for commenting. I was thinking if I got to posting a whole page with no comments, no one is still watching.
Thanks Steve! No, not actual race experience. But most of the people doing it have only ever been karting.
We have three races, Brandshatch GP, Silverstone GP then Brands Indy. I am sharing the car with another driver too. So one of us will do the first, the other the second. Then the more successful driver will compete at the third. Which is a bigger event for us at the Porsche festival. The Restoracing boxster will have their own separate race there. I would like to do the first race as I have been round Brands on several occasions but we will see what happens.
We have three races, Brandshatch GP, Silverstone GP then Brands Indy. I am sharing the car with another driver too. So one of us will do the first, the other the second. Then the more successful driver will compete at the third. Which is a bigger event for us at the Porsche festival. The Restoracing boxster will have their own separate race there. I would like to do the first race as I have been round Brands on several occasions but we will see what happens.
Thanks Steve, any advise would be gratefully received.
It would also appear to be a small world. I was looking through some other threads last night. You appear to own or have owned a 993 built by Protech Porsche for the old Pirelli cup.
Protech is where I started my apprenticeship working for Graham.
It would also appear to be a small world. I was looking through some other threads last night. You appear to own or have owned a 993 built by Protech Porsche for the old Pirelli cup.
Protech is where I started my apprenticeship working for Graham.
Edited by Hamster69 on Thursday 22 February 04:16
Thanks guys. I may well start one for the Boxster. But I’m not actually that involved in the build. Not at this stage anyway, although as we are supposed to start testing in about five weeks and it’s still in the state it’s in, it may be all hand to the pumps soon.
In the mean time I’m researching sensible clutch/flywheel options for the BMW. Some people are saying go M3 with a Stage 2 Clutch. Others an M30 flywheel modified for M52 starter ring gear with an M34 M5 clutch.
Desisions desissions.
In the mean time I’m researching sensible clutch/flywheel options for the BMW. Some people are saying go M3 with a Stage 2 Clutch. Others an M30 flywheel modified for M52 starter ring gear with an M34 M5 clutch.
Desisions desissions.
I’m sure the UUC one is an awesome bit of kit. But it is falling somewhere outside my current price range.
At the moment I really am having to embrace the name of this thread. I will find a way to sort it, but much like the cage, wheels, m52 and m54 engines. It may have to be when a cheap one appears out of nowhere.
At the moment I really am having to embrace the name of this thread. I will find a way to sort it, but much like the cage, wheels, m52 and m54 engines. It may have to be when a cheap one appears out of nowhere.
I’m not sure if I will bother with a whole new thread for the boxster racing. As I am not building the car and am only guaranteed to drive in one race it may be quite a short thread.
But anyone who wants to keep up to date with that, or BMW work, or the 1982 911 SC restoration or any other interesting jobs I get at work. You could follow me on instagram.
https://instagram.com/p/BfmA6nEH7HZ/
But anyone who wants to keep up to date with that, or BMW work, or the 1982 911 SC restoration or any other interesting jobs I get at work. You could follow me on instagram.
https://instagram.com/p/BfmA6nEH7HZ/
Well it has been a few months. The BMW has sat under her sheet well. I am getting her out tomorrow for MOT. Times have been a little hard recently what with one thing and another, but hopefully there may be light at the end of the tunnel.
With that in mind I have still been investigating clutch setups. I decided in the end to go with 3.0L M3 flywheel and a stage 2 Kevlar clutch.
I’m sure stage three are awesome but I still drive this on the road a lot and don’t need harsh changes.
I am only putting about 270 bhp out at max so a stage 2 should be fine. Annoying thing is now I have decided I can only really find stage 1 and 3.
I have also bought some new injectors which I will tell you more about when I get round to fitting them in a couple of weeks.
Thankfully although money has been tight and the BMW has been locked away. I did get paid to go and race someone else’s car.
I won’t bore you with all the details as this is a BMW page. Suffice to say, I drove the first race at Brandshatch. Our other driver then drove Silverstone and I beat him. Scoring more championship points, which means I get to drive it again in September back at Brands.
With that in mind I have still been investigating clutch setups. I decided in the end to go with 3.0L M3 flywheel and a stage 2 Kevlar clutch.
I’m sure stage three are awesome but I still drive this on the road a lot and don’t need harsh changes.
I am only putting about 270 bhp out at max so a stage 2 should be fine. Annoying thing is now I have decided I can only really find stage 1 and 3.
I have also bought some new injectors which I will tell you more about when I get round to fitting them in a couple of weeks.
Thankfully although money has been tight and the BMW has been locked away. I did get paid to go and race someone else’s car.
I won’t bore you with all the details as this is a BMW page. Suffice to say, I drove the first race at Brandshatch. Our other driver then drove Silverstone and I beat him. Scoring more championship points, which means I get to drive it again in September back at Brands.
Hi guys. Time to use my small group of followers for some good. This is not very BMW related but it is totally track day and a future possibility for the BMW.
I know from previous comments we have several knowledgable track drivers out there. In the Porsche Club Championship we are running Pirelli Tropheo R tyres. They are awesome, the grip is great etc. We are however only allowed one set per season in the rules. The Tropheo R comes with very light tread on the outer edge from new. But our car being basically stock isn’t running much camber. So we have done this.
With two races still to go. Does anyone have experience with this tyre, or something very similar. I think basically I’m judging depth left purely by the 4 groves rather than the tread pattern. Or am I pushing them to far and need to speak to the organisers?
I know from previous comments we have several knowledgable track drivers out there. In the Porsche Club Championship we are running Pirelli Tropheo R tyres. They are awesome, the grip is great etc. We are however only allowed one set per season in the rules. The Tropheo R comes with very light tread on the outer edge from new. But our car being basically stock isn’t running much camber. So we have done this.
With two races still to go. Does anyone have experience with this tyre, or something very similar. I think basically I’m judging depth left purely by the 4 groves rather than the tread pattern. Or am I pushing them to far and need to speak to the organisers?
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