The Purple Panzer

[bulldog5046]

Hey,

Sorry i didnt get back to you about a visit, i've been trying to get all the of the stickers done on mine before i take it out again. Will give you a shout at some point!

That plate on the gearbox will be a lazy mechanic, anyones guess as to why but its just being lazy rather than remove the box for some repair.

[iguana]

Daft to leave it on standard wallowmaster understeer tastic suspension. Decent coilies proper geo- at least 2.5 deg neg camber front an x brace & they are diferent Cars. Shorter rack Well worth it too but not as essential.

[custardkid]

iguana said:

Daft to leave it on standard wallowmaster understeer tastic suspension. Decent coilies proper geo- at least 2.5 deg neg camber front an x brace & they are diferent Cars. Shorter rack Well worth it too but not as essential.

going to try the std suspension for at couple of track days
(then I’ll be able to appreciate the change )

the options are Jamax £200 ebay specials in a couple of months
(i have hear mixed reviews)

or wait until next summer for some Gas Golds c£800

thoughts?

My budget is getting seriously squeezed since I'm having trouble finding a decent trailer for reasonable money, and may have to by a new one ....

Cheers
Custard

[custardkid]

After a bit of swearing the front bushes are in place:

[iguana]

custardkid said:

going to try the std suspension for at couple of track days
(then I’ll be able to appreciate the change )

the options are Jamax £200 ebay specials in a couple of months
(i have hear mixed reviews)

or wait until next summer for some Gas Golds c£800

thoughts?

My budget is getting seriously squeezed since I'm having trouble finding a decent trailer for reasonable money, and may have to by a new one ....

Cheers
Custard

Ive run most of the usual suspects for the M3s on track, PSS9s, PSS, Eibach/Billys, BC racing inverteds- did lots of track days on those, BC non inverteds running now on 328 tracker & on my M3 have just fitted a set of Eibach coilies- basically KWv1s but with Eibachs own springs.

I rate the BCs as highly as the PSS9s ok may not last as long or be as good quiality but price up solid top mounts on the PSS9s as come stock on the Bcs & they are nearly 3 times more expensive & they aint 3 times as good!

My Bc inverteds must have done 15+ odd trackdays now a good few on slicks & no issues & the non inverteds are up to 5 track days 2 on slicks & again no issues as yet- other than they are still a tad soft.

Eibach/Billy (were b12s i think) awesome road kit just great but too soft for track

A Pal runs the gaz golds & Ive track his car- well ringed it & im a really big fan & want them when he sells the car, I ran race Ledas on old track Porsche of mine & the Golds are a similar feel- no suprise same people designed em, none of thwhat ive mentioned above are really spring hard enough for hardcore tracking his Gaz tho are- need to check rates but my seat of pants is they are an easy good 200 lbs fr & rr over the Bc or Pss9s 450lbs area can be.

All the above is cheap gear really, the real gear is a lot lot more money, easy to jizz 5k on e36 coilovers, not quite most trackdayesr budgets tho.

Are about 1000 trailers for sale at anyone time how can you not find one? Im after another for work & are tons about, will be selling twin car mega big commercial jobbie if you fancied!

[custardkid]

Thanks Iguana, so useful stuff, looks like i should save up for some inverted BCs as a value/performance option.

As for trailers i like the look of the scania topline on your website
...possibly a bit too big for the driveway tho

just got a vectra to tow with, so need a light trailer >550kg. 14ft.
ideally a brian James clubman 2000kg trailer or a woodford 2500kg standard

all the stuff on Ebay is ether too big or too old/knackered or with in a few hundred pounds of a new one.

if you can suggest anywhere else to look, or someone selling that would be useful

cheers Custard

[custardkid]

Oil change done, used 0-40 Mobile 1 fully synth as an internet search seamed to give conflicting advice.

its very thin, and on a 145k engine will probably be burn off easily... may go for a 10-40 semi next time..

any thoughts?

cheers custard

[iguana]

custardkid said:

Oil change done, used 0-40 Mobile 1 fully synth as an internet search seamed to give conflicting advice.

its very thin, and on a 145k engine will probably be burn off easily... may go for a 10-40 semi next time..

any thoughts?

cheers custard

Yip 10/40 semi fine, I've run it in higher mile track M3s for yrs & many track miles, I change it pretty regularly, 2 track days, 3 max, or Comma 5-50 motorsport.

All my track e36 m3s have initially run too hot on oil on track as stock, 325td oil cooler cheaper & 1 row bigger than M3, brought temps right down again.

[custardkid]

Update

Rear trailing arm bushes replaced
Rear roll bar bushes replaced
Rear top mounts replaced with OEM items
rear arch bubbling fixed

Cheap ebay strut braces:


that look like they will break at the first sign of a corner....


now onto the interior....
rear trim removed


tackling the spaghetti in the front:


shiny thing:

[F2CSL]

Looking at this thread has suddenly made me loose the urge to buy a E36 and track it, hows the budget going?

[custardkid]

F2CSL said:

Looking at this thread has suddenly made me loose the urge to buy a E36 and track it, hows the budget going?

Sorry to hear that, what's worrying you?

My main inspiration is that its lot cheaper the run and fix than the Z4 on track.
Although learning about mechanicals is also fun.
My main concern that it's reliable.

if you want some inspiration have a look at this story:
http://www.bmwowner.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=26&a...

custard

[F2CSL]

I'm sure your doing the right thing, changing from a Z4 to E36 as a track toy. It's seems like there's a lot to do and you could spend a fortune if you don't keep a tight grip on funds. Looking forward to regular reports
Good luck

[DaveR]

Not the most exciting question but.... what did you do to address the rear arch bubbling - and do you have faith in whatever you did lasting longer than the strut braces?

[Laird]

custardkid said:

it all looks good underneath, the only worrying thing ive found is this plate screwed to the side of the gear box... any ideas? is this why 2nd to 3rd is abit difficult to get???


time to get back under the car and put the front end back together..

custard

I've seen/heard of this before. You best sit down before I tell you what has happened.

OK?

Right...

At some point in your car's life, someone has decided to check the integrity of the clutch (I suspect) and rather than remove the gearbox, has simply taken an angle grinder to the bell housing and et voilà.

More common than you would imagine, but that does look like a particularly big hole/nasty botched job.

[custardkid]

Laird said:

I've seen/heard of this before. You best sit down before I tell you what has happened.

OK?

Right...

At some point in your car's life, someone has decided to check the integrity of the clutch (I suspect) and rather than remove the gearbox, has simply taken an angle grinder to the bell housing and et voilà.

More common than you would imagine, but that does look like a particularly big hole/nasty botched job.

every one ive spoken to isn't too worried about it.. as you said common 'lazy' technique
and if the worst happens 5 speed boxes are about £80..

cheers
Custard

[custardkid]

DaveR said:

Not the most exciting question but.... what did you do to address the rear arch bubbling - and do you have faith in whatever you did lasting longer than the strut braces?

clean out the arches, at some point i'll get in there with a grinder / wire brush and repaint them.

Angle grinder until you see shiny smooth mettel, some dodge paint/curer stuff that my cousin, an MG / iron oxide specialist, uses then some normal paint

it aint pretty, but will hopefully work.

its not as if its going to be driving through salt and spray too often (ever?) for the rest of its life

Custard

[custardkid]

Rust repair:
needs to be rubbed back and tidied up with some Daytona Violet, but will do for the mo.


8Js all round


Used rally slicks £30 each ebay:


Original corroded wheels mid clean up:


Primer, the plan is brake dust friendly anthrecite... but white does look good:


Ebay is a dangerous place!


any idea how to mount them?

a little switch relocation:


Cheers Custard

[BJT]

I like the switches - good idea.
The strut brace welding looks shocking! What make is the one on the back? I just got am OMP (OMPMA1742) Strut Brace for the front but wasn't too sure what to get on the back.

[custardkid]

I cant take credit for the switch idea...

the rear strut brace is the cheap one on Ebay from hongkong... i wouldnt recommend it unless you fancy re-manufacturing the mounts

cheers custard

[custardkid]

A friend kindly produced some alloy panels: