BMW E36 328i Saloon Track Car Project!
Discussion
TroubledSoul said:
Unfortunately I cannot find the rear diff carrier bushes on ECP.
I am actually considering buying a set of cheapo Hot Tuning coilovers. I know, I know. Buy cheap, buy twice etc. but that's actually OK by me if it means I can put something firmer on, save some money right now to put towards the boot and floor repairs and actually have some form of handling for this year's track days. Next year I'd replace them with something more suited to proper racing.
Need to give this some thought. There are a few things I will probably buy cheaper versions of and then replace once I get more serious, like buckets that are out of date and that sort of thing.
Makes sense to me right now to get the car to a useable track spec as cheaply as I can and then upgrade to proper stuff as and when needed/wanted. It's a long term thing after all.
Powerflex do them, and not exactly expensive either, and easier to fit!I am actually considering buying a set of cheapo Hot Tuning coilovers. I know, I know. Buy cheap, buy twice etc. but that's actually OK by me if it means I can put something firmer on, save some money right now to put towards the boot and floor repairs and actually have some form of handling for this year's track days. Next year I'd replace them with something more suited to proper racing.
Need to give this some thought. There are a few things I will probably buy cheaper versions of and then replace once I get more serious, like buckets that are out of date and that sort of thing.
Makes sense to me right now to get the car to a useable track spec as cheaply as I can and then upgrade to proper stuff as and when needed/wanted. It's a long term thing after all.
http://www.powerflex.co.uk/road-series/product-det...
http://www.powerflex.co.uk/road-series/product-det...
Better than hottunning, I would NOT recommend you use anything from them, heard plenty of horror stories!
TroubledSoul said:
Unfortunately I cannot find the rear diff carrier bushes on ECP.
I am actually considering buying a set of cheapo Hot Tuning coilovers. I know, I know. Buy cheap, buy twice etc. but that's actually OK by me if it means I can put something firmer on, save some money right now to put towards the boot and floor repairs and actually have some form of handling for this year's track days. Next year I'd replace them with something more suited to proper racing.
Need to give this some thought. There are a few things I will probably buy cheaper versions of and then replace once I get more serious, like buckets that are out of date and that sort of thing.
Makes sense to me right now to get the car to a useable track spec as cheaply as I can and then upgrade to proper stuff as and when needed/wanted. It's a long term thing after all.
They will be able to get them if you give them a call. They are the main UK distributor for Powerflex.I am actually considering buying a set of cheapo Hot Tuning coilovers. I know, I know. Buy cheap, buy twice etc. but that's actually OK by me if it means I can put something firmer on, save some money right now to put towards the boot and floor repairs and actually have some form of handling for this year's track days. Next year I'd replace them with something more suited to proper racing.
Need to give this some thought. There are a few things I will probably buy cheaper versions of and then replace once I get more serious, like buckets that are out of date and that sort of thing.
Makes sense to me right now to get the car to a useable track spec as cheaply as I can and then upgrade to proper stuff as and when needed/wanted. It's a long term thing after all.
Sf_Manta said:
I've used the purple ones for years, had them on 2 cars, one of which was flung around on a drift day with no issues suspension wise (Power steering pump however blew a seal!)
Definitely recommended.
Well that will certainly do for me. Definitely recommended.
Therein lies the next dilemma, however. It seems stupid not to get the subframe reinforcements welded in when I swap over the diff etc. but that would mean paying all the extra labour to have the swap done on top of having it welded, as it's pointless me doing that then having to have it dropped again.
I think this will take a bit of thinking about....
TroubledSoul said:
Hmm I'll see what I can come up with. Will it 100% need bending? I actually thought (forgotten exactly what I read now) that it just was the 1.9 shifter that needed bending.
As said in another comment, you don't have to bend it. It just makes it sit nearer the standard position.I actually bent mine too far and now 3rd is more like the old neutral position, however it's really easy and comfy for me to use.
You could always fit the bottom end and rest the shifter ball in the cup without the plastic bush, look at its position and then decide if you want it adjusted.
Stuck a tank of Super in on Saturday and running a bit of Redex through. Using the car this week to keep an eye on the coolant level. Got to McDonald's to grab a breakfast wrap on my way into work and all was going well.... until I tried to put the window back up.
Cue lots of awkward grinding sounds and a piece of window glass trying to make a break for freedom from its frame... Pfft.
Could do without bulls
t things like this! Car is now parked with the window slightly open. It was the best I could do!
On a more positivie note, I picked up a pair of bucket seats last night. I paid £90 for the pair! They are very basic old Sparco seats, the type you'd probably pay a max of £150 each for brand new, but they're a start.
Cue lots of awkward grinding sounds and a piece of window glass trying to make a break for freedom from its frame... Pfft.
Could do without bulls
t things like this! Car is now parked with the window slightly open. It was the best I could do!On a more positivie note, I picked up a pair of bucket seats last night. I paid £90 for the pair! They are very basic old Sparco seats, the type you'd probably pay a max of £150 each for brand new, but they're a start.
TheAllSeeingPie said:
Can you strip some padding out of them? I've recovered quite a few bucket seats in the past to adjust the foam to make it fit more snugly.
There's no tmuch to remove as it is! 
I have had a price back from the bodyshop this morning. It's a bit more than I had anticipated; £480 + VAT to weld in the supplied boot floor panel I have. :S
I was hoping it would be more like £300 to be honest. There's also going to be the jacking points which won't be quoted until they have the car and get under it.
I set off to collect this car thinking that it was going to be solid and over the moon with the price it was up for. I got there and discovered it wasn't and I told myself "Nevermind, it was never going to be perfect at this money, it will still be a reasonable price after a few hundred quid's worth of welding".
Now I am facing the prospect of spending virtually as much on the welding as I had on the car. That hurts. I am very tempted to punt it on and start over, but on the other hand I have somehow developed a little bit of affection for the bloody thing.
Hamster69 said:
Where did you get the Z3 rack from? I have been looking for one for ages.
What is the part number on it? I have seen contradicting write ups out there of which one to go for.
Will be very interested to see the write up when you fit it. Keep up the good work!
me too, I was looking for a Z3 rack but they seem to be few and far betweenWhat is the part number on it? I have seen contradicting write ups out there of which one to go for.
Will be very interested to see the write up when you fit it. Keep up the good work!
I bottled it. I sold the car last night at a small loss as I just couldn't stomach paying out for welding in addition to everything else.
I also decided that I should have started with a non sunroof shell.
M<y contract at work may not be renewed at the end of March so been having a think about whether I can justify this at all, but then decided screw it, I have bought a fair few bits already, so get another one and get on with fitting them in the meantime.
So the search is on for a replacement. I'd still prefer a saloon as they are way cooler and a stiffer bodyshell but I have seen a couple of coupes that might do. I'm scared of rushing to replace this one and buying the wrong car.
I've seen a car not too far away that has a post Nikasil engine and looks tidy but has done 186k which is about 80k more than I'm really comfortable with!
I also decided that I should have started with a non sunroof shell.
M<y contract at work may not be renewed at the end of March so been having a think about whether I can justify this at all, but then decided screw it, I have bought a fair few bits already, so get another one and get on with fitting them in the meantime.
So the search is on for a replacement. I'd still prefer a saloon as they are way cooler and a stiffer bodyshell but I have seen a couple of coupes that might do. I'm scared of rushing to replace this one and buying the wrong car.
I've seen a car not too far away that has a post Nikasil engine and looks tidy but has done 186k which is about 80k more than I'm really comfortable with!
TroubledSoul said:
I bottled it. I sold the car last night at a small loss as I just couldn't stomach paying out for welding in addition to everything else.
I also decided that I should have started with a non sunroof shell.
M<y contract at work may not be renewed at the end of March so been having a think about whether I can justify this at all, but then decided screw it, I have bought a fair few bits already, so get another one and get on with fitting them in the meantime.
So the search is on for a replacement. I'd still prefer a saloon as they are way cooler and a stiffer bodyshell but I have seen a couple of coupes that might do. I'm scared of rushing to replace this one and buying the wrong car.
I've seen a car not too far away that has a post Nikasil engine and looks tidy but has done 186k which is about 80k more than I'm really comfortable with!
Don't worry too much about the mileage. They go forever and a day these engines!I also decided that I should have started with a non sunroof shell.
M<y contract at work may not be renewed at the end of March so been having a think about whether I can justify this at all, but then decided screw it, I have bought a fair few bits already, so get another one and get on with fitting them in the meantime.
So the search is on for a replacement. I'd still prefer a saloon as they are way cooler and a stiffer bodyshell but I have seen a couple of coupes that might do. I'm scared of rushing to replace this one and buying the wrong car.
I've seen a car not too far away that has a post Nikasil engine and looks tidy but has done 186k which is about 80k more than I'm really comfortable with!
I managed to pick up an M54B30 lump yesterday for peanuts so I can get building my 3.0 for my E36 soon
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