Project E36 - Track Day Car
Discussion
Well, it’s update time, and for the first time in a while it’s a good long one 
The car has been at CR M-Tech for the Alpina engine swap, a diet, and plenty of other bits and bobs. Before I get to the work itself, I want to say a big thanks to Chris at CR M-Tech who did a brilliant job for us. We knew he would do the job fine, but he did loads of extra bits and pieces that made a lot of difference, and he was quite happy to tell us when our suggestions were not worth doing.
What Chris doesn’t know about E36’s, probably isn’t worth knowing, and he’s got access to a healthy amount of parts too. He also rallies an E36 M3, so puts his money where is mouth is so to speak. If you want anything doing, then give him a bell on 07949 464954.
I’d also like to thanks Rich (Sniff Diesel) for the bits he did on the car, supplying some nice solid engine mounts, and selling our spare inlet manifold for us. Cheers mate
OK, so on to the work. The full list was:
2.8L Alpina engine swap with ECU
M3 Evo exhaust headers
M3 Evo decat exhaust
M3 Evo oil filter housing and oil cooler
M3 Evo rad pack
M3 Sump with custom baffles
M3 Evo brake master cylinder/servo, with new brake lines and remove ABS system
M3 Evo front cross-member with additional strengthening
Steering rack to replace damaged one
Fully strip existing wiring loom and re-wire to bare minimum
Weld in front section of roll cage to front struts
Powerflex poly bushes to front subframe and suspension
Solid engine and transmission mounts
The car has been at CR M-Tech for the Alpina engine swap, a diet, and plenty of other bits and bobs. Before I get to the work itself, I want to say a big thanks to Chris at CR M-Tech who did a brilliant job for us. We knew he would do the job fine, but he did loads of extra bits and pieces that made a lot of difference, and he was quite happy to tell us when our suggestions were not worth doing.
What Chris doesn’t know about E36’s, probably isn’t worth knowing, and he’s got access to a healthy amount of parts too. He also rallies an E36 M3, so puts his money where is mouth is so to speak. If you want anything doing, then give him a bell on 07949 464954.
I’d also like to thanks Rich (Sniff Diesel) for the bits he did on the car, supplying some nice solid engine mounts, and selling our spare inlet manifold for us. Cheers mate
OK, so on to the work. The full list was:
2.8L Alpina engine swap with ECU
M3 Evo exhaust headers
M3 Evo decat exhaust
M3 Evo oil filter housing and oil cooler
M3 Evo rad pack
M3 Sump with custom baffles
M3 Evo brake master cylinder/servo, with new brake lines and remove ABS system
M3 Evo front cross-member with additional strengthening
Steering rack to replace damaged one
Fully strip existing wiring loom and re-wire to bare minimum
Weld in front section of roll cage to front struts
Powerflex poly bushes to front subframe and suspension
Solid engine and transmission mounts
Edited by benny.c on Sunday 3rd October 23:07
First up is stripping out the loom. I’ve seen this done before but it’s not until you hold two bin bags full of wire, that you realise just how much a loom weighs. Chris told us ours was the biggest loom he’d stripped out, probably as our car was an SE, so had electric everything, with all the options ticked.
This is how the interior looked when we took it in. The rather nasty “stolen recovered” look.
Then the stripping started.
And more.......
Rich weighs some of the loom......
.......and Chris rebuilds it. This is our reworked loom in it’s entirety. Unbelievable.
This is the new, sparse, neat interior. What a difference. The vastly reduced fuse box has been relocated to the inside of the car, and all that remains to do is add a kill switch once we've made a panel for it.
This is how the interior looked when we took it in. The rather nasty “stolen recovered” look.
Then the stripping started.
And more.......
Rich weighs some of the loom......
.......and Chris rebuilds it. This is our reworked loom in it’s entirety. Unbelievable.
This is the new, sparse, neat interior. What a difference. The vastly reduced fuse box has been relocated to the inside of the car, and all that remains to do is add a kill switch once we've made a panel for it.
Edited by benny.c on Sunday 3rd October 23:02
New engine in place
Solid engine mounts
Solid transmission mounts
Big Evo rad with oil cooler below
Ready to roll again
As the car isn’t road legal we can’t test it, but it sounds lovely
Now all that remains to do before the next track day is an oil change and some cosmetic bits and pieces
Solid engine mounts
Solid transmission mounts
Big Evo rad with oil cooler below
Ready to roll again
As the car isn’t road legal we can’t test it, but it sounds lovely
Now all that remains to do before the next track day is an oil change and some cosmetic bits and pieces
Edited by benny.c on Sunday 3rd October 23:16
joe_90 said:
Excellent, but why the solid engine mounts?
I pushed them towards the solid mounts for a couple of reasons: with the heavy engine and gearbox moving around a lot under hard cornering it rips standard engine and gearbox mounts apart, also that movement can make gear selection more difficult. The only downside is you feel every vibration from the engine, but on a track car this doesn't matter. They also weigh nesrly a kilo more per set than the equivalent OEM rubber mounts.
I had them made from the same cromoly cylinder used in JCB pistons, and hence am able to offer a lifetime garantee with them as I'm confident these will never brake. I still have a set available if anyone's interested. They will fit any engined E36, from 316i to M3 Evo.
[quote=benny.c]Well, it’s update time, and for the first time in a while it’s a good long one
The car has been at CR M-Tech for the Alpina engine swap, a diet, and plenty of other bits and bobs. Before I get to the work itself, I want to say a big thanks to Chris at CR M-Tech who did a brilliant job for us. We knew he would do the job fine, but he did loads of extra bits and pieces that made a lot of difference, and he was quite happy to tell us when our suggestions were not worth doing.
What Chris doesn’t know about E36’s, probably isn’t worth knowing, and he’s got access to a healthy amount of parts too. He also rallies an E36 M3, so puts his money where is mouth is so to speak. If you want anything doing, then give him a bell on 07949 464954.
Thanks for your comments Benny, It has been a pleasure working on it. Its certainly 100% a dedicated Track beast now. when your board of it mind, we will get a nice M3 lump in her next !
Hopefully see you at oulton on the 2nd, and hopefully have my 328 ready for then too
The car has been at CR M-Tech for the Alpina engine swap, a diet, and plenty of other bits and bobs. Before I get to the work itself, I want to say a big thanks to Chris at CR M-Tech who did a brilliant job for us. We knew he would do the job fine, but he did loads of extra bits and pieces that made a lot of difference, and he was quite happy to tell us when our suggestions were not worth doing.
What Chris doesn’t know about E36’s, probably isn’t worth knowing, and he’s got access to a healthy amount of parts too. He also rallies an E36 M3, so puts his money where is mouth is so to speak. If you want anything doing, then give him a bell on 07949 464954.
Thanks for your comments Benny, It has been a pleasure working on it. Its certainly 100% a dedicated Track beast now. when your board of it mind, we will get a nice M3 lump in her next !
Hopefully see you at oulton on the 2nd, and hopefully have my 328 ready for then too
sniff diesel said:
Get it on a rolling road Ben, would be interesting to see how the Alpina lump compares to a 328i and the M3 engines.
Don't know if I want too. I'll be crushed if it's putting out 170BHP joe_90 said:
Excellent, but why the solid engine mounts?
What Sniff said basically. Plus they are nice and shiny d4cjr said:
Thanks for your comments Benny, It has been a pleasure working on it. Its certainly 100% a dedicated Track beast now. when your board of it mind, we will get a nice M3 lump in her next !
Hopefully see you at oulton on the 2nd, and hopefully have my 328 ready for then too
Cheers for doing the work mate. Didn't know you were on here Hopefully see you at oulton on the 2nd, and hopefully have my 328 ready for then too
Looks good, but keep a VERY close eye on the engine and trans mount bolts, as you have made them COMPLETELY solid, they will be forced to actually bend (probably the 2 subframes actually) as the engine and trans warm and cool, and this tends to fret the bolts loose (or snap bits of the castings off......)
looks like a lot of fun for a track blast though
looks like a lot of fun for a track blast though
Love this build!
Dont know whether you remember me but I bought a Tech2 steering wheel off you through the 'zone earlier in the year....
I'm also out with my PBMWC car at Oulton Park on Nov the 2nd so will make sure I say hello if you are there.... Very tempted to build something like this after the E30......
Dont know whether you remember me but I bought a Tech2 steering wheel off you through the 'zone earlier in the year....
I'm also out with my PBMWC car at Oulton Park on Nov the 2nd so will make sure I say hello if you are there....
Very tempted to build something like this after the E30......Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff