Project 'Track Hack'

[T89 Callan]

FOR SALE, FOR SALE, FOR SALE, FOR SALE

Having to sell due to losing job, please e-mail me if interested.

Loads of extra parts since this thread was updated and passed it's MOT today 14/10/2009

Advert:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1299710.htm

Thought I should get round to posting some pics of the current project.

While unemployed I have decided to use the money I set aside for a track car while earning to build a track/drift hack and get the most fun and performance I can for as little money as possible.

So this is what I started with:

One 1988 BMW E30 Touring - £300 taxed and tested.

Why this? well it's a well balanced RWD car, generally well regarded.
Why a 320? 325i's in this condition fetch over £1000 I can get a 320 and a 325i engine for £500 and fit it myself.
A Touring? Yep the 320 Tourings came with the decent brakes (rear discs) and larger struts from the 325i's.


Although it was decent and running well it was dog slow, especially when compared to my S4.
So first job rip out the interior, this included the spare wheel well which is now covered in a very thin sheet of plywood. I left the dash as I wanted to keep the screen clearing ability for the road.


Managed to get two bucket seats (in the right colour even!) sliders and mounts on ebay for £65, bargain.


Next jobs were suspension and brake upgrades,this is were costs were not skimped on.
Supersport front Coilovers
Supersport rear shocks
Faulkner rear springs
EBC front discs and pads
New BMW rear discs and pads
Thicker 318is ARB's w/ Powerflex bushes and new drop links
Powerflex wishbone bushes
Welded diff
All cleaned blasted and painted.

Also thanks to Sniff Diesel of Ring Shed fame I got an E36 quicker steering rack





While I was waiting for all these bits to turn-up I went about giving it that 'track Hack' look. Lots of Satin black paint, increase cooling on the front and a bit of tongue in cheek modification.

I also sourced a set of 'BBS Style' wheels with 2 Brand new Toyo Proxy's and 2 part worn Michelin Pilot Cups for £80, another ebay bargain.

So it ended up back on the road like this:




After some serious set-up work the handling is razor sharp, with unbelieble grip. Drilling some holes for tracking bars made it abit easier though as did my spanking new Intercomp Caster/camber gauge.



So now I'm on the big job, as Clarkson would put it I needed more "POWWWEEEERRRRRR!"
Sourced a 325i engine from ebay, high(ish) mileage but it was from an automatic car so far less likely to be thrashed and it seems to be mint, no leaks anywere. Not a huge bargain but £200 aint bad.
This is what I was looking at when I closed the garage today... a 2.0 engine ready to be pulled out and a 2.5l ready to go in. Add a decent chip and an exhaust and I'm looking at going from 125bhp to 180bhp with bags more torque.



The only things left to buy are a decent harness and a new clutch, when I'm finished I'll tot-up all the receipts but I should have a fully prepped 325i Track car for less than £1500.

Edited by T89 Callan on Wednesday 5th August 14:05

Edited by T89 Callan on Thursday 15th October 20:23

Edited by T89 Callan on Thursday 15th October 23:20

[stifler]

Cool car.

And the touring version looks better.

I would have thought an engine from an automatic car would have been thrashed more than a manual car?

[BelperJim]

T89 Callan said:

While unemployed I have decided to use the money I set aside for a track car while earning to build a track

Are you planning on building your own track?

[sniff diesel]

stifler said:

I would have thought an engine from an automatic car would have been thrashed more than a manual car?

I'd say that the auto's engine cannot be ragged from cold as the car will change up earlier than you can in a manual. The engine in my GF's 325td auto sounds in a lot better nick than my manual 325tds despite hers being on 181k vs 148k in mine.

How much heavier is the touring compared to a coupe/saloon Callan?

[T89 Callan]

sniff diesel said:

stifler said:

I would have thought an engine from an automatic car would have been thrashed more than a manual car?

I'd say that the auto's engine cannot be ragged from cold as the car will change up earlier than you can in a manual. The engine in my GF's 325td auto sounds in a lot better nick than my manual 325tds despite hers being on 181k vs 148k in mine.

How much heavier is the touring compared to a coupe/saloon Callan?

Apparently they weigh around 80KG more due to the extra glass and the reinforcment over the rear wheels I suspect this is compared to a coupe though and probably not that much heavier than a saloon, the bigger problem with a touring is getting polycarb windows cheaper, there are plenty of used/bargain sets for Coupe's about but none for Tourings.

With the Auto issue, the engine from an Auto as said will have been less stressed from cold due to early upshifts and is far less likely to have been in a car that some 18 year olds have been pinging off the limiter all day and thrashing round car parks.
I suspect/hope it's come from a motorway mile muncher rather than a drift hack. The condition suggests it has been well serviced and looked after.

[BoRED S2upid]

A track weapon indeed. And with the extra boot space you can take spare wheels, jacks and butties to a trackday. Your going to make a lot of friends who drive Caterhams and the likes who can't take anything to a track day with them!.

[sniff diesel]

T89 Callan said:

the bigger problem with a touring is getting polycarb windows cheaper, there are plenty of used/bargain sets for Coupe's about but none for Tourings.

I just made my own, cost about £70 for all the polycarb including the rear screen, and £40 for 2 sliders for the front windows.

[T89 Callan]

sniff diesel said:

T89 Callan said:

the bigger problem with a touring is getting polycarb windows cheaper, there are plenty of used/bargain sets for Coupe's about but none for Tourings.

I just made my own, cost about £70 for all the polycarb including the rear screen, and £40 for 2 sliders for the front windows.

What material did you use and were did you get it? I was looking at some sheets of various clear plastics in B&Q but didn't know what to use.

fking hell, managed to get the engine out though, had to build my own crane from 2'x4' as i couldn't borrow an engine crane anywere, worked absolutely spot on.
Just trying to find out which Clutch I need so I can get it ordered and fitted and some new engine mounts.

Surprisingly good engine crane built for a total of £9:


Too many engines now blocking up the garage:

[sniff diesel]

T89 Callan said:

What material did you use and were did you get it? I was looking at some sheets of various clear plastics in B&Q but didn't know what to use.

3mm polycarb from a guy on here (can't remember his name, will try a search)

[Jeffmaniac]

Interested to see how this turns out, please keep posting OP especially on what mods are made and how it goes at track days etc...

[T89 Callan]

Jeffmaniac said:

Interested to see how this turns out, please keep posting OP especially on what mods are made and how it goes at track days etc...

I will do, I'm keeping every single receipt related to the car to try and find exactly how much it costs to build a trck car and also when I built my first track car I took very few photos and then sold it so have very little record it ever existed.

Todays Job: Fettling 2.5l engine to be re-fitted.

[Mr Flaky]

can you ever actually have too many engines?

[T89 Callan]

Mr Flaky said:

can you ever actually have too many engines?

Well there are too may engines in my garage as one should be in the car.

[skylinecrazy]

Do like that.

Shame you're not putting the S4's engine in it though.

[T89 Callan]

skylinecrazy said:

Do like that.

Shame you're not putting the S4's engine in it though.

Thats the next project........................ Audi Engine and transaxle in the middle of a VW MK2 Jetta driving the rear wheels.

Quick update heres todays progress, everything cleaned and tidied ready for the new engine as soon as the new clutch and engine mounts arrive:

[vandercliewjs]

sniff diesel said:

stifler said:

I would have thought an engine from an automatic car would have been thrashed more than a manual car?

I'd say that the auto's engine cannot be ragged from cold as the car will change up earlier than you can in a manual. The engine in my GF's 325td auto sounds in a lot better nick than my manual 325tds despite hers being on 181k vs 148k in mine.

Surely that's cos you're a bloke and she's a girl

[2fster]

'Cos girls are renowned for their mechanical sympathy . . .

[T89 Callan]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Subbed?

Todays update:

The 325i Engine is now bolted in with new mounts and clutch, oiled and serviced.

Wiring reconected but........... The bloody fuels pumps aren't priming and the starter isn't working. Only got to that point a 11:45pm tonight so I packed up and will have a look tomorrow.

[teabagger]

this is looking good
nice work!

[T89 Callan]

HOOOOLLLLLLLLLLYYYYYYYYYYY SHHHHHHHHHIIIIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTTTTTTT!

That is QUICK!

Got the engine in running and got the car back together tonight, it wasn't running yesterday as I had forgot to fit the engine earth strap (spakker moment) but fk me it is good.

It runs alot sweeter than the old 320i, smooth as silk and bags more power, no smoke or oil leaks.... Got a good'un with that engine.

I know it's a cliche' but it's like completely different car, before it was as sharp as a go-kart but with a weezing engine now it's an on the edge, welded diff, tail-out track car as was always intended.

I'll get some pics tomorrow.