E36 cheap track day toy
Discussion
So, got the cage. Laid it all out last night. Its going to be a fairly big job. Probably have to lose the door cards and cut the ends off the dash off. So im going to leave it till after Brandshatch and Bedford. Dont want to rush it and make a mess.
Anyone have any good ideas about welding it together in the car?
Anyone have any good ideas about welding it together in the car?
Does anyone know a good place to get my engine remapped. I don't want to just buy a chip, with the catcams, decat and air filter it would need tuning on a rolling road. I have E mailed a couple of places without much response. I really feel that there is a bit of power locked up in there and a few flat spots that could be ironed out.
Brandshatch run Tuesday night. We had a great time, with no incidents. One of my passengers took plenty of photos, so a selection to follow when he sends them on. On the whole the old girl felt great. The new ARB bushes seemed to help. You can throw it in so hard now. Up through Surtees and McLaren it really felt like one of the faster cars there. Everyone else was braking going in. We were on the power right up the hill. So much fun.
I Emailed Evolve. They were very helpful but said that they didn't have the equipment to do a 318is.
They recommended a system called unichip. When I looked up their website , the closest dealer to me is Redline tuning in Basildon. Had a bit of a scout about on the net and found quite a few bad reviews of Redline. Not really sure what to do now.
They recommended a system called unichip. When I looked up their website , the closest dealer to me is Redline tuning in Basildon. Had a bit of a scout about on the net and found quite a few bad reviews of Redline. Not really sure what to do now.
Im sure they have. In the trade myself, I know that people are far more inclind to go and write a bad review than a good one. But there are alot of people out there saying avoid them. As someone who does 99% of the work myself, I guess I'm a bit picky about who does the stuff I cant.
My friend who took the photos at Brands hasn't sent them to me yet, so I will get on with the post Brands inspection update first. Starting obviosly with another medal.
I know, sad isn't it. But I really am proud of the old girl. If someone had pointed out that battered old mold covered three series a couple of years ago, and told me she would go to Cadwell, Snetterton, Rockingham, Donington, Brands Hatch and the Nurburgring twice. Even I would have laughed at you.
Up on the ramp, I have another day at Bedford booked in a few weeks so need to make sure she is ready to go.
The brakes are squealing all round, Brands being quite short (we were on the Indy Circuit) you are braking hard every few seconds. So I pulled all the pads out to deglaze them.
As you can probably tell I have done the one on the left already. This also gives me a chance to show you another reason why I won't be buying the Ferrodo's again. The retaining plate on the rear pads is held on with a push rivet. This comes out quite quickly. Leaving the pads to then move around in the calliper, causing a clicking noise at low speeds. This happened on my DS3000 and on my friends DS2500 in his 328. In the end I welded the plate back on. But that along with the low friction from cold, high amount if dust, cost and almost constant squealing is why I won't be buying anymore.
I can not praise the performance friction pads highly enough. Two people in my passenger seat said they couldn't believe how good my brakes were.
The tyres are lasting really well. I thought I was going to have to replace the rears before Bedford but I think they will last another day out. You can see how hot they have got a Brands despite having driven 84 miles home.
I changed the oil and filter, changed the brake fluid. Think she is in fine shape for Bedford which I am really looking forward to now. I am quite keen to crack on with some work over the winter now. I can't wait to get the cage in. Possibly a new windscreen at the same time.
I have a good group of mates who came along to Brands. They all enjoyed it so much, we are all really looking forward to Bedford. Hopefully the plan is to do some more days and possibly a Europe trip next year.
When I first bought her and stuck the Nurburgring sticker on, I set myself the challenge of filling the rear bumper with track stickers. When it was full I could say I achieved what I set out to do.
Nearly there.
I know, sad isn't it. But I really am proud of the old girl. If someone had pointed out that battered old mold covered three series a couple of years ago, and told me she would go to Cadwell, Snetterton, Rockingham, Donington, Brands Hatch and the Nurburgring twice. Even I would have laughed at you.
Up on the ramp, I have another day at Bedford booked in a few weeks so need to make sure she is ready to go.
The brakes are squealing all round, Brands being quite short (we were on the Indy Circuit) you are braking hard every few seconds. So I pulled all the pads out to deglaze them.
As you can probably tell I have done the one on the left already. This also gives me a chance to show you another reason why I won't be buying the Ferrodo's again. The retaining plate on the rear pads is held on with a push rivet. This comes out quite quickly. Leaving the pads to then move around in the calliper, causing a clicking noise at low speeds. This happened on my DS3000 and on my friends DS2500 in his 328. In the end I welded the plate back on. But that along with the low friction from cold, high amount if dust, cost and almost constant squealing is why I won't be buying anymore.
I can not praise the performance friction pads highly enough. Two people in my passenger seat said they couldn't believe how good my brakes were.
The tyres are lasting really well. I thought I was going to have to replace the rears before Bedford but I think they will last another day out. You can see how hot they have got a Brands despite having driven 84 miles home.
I changed the oil and filter, changed the brake fluid. Think she is in fine shape for Bedford which I am really looking forward to now. I am quite keen to crack on with some work over the winter now. I can't wait to get the cage in. Possibly a new windscreen at the same time.
I have a good group of mates who came along to Brands. They all enjoyed it so much, we are all really looking forward to Bedford. Hopefully the plan is to do some more days and possibly a Europe trip next year.
When I first bought her and stuck the Nurburgring sticker on, I set myself the challenge of filling the rear bumper with track stickers. When it was full I could say I achieved what I set out to do.
Nearly there.
A non track day event attended this morning. We popped along to the PH Sunday service.
A very enjoyable event. This was the first one I have been to properly. I did turn up for the last 20 mins or so at a Luton plant one a couple of years ago. But my name was actually on the list this time.
I was slightly disappointed that we were not at some Motorsport associated site. I really wanted to go to one of the SS at MB world, but couldn't get on the list. That being said we spent a few enjoyable hours wandering around.
Snapped a few personal favourites.
Anyway back to topic. I better be getting to bed. Bedford in the morning.
A very enjoyable event. This was the first one I have been to properly. I did turn up for the last 20 mins or so at a Luton plant one a couple of years ago. But my name was actually on the list this time.
I was slightly disappointed that we were not at some Motorsport associated site. I really wanted to go to one of the SS at MB world, but couldn't get on the list. That being said we spent a few enjoyable hours wandering around.
Snapped a few personal favourites.
Anyway back to topic. I better be getting to bed. Bedford in the morning.
So we didn't really get much in the way of pics yesterday. It did rain for most of the day. Although dried quite nicely for the last hour, most people already having given up and gone home, we had quite an empty track with a dry line to finish the day. All good fun!
Tonight I have started what I think will be the winter project. The cage!
I am in no rush, I want to do it properly and make a nice job. It will have to break down like this. Door cards off and replaced with something flat. Dash out and modified, possibly cut down a lot. I had intended to work around the sunroof, but I am now very tempted to take it out and fit some kind of light weight panel. Then weld in the hoop fixings. The cage I bought was not complete, which is one reason why I could afford it. One of the two parts missing was the flat plate fixings for the rear support arms. Luckily I have found some nice 3mm sheet that I will fabricate up into feet.
The first baby step tonight was passenger seat removal. We had an issue at Bedford, that one of my taller friends head was touching the roof. I have also been worried that with the cage in my head would touch it, at least my helmet would.
The seat frames that came with my seats seem to be very tall.
I think I will have to cut them down, probably about 20mm roughly half, then weld the bottom back on.
I hope this, along with a possible sunroof delete will give plenty of head room.
This is defiantly the biggest challenge since cutting the wheel arches off. It is a bit daunting as I can't use the workshop at my new job as much as the old place. Good job that I like a challenge.
Tonight I have started what I think will be the winter project. The cage!
I am in no rush, I want to do it properly and make a nice job. It will have to break down like this. Door cards off and replaced with something flat. Dash out and modified, possibly cut down a lot. I had intended to work around the sunroof, but I am now very tempted to take it out and fit some kind of light weight panel. Then weld in the hoop fixings. The cage I bought was not complete, which is one reason why I could afford it. One of the two parts missing was the flat plate fixings for the rear support arms. Luckily I have found some nice 3mm sheet that I will fabricate up into feet.
The first baby step tonight was passenger seat removal. We had an issue at Bedford, that one of my taller friends head was touching the roof. I have also been worried that with the cage in my head would touch it, at least my helmet would.
The seat frames that came with my seats seem to be very tall.
I think I will have to cut them down, probably about 20mm roughly half, then weld the bottom back on.
I hope this, along with a possible sunroof delete will give plenty of head room.
This is defiantly the biggest challenge since cutting the wheel arches off. It is a bit daunting as I can't use the workshop at my new job as much as the old place. Good job that I like a challenge.
Having a dig about online I found one pic of us on track at Bedford. It's not much but at least it's something.
Work has started on the Cage. When I say on the cage, I mean on everything I need to do before trying to fit the cage. I decided to go with a sheet on the roof as it was about a quarter of the price of a sunroof delete panel. Ordered yesterday morning, amazingly turned up today. So at lunch time I removed the stripes. Bit sad after all the tracks they have seen, but I'm going to need a good clean surface if this panel isn't going to leak.
I have removed the passenger seat mounts, which to me seem to be able to be cut down by 20mm without any problems.
I intend to cut the mounts basically in half. Then weld the flat of the bottom back onto the top half.
All marked up and cutting, hope I have done my maths right.
Once I cut the bottom half off. I then trimmed the sides from this, leaving just the flat plates. I took careful measurements of where the seat bolt holes were, so these can be welded back in the right place.
All ready to start welding in the morning.
I have ordered some sheet door cards which if I'm lucky will match the new roof panel. Unfortunately these haven't turned up despite being ordered weeks ago. Hopefully all this new weight shedding will stop the cage slowing the car down to much.
Work has started on the Cage. When I say on the cage, I mean on everything I need to do before trying to fit the cage. I decided to go with a sheet on the roof as it was about a quarter of the price of a sunroof delete panel. Ordered yesterday morning, amazingly turned up today. So at lunch time I removed the stripes. Bit sad after all the tracks they have seen, but I'm going to need a good clean surface if this panel isn't going to leak.
I have removed the passenger seat mounts, which to me seem to be able to be cut down by 20mm without any problems.
I intend to cut the mounts basically in half. Then weld the flat of the bottom back onto the top half.
All marked up and cutting, hope I have done my maths right.
Once I cut the bottom half off. I then trimmed the sides from this, leaving just the flat plates. I took careful measurements of where the seat bolt holes were, so these can be welded back in the right place.
All ready to start welding in the morning.
I have ordered some sheet door cards which if I'm lucky will match the new roof panel. Unfortunately these haven't turned up despite being ordered weeks ago. Hopefully all this new weight shedding will stop the cage slowing the car down to much.
Got the sheet of ABS. I haven't been so worried about some work since I cut the wheel arches off.
Oh well, it won't fit itself.
Measured up, cut down, corners rounded, edges smoothed off and holes drilled.
Seems to fit alright.
The rivets haven't turned up yet. So I'm aiming to remove the sunroof Friday night. Then seal and rivet the new panel on Saturday morning. I should be able to leave the car in the workshop until Monday morning. If it's not waterproof by then I don't know what I will do.
I had five mins left at the end of the day. So popped this on.
Only one space left before the bumper is full. Think it might be a while before I fill that space though.
More work tonight. Painting the rear seat frame that has been welded back together and cutting up the front one.
We have had a new hawk eye geometry machine installed at work his week. I can feel a geometry set up coming on.
I originally set the car up with figures I found from an old E36 DTM car. I wish I knew what I had done with them. She has a lot of neg camber on, I know that much. It would only be a fine tune anyway. To be honest when the tyres and brakes are hot, it goes round corners like its on rails anyway.
We have had a new hawk eye geometry machine installed at work his week. I can feel a geometry set up coming on.
I originally set the car up with figures I found from an old E36 DTM car. I wish I knew what I had done with them. She has a lot of neg camber on, I know that much. It would only be a fine tune anyway. To be honest when the tyres and brakes are hot, it goes round corners like its on rails anyway.
One seat mount already painted. The other one welded and ready for paint tonight. Can't wait to get them back in and see what the new position is like.
Carried on with the sunroof panel tonight as well. It's pretty much ready to go in. The old sunroof will get stripped Friday night. Then the new panel riveted on Saturday.
I don't know if anyone is still reading this but it keeps me busy.
Thanks Andy. But I'm not sure you followed what I was doing. These mounts have been in the car for two years and working fine. I'm just reducing the hight of them to get some more head room. The pieces I'm welding on are the original feet in the same place.
Do please keep the comments up though, always nice to know someone is reading this.
Do please keep the comments up though, always nice to know someone is reading this.
So yesturday was time to drill holes in my roof. Can't say I was looking forward to it, but needs must.
Marked the exact position last night. First a seam of windscreen sealer.
Then lifted gently into place. Held down and drilled.
Was really rather scary. Defiantly the biggest project since the wheel arches. But all seemed to go to plan.
All in and seems to fit ok. Guess we will see if it's ok when it rains.
Finally popped the drivers seat back in on the newly modified mounts. Fitted perfectly thank goodness.
The driving position actually seems a bit better and we how have loads of head room.
I am attending the Pistonheads Sunday service this morning. The sealant on the BMW is stopping me from taking her though. So borrowed this from work.
Marked the exact position last night. First a seam of windscreen sealer.
Then lifted gently into place. Held down and drilled.
Was really rather scary. Defiantly the biggest project since the wheel arches. But all seemed to go to plan.
All in and seems to fit ok. Guess we will see if it's ok when it rains.
Finally popped the drivers seat back in on the newly modified mounts. Fitted perfectly thank goodness.
The driving position actually seems a bit better and we how have loads of head room.
I am attending the Pistonheads Sunday service this morning. The sealant on the BMW is stopping me from taking her though. So borrowed this from work.
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