Discussion
I got a pleasant surprise in the post today. A selection of information showing what was on offer from TWR / Alpina and the prices. I also got confirmation that my car was the only e21 to be supplied with the 240 bhp spec engine as the demonstrator was built with a factory spec engine. If anyone wants to know more detail I can type the lists out in full?
[img]http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb187/markbrown100/IMG_0579.jpg[/img
[img]http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb187/markbrown100/IMG_0579.jpg[/img
Well the good news is that the new head is finished and we can get on with bolting the engine back together. This will be the first time engine number TWR335003 has run in 21 years!
As this was actually the only 3.5 that TWR built to 240bhp specification, at a cost of £1 750 back in 1982, we have tried to mimic the modifications that they made. In fact, we have been able to go one better and fit larger inlet valves from the e34. The new head has also been flowed, ports matched and a new camshaft from Cat fitted. I also had an older Kent cam but the Cat profile promises more torque. I would have liked to go with Schrick but I am on a tight budget and every penny counts. Anyway, the only other concession has been replacing the old K-jet injection with later Motronic 1.3 taken from a 635csi. This should mean more reliable running and allow me to fit a more suitable chip in order to get closer to the goal of 260bhp. It should fly!
Anyway, I am going over on Wednesday so will try and get some better photos. I 'd also like to get the Alpina diff cover off so that I can give it a good clean & polish. I also want to swap the wheels so that I can get the Alpina rims in for a refurb'. Yet another bill to be paid! It's bloody expensive the restoration lark!
As this was actually the only 3.5 that TWR built to 240bhp specification, at a cost of £1 750 back in 1982, we have tried to mimic the modifications that they made. In fact, we have been able to go one better and fit larger inlet valves from the e34. The new head has also been flowed, ports matched and a new camshaft from Cat fitted. I also had an older Kent cam but the Cat profile promises more torque. I would have liked to go with Schrick but I am on a tight budget and every penny counts. Anyway, the only other concession has been replacing the old K-jet injection with later Motronic 1.3 taken from a 635csi. This should mean more reliable running and allow me to fit a more suitable chip in order to get closer to the goal of 260bhp. It should fly!
Anyway, I am going over on Wednesday so will try and get some better photos. I 'd also like to get the Alpina diff cover off so that I can give it a good clean & polish. I also want to swap the wheels so that I can get the Alpina rims in for a refurb'. Yet another bill to be paid! It's bloody expensive the restoration lark!
Well I finally managed to trace my TWR's baby sister. :thumbsup ( I believe this car was destroyed by fire? )
It's 2.8 engine was bored and stroked by Racing Services in Twickenham by Ken Brittain and Spike Anderson. Now BBR iirc?
The County Car rear spoiler was based on the e9 CSL, a copy made by TWR as the original BMW parts were too expensive for Tom Walkinshaw! (He was Scottish after all) The front was based on an elongated Alpina spoiler designed by Peter Stevens ( of McLaren F1 fame), fitted with self tapping screws- easy to repair, BMW wanted TWR to use the Motorsport one, I think they cost around £150.00 whereas our one was £6.00 from tooling that cost £90.00!
I'll post more details as I get them.
It's 2.8 engine was bored and stroked by Racing Services in Twickenham by Ken Brittain and Spike Anderson. Now BBR iirc?
The County Car rear spoiler was based on the e9 CSL, a copy made by TWR as the original BMW parts were too expensive for Tom Walkinshaw! (He was Scottish after all) The front was based on an elongated Alpina spoiler designed by Peter Stevens ( of McLaren F1 fame), fitted with self tapping screws- easy to repair, BMW wanted TWR to use the Motorsport one, I think they cost around £150.00 whereas our one was £6.00 from tooling that cost £90.00!
I'll post more details as I get them.
I'm off over to check progress on Monday 21st but we are supposed to still be on schedule for having the car at Mays BMW show at the Ace Cafe in N London.
I've decided to fit Gaz coilover suspension so that I can play with ride heights and corner weights in an effort to try and make up for the extra weight of an m30 engine over the usual m20. Obviously all the original parts will be kept should we want to return the car to original specification.
I'll be sure to take my camera on the 21st and will take some more detailed photos of the whole car.
I've decided to fit Gaz coilover suspension so that I can play with ride heights and corner weights in an effort to try and make up for the extra weight of an m30 engine over the usual m20. Obviously all the original parts will be kept should we want to return the car to original specification.
I'll be sure to take my camera on the 21st and will take some more detailed photos of the whole car.
Podie said:
Was mentioned in one of the Classic carmags this month...
Really? Which one?Hopefully, we are only 6 or 7 weeks away from an MOT. I have just bought triple 45's but am going to wait till it's all up and running before I look at sympathetic mods. The 45's were an option.
As things stand, all the parts have been sourced, paid for and collected. The engine is currently being assembled and the body just requires minor work and the new bootlid.
I would have liked to be rocking up to shows in it by now but we are trying to do the job properly whilst keeping to a realistic budget. I don't have huge pots of cash sadly.
I will try and get some more photos over the bank holiday though.
No, Alpina didn't use the m30 3.5, they stuck with a 2.8 in the B6 and internally they were pretty stock. TWR went their own way in using the 3.5 and it was the head & cam that were modified. I could have stuck with the old Bosch injection but it would have been too restrictive. Webers were an option which is why I went for them. I want to make the most of the work that's been done on the engine.
Well things continue to progress. Just a bit slower than I would like but you can't have everything I guess. Anyway, AH Fabrications came up trumps with the bespoke rad & fan. It wasn't cheap but I wanted the extra efficiency afforded by an alloy rad.
Braided hoses naturally.
As work is progressing and we'll soon be booking the first MOT in 21 years.
I also managed to find a third big block TWR e21. The rumour was that the third car, a 2.8, had been broken for parts after a fire. Then a few months ago, when doing a Google search, I found an old post from a chap looking for a new gearbox for his TWR. I searched his other posts, profile etc but couldn't find anything more than his name. I made upteen phone calls, wrote letters and put up posts on forums. I also mailed everyone of the name on Face Book.
Last night I got a message confirming that I had found the right chap and he still owned the car! Amazing. It seems it was built by Tom Walkinshaw for a certain Mr Frank Sytner. Hopefully, I shall be speaking to the owner very soon and I shall ask for some details and photos. Its great to know the car still survives and that all 3 cars could potentially be back together sometime in the future.
Braided hoses naturally.
As work is progressing and we'll soon be booking the first MOT in 21 years.
I also managed to find a third big block TWR e21. The rumour was that the third car, a 2.8, had been broken for parts after a fire. Then a few months ago, when doing a Google search, I found an old post from a chap looking for a new gearbox for his TWR. I searched his other posts, profile etc but couldn't find anything more than his name. I made upteen phone calls, wrote letters and put up posts on forums. I also mailed everyone of the name on Face Book.
Last night I got a message confirming that I had found the right chap and he still owned the car! Amazing. It seems it was built by Tom Walkinshaw for a certain Mr Frank Sytner. Hopefully, I shall be speaking to the owner very soon and I shall ask for some details and photos. Its great to know the car still survives and that all 3 cars could potentially be back together sometime in the future.
DVLA have given me the original registration number back! It should have been returned after JEF 45 (I think?) was removed but they just awarded another 1982 mark. Anyway, because I have comprehensive history, including the purchase invoice, they have given me the original number back for free!
Finally going to see the car at the trimmer tomorrow. First time since it's been painted too, so fingers crossed. I'll take my camera with me.
http://www.bjscartrimmers.co.uk/bjscartrimmers-pag...
http://www.bjscartrimmers.co.uk/bjscartrimmers-pag...
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