Discussion
Thanks guys. This car was never supposed to be a project but here we are, over a year later, but hopefully it'll be back in one piece again fairly soon. I've tried to keep the overall look 'in period' although I appreciate ITB's might be a little modern? That said, the Alpina A4S had 4 butterfly throttle bodies and the modified Kugelfischer injection. I didn't realise just how stripped the M44/1.9 was going to be either, or else I would have ported the head and increased the compression a bit, along with some hotter cams. I just can't afford those right now though. As it is I am dreading the bill.
Breadvan72 said:
The car is going to be great.
You have posh tyres, it appears, but query would tyres with a 70s shoulder design be even better? It is a cool thing that 70s style tyres are now available in modern compounds.
Yes, you’re probably right. I’m still in 2 minds whether to fit pig cheek wide arches though, so may do something then. You have posh tyres, it appears, but query would tyres with a 70s shoulder design be even better? It is a cool thing that 70s style tyres are now available in modern compounds.
I've always had a soft spot for Scirocco and owned a couple of MK1 back in the day. I also missed a mint Storm (grey with black leather) for £150 in Bristol, that the guy sold while I went to the cashpoint!
I know what you mean about cars becoming a bit too track focussed with certain wheel, tyre and geo set-ups. I drove my old track E30 M3 most days though and I simply loved that thing.
I know what you mean about cars becoming a bit too track focussed with certain wheel, tyre and geo set-ups. I drove my old track E30 M3 most days though and I simply loved that thing.
Also the stock 02 turbo ran arches and wider wheels/tyres without any negative impact on handling so I'm not overly concerned should I opt to go that route. Many moons back I ran a turbo arched tii with 8x13's and 235/50 and the only negative was the inner tyre wall ever so slightly fouling on full lock. If I do go with the Alpina 'pig cheek' arches I will only be going with a 7J and staggered 205 front / 215 rear or thereabouts. Right now though, I just want it running and driving again so that I can put some miles on it. 
Well the newly rebuilt m44/1.9 twin cam is back from the builder and is looking fresh as a daisy. All it needs now is the block painting and it'll be ready to drop back in the engine bay. Whilst they were at it, I also had them vapour blast the ITB's so they're looking like new now too! I'm really excited to see it all come back together after so long. There's very little on the mechanical side that hasn't been renewed or refurbished!
It shouldn't be too much longer... 
Famous last words?!
It's all pretty much ready to be bolted back in as we did a dry build and stripped everything back out to do the powder coating and engine refresh. As far as I know it's just mapping left but I don't want to tempt fate obviously.
A crisp autumn day and a run on the coast road between Hayle and St Just, or maybe the Atlantic Highway, seems like a plan though.
Famous last words?!It's all pretty much ready to be bolted back in as we did a dry build and stripped everything back out to do the powder coating and engine refresh. As far as I know it's just mapping left but I don't want to tempt fate obviously.
A crisp autumn day and a run on the coast road between Hayle and St Just, or maybe the Atlantic Highway, seems like a plan though.
I opted for a DTA S60 as I used one in my E30 M3 and it was perfect for the job without being stupidly expensive.
My goal has always to try and keep it at least looking kind of period. A kind of 60's version of my M3? Maybe?
I just wanted 02 turbo levels of performance but with a revvy NA engine. Ideally I'd have liked an s14/2.3 but they're just too expensive nowadays whereas m44/1.9 are just a few hundred quid.
My goal has always to try and keep it at least looking kind of period. A kind of 60's version of my M3? Maybe?
I just wanted 02 turbo levels of performance but with a revvy NA engine. Ideally I'd have liked an s14/2.3 but they're just too expensive nowadays whereas m44/1.9 are just a few hundred quid.
It’ll definitely be getting used. I’m a firm believer in cars being driven and I’ve worked and saved too hard to pay for this only to then just polish it.
Yes, my M3 was sold on again by Lee and he’s in a 911 now. The new owner wanted an E30 M3 for a long time and I know he loves it almost as much as I did. Almost!
Well there was more progress today.
Yes, my M3 was sold on again by Lee and he’s in a 911 now. The new owner wanted an E30 M3 for a long time and I know he loves it almost as much as I did. Almost!
Well there was more progress today.
Well the clutch cylinder is due today so hopefully the clutch and brakes can then be bled through. I must admit, I'm a little concerned that the brake master cylinder may be the next thing to go as pretty much every mechanical component on this car was pretty much knackered. I think the only remaining parts are the steering box, column and prop shaft. It's been a lesson in how not to buy a 1602 from overseas but that's my fault for not flying out and viewing it in person. If I had, I would never have bought it. Anyway, no use crying over spilled engine oil from an M10 with a lump of scrap wedged in with the tensioner!
The only other task before we can map the M44 is to make up an idler pulley for the auxiliary belt now there's no power steering pump. Then it's fit the new gauges from Race-Tech, tidy up the interior and it'll be ready to go on the rollers.
The only other task before we can map the M44 is to make up an idler pulley for the auxiliary belt now there's no power steering pump. Then it's fit the new gauges from Race-Tech, tidy up the interior and it'll be ready to go on the rollers.
JakeT said:
On the plus side, the mechanicals is the easy bit. At least with a Greek car you're not fighting the enemy of all old cars.
That has been the only saving grace though. Were I able to turn the clock back though, I would / should have bought the white car at the start of this thread. 
Onwards and upwards as they say...
Well that's the clutch and brakes sorted. As the original dual mass flywheel was binned we went with the option of an m20 one along with a stock 325 clutch kit. I didn't see the point of anything more as power should be in the same ballpark anyway.
An idler pulley is just about the last job to be done before we can fire the thing up. Unfortunately we didn't think the loss of the PAS pump would mean the belt fouls and had assumed a shorter one was all that was needed. Wrong!
I know the alloys won't be to everyones taste but they're a nice period look and a better offset that the current crosspokes I think? Just need to fit the stud kit and get some new centre caps. Oh and some number plates...
An idler pulley is just about the last job to be done before we can fire the thing up. Unfortunately we didn't think the loss of the PAS pump would mean the belt fouls and had assumed a shorter one was all that was needed. Wrong!
I know the alloys won't be to everyones taste but they're a nice period look and a better offset that the current crosspokes I think? Just need to fit the stud kit and get some new centre caps. Oh and some number plates...
rob0r said:
Looking great Mark! ITBs and an M4* engine, what's not to like! I've finally fitted an M42 back into one of my E21s and will be going RHD ITBs and keeping the standard ECU, just for the noise!
Hi Rob, how's it going?My old E21 track car was great fun. It had a dogleg box and 4:1 LSD and was just about perfect for Brands Hatch. It's one of those cars I should have kept as the box alone would make what I got for it. The chap that bought it also bought the m44 powered E21 that JFi Classics converted.
Have you still got your E23?
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