E21 go for broke
Discussion
I've had my E21 for a few years now . It's a 316 1983 model. So far I have managed to source original Alpina staggered 15" alloys , twin 40 dellorto's , Alpina steering wheel , Recaro front seats and fishnet headrests.
My issue is I have no more money and want to lower the front a bit more . It is currently on Spax 50mm shocks and springs. I can't afford coilovers or air ride( as much as I'd love it)
Has anyone heard of lowering top mounts for the E21 ? I used to have some on my Mk2 golf years ago but not sure if anyone makes one for the E21. If anyone has any ideas or help please let me know !
Jobs that need doing ASAP are:
Fix fuel tanks leaking .... I just don't fill it past half full
Fix front brakes that don't exist ... Calliper is seized or should I upgrade ?
Fix rear axle bushes , can anyone recommend any Gould poly bushes, don't want too hard a ride
There are more things that need work but this is the main 3 .
I'll post some pics of the car when I can![](http://thumbsnap.com/sc/ps1ZFq9n.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="http://thumbsnap.com/49Tt8d3s" Target="_blank">[img]http://thumbsnap.com/sc/49Tt8d3s.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="http://thumbsnap.com/v1zhLmVP" Target="_blank">[img]http://thumbsnap.com/sc/v1zhLmVP.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="http://thumbsnap.com/ifb5Z6xX" Target="_blank">[img]http://thumbsnap.com/sc/ifb5Z6xX.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="http://thumbsnap.com/gy81cHj8" Target="_blank">[img]http://thumbsnap.com/sc/gy81cHj8.jpg)
My issue is I have no more money and want to lower the front a bit more . It is currently on Spax 50mm shocks and springs. I can't afford coilovers or air ride( as much as I'd love it)
Has anyone heard of lowering top mounts for the E21 ? I used to have some on my Mk2 golf years ago but not sure if anyone makes one for the E21. If anyone has any ideas or help please let me know !
Jobs that need doing ASAP are:
Fix fuel tanks leaking .... I just don't fill it past half full
Fix front brakes that don't exist ... Calliper is seized or should I upgrade ?
Fix rear axle bushes , can anyone recommend any Gould poly bushes, don't want too hard a ride
There are more things that need work but this is the main 3 .
I'll post some pics of the car when I can
ked brakes, lowering my car would not be my primary concern.
Start searching for replacement tanks. You can still buy from BMW but they're about £300 each.
Brakes can be upgraded using Wilwood 4 pots and adaptor brackets from the e21.net forum. That said, the stock brakes aren't too bad when in good order. Volvo 240 calipers can be used too. Just google e21 volvo brake upgrade.
Front coilovers can be made by using the kit from Rally Design. You'll need to be able to weld though, or know someone who can? I guess it depends whether you want it slammed or to handle?
Brakes can be upgraded using Wilwood 4 pots and adaptor brackets from the e21.net forum. That said, the stock brakes aren't too bad when in good order. Volvo 240 calipers can be used too. Just google e21 volvo brake upgrade.
Front coilovers can be made by using the kit from Rally Design. You'll need to be able to weld though, or know someone who can? I guess it depends whether you want it slammed or to handle?
For the brakes I'd just try to find a 323i front set of calipers and buy new vented discs. You'd need the vented discs for either the volvo 240 or wilwood calipers anyway. Personally I had the wilwood setup and they were good, but they still used the same size disc as the 323i calipers, thus I'm not really sure if on a budget it would be much better than boggo 323i calipers. I'm rebuilding my 316 E21 with an E30 318is 16v (140bhp) and I'll just be fitting 323i calipers and 323i vented discs.
I've not tried them personally but Strongflex poly bushes have a full range for an E21 (which is rare!!), and the choice between hardnesses. I'll probably pick up some for my 316 rebuild, though I'll probably use OEM rubber in the rear trailing arms for a better ride.
Suspension is tricky. There are no easy wins after a 50-60mm drop with springs/shocks. To go lower you will need to adapt/fabricate other suspension to work. As Mark suggests you can use rally design 2.25" coilover conversion kits though they are a flush fit on the 323i front struts, which are wider than the 316 items, as such 2.25" kit might need spacing for a flush fit. I wouldn't use a conversion kit without reducing the height of the overall strut body, as you'll simply be running on the bump stops as the shock runs out of travel. I shortened 323i struts to accept E30 front shocks (2" shorter than E21 front shocks) and then used a coilover conversion kit. Rears I used generic eyelet bolted shocks with modified top mounts.
To save the faff I'd keep your current setup and save/buy a complete set from Gaz/BC and be done with it.
I've not tried them personally but Strongflex poly bushes have a full range for an E21 (which is rare!!), and the choice between hardnesses. I'll probably pick up some for my 316 rebuild, though I'll probably use OEM rubber in the rear trailing arms for a better ride.
Suspension is tricky. There are no easy wins after a 50-60mm drop with springs/shocks. To go lower you will need to adapt/fabricate other suspension to work. As Mark suggests you can use rally design 2.25" coilover conversion kits though they are a flush fit on the 323i front struts, which are wider than the 316 items, as such 2.25" kit might need spacing for a flush fit. I wouldn't use a conversion kit without reducing the height of the overall strut body, as you'll simply be running on the bump stops as the shock runs out of travel. I shortened 323i struts to accept E30 front shocks (2" shorter than E21 front shocks) and then used a coilover conversion kit. Rears I used generic eyelet bolted shocks with modified top mounts.
To save the faff I'd keep your current setup and save/buy a complete set from Gaz/BC and be done with it.
There are some fully rebuilt 323 front brakes & struts for sale now on www.bmwe21.net/forum
Rsdop said:
Very nice! Did it have twin carbs on when you bought it? I ask because my mate had an almost identical car 6-7 years ago and that was sold with twin carbs on it, and thinking it could be the same car.
Thanks but it didn't come on twin 40's when I got it so it's not your mates car I'm afraid ! There can't be that many around on 40's though and I love that sound hence buying a 4 cylinder. My Mk2 golf had twins on when I was 19 and seeing as I only managed to have that car for a year I knew I needed that noise in my life again ! rallycross said:
Very nice to see one of these as clean as this please don't go over the top and ruin it with stupid low suspension and silly degrees of camber- a lovely car you have there.
Cheers !! Don't worry about the suspension going too low or stupid camber ! I do love the look of cars on air ride but having seen some driving they just don't ever seem to sit right on the road . This will be about driving and not about stupid low suspension . Where I live the only roads are country roads so stupid low is out of the question. Just so you know the photos can be deceptive as the paint isn't great ! I'm going to keep the paint how I bought it apart from when it needs repairs , it has had a new front screen and lower panel due to rust but this is the only new paint on the car . It has a dollop of BMW imola red left over from one of my other cars when a chip on the roof appeared and a lovely small dent that pushes outwards on the rear panel from where I guess something in the boot didn't quite fit ! A previous owner used a rattle can to paint over this which I'm going to leave as is .Ok .... Just found out how much fuel tanks are from BMW .... £526.61 incl vat each .
So I'll need to start saving and figuring out how to keep the spending hidden from someone .
Regards the suspension as it's the last thing I'll do after the ASAP jobs I'll just leave it as is as I don't want to ruin the ride and one day maybe father crimbo will buy me some coilovers .
Thanks for all the advice , I'm pleased to say the car is now back home in the garage but I hear it's supposed to be a nice day tomorrow so might take it out on a small drive to work .
So I'll need to start saving and figuring out how to keep the spending hidden from someone .
Regards the suspension as it's the last thing I'll do after the ASAP jobs I'll just leave it as is as I don't want to ruin the ride and one day maybe father crimbo will buy me some coilovers .
Thanks for all the advice , I'm pleased to say the car is now back home in the garage but I hear it's supposed to be a nice day tomorrow so might take it out on a small drive to work .
If you find a decent welder you can get the tank repaired. Before I hear the howls of protest of "It's dangerous and probably illegal!" there are procedures to make a tank safe. You may also get away without a weld, there's a product called slosh seal or tank seal (?) that you pour into an empty and cleaned out, dry tank. This lines the thing and stops the leak. Then you just have to sort out the exterior.
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