E36 cheap track day toy
Discussion
Track prep day today. The brakes were defiantly not good enough at Oulton so I took all of them out and deglazed them.
Should have done this before really, it makes a huge difference.
I know I have shown a pic of deglazing before, I do try not to repeat pics and bore you all. But people have been asking how quickly the Performance Friction pads wear. These have done four track days now. Pretty good I would say.
Oh and when I say the brakes were not good enough at Oulton, they were still much better than road brakes, just not as good as I know these can be. Flushed another brake fluid through for good measure.
Returned to the front end suspension work this afternoon. As you will remember (or read above) I fitted the front camber adjustment plates last time. But didn't get quite the measurement I wanted when on the geo ramp. So I will put a washer back between the hub and the coilover.
This gives a random and quite uneven side to side amount of negative camber. But I can fine tune it with the adjusters now.
I opened out the holes in the hubs to fit as long as possible bolts while I was at it.
Unfortunately during this work I could feel the N/S lower arm moving. When checked I found the center ball joint had play. I don't want a repeat of Donnington so ordered one on the spot. This is the opposite arm to the one that failed before so I guess I should have expected it to go sooner rather than later.
Waiting for the arm to be delivered gave me some unexpected time. So I pulled out the twin cone, which needed a good clean.
You can sort of see in the pic, but it really was filthy. Anyway scrubbed in the sink with K and N cleaner. Left to dry and oiled. Doesn't look to bad.
Still had some time on my hands so decided to work out why the fuel gauge was messing around. Pulled the two covers up, so much easier with no rear seats. Measured the resistance of both. The O/S had a nice 12ish Ohms while the N/S was open circuit. So I'll be looking for a N/S sensor at some point.
Finally with the arm delivered and bolted on I just had time for another geo. I'm setting the front Camber around 2.3 negative.
I have read a lot that 0 toe works well on e36 but I find it follows the road a lot. It had a lot of pos toe before I replaced the track rod ends (+30 mins on each side) it did seem to turn in well then so I'm compromising with about 7 mins on each side. The nice thing now it's all adjustable is I can play with it between each track day.
Ignore the red, it's just saying it not in manufacturers spec. All ready for some more track fun.
Should have done this before really, it makes a huge difference.
I know I have shown a pic of deglazing before, I do try not to repeat pics and bore you all. But people have been asking how quickly the Performance Friction pads wear. These have done four track days now. Pretty good I would say.
Oh and when I say the brakes were not good enough at Oulton, they were still much better than road brakes, just not as good as I know these can be. Flushed another brake fluid through for good measure.
Returned to the front end suspension work this afternoon. As you will remember (or read above) I fitted the front camber adjustment plates last time. But didn't get quite the measurement I wanted when on the geo ramp. So I will put a washer back between the hub and the coilover.
This gives a random and quite uneven side to side amount of negative camber. But I can fine tune it with the adjusters now.
I opened out the holes in the hubs to fit as long as possible bolts while I was at it.
Unfortunately during this work I could feel the N/S lower arm moving. When checked I found the center ball joint had play. I don't want a repeat of Donnington so ordered one on the spot. This is the opposite arm to the one that failed before so I guess I should have expected it to go sooner rather than later.
Waiting for the arm to be delivered gave me some unexpected time. So I pulled out the twin cone, which needed a good clean.
You can sort of see in the pic, but it really was filthy. Anyway scrubbed in the sink with K and N cleaner. Left to dry and oiled. Doesn't look to bad.
Still had some time on my hands so decided to work out why the fuel gauge was messing around. Pulled the two covers up, so much easier with no rear seats. Measured the resistance of both. The O/S had a nice 12ish Ohms while the N/S was open circuit. So I'll be looking for a N/S sensor at some point.
Finally with the arm delivered and bolted on I just had time for another geo. I'm setting the front Camber around 2.3 negative.
I have read a lot that 0 toe works well on e36 but I find it follows the road a lot. It had a lot of pos toe before I replaced the track rod ends (+30 mins on each side) it did seem to turn in well then so I'm compromising with about 7 mins on each side. The nice thing now it's all adjustable is I can play with it between each track day.
Ignore the red, it's just saying it not in manufacturers spec. All ready for some more track fun.
Starting to get pics from Snetterton in now.
Seem to be being followed by another three series with an interesting colour scheme.
That last picture was taken just before what my friend described as the best bit of the day.
Kept my foot down flat, into fourth out of the bomb hole. Watch everyone else break going into Coram.
No need in this thing. Flat out round the outside of the GTR and another car before the end of the corner.
A great fun day with no real incidents. One hundred and thirty drivers in the briefing. I never thought I would see a clear piece of track. But actually we did see some now and again.
Back in the garage a look over shows nothing to really worry about. Brakes are still good. Tyres have worked very hard. The walls have gone blue. With no real track damage I may as we'll get on with the fuel level sender.
There will be a special tool for releasing the sensor. But I don't have one, so a hammer and punch had to do.
Actually quite a quick job. Made so much easier by having no interior of coarse.
Seem to be being followed by another three series with an interesting colour scheme.
That last picture was taken just before what my friend described as the best bit of the day.
Kept my foot down flat, into fourth out of the bomb hole. Watch everyone else break going into Coram.
No need in this thing. Flat out round the outside of the GTR and another car before the end of the corner.
A great fun day with no real incidents. One hundred and thirty drivers in the briefing. I never thought I would see a clear piece of track. But actually we did see some now and again.
Back in the garage a look over shows nothing to really worry about. Brakes are still good. Tyres have worked very hard. The walls have gone blue. With no real track damage I may as we'll get on with the fuel level sender.
There will be a special tool for releasing the sensor. But I don't have one, so a hammer and punch had to do.
Actually quite a quick job. Made so much easier by having no interior of coarse.
Returning to Snetterton tonight with my fiancé. Just a cheepo couple of hours session. Hopefully I can just pick up where I left off the other week and be fast out of the box.
I dialled a bit of neg camber out of the rear wheels last night. Just a turn on the adjuster. See how it affects the cornering. Then I will probably do another geo before Brandshatch next month.
Can't wait to start throwing her around Coram again.
I dialled a bit of neg camber out of the rear wheels last night. Just a turn on the adjuster. See how it affects the cornering. Then I will probably do another geo before Brandshatch next month.
Can't wait to start throwing her around Coram again.
So unfortunately it chucked it down for the whole session. But we still had fun.
Spun a couple of times, wouldn't have been trying if I didn't. Still managed 70 round Coram which most people didn't seem to be anywhere near. Here is hoping for a dry track next time. That is not for about 6 weeks though so tomorrow she will go back into storage.
https://youtu.be/uuRA1myYuas
Spun a couple of times, wouldn't have been trying if I didn't. Still managed 70 round Coram which most people didn't seem to be anywhere near. Here is hoping for a dry track next time. That is not for about 6 weeks though so tomorrow she will go back into storage.
https://youtu.be/uuRA1myYuas
Little update tonight. The car is back in storage, but will be back out in a few weeks.
A few weeks ago some of us were debating disc cooling on another thread. I was stood under a Macan this morning which had these fitted.
With the back looking like
They do look rather like they could just be clipped straight on to the track rods. I haven't held one up on the E36 but I am tempered to find out how much a pair are.
A few weeks ago some of us were debating disc cooling on another thread. I was stood under a Macan this morning which had these fitted.
With the back looking like
They do look rather like they could just be clipped straight on to the track rods. I haven't held one up on the E36 but I am tempered to find out how much a pair are.
Time for some more fun out in the beautiful sunshine this afternoon hopefully.
Had her up on the ramp Tuesday night with nothing to report, must be a first!
Thought I would just double check my levels and fill up the screen wash last night, you know how you get carried away with things?
Had her up on the ramp Tuesday night with nothing to report, must be a first!
Thought I would just double check my levels and fill up the screen wash last night, you know how you get carried away with things?
So an evening at brands was had last week.
Not a huge amount to report, other than we had a bloody good time. The level of grip was great as can be seen by the tyres afterwards.
Lovely summer evening.
I will change the suspension a bit before the next outing. Bit less camber on the rear I think would be good,
The tyres seem to be holding up well, after two evening sessions (admittedly one wet) and a full day. They still have 6mm of tread.
I would still like to try and get her remapped, there is just a small flat spot in the mid range. But I'm still drawing a blank on where to do it.
Not a huge amount to report, other than we had a bloody good time. The level of grip was great as can be seen by the tyres afterwards.
Lovely summer evening.
I will change the suspension a bit before the next outing. Bit less camber on the rear I think would be good,
The tyres seem to be holding up well, after two evening sessions (admittedly one wet) and a full day. They still have 6mm of tread.
I would still like to try and get her remapped, there is just a small flat spot in the mid range. But I'm still drawing a blank on where to do it.
Right so I have been in Email discussions with a few people. I am going to try an coax a few more hp out of the old M44. Before possibly building another engine. But that would require considerably more funds and space than I have at the moment.
I have talked to Enda at EndTuning about remapping the engine control unit. Realistically it's only going to give another 10ish hp but with the cams already fitted it should iron out the mid range flat spot a bit.
I have also been in contact with Ian/Alpina527 he can supply me with a big bore throttle body which again should help feed the big CatCams.
Unfortunately I have been laid up at home this week with a chest infection, not helpfull as I need to strip the parts and send them away for both mods. But it has given me plenty of research time.
Typically I put the car away in storage last week which is also a bit of a hinderance with stripping it.
These will probably be the last performance mods I do to this engine, but hopefully it can just tip the balance, if the mid range improves a bit and the limiter will also be raised. This could stop me wanting to wedge a 328 lump in so soon.
I have talked to Enda at EndTuning about remapping the engine control unit. Realistically it's only going to give another 10ish hp but with the cams already fitted it should iron out the mid range flat spot a bit.
I have also been in contact with Ian/Alpina527 he can supply me with a big bore throttle body which again should help feed the big CatCams.
Unfortunately I have been laid up at home this week with a chest infection, not helpfull as I need to strip the parts and send them away for both mods. But it has given me plenty of research time.
Typically I put the car away in storage last week which is also a bit of a hinderance with stripping it.
These will probably be the last performance mods I do to this engine, but hopefully it can just tip the balance, if the mid range improves a bit and the limiter will also be raised. This could stop me wanting to wedge a 328 lump in so soon.
Edited by Hamster69 on Wednesday 8th July 22:09
So the BMW came back out today. I didn't really want her to, but I have put my Audi in the bodyshop, who at the last moment told me I couldn't have the courtesy car I was promised. Oh well never mind, gives me a chance to fit this throttle.
Old one stripped, without any real problems. I do need to get some new gaskets but for now it can go back together with some sealant.
With the old one off you can see the size difference.
All built up, with a few replacement bolts and nuts.
Coming home tonight, it certainly seems to pull through the range better. It has done nothing for the top end, but I wasn't really expecting it to.
When the Audi is finished I will pull the ECU off and sent it away to be remapped. Hopefully that will really make her feel quicker.
Old one stripped, without any real problems. I do need to get some new gaskets but for now it can go back together with some sealant.
With the old one off you can see the size difference.
All built up, with a few replacement bolts and nuts.
Coming home tonight, it certainly seems to pull through the range better. It has done nothing for the top end, but I wasn't really expecting it to.
When the Audi is finished I will pull the ECU off and sent it away to be remapped. Hopefully that will really make her feel quicker.
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