M3 EVO track car build
Discussion
A few of you may know my last E36 track car project:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Basically turned this standard, MOT failure 325i:
...into a 300bhp/sub 1200kgs road legal track car, capable of a sub 2min lap of Oulton Park:
As much fun as that car is, I fancied doing something slightly different, starting with a coupe shell.
With the help of my good friend Chris Ransley, who owns and runs CR M-tech ( http://stores.ebay.co.uk/CR-M-Tech-BMW-E36-and-M3-... ) he sourced me a decent late, low mileage, non sunroof shell. The car looked like this when it came in:
I'd only agreed to buy the bare shell, as I wanted to spend some time prepping it properly and building it up slowly. So we stripped the shell down bare:
Had to put it on some old 318is suspension and wheels to keep it rolling around - it's so easy to push about being so light. Last few days I've started to spot weld drill or grind off the unwanted brackets, to save a little bit of weight and tidy things up. Then I've been removing the seam sealer to be able to get in and seam weld the turrets up:
Ordered a Custom cages full weld in multi point cage, in T45 steel. Got a lot more prep work before that will be ready to in though.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Basically turned this standard, MOT failure 325i:
...into a 300bhp/sub 1200kgs road legal track car, capable of a sub 2min lap of Oulton Park:
As much fun as that car is, I fancied doing something slightly different, starting with a coupe shell.
With the help of my good friend Chris Ransley, who owns and runs CR M-tech ( http://stores.ebay.co.uk/CR-M-Tech-BMW-E36-and-M3-... ) he sourced me a decent late, low mileage, non sunroof shell. The car looked like this when it came in:
I'd only agreed to buy the bare shell, as I wanted to spend some time prepping it properly and building it up slowly. So we stripped the shell down bare:
Had to put it on some old 318is suspension and wheels to keep it rolling around - it's so easy to push about being so light. Last few days I've started to spot weld drill or grind off the unwanted brackets, to save a little bit of weight and tidy things up. Then I've been removing the seam sealer to be able to get in and seam weld the turrets up:
Ordered a Custom cages full weld in multi point cage, in T45 steel. Got a lot more prep work before that will be ready to in though.
Edited by sniff diesel on Saturday 15th January 12:51
_Batty_ said:
so i come to you, to secure me a decent M3? 
whats happening with the white one?
Chris gets through quite a few shells, it's a shame when they end up being scrapped so it was nice to "save" this one.whats happening with the white one?
The white one will eventually be going to live at the Ring to replace the silver 328i sport that lives there. After a couple of years of abuse I think the silver one will be getting a bit tired and will end up getting broken up, by then this one should be finished to take on the role of my UK track car.
sniff diesel said:
briSk said:
...were they actual BBS LMs or 'replicas'?
if the former presumably they've helped a fair bit with funding!
They were reps, but never belonged to me - I only bought the bare shell with V5 for scrap value.if the former presumably they've helped a fair bit with funding!
so what's the end spec going to be..
briSk said:
so what's the end spec going to be..
Cheers for all the good comments lads, just don't go expecting a quick build on this one!This is going to be little more civilised than the white one, so will have glass windows going back in. They weigh less than 10kgs more than the poly ones, plus they don't scratch as badly as plastic and wont leak in the rain. Will also be keeping a heater (I don't think people realise how hot/cold it can get in a car without proper ventilation) and a radio with front speakers (gets really boring stuck in traffic jams otherwise) may even put some lightweight carpet in the front, like this stuff:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/5M-ROLL-GREY-CAR-AUDIO-STERE...
All in it will weigh about 50-60kgs, so a target weight of 1250kgs all in, still 200kgs less than a standard car, but will end up with something I can use on the road more comfortably than the white one.
Still making my mind up on the final engine spec, but unless I came across something tasty I'd like to go for a 3l bottom end, with an EVO head and sump, 5 speed box and an EVO rear axle. Evo has bigger valves so helps a 3l make more power, plus the 3l bottom end is more reliable for high rev use as it's a shorter stroke.
TheLurker said:
Ohh, good. Annother one of your build threads to read. Can't wait!
How do you get the seam sealer off? I've tried it and found it to be horrid stuff to remove.
Tried various methods, heat it up with the heat gun and scrape the worst off, then attack what's left with a wire brush on the angle grinder.How do you get the seam sealer off? I've tried it and found it to be horrid stuff to remove.
LandingSpot said:
Looks like a great project mate!! How come you didn't buy the engine and gearbox? Must surely be harder to source these things later, no?Either way, looking forward to seeing updates!! 
I've seen so many EVO engines chew up the bottom end bearings (49mm instead of the 50mm ones in the 3l), even with just road use. IMO the S50B32 engine is stroked too far out for the revs it pulls, so whatever S50 lump this car gets, it will be a 3litre bottom end. It's a shame cause the evo engines are nice and torqy, and the best part of 10% more power to start with.I won't be chasing record breaking power figures though, just want a nice responsive engine with (hopefully) good reliability.
Windymiller said:
Rich, if you don't mind me asking, why was it being broken? Are the parts worth more than complete cars these days?
+1 Looked like a fairly decent (other than the plates) and complete car to start with.Look forward to following this thread, your other build threads have been a great read.
Windymiller said:
Rich, if you don't mind me asking, why was it being broken? Are the parts worth more than complete cars these days?
The car was cheap due to it being in Northern Ireland at the time, Chris bought it for about £3k where as a similar car over here would have been more like £4k. It had a slight issue with the exhaust Vanos, making it stick in the high lift position, but other than that there were no issues. As is the case with a lot of cars, they are indeed worth more in parts.bmthnick1981 said:
+1 Looked like a fairly decent (other than the plates) and complete car to start with.
Look forward to following this thread, your other build threads have been a great read.
All I've done is save the shell from being scrapped, I wish I could save them all TBH.Look forward to following this thread, your other build threads have been a great read.
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