E36 cheap track day toy
Discussion
rm163603 said:
The battery cable reaches that area quite easily. It's about the perfect length for it.
I've re-routed the cable between the carpet and the back seat base, there is room in there aplenty especially if you remove the foam in the corners. There is also space behind the carpet for the leads route down and pass through and into the battery box so you can't see them.
I made a new earth using an existing hole I found and a big self tapping screw.
Basically you need:
Odyssey Extreme 30 battery
Merlin battery box
25mm endless ratchet strap
4 X M6 X 20 countersunk head bolts (to hold the box to the floor)
4 X M10 X 25 washers (to stop the bolts pulling through the grp box bottom, using M10 with the countersunk head bolts makes the bolt heads very low profile)
Some foam (I used camping mat foam)
Some cable ties
1 X Odyssey positive battery post converter (basically a battery post shaped piece of brass with an M6 thread through it.)
1 X positive Battery cable 16mm sq 40cm long. M6 ring terminals both ends.
1 X negative battery cable 16mm sq 30cm long. M6 ring one and and M8 the other.
Drop me PM if you need more details.
Cheers!I've re-routed the cable between the carpet and the back seat base, there is room in there aplenty especially if you remove the foam in the corners. There is also space behind the carpet for the leads route down and pass through and into the battery box so you can't see them.
I made a new earth using an existing hole I found and a big self tapping screw.
Basically you need:
Odyssey Extreme 30 battery
Merlin battery box
25mm endless ratchet strap
4 X M6 X 20 countersunk head bolts (to hold the box to the floor)
4 X M10 X 25 washers (to stop the bolts pulling through the grp box bottom, using M10 with the countersunk head bolts makes the bolt heads very low profile)
Some foam (I used camping mat foam)
Some cable ties
1 X Odyssey positive battery post converter (basically a battery post shaped piece of brass with an M6 thread through it.)
1 X positive Battery cable 16mm sq 40cm long. M6 ring terminals both ends.
1 X negative battery cable 16mm sq 30cm long. M6 ring one and and M8 the other.
Drop me PM if you need more details.
Does anyone know a good place to get my engine remapped. I don't want to just buy a chip, with the catcams, decat and air filter it would need tuning on a rolling road. I have E mailed a couple of places without much response. I really feel that there is a bit of power locked up in there and a few flat spots that could be ironed out.
Brandshatch run Tuesday night. We had a great time, with no incidents. One of my passengers took plenty of photos, so a selection to follow when he sends them on. On the whole the old girl felt great. The new ARB bushes seemed to help. You can throw it in so hard now. Up through Surtees and McLaren it really felt like one of the faster cars there. Everyone else was braking going in. We were on the power right up the hill. So much fun.
Hamster69 said:
Does anyone know a good place to get my engine remapped. I don't want to just buy a chip, with the catcams, decat and air filter it would need tuning on a rolling road. I have E mailed a couple of places without much response. I really feel that there is a bit of power locked up in there and a few flat spots that could be ironed out.
I've always got on well with Evolve.I'd give them a ring to discuss as they are pretty busy and it might take a few hours for them to reply to an email.
Let me know what you find out as I'm tempted as well. I have the M50 manifold / BBTB but I don't think the car was remapped... this was done before I had the car...
I'm also toying with the idea of changing the diff ratio to a 3.64 or 3.73.
I've never used 5th on track and I'm not too worried about motorway cruising...
I Emailed Evolve. They were very helpful but said that they didn't have the equipment to do a 318is.
They recommended a system called unichip. When I looked up their website , the closest dealer to me is Redline tuning in Basildon. Had a bit of a scout about on the net and found quite a few bad reviews of Redline. Not really sure what to do now.
They recommended a system called unichip. When I looked up their website , the closest dealer to me is Redline tuning in Basildon. Had a bit of a scout about on the net and found quite a few bad reviews of Redline. Not really sure what to do now.
Hamster69 said:
I Emailed Evolve. They were very helpful but said that they didn't have the equipment to do a 318is.
They recommended a system called unichip. When I looked up their website , the closest dealer to me is Redline tuning in Basildon. Had a bit of a scout about on the net and found quite a few bad reviews of Redline. Not really sure what to do now.
I don't have any experience of Redline, but they have been there a long timeThey recommended a system called unichip. When I looked up their website , the closest dealer to me is Redline tuning in Basildon. Had a bit of a scout about on the net and found quite a few bad reviews of Redline. Not really sure what to do now.
Im sure they have. In the trade myself, I know that people are far more inclind to go and write a bad review than a good one. But there are alot of people out there saying avoid them. As someone who does 99% of the work myself, I guess I'm a bit picky about who does the stuff I cant.
My friend who took the photos at Brands hasn't sent them to me yet, so I will get on with the post Brands inspection update first. Starting obviosly with another medal.
I know, sad isn't it. But I really am proud of the old girl. If someone had pointed out that battered old mold covered three series a couple of years ago, and told me she would go to Cadwell, Snetterton, Rockingham, Donington, Brands Hatch and the Nurburgring twice. Even I would have laughed at you.
Up on the ramp, I have another day at Bedford booked in a few weeks so need to make sure she is ready to go.
The brakes are squealing all round, Brands being quite short (we were on the Indy Circuit) you are braking hard every few seconds. So I pulled all the pads out to deglaze them.
As you can probably tell I have done the one on the left already. This also gives me a chance to show you another reason why I won't be buying the Ferrodo's again. The retaining plate on the rear pads is held on with a push rivet. This comes out quite quickly. Leaving the pads to then move around in the calliper, causing a clicking noise at low speeds. This happened on my DS3000 and on my friends DS2500 in his 328. In the end I welded the plate back on. But that along with the low friction from cold, high amount if dust, cost and almost constant squealing is why I won't be buying anymore.
I can not praise the performance friction pads highly enough. Two people in my passenger seat said they couldn't believe how good my brakes were.
The tyres are lasting really well. I thought I was going to have to replace the rears before Bedford but I think they will last another day out. You can see how hot they have got a Brands despite having driven 84 miles home.
I changed the oil and filter, changed the brake fluid. Think she is in fine shape for Bedford which I am really looking forward to now. I am quite keen to crack on with some work over the winter now. I can't wait to get the cage in. Possibly a new windscreen at the same time.
I have a good group of mates who came along to Brands. They all enjoyed it so much, we are all really looking forward to Bedford. Hopefully the plan is to do some more days and possibly a Europe trip next year.
When I first bought her and stuck the Nurburgring sticker on, I set myself the challenge of filling the rear bumper with track stickers. When it was full I could say I achieved what I set out to do.
Nearly there.
I know, sad isn't it. But I really am proud of the old girl. If someone had pointed out that battered old mold covered three series a couple of years ago, and told me she would go to Cadwell, Snetterton, Rockingham, Donington, Brands Hatch and the Nurburgring twice. Even I would have laughed at you.
Up on the ramp, I have another day at Bedford booked in a few weeks so need to make sure she is ready to go.
The brakes are squealing all round, Brands being quite short (we were on the Indy Circuit) you are braking hard every few seconds. So I pulled all the pads out to deglaze them.
As you can probably tell I have done the one on the left already. This also gives me a chance to show you another reason why I won't be buying the Ferrodo's again. The retaining plate on the rear pads is held on with a push rivet. This comes out quite quickly. Leaving the pads to then move around in the calliper, causing a clicking noise at low speeds. This happened on my DS3000 and on my friends DS2500 in his 328. In the end I welded the plate back on. But that along with the low friction from cold, high amount if dust, cost and almost constant squealing is why I won't be buying anymore.
I can not praise the performance friction pads highly enough. Two people in my passenger seat said they couldn't believe how good my brakes were.
The tyres are lasting really well. I thought I was going to have to replace the rears before Bedford but I think they will last another day out. You can see how hot they have got a Brands despite having driven 84 miles home.
I changed the oil and filter, changed the brake fluid. Think she is in fine shape for Bedford which I am really looking forward to now. I am quite keen to crack on with some work over the winter now. I can't wait to get the cage in. Possibly a new windscreen at the same time.
I have a good group of mates who came along to Brands. They all enjoyed it so much, we are all really looking forward to Bedford. Hopefully the plan is to do some more days and possibly a Europe trip next year.
When I first bought her and stuck the Nurburgring sticker on, I set myself the challenge of filling the rear bumper with track stickers. When it was full I could say I achieved what I set out to do.
Nearly there.
Hamster69 said:
I am defiantly tempted by the 986 brake upgrade, but that will have to wait for more money to be free. At the moment the PF pads with standard discs are working well and they are cheaper than Ferodos.
I had the DS2500s on standard 328 brakes last year. They worked really well but by the third trackday they were toast. I had to drive from Snetterton to Swindon with literally no brakes. To say it was interesting was an understatement!I know people have said that you need to swap the master cylinder when you do the Porsche 4 pot conversion but I found the pedal feel perfect with the standard 328 master cylinder...
rm163603 said:
I had the DS2500s on standard 328 brakes last year. They worked really well but by the third trackday they were toast. I had to drive from Snetterton to Swindon with literally no brakes. To say it was interesting was an understatement!
I know people have said that you need to swap the master cylinder when you do the Porsche 4 pot conversion but I found the pedal feel perfect with the standard 328 master cylinder...
I fitted AP 4-pots (Tuscan racer) on the front & AP 2 pots on the rear (Exige fronts) with the standard master/servo combination & they are fine.I know people have said that you need to swap the master cylinder when you do the Porsche 4 pot conversion but I found the pedal feel perfect with the standard 328 master cylinder...
e36 328, I don't have any to hand, but will be giving the brakes a once over in the next week, I will TRY & remember to take some.
Actually, I have just found a couple (not very good ones) but unfortunately my work server doesn't seem to allow me to add them.
Unless I am missing something!
Ah, just tried again & it worked this time.
The front discs are e46 325, both calipers had to have modified mounting brackets made up, which took a bit of working out.
Actually, I have just found a couple (not very good ones) but unfortunately my work server doesn't seem to allow me to add them.
Unless I am missing something!
Ah, just tried again & it worked this time.
The front discs are e46 325, both calipers had to have modified mounting brackets made up, which took a bit of working out.
Edited by andyiley on Tuesday 19th August 12:46
andyiley said:
e36 328, I don't have any to hand, but will be giving the brakes a once over in the next week, I will TRY & remember to take some.
Actually, I have just found a couple (not very good ones) but unfortunately my work server doesn't seem to allow me to add them.
Unless I am missing something!
Ah, just tried again & it worked this time.
The front discs are e46 325, both calipers had to have modified mounting brackets made up, which took a bit of working out.
That looks like a great setup!Actually, I have just found a couple (not very good ones) but unfortunately my work server doesn't seem to allow me to add them.
Unless I am missing something!
Ah, just tried again & it worked this time.
The front discs are e46 325, both calipers had to have modified mounting brackets made up, which took a bit of working out.
Edited by andyiley on Tuesday 19th August 12:46
I was going to ask about brackets... I went with the porsche calipers due to availability of pre made brackets from rallye road (and others)...
A non track day event attended this morning. We popped along to the PH Sunday service.
A very enjoyable event. This was the first one I have been to properly. I did turn up for the last 20 mins or so at a Luton plant one a couple of years ago. But my name was actually on the list this time.
I was slightly disappointed that we were not at some Motorsport associated site. I really wanted to go to one of the SS at MB world, but couldn't get on the list. That being said we spent a few enjoyable hours wandering around.
Snapped a few personal favourites.
Anyway back to topic. I better be getting to bed. Bedford in the morning.
A very enjoyable event. This was the first one I have been to properly. I did turn up for the last 20 mins or so at a Luton plant one a couple of years ago. But my name was actually on the list this time.
I was slightly disappointed that we were not at some Motorsport associated site. I really wanted to go to one of the SS at MB world, but couldn't get on the list. That being said we spent a few enjoyable hours wandering around.
Snapped a few personal favourites.
Anyway back to topic. I better be getting to bed. Bedford in the morning.
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