E36 cheap track day toy
Discussion
Back too it yesterday with the first work of the year.
Cam cover off and new seals on. The old seal really was doing nothing.
Now since the new engine went in it hasn’t been behaving perfectly. Idle has been a bit erratic, when running for an hour or longer there has been a lack of power and last time I drove it there was a very sudden drop to idle then lurch forward. I don’t think any of this is the actual engine but the tired old sensors on it. So I bought a new cam and crank sensor. Really annoyingly on the day I couldn’t find the cam sensor. But I fitted the crank and it has definitely smoothed things out. The drive to work was very hesitant, while the drive home was lovely and smooth. The idle is still bouncing a bit, I will do some more investigation but I think I’m also going to wind the stop up slightly as being a track car, I would like idle around 1K anyway.
I still think whoever decided to put the cam and crank sensor plugs halfway down under the inlet manifold was a complete idiot.
Then finally the hard bit. Since I put the new cluster in the abs light has been on. I thought this might be a coding issue as it wasn’t on before. But when I put a tester on to see, it turns out to have a fault code for the N/S/R wheel speed sensor. This actually makes sense as I cant remember the last time the abs cut in. I had already replaced the other side a couple of years back. I suspect the bulb in the old cluster was blown. As this is the only driver aid on the car it would be nice if it worked.
The bolt actually came undone surprisingly after I hammered a torques head into the old rotten Allen head. The sensors themselves very rarely come out as the hubs corrode and wedge them in. I find the quickest way is to smash the back off.
Then put several 3mm drill holes through it around the core until the outer case can fold in on itself, then yank it out with some pliers on the core.
A couple of hours work, but this way you don’t end up damaging the hub and stopping the new sensor sitting correctly.
Finally give the hole a blast out with compressed air and pop the new sensor in.
On the way home the system burst back into life. The light went out and the pump buzzed. Hopefully all for the good of stopping on track.
Cam cover off and new seals on. The old seal really was doing nothing.
Now since the new engine went in it hasn’t been behaving perfectly. Idle has been a bit erratic, when running for an hour or longer there has been a lack of power and last time I drove it there was a very sudden drop to idle then lurch forward. I don’t think any of this is the actual engine but the tired old sensors on it. So I bought a new cam and crank sensor. Really annoyingly on the day I couldn’t find the cam sensor. But I fitted the crank and it has definitely smoothed things out. The drive to work was very hesitant, while the drive home was lovely and smooth. The idle is still bouncing a bit, I will do some more investigation but I think I’m also going to wind the stop up slightly as being a track car, I would like idle around 1K anyway.
I still think whoever decided to put the cam and crank sensor plugs halfway down under the inlet manifold was a complete idiot.
Then finally the hard bit. Since I put the new cluster in the abs light has been on. I thought this might be a coding issue as it wasn’t on before. But when I put a tester on to see, it turns out to have a fault code for the N/S/R wheel speed sensor. This actually makes sense as I cant remember the last time the abs cut in. I had already replaced the other side a couple of years back. I suspect the bulb in the old cluster was blown. As this is the only driver aid on the car it would be nice if it worked.
The bolt actually came undone surprisingly after I hammered a torques head into the old rotten Allen head. The sensors themselves very rarely come out as the hubs corrode and wedge them in. I find the quickest way is to smash the back off.
Then put several 3mm drill holes through it around the core until the outer case can fold in on itself, then yank it out with some pliers on the core.
A couple of hours work, but this way you don’t end up damaging the hub and stopping the new sensor sitting correctly.
Finally give the hole a blast out with compressed air and pop the new sensor in.
On the way home the system burst back into life. The light went out and the pump buzzed. Hopefully all for the good of stopping on track.
Another Saturday in the workshop. Prop off, the old bearing really is so noisy.
Pressed on really quite nicely. I cleaned up the splines and coperslipped the middle joint while there.
Finally had a chance to change out the camber arms
No time for a geo setup today, but I’m glad I got it done. The old one was definitely past it’s best.
So with all that off the underside it seemed like the right time fit the new exhaust. Was a bit of a sod, home made by the chap I got it from. I’m not massively happy with the centre mount. I will have to do some work in the future on it.
It’s not exactly pretty but it’s pretty straight though. Sounds quite good too.
Pressed on really quite nicely. I cleaned up the splines and coperslipped the middle joint while there.
Finally had a chance to change out the camber arms
No time for a geo setup today, but I’m glad I got it done. The old one was definitely past it’s best.
So with all that off the underside it seemed like the right time fit the new exhaust. Was a bit of a sod, home made by the chap I got it from. I’m not massively happy with the centre mount. I will have to do some work in the future on it.
It’s not exactly pretty but it’s pretty straight though. Sounds quite good too.
What seems to be the final jigsaw peice of the engine build suddenly came about this week. You may remember I was talking a while ago about getting a lightweight bonnet to offset some of the new engine weight.
Just need to sort out some washer jets, but the orange stripes are gone!
Also fitted the summer tyres, deglazed all the pads, changed the oil for some 10w60 and carried out a full geo setup.
So that’s it, engine is run in and our first track outing is next week.
On the way home I gave it the beans properly for the first time. Yeah it’s quick, really quick. I’m going to have to relearn how to drive it.
Just need to sort out some washer jets, but the orange stripes are gone!
Also fitted the summer tyres, deglazed all the pads, changed the oil for some 10w60 and carried out a full geo setup.
So that’s it, engine is run in and our first track outing is next week.
On the way home I gave it the beans properly for the first time. Yeah it’s quick, really quick. I’m going to have to relearn how to drive it.
Here we were back at Bedford yesterday.
I literally didn’t even have time to clean it. I was at work till late this week in the evenings getting some washers installed and the exhaust quiter.
On the whole a good day out. We did experience some clutch slip in the morning towards higher revs. So I started short shifting and it made it through the day. I was hoping to not spend any more money any time soon. But I guess an M3 clutch is on the cards.
It will be going away under its sheet for a while now though. I have been entered as a driver into the Porsche Club Championship Restoracing category. So for most of the summer I think my time will be devoted to getting this thing back together, set up and raced.
I won’t forget about the BMW, it is my home built baby. But at least this will give me some time to save up for the parts I need.
I literally didn’t even have time to clean it. I was at work till late this week in the evenings getting some washers installed and the exhaust quiter.
On the whole a good day out. We did experience some clutch slip in the morning towards higher revs. So I started short shifting and it made it through the day. I was hoping to not spend any more money any time soon. But I guess an M3 clutch is on the cards.
It will be going away under its sheet for a while now though. I have been entered as a driver into the Porsche Club Championship Restoracing category. So for most of the summer I think my time will be devoted to getting this thing back together, set up and raced.
I won’t forget about the BMW, it is my home built baby. But at least this will give me some time to save up for the parts I need.
Edited by Hamster69 on Sunday 18th February 11:06
Edited by Hamster69 on Sunday 18th February 11:08
There is a separate group of original boxsters running in class three. The porsche dealers have been asked to run. As one of the only people at our dealer with any track experience I have been asked to drive.
We are only competing at three rounds, but I’m going to try my hardest.
On a side note thanks for commenting. I was thinking if I got to posting a whole page with no comments, no one is still watching.
We are only competing at three rounds, but I’m going to try my hardest.
On a side note thanks for commenting. I was thinking if I got to posting a whole page with no comments, no one is still watching.
Thanks Steve! No, not actual race experience. But most of the people doing it have only ever been karting.
We have three races, Brandshatch GP, Silverstone GP then Brands Indy. I am sharing the car with another driver too. So one of us will do the first, the other the second. Then the more successful driver will compete at the third. Which is a bigger event for us at the Porsche festival. The Restoracing boxster will have their own separate race there. I would like to do the first race as I have been round Brands on several occasions but we will see what happens.
We have three races, Brandshatch GP, Silverstone GP then Brands Indy. I am sharing the car with another driver too. So one of us will do the first, the other the second. Then the more successful driver will compete at the third. Which is a bigger event for us at the Porsche festival. The Restoracing boxster will have their own separate race there. I would like to do the first race as I have been round Brands on several occasions but we will see what happens.
Thanks Steve, any advise would be gratefully received.
It would also appear to be a small world. I was looking through some other threads last night. You appear to own or have owned a 993 built by Protech Porsche for the old Pirelli cup.
Protech is where I started my apprenticeship working for Graham.
It would also appear to be a small world. I was looking through some other threads last night. You appear to own or have owned a 993 built by Protech Porsche for the old Pirelli cup.
Protech is where I started my apprenticeship working for Graham.
Edited by Hamster69 on Thursday 22 February 04:16
bmwmike said:
Mgd_uk said:
I’m still reading too, like to see you updating each time
Maybe a new thread for the porker and keep this one for the Bmw
Seconded!!! Love these updates, please keep them coming Maybe a new thread for the porker and keep this one for the Bmw
Thanks guys. I may well start one for the Boxster. But I’m not actually that involved in the build. Not at this stage anyway, although as we are supposed to start testing in about five weeks and it’s still in the state it’s in, it may be all hand to the pumps soon.
In the mean time I’m researching sensible clutch/flywheel options for the BMW. Some people are saying go M3 with a Stage 2 Clutch. Others an M30 flywheel modified for M52 starter ring gear with an M34 M5 clutch.
Desisions desissions.
In the mean time I’m researching sensible clutch/flywheel options for the BMW. Some people are saying go M3 with a Stage 2 Clutch. Others an M30 flywheel modified for M52 starter ring gear with an M34 M5 clutch.
Desisions desissions.
UUC do an M5 clutch and lightweight flywheel which is what I am thinking about getting:
http://www.uucmotorwerks.com/flywheel/index.htm
http://www.uucmotorwerks.com/flywheel/index.htm
I’m sure the UUC one is an awesome bit of kit. But it is falling somewhere outside my current price range.
At the moment I really am having to embrace the name of this thread. I will find a way to sort it, but much like the cage, wheels, m52 and m54 engines. It may have to be when a cheap one appears out of nowhere.
At the moment I really am having to embrace the name of this thread. I will find a way to sort it, but much like the cage, wheels, m52 and m54 engines. It may have to be when a cheap one appears out of nowhere.
Hamster69 said:
Thanks Steve, any advise would be gratefully received.
It would also appear to be a small world. I was looking through some other threads last night. You appear to own or have owned a 993 built by Protech Porsche for the old Pirelli cup.
Protech is where I started my apprenticeship working for Graham.
Ha ha small world! I’m at Silverstone GP on the 11th April in a 997Cup doing some corporate stuff. If it helps I can probably get you round if you don’t mind fitting in? Maybe you could book the BMW on, it’s a Goldtrack dayIt would also appear to be a small world. I was looking through some other threads last night. You appear to own or have owned a 993 built by Protech Porsche for the old Pirelli cup.
Protech is where I started my apprenticeship working for Graham.
Edited by Hamster69 on Thursday 22 February 04:16
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