BMW E36 Compact Racecar Build
Discussion
First, a little history, previously I had a red one, sadly red suffered some damage and was stripped of parts and scrapped. There were some bits I wasn't happy when I built her, nothing major, some unnecessary weight, a little extra wiring, still a neat car but I knew I could do better. The chance to start again offering me up the opportunity to make sure these things were corrected this time around. Now, onto what we have and as you can see, not much, a pretty much mint shell to start with, requiring some prep and it's ready to bolt stuff to.
First up this is the only pic I have just after it was delivered, full of some my spares where it had been in storage for a while (stolen off the CCTV)
Shortly there after I set about emptying it out and took a few more snaps:
Then, to work, I have only been out there a couple of times, a few hours the other day collecting up bolts and removing so items still left over inside. I then started on the task of removing the sound deadening, heat gun and scraper in hand the efforts from stint one:
Today I nipped out and got a couple of hours in at the back:
Thats pretty much that. Lots to do still and many plans to straighten out but I will update as I go.
First up this is the only pic I have just after it was delivered, full of some my spares where it had been in storage for a while (stolen off the CCTV)
Shortly there after I set about emptying it out and took a few more snaps:
Then, to work, I have only been out there a couple of times, a few hours the other day collecting up bolts and removing so items still left over inside. I then started on the task of removing the sound deadening, heat gun and scraper in hand the efforts from stint one:
Today I nipped out and got a couple of hours in at the back:
Thats pretty much that. Lots to do still and many plans to straighten out but I will update as I go.
Edited by geeks on Thursday 2nd January 17:13
Robmarriott said:
Love a race car build, especially when it’s the ‘cheap’ end of the spectrum. Building it for Compact Cup?
Short answer is no. I love the Compact Cup (I am a former Coordinator) but I am looking to do some endurance stuff, I chose my base as I think they are great little cars, pretty reliable, rwd, parts are pretty reasonable and they are easy to work on.To that end, mine will be lighter and a few other minor bits, I will make it easy to swap back to Compact Cup spec should I fancy it but the plan thus far is plastic windows, add much lightness and tweak the timing to give it a little extra go.
Todays efforts:
Remove the rest of the sound deading!
Missed this bit last time!
A pile of stuff
A bag of stuff, all the sound deadening in a bag.
Onto the seam sealer, horrible stuff, but needs must!
Hovered up and packed up for the day, most of the drivers side stuff out, need a new wire wheel for my angle grinder, which I have ordered but may not be here in time to get much done tomorrow!
5harp3y said:
Looking forward to seeing this progress
What's the engine plan?
Also isn't dry ice supposed to be a much quicker and less messy way to remove sound deadening?
Engine wise I will be keeping the 1.9 M44, the race engine was recently rebuilt and has a mildly skimmed head. Spare engine in a donor car as well that I will pull out and rebuild as a spare eventually.What's the engine plan?
Also isn't dry ice supposed to be a much quicker and less messy way to remove sound deadening?
Yes dry ice is quicker apparently as it pipe freeze spray as well. However I already had a heat gun and scraper
I would love an easier way to remove the seam sealer, its a messy awful job 
Andrew-b90y3 said:
Watching this build with interest op!
I know it’s not going to be a compact cup car but I do like anything bmw and race related, 116i trophy, 330 challenge, compact cup etc!
Cheers, I have a soft spot for old BMWs!I know it’s not going to be a compact cup car but I do like anything bmw and race related, 116i trophy, 330 challenge, compact cup etc!
geeks said:
Mr Tidy said:
Looking forward to the updates on this as I'm a bit of a BMW fan these days.
And my BMW Indy has photos in his office of the one he used to race one in the Compact Cup some years ago!
I probably know him And my BMW Indy has photos in his office of the one he used to race one in the Compact Cup some years ago!
Will be following the thread too, I have raced classic Minis and always fancied a BMW championship as the next step.
Got a couple of hours in at the weekend. Seam sealer more or less removed in the back now! Some pics..
Safety first, seriously, goggles, cannot stress this enough, while working at the back I had three solid hits of bits of wire being ejected from the grinder at high velocity, do no mess around with angle grinders and wire wheels. Also ear protection, turns out noise cancelling headphones and some music of your choice make a great substitute for ear defenders!
I think I got my monies worth out of this one!
I made a mess!
I cleaned the mess up (brush and my trusty shop vac!) and that's most of the rear done, just some at the front left to finish up.
Safety first, seriously, goggles, cannot stress this enough, while working at the back I had three solid hits of bits of wire being ejected from the grinder at high velocity, do no mess around with angle grinders and wire wheels. Also ear protection, turns out noise cancelling headphones and some music of your choice make a great substitute for ear defenders!
I think I got my monies worth out of this one!
I made a mess!
I cleaned the mess up (brush and my trusty shop vac!) and that's most of the rear done, just some at the front left to finish up.
This looks interesting! I've seen a few Compact Cup cars pop up for sale, but never really known how involved they are with all the regulations etc.
Do all the cars have the seam sealer removed?
I'll be keeping an eye on this
As for the PPE, I won't use a grinder without a full face screen, Had a couple of close calls with those nasty twisted wire wheels snagging and the grinder shooting out my hands, if i didn't have a full face screen on I'd be much uglier
Do all the cars have the seam sealer removed?
I'll be keeping an eye on this
As for the PPE, I won't use a grinder without a full face screen, Had a couple of close calls with those nasty twisted wire wheels snagging and the grinder shooting out my hands, if i didn't have a full face screen on I'd be much uglier
amc_adam said:
This looks interesting! I've seen a few Compact Cup cars pop up for sale, but never really known how involved they are with all the regulations etc.
Do all the cars have the seam sealer removed?
I'll be keeping an eye on this
As for the PPE, I won't use a grinder without a full face screen, Had a couple of close calls with those nasty twisted wire wheels snagging and the grinder shooting out my hands, if i didn't have a full face screen on I'd be much uglier
I was dreading you seeing this Do all the cars have the seam sealer removed?
I'll be keeping an eye on this
As for the PPE, I won't use a grinder without a full face screen, Had a couple of close calls with those nasty twisted wire wheels snagging and the grinder shooting out my hands, if i didn't have a full face screen on I'd be much uglier
your build thread is a lot to live up to. Generally most have all the seam sealer removed from the inside if nothing else! Mine will have the stuff from under the bonnet removed as well and possibly the underside too. I did consider having it acid dipped but the cost vs faff vs build budget and paint etc just meant it wasn’t really feasibleWith the grinder I always make sure the rotation would take it away from me on the off chance it slips, my Teflon beard keeps the rest out
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