E36 steering rack conversion into E30 with M50?

[alexbaby88]

Is it possible to do a E36 steering rack conversion into a E30 with M50 engine? Is there enough space? Has anyone done this?

Thanks,
alex

[XMon]

Is it possible to do a E36 steering rack conversion into a E30 with M50 engine? Is there enough space? Has anyone done this?

Thanks,
alex

http://www.zionsvilleautosport.com/stor ... ory_Code=S

http://www.zionsvilleautosport.com/stor ... ode=E30SRC

[6potWil6pot]

If he owns a RHD M50 hes probably refering to the clearance problems the exhaust manifold has like mine, its a tight fit in there!
Im waiting to see what it looks like on another E30 before considering it!

[XMon]

If he owns a RHD M50 hes probably refering to the clearance problems the exhaust manifold has like mine, its a tight fit in there!
Im waiting to see what it looks like on another E30 before considering it!

Doh! Sorry chaps, I was forgetting ya'll drive on the WRONG side of the road over yonder.

[alexbaby88]

Anyone else?

Yeah RHD E30/M50.

[alexbaby88]

bump???

[GermanGorilla]

Yes, it can be done and if your going to do it go with the E36 M3 rack as it has a much faster ratio.

Biggest headache will be the exhaust manifold.

Pending which manifold you use, a tubular one would make it easier for the fabrication work required.

On a six cylinder, the front [3] section made need some minor work for the ARB clearance, and the front subframe, pending how high or low the engine is sat, and on how far back or forward.

The rear section, [back 3] though, is where the problems will start.
You will need to 'move' the last pipe of the [back 3] forwards toward the rad by at least 25mm to clear the bulk head, and then also bend it towards the engine block by about 35mm to help with the steering clearance.
Then the middle pipe of the [back 3] needs to be pushed towards the rad by about 20 - 30 mm, and its 'bend' opened up by about 20mm so that the steering joint from rack to coloum clears.

The secret, is to get the [front 3] to fit and clear, and then fabricate the [back 3] to fit.

It is very unlikely that this will all done correctly at the first attempt, so if using a Manifold Fabricator, make sure they are close by !!

Mine was 60 miles away, and it took four attempts, I can now drive there blindfolded !!

Regards,

The Gorilla.

[Brianmoooore]

When I was fitting my M50 and got to the exhaust manifolds, I found one of the banjo connections on the E30 power rack was fouling something. (Steering or exhaust - can't remember which now.)
I noticed that the banjos on an E36 rack were the other side, so I tried to fit one to see if it helped.(Didn't know that the E36 rack had a better ratio then.)
I remember finding that, although the different banjo position solved one problem, the different angle of the E36 pinion caused a worse one,so I went back to the E30 one.
May revisit the problem again one day, since I now know that the E36 rack has advantages.

[GermanGorilla]

Hi,

The reason some stick with the E30 Rack is that it has a more accute angle away from the Exhaust Manifold, making the fabrication a little easier.

Yes, the E36 M3 Rack is a lot faster, ie Higher geared ratio.

Lots of track / race guys, use the E36 M3 Rack, and then close of the power steering feeds.
This gives a fast ratio rack without power steering, good feed back at the wheel etc, not sure of the life of power steering rack with no fluid, but its quite common.

Regards,

The Gorilla.

[Demlotcrew]

^ Why would a quicker rack be better for track?

Andrew

[GermanGorilla]

Hi Demlotcrew,

''Why would a Quicker Rack be better for the track ?''

Well as BMW Motorsport incorporated Quicker Racks on the E30 M3'S, some even with Quicker, Non Power Assist Racks, for the Track, then who am I to argue!!!!

Regards,

The Gorilla.

[Demlotcrew]

Most Racks which are not power assisted on the BMWs tend to be much quicker to compensate for the lack of assistance and nothing to do with being faster for better performance on track, i think this was something that they just had to live with as it was the only option they had, now for the M3 rack i really doubt that .5 of a turn would really be noticed on a track? And i have a feeling that BMW did this to make sure that the wheels which came with the M3 did rub on the inner arch when on full lock.

Andrew

[Brianmoooore]

[quote="Demlotcrew"]^ Why would a quicker rack be better for track?

If you've ever had the back end of an E30 step out, then you wouldn't need to ask.