M50 conversion and steering coupling

[Y_Cymro]

I've got a pair of M52 manifolds to go with the M50 conversion for my 316, and want to use a Z3 rack - though due to the current prices of these more probably one from an E36 or 46.

Is there an alternative to cutting and welding the rear manifold to gain clearance, such as using a different steering coupling from another model?

If there's no better alternative, is the solid quibo conversion needed to make space?

cheers

[daimlerman]

Have a browse through Beemerlad's thread in the photo gallery,he has found a 'slimmed down' steering coupling.Not a fan of welded steering couplings myself,but my thoughts are running along the lines of discarding the rubber coupling.I am 'thinking'(very dodgy) around the idea of slicing the guibo off and sleeving the two remaining bits together.They could be dowelled as well as welded,which would help to overcome my fears of a welded coupling failing.Another advantage of this line of thought is that the splined couplings at each end could be swapped to suit different racks.Anyone work as a precision enginneer who would like to play with this?

[DanThe]

How about this

[punk_sy]

as im doing this atm can you use the e30 uj on the e36 rack ? are the splines the same?

[DanThe]

Yes they are, unless the E30 rack is a manual

[whipsey]

how much extra clearance would that give? and more to the point how much would they cost?

[DanThe]

Well put it like this, I havnt had to cut the rear M52 manifold, it is quite close though so strong mounts are required.
I rebuilt the UJ's myself but paid to have it welded, the welding comes with a 12 month guarantee which is reassuring

[daniele30]

DanThe,

Do i still need to cut the rear m52 exhaust manifold if i use the steering coupling as posted by you ?

[DanThe]

I havnt, it is quite close to the upper UJ, I will post some pics once my car is out in the light and drivable

[punk_sy]

How about this

this will be an MOT failure tho! but if you know the right people :)it will be ok.

[daimlerman]

How about this

That is exactly what I have in mind,I am getting worried about heat transfer from my manifold...Can we arrange a small production run to get the cost reasonable,a 'grope buy' sort of thing?

[E30BeemerLad]

Here is an M52 manifold without the top flanges butchered with a modded steering column UJ arrangement like Dan has. This is with an E30 rack.

[E30BeemerLad]

How about this

this will be an MOT failure tho! but if you know the right people :)it will be ok.

Explain?

[punk_sy]

How about this

this will be an MOT failure tho! but if you know the right people :)it will be ok.

Explain?

well told a bloke at work who used to be an mot tester off what i was going to do and he said that you cant weld any thing to do with suspension/steering etc .

But saying that it does kinda look standered.

[DanThe]

I cant see why that would fail an MOT, unless the tester is a complete arse of course

[DanThe]

How about this

That is exactly what I have in mind,I am getting worried about heat transfer from my manifold...Can we arrange a small production run to get the cost reasonable,a 'grope buy' sort of thing?

Ive no problem taking a few of these to my local reconditioning place, id rather have a company reassemble the bearings than do it myself, its very easy to f*ck them up.
Also the different lengths need to be taken into consideration, E30 rack, E36 rack, front or rear mounting holes on the subframe etc.
I will give them a tester next week and post this up in the group buys when a price has been worked out

[BigBavarian]

I am very interested in this aswell for when i replace the m50 with a m52 butchered one set of manifolds dont really want to do it again. I'd be running a e36 rack this time not sure on what holes in the cross member i'd use tho.

[daimlerman]

How feasable would it be to make the joining shaft from splined bar?
Then use two u/j's splined to suit the bar,rack and steering column.Then by ajusting the length of the splined bar we get to suit diffent rack positions and by swapping the u/j's we can suit different racks...also gets round the 'welded steering component' issue...

[DanThe]

Sounds like a plan, but the upper UJ would still need to be rebuilt due to the odd spline, no idea about the availability of splined bar but I will be making enquiries

[rob0r]

How about this

Is this just an E30 linkage with the rubber donut and mounts chopped out and rewelded? Is this all that's needed to clear the M52 manifolds? Also what and how do the downpipes fit onto the manifolds?

Sorry for all the questions! Cheers

[DanThe]

No its not, its made from 2 lower linkages, one has had the UJ rebuilt as the column splines are different to the rack splines. Down pipes do not bolt up, the one flange points towards the cross member and interferes with the rack

[Daf318is]

If a group buy is organised for these you have one customer here for sure!

I tried making one from a pair of E34 uj's but it turns out that all the splines are wrong

[Y_Cymro]

I'm interested in one to if the price is right and it suits an E36 rack.

Here's a machine company selling stock splined bar - up to 12' long so should be ok for a group buy. Does someone have a coupling handy to measure the diameter and number of splines (though the proflie may be wrong)?
http://www.llewellins.co.uk/04_Spline_B ... _Range.pdf

[mike_sayer]

I'm interested in one to if the price is right and it suits an E36 rack.

Ditto!

[punk_sy]

No its not, its made from 2 lower linkages, one has had the UJ rebuilt as the column splines are different to the rack splines. Down pipes do not bolt up, the one flange points towards the cross member and interferes with the rack

Dan have you got any info on swapping the ujs ? I cant see how they come apart!

[DanThe]

They are not meant to come apart, you have to cut them up!

[daniele30]

i wonder if you use the welded steering coupling, would it be too harsh for the steering wheel when driving on some uneven road ?

[Daf318is]

i wonder if you use the welded steering coupling, would it be too harsh for the steering wheel when driving on some uneven road ?

I have a solid linkage - i.e. no rubber donut and I much prefer the steering to be honest. I think a solid bar ould only make it better!

[daimlerman]

As I understand it,the rubber guibo is intended to prevent noise(harshness) being transmitted up the steering column,rather than damping shock movement.So fitting a solid steering shaft would let more road noise in,in the same way that poly bushes on the TCA's do.The advantage, though,is that more room is free'd up for exhaust manifolding and said exhaust cannot damage a rubber coupling that has been removed....

[bumhole]

I'd definately be up for one of these beauties. Mines just straight e30 rack

[BigBavarian]

Does anyone know of a place that could knock up a batch of these possibly for a group buy? I'd definitly have a couple.

[DanThe]

Ive been meaning to check this out but have been a bit busy lately, will try and get some info on splined bar tomorrow