New track/hill/race project advice

[doggydoo2000]

Hi - newbie here but the purchase has been made - see here

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... c&t=101695

Not ideal - 4 door & not an M - but tidy enough for a first venture. I bought it just for track/hill climb/race but I'm pretty wet behind the ears beyond a few track days & no idea other than what I've read about how to get her to a good standard.

So my plan was to take it slow, staged approch & not chuck money at it until its proved worthy. So for starters I'll have it simply checked over, check brakes & add race brake fluid. Then off to the track (no strip out yet) to see if she's up to it. Does that sound like the right approach?

I'd like to mess with the ECU for some quick gains - any recommendations there?

I've got loads more Q's but one thing at a time - any advice on any areas would very welcome

Thanks!

[AlpineAde]

Do the brakes and suspension first. Worry about the "power thing" later.

I'm going slowly on mine as well.

Have a read and see if any of it helps you.

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... ic&t=75609

[shorty73]

Stripping out is free and probably more benificial than a few horse power from a chip. Give the brakes a good going over (fluid, hoses,discs and pads) and uprate as needed. As Alpineade says get it handling well first (Camber,ride height,springs/coilovers,arbs,geometry,etc) and worry about power later.

Brake horsepower is great for a bit of pub willy waving but it don't mean feck all if you can't go round corners Quite important for hillclimbs I think

Have a look at all the build diaries on here and other forums. The ones that know what there doing(Northloop,Uwe,Jimmy C,and many more..) all spend a lot of time on getting the thing handling well.

So for starters I'll have it simply checked over, check brakes & add race brake fluid.

Wouldn't worry about "race" fluid yet until you start to really boil what your using. Just some nice fresh ATE stuff should do for now.

Have fun

[doggydoo2000]

Thanks guys - points taken

I'll lay off the cheapy chips etc for now

AlpineAde - good project, your being pretty thorough. Not sure I can be so professional

Car booked in with my mechanic this week - just for look over & possible new brake pads - then a track day - then if she's good stage 2 is where the fun starts strip/suspension etc. Will post it all on my original thread.

This forum really is good

[no2woody]

hey mate, what track day are you going to do?

[doggydoo2000]

Elvington - near York - a bit far for you. Not booked a date yet - waiting to see how the car does at the mechanics - in tomorrrow. Cant wait

[AlpineAde]

If your mechanic gives it the thumbs up then you're good to go. Stage one is complete. The first rule of trackdays: have a car in sound mechanical condition.

Fit some uprated pads with fresh fluid and have fun.

[Trise30rally]

Nice to see another track car mate!

Good advice so far but my next bit would be learn to do the easy jobs yourself or this project will end up costing you a fortune! I have spent hours and hours doing the little jobs and taking on the larger jobs, everyone here is to help and these cars are very simple!

So get your hands dirty!

This is my project i have been building for the last 6 months...

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... highlight=

[doggydoo2000]

There's some good projects on the go on here - good to see people getting stuck in (& really great for info & people who clearly now 'know') - Trise - good advice (spotted your project before - really good), your right I should do as much as I can myself, trouble is I only have one big tool well actually just a small toolbox & no garage - one day though. I do plan to do what I can but maybe I should just push it a bit more & turn the drive into a scrappers yard. Car being checked now, mouse poised to click & book a track, right foot twitching, hammer waiting to knock the interior out, big grin pending.

Just remembered - I found a trusty Haynes manual in the glove box! Havnt used one of those for years...