V8 conversion specialists - Gama Motorsport - on YouTube!!

Tue Jun 12, 2012 10:25 am

I must admit I have 330mm discs from a e46 330d with porsche rear calipers on a E36 rear subframe so I won't beable to use the drum facility so I'll have to go for a separate mechanical caliper for the handbrake. (not that I want one)
But if your going for the standard setup on the rear Michael maybe you can re drill the e36 disc to a 4stud. They are 280mm if I remember right. Like will says you can the use the original E30 handbrake then with a set of E32 rear calipers.

Fri Jun 15, 2012 11:09 pm

Hi Will and Ben, thanks very much for all the great info!

Sorry for the delay in replying, I've only just regained access to the site.

I think I'll initially use standard rear E30 discs and calipers, just to get the car on the road, then perhaps try Will's suggestion of using the E36 discs re-drilled, with E32 calipers. I may have been getting carried away with my desire for a non drum handbrake set up. I mean, it'as not like I'm going to be doing handbrake turns every 100 metres....... I'll be spending most of my time leaving number 11s.

Work has commenced again on mine, so more updates to follow.

Got a date for your exhaust booking Ben?

Fri Jun 15, 2012 11:22 pm

E36 1.8Ti COMPACT Rear Axle, will give you 5 bolt conversion and 276mm rear discs, for the E30...

Sat Jun 16, 2012 7:56 am

Thanks Das_BMW_E30 and Will. I had my opportunity to convert to 5 stud all round at the beginning of the project, but didn't.

Perhaps 5 studs will grace my car in the future....

This is what a big project is all about - good decisions and bad decisions.

Fri Jul 06, 2012 6:50 am

Just a quick update; I won't be going to Gaydon this year.

Two reasons, first one being that the car is very very unlikely to be MOT'd by then and I wanted to drive it there this year and the second one being it's very near to my birthday and my wife has 'arranged' for me to be away that weekend, which over rules the 1st reason anyway....

On the bright side, there's a 99% chance of the engine being started fairly soon.

I'll do another update when this has happend.

How's yours getting on Ben? A good mate of mine with another E30 touring has had problems with his handbrake, because the back plates are disintegrating, so he's bought some BMW Mini rear calipers and will be using these to give him a mechanical handbrake. I can get more info off him if it sounds good to you?

Sat Jul 07, 2012 7:04 pm

ahhh thats some bad news there Michael, you should come to the german car show in the 21st, 22nd this month. i know your E30 wont be ready but its generally a wicked weekend and ill be camping so a few beers in the evening plus BBQ

would be good to catch up

well as far as my E30 is concerned

its in the garage getting the exhaust built and will be ready next week hopfully

everything is pretty much finished apart from the rad fan and for some reason my wipers are going the wrong way haha.
other than that its pretty much ready...... oh and the PAS needs doing but im going to run without it for abit

Sat Jul 07, 2012 7:09 pm

oh and just for abit of info, i have the E36 complete rear subframe, swing arms and hubs and i run Z3 wheels and they sit perfect

even when the arse end is sitting on the ground

for the handbrake melarky i was going to use a hydraulic handbrake with cables still looking like they are attached, see how that weighs up on the MOT

Sat Jul 07, 2012 9:19 pm

You're so nearly there with yours Ben! Will you be posting a video of it running with the new exhaust?

What rad fan set up are you using?

I suppose if I find that my traction is really bad then I'll have to go for the E36 set up all round so that I can have something wider than 225s on the back. Have you got 245s?

Thanks for the invite to the German show, but I'm working all over that weekend on two big removals jobs - it's a busy time of year and being self-employed means I need to do it! besides, I have to pay for the project somehow!

When are you off to Canada? Whether mine is finished or not before you go, I must see yours, if that's ok with you?

Sat Jul 07, 2012 9:47 pm

Yea I'll pop a small vid up but will probably not do the sound of it much justice but I'll take lots of pics of it too

I have a e28 M5 rad with a 16" push fan which I'm hoping will cool it well enough.
I have 225s all round but on the back the 225s are stretched so they should be 245s. I'll burn them out and change to a 245 soon

Ahh yes I know the woes of being self employed so you have got to do what you got to do. Shame though.
I'm not sure yet if I'll be making gaydon myself but well have to sort an other meet when we're both there.

I don't go to canada until mid next year now so still have time to have some fun and go to meets. Which show will you likely be able to go to so we can swap M60 horror story's and knuckle scares

Sat Jul 07, 2012 9:58 pm

I'll look forward to your video, but you're right, there's nothing better than hearing it 'live'.

I'm not too fussed about missing Gaydon this year, although it was good to talk to so many people last year. I probably would have preferred it last year if I'd been with the zoners.

When mine is done I'll contact you and arrange something. What about a track day? Mine isn't built as a track weapon but that won't stop me giving it a good go. I had a great time at Rockingham in my standard 325i se with 195/65/14s , losing it big time a few times but not hitting any armco....

If not a track day, then any meeting you reckon is going to be decent. What about doing a RWYB at Santa Pod or Shakespeare, or is there one nearer you too?!

What's your trade? I'm guessing it's in the motor trade.....

Sat Jul 07, 2012 10:16 pm

I must admit I'm more wanting to go to the German car show than gaydon. I like my camping haha.

Yea a track day would be great, haven't tracked the E30 at all yet even before the M60 so I'll be booking my self in shortly

I'm going to try and do loads of meets and track days including Nurburgring before I go. It's my mission

My trade is electrician so nothing to do with the motortrade but I done the wiring in it quite easily haha

Sat Jul 07, 2012 10:32 pm

Right then, that's the plan, we'll meet at a track day!

All I have to do now is have a car to take to one.....

I got a massive buzz out of tracking my old E30, so I reckon my V8 touring is going to blow my tiny mind! I just have to stay away from the armco and not get carried away with how much speed I can get on the straights....

Did you fancy trying Brands Hatch? I could probably total my E30 there quite easily. My problem is I love pushing it on the track, cos you can't on the public roads. Having spent so much money should mean that I remember to keep it together on the track, but I can't promise anything, especially if you or my mates are there as well.

Sat Jul 07, 2012 10:34 pm

Will, what spoil sports! Even with a crash helmet, I suppose? Is this health and safety conspiring against you, like it does for us here?

Sat Jul 07, 2012 10:46 pm

Will you should pop a roof on there cut and shut style

Yea brands is just up the road from me so if I bugger it at least I can almost get it home haha.
I'd be sooooo gutted if I stuffed the e30. Means I can search for a non sun roof model On the bright side

Sat Jul 07, 2012 10:58 pm

I'd be gutted, embarrassed and even more broke if I crashed mine. Thing is, in the heat of the moment, when the adrenaline is flowing and you're trying to keep up with something quicker, that's when you forget the 'what ifs'!

On my one and only track day I had the most comfortable, well spec'd, high profile tyred, lowest power to weight ration car there! The next slowest car to mine was a stripped out 205 GTi, which was one of the cars I tried to keep up with, before ending up backwards at 40mph on the grass

I did have some fun with the Caterham boys, when it was raining at the start of the session, but as soon as it dried up I was way behind again. All good fun and I have to do it again. Soon.

Sun Feb 24, 2013 6:51 pm

hey Michael, hows the E30 getting on? is this the year its going to be touching the road and making an appearance?

Sun Feb 24, 2013 7:48 pm

Hi Ben, It's still a work in progress, but so nearly there. The exhaust is done, the water methanol is fully plumbed in, the cruise control is in, there's water and oil in the right places but she just won't fire up. It's got to be down to the timing, because we have spark and fuel, but 925rpm is all we're getting on the starter! It may have to go straight to Emerald and then be MOT'd after.

The guy working on it now is the man I should have had on it from the beginning, had I known about him.... He's basically had to do about 80% of the project, which he's done at absolute bargain basement cost.

I've gotten rid of the steels and have got 15" BBS with my trackday Hankooks on. Also, it sits too low to be driven practically on the road with its H&R coilovers on max height, so they'll be going up for sale sometime......

I bet you're enjoying yours though? Plenty of trackdays etc? Are you staying in the UK for the forseeable?

Mon Feb 25, 2013 8:55 pm

ohh sounds like your certainly getting there Michael and even better knowing you have the right man on the job now.
does the starter sound like its struggling at all?

if you do fancy selling the H&Rs just pop me over a PM and ill have a think ;)
iv only done 2 track days at the minute but iv done some few miles and still ironing out some flaws.
heat, power steering pump, and traction issues. might go for M3 arches to wider the track and run wider tyres.
im seriously thinking of twin turboing the M60 too

Mon Feb 25, 2013 9:24 pm

Yep, getting there slowly but surely! The starter is fine, not struggling at all, we reckon it's got to be a timing issue. The guy working on it now has basically re-done the o/s manifold to clear the E36 rack, re-done the whole exhaust system from manifolds back (in stainless all the way) and it looks great - very nicely finished. I must take photos next time....... He's worked wonders and is really frustrated that he hasn't got it running just yet.

As soon as the H&Rs are off, I'll let you know. I bought them for just over a grand in late 2010 (how long has my project been going on for?!), and they've not been driven on at all.

What's your issue with heat? Is it the rad, or the exhaust manifolds, or both? I'm hoping the combination of ceramic coated manifolds and water methanol will help me out.

And the pas pump - what's up with yours?

Traction - iirc, you've got 17s on yours, but with what tyres? Have you got some trackday semi slicks, or have you got Toyo T1-Rs? Anyway, my traction is going to be worse, that's a fact!

Twin turboing sounds like a whole new project - in a good way! You'll be getting some serious horses (if Tescos have got any left over) out of your M60. Would you have to lower the compression, or can you do some turbocharging as is?

I'll try and get some new photos of my one for you and anyone else who hasn't fallen asleep waiting for them........

Mon Feb 25, 2013 9:40 pm

There's a second-hand h&r kit on a well known auction site - 5 days 21 hrs left......

Mon Feb 25, 2013 10:21 pm

yes yes you must get some photos up very soon.

well i currently run a full set of gaz gold coilovers but wouldn't mind a second choice

heat wise, its mainly getting super hot so iv basically used the M60 rad, no thermostat and twin huge rad fans. was going to put a secondary pump on to move abit more water round abit to see if it helps.
PS pump, im on my second now and i keep on killing them. so was going to try a electric pump and see how that goes.
well i may have to see if tescos can spare some horses when it comes to turbo time.....
ill see if i get bored this season with the power

Sat Mar 02, 2013 10:04 pm

I bet you do get bored with the power, that's the problem with being a petrolhead!

The question for me is; will I lose my licence or get bored with the power first?!

Are you doing a lot of drifting, or mainly the odd trackday?

The Gaz golds were going to be my first choice three years ago.

Still having no joy with getting it started and the timing light isn't working on it. Weird. Timing light works on the Jeep owned by the guy working on mine......

When I next go there to see it I'll take some photos.

Sun Mar 03, 2013 9:24 am

I know and there's the money to back it all up haha.

It's just the odd track days at the minute but this year I'm hoping to do a hell of a lot more.

So it turns over but doesn't even attempt to start Michael?

Sun Mar 03, 2013 7:36 pm

Yep, it turns over and has peaked at about 935rpm on the data logger, but doesn't catch, backfire or anything. I'm probably going to find out more this week, but it might end up going to Emerald before getting MOTd etc.

Where has been your favourite track so far? Brands is your nearest, right? How about RWYB at Santa Pod or Shakespeare Raceway? I might have a go at that (when it's running, obviously....).

Sun Mar 24, 2013 9:41 am

have you got it fired up yet Michael or is it just still turning over.?

I have only been to one track and that's my local track at Lydden near Dover.
It's a pretty difficult track because of negative camber corners etc but still good.
Brands will be my next track this year I think which isn't too far off now.

Thu Mar 28, 2013 10:09 pm

Hi Ben, still no joy

But, on the plus side, I have some photos for you, and anyone else who's interested, to enjoy:

Where the TCS throttle butterfly would have been is where my water methanol is plumbed in. Between the oil filter housing and the pas reservoir is my cruise control motor. Sorry about the mobile picture quality!

Don't worry about the 16" 5 spokes, they're my 'getting it to and from MOT' wheels!

As it was, at Gaydon 2011;

Quite a nice shot of the mk1 manifold (now re-done to clear the E36 rack);

The infamous clutch and flywheel combo, which I won't be seeing for a long time, hopefully;

This shows the height issues faced with this installation;

Apart from the mini wheels and E34 trims, this is just as I bought her, in Aug 2010;

Or, with the 14" bottletops;

Re-trimmed E28 M535i 'recaro' style seat, in alcantara;

4th in line, least sporty car at Rockingham that day. My 325i se;

How to get it wrong, having gone sideways in 3rd at 70mph on the long left hander;

When I say wrong......didn't touch the grass though.......

I'm exhausted;

Hope these are ok for everyone, it's my first time posting pictures directly.

Fri Mar 29, 2013 7:35 am

Cheers Will!

Tue Apr 02, 2013 12:20 pm

Do you happen to have any pictures on the S/C bracket? Did you fabricate your own or use some readymade bracket?

Tue Apr 02, 2013 7:03 pm

Wicked cool pics there Micheal
I will tell you know that your exhaust is going to be metal loud, I have just a back box on mine it's its super loud haha. Can't wait to see it.
I'm seriously thinking of a twin turbo upgrade on mine now for something a little different.

Any news on a completion date yet?

Wed Apr 03, 2013 12:25 am

Jonsku wrote:Do you happen to have any pictures on the S/C bracket? Did you fabricate your own or use some readymade bracket?

Hi there, the s/c bracket is exactly what came with the ESS kit, designed for the E39 the M62B44 came out of. It's quite a nice bit of metal, but then it should be, given the price of the kit!

I don't have any photos of just my bracket and I can't find any on the internet either. Sorry.

Wed Apr 03, 2013 12:28 am

Driftben wrote:Wicked cool pics there Micheal
I will tell you know that your exhaust is going to be metal loud, I have just a back box on mine it's its super loud haha. Can't wait to see it.
I'm seriously thinking of a twin turbo upgrade on mine now for something a little different.

Any news on a completion date yet?

Cheers Ben!

I wonder if the supercharger will make it a little quieter? We have 'designed' the exhaust system to be fairly easy to change, if it is too loud, boomy etc.

You should go for the twin turbo upgrade! Will you do it all yourself again?

Mine is going to Emerald on Friday 12th April. More news afterwards. Please let it start at least..... rolling road tuning would be a bonus!