E30 Zone

Looking to fit a Z3 rack at the moment.

I know you have to fit custom pipes or alter your existring pipes, use e30 track rod ends and put in spacers at where the rack mounts...

So just a few question I need to fill in the blanks.

What size/depth do these spacers have to be?

And is there anything else required for the fit?

DanThe sells a kit with pipes, spacers and new banjo seals. Well worth it

Here's mine I got from Dan

You can modify the standard pipes, but Dan's kit is very well made and a good price and comes with the spacers.

Spacers are about 10mm iirc.

Have a look on the wiki for a guide

I've priced Dan and yea his kit looks the dog danglies but I've that many spares about me I was going to try and do my own. But I'll see how I get on. I could go for his kit yet.

And I've looked at the WIKI it just seemed a little vague but hopefully the info above will now be enough.

Thanks men.

spacers are 14mm , i just used my old pipes because im a tight sod and they work fine with some bending but a lot of people rate dans pipes

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... onversions

scottybeemer wrote:spacers are 14mm , i just used my old pipes because im a tight sod and they work fine with some bending but a lot of people rate dans pipes

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... onversions

His set up looks sweet but would be no good to me with the m30 converson as the way his goes in behind with one of the pipes I simply wouldn't have the room.

And there's no way I'm paying £145 to the start and bend the mans handy work.

I have, ran into a hitch though. I have the rack fitted but the bottom knuckle of the linkage is catching part of the down pipe. I've been reading the Corsa C linkage option. Has any of yous done that mod? Does it cut down a lot in space?

It's now the only thing holding me up.

Corsa linkage still uses e30 knuckles so will still hit the down pipe which is my problem. Skinny knuckles would be good.

Sanchez wrote:Corsa linkage still uses e30 knuckles so will still hit the down pipe which is my problem. Skinny knuckles would be good.

You only have to change the top UJ to an E30 one. With a bit of file work on the splines the Corsa joint will fit on to the rack.

jmc330i wrote:

Sanchez wrote:Corsa linkage still uses e30 knuckles so will still hit the down pipe which is my problem. Skinny knuckles would be good.

You only have to change the top UJ to an E30 one. With a bit of file work on the splines the Corsa joint will fit on to the rack.

That’s what I've read. You use the e30 knuckle at the top attached to the column then file down the splines at the rack to get the corsa c fitment on at the bottom.

Black_Op_88 wrote:

scottybeemer wrote:spacers are 14mm , i just used my old pipes because im a tight sod and they work fine with some bending but a lot of people rate dans pipes

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... onversions

His set up looks sweet but would be no good to me with the m30 converson as the way his goes in behind with one of the pipes I simply wouldn't have the room.

i bent my pipes,they are rooted in front of the cross member

Black_Op_88 wrote:

jmc330i wrote:

Sanchez wrote:Corsa linkage still uses e30 knuckles so will still hit the down pipe which is my problem. Skinny knuckles would be good.

You only have to change the top UJ to an E30 one. With a bit of file work on the splines the Corsa joint will fit on to the rack.

That’s what I've read. You use the e30 knuckle at the top attached to the column then file down the splines at the rack to get the corsa c fitment on at the bottom.

Wiki says so but does it give a smaller knuckle so the Downpipe isn't hit?

Sanchez wrote:

Black_Op_88 wrote:

jmc330i wrote:
You only have to change the top UJ to an E30 one. With a bit of file work on the splines the Corsa joint will fit on to the rack.

That’s what I've read. You use the e30 knuckle at the top attached to the column then file down the splines at the rack to get the corsa c fitment on at the bottom.

Wiki says so but does it give a smaller knuckle so the Downpipe isn't hit?

I'll try and get a decent photo of mine tomorrow.

Please do. I'll be back at it tonight so any progress I'll report back.

I've a full scorpion system which causes the bottom knuckle to hit the downpipe. I can either dent the downpipe or find a smaller bottom knuckle.

Have thought about shaving the corners of the knuckle but don't want to weaken it.

You need to fit taller/stiffer engine mounts if your using standard exhausts, no amount of grinding/hammering will do any good.

Obviously the best solution is to re-route the direction of the front pipe

DanThe wrote:You need to fit taller/stiffer engine mounts if your using standard exhausts, no amount of grinding/hammering will do any good.

Obviously the best solution is to re-route the direction of the front pipe

I'm looking to fit an E46 rack, so I assume that the same issue applies.

Can you specify which engine mounts you mean? Based on the wiki I'm looking at E28 M5/535i rubber engine mounts.

jmc330i wrote:I'll try and get a decent photo of mine tomorrow.

You can see it here. The lower joint is swapped for the Corsa part. It is steel not ali and smaller.

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... ng_Linkage

There is probably a maximum of 5mm in it

DanThe wrote:There is probably a maximum of 5mm in it

Yes, that sounds about right. Definitely enough to stop the manifold catching on it in a fast turn.

Well after numerous efforts I was still unable to fit the rack. I think with my m30 conversion it’s just impossible without modifying the down pipes so the plan is to get that done and then try again. The z3 rack comes off at a more acute angle than the straighter angle of the e30 rack so that’s where the problem lies.

Has anyone else fitted a fast rack with an m30 conversion?

There's no reason why the rack shouldn't be moved sideways a little to gain more clearance. You will lose a little off maximum lock in one direction, and will need a lock stop on the other side to avoid tyres rubbing the body or suspension arms. The distance between the steering arms and the inner rack ball joints must be kept equal each side by adjusting the rod ends into the rods.

Brianmoooore wrote:There's no reason why the rack shouldn't be moved sideways a little to gain more clearance. You will lose a little off maximum lock in one direction, and will need a lock stop on the other side to avoid tyres rubbing the body or suspension arms. The distance between the steering arms and the inner rack ball joints must be kept equal each side by adjusting the rod ends into the rods.

Are you sure about this Brian?

The distance between the track rod end and the rack end will be differnt on each side.

I'd have thought that might have some strange effects on the steering?

Ben

Ends of the rack housing will be slightly different from the sides of the car on each side, but the total lengths of the track rods won't be. Straight ahead for the rack will now be what was once a slight turn to the left (or possibly right) - I've been at the red again and am in no condition to work out which.

Ok, I see what you mean.

So, a reduced turning circle.

But it will also move the rack ends slightly forward in the triangle.

Interesting idea.

Ben

The rack stays exactly where it is. The rack housing moves sideways.
In essence, unbolt the rack from the frame, clamp the road wheels straight ahead, turn the steering wheel slightly. This will move the rack housing sideways. Make new or modify mounts on frame, fix rack housing in new position, unbolt steering wheel and refix in straight ahead position.
Can't see any change in geometry, just reduced lock one way and excessive lock the other, which needs a lock stop.

Yep, I've pictured it now, thanks.

So just a reduced turning circle.

Ben

There's also no problem moving the bottom of the column, where it comes through the bulkhead, over a little either, if it helps. The top fixing will twist to suit, and it just requires a modified bottom fixing/ opening out of the hole in the bulkhead, plus adjustments to the pedals if you move it too far.