E30 Zone

Welcome to my track car refresh thread . After selling my super charger kit, the engine going pop and the clocks going back I decided to spend some time re-inventing my track car. As part of the super charger project I had fitted 4 pot brakes and 280mm discs to the front, 4.1 LSD, Cobra seat as well as other parts such as a plumb in fire extinguisher and battery kill switch and other track orientated parts. I was happy with it but there were a few improvements I wanted to make so I started with the small things and worked up.

My plan is to get out and get some running done, then build towards getting a race license and entering a few TTRS rounds when time allows


Firstly I moved the external extinguisher and battery pull cables from the plastic scuttle panel cover to a bracket I made from aluminium. The cables now loop around and go through a grommet in the bulkhead and are much easier to pull:




I made a new panel for the internal extinguisher pull cable and battery kill switch. I then made a planking plate for the radio slot and fitted a 12v socket to it so I can plug in a sat-nav, phone charger or tyre inflator. Next to this are my electric fan and a spare switch. There is space next to the 12v socket for a 52mm gauge if and when I decide to fit one:






I then fitted a quick release boss to make getting in and out easier and also means I can take the steering wheel off as a security measure. The quick release brought the steering wheel closer and higher so I lowered the column by around 10mm with some spacers and refitted the plastic cowling. Finally for this I got an aluminium hook which bolts to the cage to hang the steering wheel on.




Next was to fit a racing battery. I previously had a Halfords job mounted in the boot which meant running a long cable to the back and if I wanted to have it in the cabin I would have needed a sealed box for it to sit in. I bought a sealed Odyssey 25 battery and bolted it on the passenger side right at the back so I can still fit a passenger seat if needed. This moves some weight to the passenger side in the middle of the car (wheel base wise) and means the cable can be much shorter.




To save some weight I got a glass fibre boot lid and bonnet through a group buy on here with ABS motorsport. Total weight saving is something like 20kg which is a handy amount to get rid of. I have some Aerocatches which I will get fitted up this week.








Good old Christmas brought some Powerflex goodies in the form of roll bar and roll bar drop link bushes. I also bought some new shackles from BMW for the front and rear roll bars which were something like £10 with delivery, bargain. The drop links were looking pretty tired too so I ordered those and fitted the poly bushes to the front ones. The front ARB needed some attention so I took it off, cleaned it up and painted it in hammerite. I then built up the front ARB with the bushes, brackets and drop links ready to be refitted later on with my new suspension.








The to do list:
Rear ARB bush and drop link over haul
Aerocatches on bonnet and boot
Remove engine, gearbox and front sub frame
Remove dampers and springs
Paint front sub frame, reassemble with wishbones, bushes and ARB
Fit new suspension
Change fuel tank
Brake system overhaul (inspect lines, fit mid braided lines, clean calipers, new fluid)
Quick rack conversion

And plenty of other stuff too

Looking great!

Really good...
Can I ask where and how much the fglass bonnet and boot were?

SteMarsden wrote:Really good.
Can I ask where and how much the f/glass bonnet and boot were?

Timing is everything Ste

Good thread, look forward to seeing the 318is on track

Drop Tony ABS a message in their thread: http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... c&t=210244


I fitted the Aerotcatches to the boot today. Once I had them fitted I wrapped the boot in a red carbon effect vinyl. I'm sure a few people have read that and turned their noses up but the colour match is very good and it's very subtle. There are a few (Cough) air bubbles but I will go over it with a heat gun and knife at some point when I'm bored

Any way pics:










Dead happy with the results, got the bonnet to do next which I'm not looking forward to doing

Love it, Have you got rid of the spare wheel well? Not sure on how much weight it would save replacing it with Ali plate?

Wheel well is staying as I have optimistic visions of maybe having it on the road so a spare wheel might be handy.

I got the Aerocatches fitted to the bonnet today. Will be doing the vinyl on it in due course, have a proper squigy and anti-bubble fluid coming, still anticipate it to be a total pig though

Looking Good.

Can you add some pics of how you mounted the bonnet and boot lid as i need to sort the mountings for mine.

I'll swing by the workshop tomorrow evening and get some for you The only bit that need fabrication was the rear ones on the bonnet and I just used a bit of 50mm x 50mm x 2mm aluminium angle to mount the pins to.

What do you reckon its weighing in at now? What is the actual weight of an IS, can't see it being too high

Nice job! Will be getting stuck into mine in the next couple of weeks ready for the Feb-March track days

Thank you people for the kind comments

RobCallow wrote:Can you add some pics of how you mounted the bonnet and boot lid as i need to sort the mountings for mine.

Here's some pics for ya.

Rear bonnet pin and bracket on fuse box side (same for other side but this shows how tight it sits):




Front bonnet pin location:




Boot pin locations:




'Front' boot pin location:




'Rear' boot pin location:




Hope that helps The yellow stuff is from a paint marker I used to mark where the pins hit the panel to then mark up where the catch needed to go.

johnl320 wrote:What do you reckon its weighing in at now? What is the actual weight of an IS, can't see it being too high

I have no idea, won't be crazy light as I still have the heater and sunroof It'll safely be over a 1000kg. Once my new suspenion arrives I will get it on scales to sort the corner weights out and find out how much it weighs.

DanThe wrote:Nice job! Will be getting stuck into mine in the next couple of weeks ready for the Feb/March track days

If you do a day down my way give me a shout, very keen to see your beast in action (oo-er ).



Lastly, a shiney new set of wheels arrived today. Getting my Dunlop semi-slicks fitted to them tomorrow

Check out the roof skin group buy if you're looking at removing that pesky sunroof any time soon.

Great car btw!

I'm going to be a fairy and keep the sunroof for the time being as it's been quite handy on sunny track days to get some ventilation. However I will be contemplating removing it inplace of a nice light FG replacement.

Been doing mainly restro type stuff today really, nothing gripping. I fitted my new rear ARB drop links, Powerflex bushes and BMW brackets.

Old parts (the drop links didn't look too shagged but thought I'd change them any way):








The servo was looking a little tired too so I removed it along with the brake master cylinder and gave them some Hamerite love:








Also removed the last bit of sound proofing. Was pleasantly surprised to find no signs of rust what-so-ever which is a bit of a nice theme on this car




Lastly I chucked my new wheels on. They're 15inch x 7J, ET15 Team Dynamics 1.2's. With that offset, there's loads of clearance at the front for the 4 pots and will also stop any tyre rubbing issues with the coil overs when I get them. The extra breathing space for the brakes should allow them to keep cooler and not over heat too.

A friend came over and helped me wrap the bonnet. We were armed with some special stuff to stop it sticking where we didn't want it, a felt squeegee thing and a hair drier. When I looked at it I thought this wont be too bad but it was a total git. E30 bonnets curve in a lot of directions which played havock with it. Any way we got it wraped but there are a few creases c'est la vie at least it's red now, will look to improve it in the future:




I also bought an E46 '067' 3 turn steering rack too which arrived today. It arrived looking like something Time Team dug up and was covered in sh!te so I gave it a beggin' good clean and looks like new now. Will be ordering up some DanThe pipes and some track rods for it in due course.




The engine and gearbox will be coming out next with the suspension and front subframe off with it. I'll then be giving it all a mighty clean and spruce up before rebuilding and refitting it all.

Looking good Got one of those e46 racks to fit to my car too when I get round to it!

I have one in mine, although I don't bother with PAS, and can vouch for how much better it feels.

Scrub that - its an e36 rack.

I haven't had any problems though I'm pretty broad shouldered too. I've managed to catch any oversteery 'moments'. I'm having to drive it everyday at the moment too.

Bonnet n boot look great. You have swayed me to place an order /start the next group buy!

GeoffBob wrote:Looking good Rich You really have been busy

I have an 067 rack from an E46 on my car and can vouch for it.

If you ever plan to keep her as track only then losing the wheel well in favour of a bolted down piece of aluminium plate provides convenient access to the rear suspension, diff etc through the boot. But that's only my opinion.

Thanks

I've seen photo's of cars with the well removed and as you say, it free's up bags of room. However, I also have a 30L ATL fuel tank which sits in there rather nicely, if I ever get round to fitting it



I finished painting the servo and master cylinder got them refitted. I also gave the reservoir a rinse with some brake cleaner to clean out any crap that was in there. I’m sure as soon as I spill any fluid on them the paint will burn off in a flash but the thought was there




One of DanThe’s E46 rack conversion kits arrived so I can get the rack and all that stuff sorted when the sub frame comes off.




I also chased up my suspension this week and the rears arrived last Friday but the fronts didn't. Apparently the fronts will be turning up this Friday and I should be able to pick them up next Monday .

So the list:
Engine and gearbox out
Remove Front and rear suspension assemblies
Remove, clean and paint front sub frame and wishbones
Fit E46 steering rack, front ARB and wishbones to front sub frame
Refit sub frame assembly and suspension
Fit rear suspension
Replace fuel tank

Lots to do

nice thread, impressive car

Loads of mods FTW

Waxoil on those pipes will keep them shiny and stop them drying out BTW

Looking good, when do you think it will be ready for a trackday?

Erm, pass! Once I have ALL the bits it won't take me long to get it all put together it's just getting to that point!

All being well I should have those dampers off next week if you still want em'

looking good rix and good progress.

I run the TD 1.2s on my e30 track car with ET 15 and lots of clearance over the wilwood 4 pots.

am going for bigger discs (300mm) with the orange EBC pads I have the s50 up front so more weight to haul down.

Sounds good let me know what the Orange pads are like

Had a day off today so got to work on the car!

As mentioned previously the head gasket failed so I decided to remove it and give the engine bay a good clean up and inspection. It also gave me the chance to drop the front sub frame and suspension and do the same with them.











I gave the sub frame a clean and a quick coat of black paint along with the up with the Lemforder wishbones I fitted last year which had started to look a bit crap.






I then stripped the brakes off of the struts and gave them a clean ready to build them onto the new front suspension when it arrives which I am still waiting for

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Finally my MSA ARDS starter pack arrived I’ve got my medical tomorrow and then I’ve got to get the test booked up

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Nice work.

What sort of money do you guys think a properly sorted 2.5 race car is worth? It's got Gaz golds, Wilwoods, fiberglass panels poly windows, 888's etc. Also new MOT; tax.

Great Project!

May I ask do you hire a unit or is that a space you own?

Good luck with the ards rich!

Hoobs wrote:Nice work.

What sort of money do you guys think a properly sorted 2.5 race car is worth? It's got Gaz golds, Wilwoods, fiberglass panels; poly windows, 888's etc. Also new MOT & tax.

Just seen your for sale ad great car for the money for some one there.

crossie wrote:Great Project!

May I ask do you hire a unit or is that a space you own?

The unit belongs to a mate of mine who races sports cars at Castle Combe, I rent a bit of space off of him.

milescook wrote:Good luck with the ards rich!

Cheers I was going to be doing it this Friday but some work came up so I'm looking at doing it on the 4th of March

Today I built up and fitted the front sub frame with the steering rack and anti roll bar. The poly roll bar bushes proved to be a right mission to fit; a long bolt and some welding clamps helped no end. I then bolted the frame up with new bolts, washers and lots of copper grease. I bolted the rack in with the spacers on top, is this correct? It fits very nicely into the recess in the sub frame this way so assumed it was correct?






Once the frame was on I put the wishbones on and linked everything together. I’ve left the ARB drop links and ball joint through the sub frame lose to make fitting the uprights easier whenever they arrive. I also cleaned the arches and sprayed them black to tie it all together and make it look tidier.




The 4 point OMP harness I had fitted was out of date so I ordered up a TRS Magnum super light 6 point harness. The ”˜super light’ has aluminium adjusters and buckle which feel nicer to operate. I’ve got a sheet of steel and some nuts to make some mounting points for the eye bolts to screw into.

Nice straps
Rack spacers on top indeed

Yup spacers on top, can i ask why you didn't spec the AST's with strut mount ARB drop links?

If I'd asked for anything other than 'off the shelf' I shudder to think how much longer it would take It's not something I thought of to be honest. What are the advantages to having the ARB mounted to the strut as opposed to the wishbone?