E30 with SR20DET

Discuss general engine, turbo and supercharger conversions in this section

Moderator: martauto

Post Reply
Bob_S
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Posts: 5412
Joined: Sat Jun 11, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: chester, cheshire

Thu Feb 12, 2009 9:19 am

come on theo stop twiddling your thumbs
Bollocks to this 24v scrap!
Theo
Old Skooler
Old Skooler
Posts: 10735
Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Kent

Wed Jun 10, 2009 11:05 pm

Oh dear. We have a problem.

Can't find anyone stupid enough to insure the car. Seems to be alot of anti-rice sentiment in the insurance industry.

Gay gay gay.
fuzzy
He who sleeps with "Gingers"
Posts: 14351
Joined: Sat Jun 04, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: melbourne Australia

Wed Jun 10, 2009 11:09 pm

i also had problems trying to get insurancequotes for my original idea of a twin turbo skyline engine in mine. even after much phoning around not 1 company would quote me. i had no problem with the cosworth option for some reason.
Theo
Old Skooler
Old Skooler
Posts: 10735
Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Kent

Wed Jun 10, 2009 11:20 pm

Interesting. I think the main problem is that I'm only 22.

It's annoying as I insured the car when it was a 3.5 for about £550 when I was 21. This engine is only 50bhp more ffs.
fuzzy
He who sleeps with "Gingers"
Posts: 14351
Joined: Sat Jun 04, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: melbourne Australia

Wed Jun 10, 2009 11:22 pm

youll definately have problems being 22. many seemed to be aimed at 30+ for such conversions.
Bob_S
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Posts: 5412
Joined: Sat Jun 11, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: chester, cheshire

Thu Jun 11, 2009 12:32 am

Theo325 wrote:Interesting. I think the main problem is that I'm only 22.

It's annoying as I insured the car when it was a 3.5 for about £550 when I was 21. This engine is only 50bhp more ffs.
Bloody conversion insurance.. :roll:
Bollocks to this 24v scrap!
Karan
Married to the E30 Zone
Married to the E30 Zone
Posts: 8004
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Cheshunt, Hertfordshire

Thu Jun 11, 2009 12:39 am

hmm get it done first then worry about it....

316i????
Bob_S
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Engaged to the E30 Zone
Posts: 5412
Joined: Sat Jun 11, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: chester, cheshire

Thu Jun 11, 2009 12:40 am

Karan wrote:hmm get it done first then worry about it....

316i????
That's my general theory :S
Bollocks to this 24v scrap!
Theo
Old Skooler
Old Skooler
Posts: 10735
Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Kent

Thu Jun 11, 2009 12:55 am

Waiting to hear back from the company which insured the 335, I'm not overly hopeful though.

Might get a Silvia now, or just move to London and give up on poxy cars!
winx
E30 Zone Camper
E30 Zone Camper
Posts: 1099
Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2008 11:00 pm
Location: almost certainly not working on my E30...

Thu Jun 11, 2009 1:12 am

sky insurance, jap crap specialists and did me a good deal on my 335i.
And let me know if you do decide to break :wink:
d6dph
Married to the E30 Zone
Married to the E30 Zone
Posts: 12435
Joined: Sun Aug 14, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Tiptree. Essex

Thu Jun 11, 2009 8:53 am

Another vote for Sky insurance here. Been with them for years with the E30.
Image
Theo
Old Skooler
Old Skooler
Posts: 10735
Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Kent

Thu Jun 11, 2009 11:10 am

Tried Sky, they couldn't help.
winx
E30 Zone Camper
E30 Zone Camper
Posts: 1099
Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2008 11:00 pm
Location: almost certainly not working on my E30...

Thu Jun 11, 2009 12:08 pm

best be swapping engines back then :mad: :P
Theo
Old Skooler
Old Skooler
Posts: 10735
Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Kent

Thu Jun 11, 2009 12:23 pm

I probably should have stuck with the anchor. The whole rocker snapping tendancy was quite annoying though!
Theo
Old Skooler
Old Skooler
Posts: 10735
Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Kent

Thu Jun 11, 2009 1:45 pm

The project has been given the green light, thanks to... er, Greenlight. They actually gave me two quotes, so they come highly recommended to anyone in the same position.

On a different note, has anyone got experience of using a pipe bender like this? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-16-TON-HYDRAU ... 7C294%3A50

I was thinking it could be good for making the intercooler pipes, and also some sections of the exhaust.
GeoffBob
Forced Induction Specialist
Posts: 1843
Joined: Tue Apr 28, 2009 11:00 pm

Thu Jun 11, 2009 2:43 pm

Yes, but more useful for building a roll-cage from 38mm or 42mm OD pipe. Mandrel bent pipe or preformed sections are preferable for any part of the induction or exhaust system. Hydraulic benders tend to squish down on the pipe as they bend, reducing the cross-section.

Nice choice of engine by the way, I'm a big fan of the SR20, and an even bigger fan of the RB26. Glad you got your insurance sorted.
User avatar
hoshy
E30 Zone Wiki Guru
E30 Zone Wiki Guru
Posts: 4118
Joined: Tue Jan 18, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Munich

Thu Jun 11, 2009 5:41 pm

Theo325 wrote:Oh dear. We have a problem.

Can't find anyone stupid enough to insure the car. Seems to be alot of anti-rice sentiment in the insurance industry.

Gay gay gay.
Brent Acre were fine for me with my dodgy history - that was for both the iS w/ charger and the M3.
E46 M3 CSL but dreaming of another E30.
stonesie
E30 Zone Addict
E30 Zone Addict
Posts: 3277
Joined: Sat Jan 07, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: Doncaster

Thu Jun 11, 2009 6:39 pm

Brentachre for me too, they base the quote on bhp so mine going up from 129 to about 200 (told them 210-220) added £100 for the year when i get round to fitting it.... All the suspension work didn't add a penny :)
fuzzy
He who sleeps with "Gingers"
Posts: 14351
Joined: Sat Jun 04, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: melbourne Australia

Thu Jun 11, 2009 6:42 pm

GeoffBob wrote:Yes, but more useful for building a roll-cage from 38mm or 42mm OD pipe. Mandrel bent pipe or preformed sections are preferable for any part of the induction or exhaust system. Hydraulic benders tend to squish down on the pipe as they bend, reducing the cross-section.

Nice choice of engine by the way, I'm a big fan of the SR20, and an even bigger fan of the RB26. Glad you got your insurance sorted.
cant it be used in a similar style as plumbers do on building sites? they fit a tightly coiled spring inside the pipe before bending to stop the creasing at the corners?
Theo
Old Skooler
Old Skooler
Posts: 10735
Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Kent

Thu Jun 11, 2009 7:35 pm

GeoffBob wrote:Yes, but more useful for building a roll-cage from 38mm or 42mm OD pipe. Mandrel bent pipe or preformed sections are preferable for any part of the induction or exhaust system. Hydraulic benders tend to squish down on the pipe as they bend, reducing the cross-section.

Nice choice of engine by the way, I'm a big fan of the SR20, and an even bigger fan of the RB26. Glad you got your insurance sorted.
Interesting, I'll hold fire on the pipe bender for now - they're lots of other jobs to be worrying about before that. Would the pipe be less prone to crushing if filled with sand and heated prior to bending?

A big power RB26 in an E30 would be amazing, you could probably pull wheelies! I wanted the SR20 for it's lightness and cheap power.

Target now is to have it finished by the end of August, ready for a Ring trip in September.
GeoffBob
Forced Induction Specialist
Posts: 1843
Joined: Tue Apr 28, 2009 11:00 pm

Fri Jun 12, 2009 9:47 am

Not entirely sure, but I would expect that fitting something inside the pipe or filling with sand will likely only help in the case of very thin walled pipe. The force required to bend a thicker pipe is large (hence the hydraulic aid) and I doubt any fitmemt or filler inside the pipe would put up much resistance.

These are still very useful tools to have around and certainly have their place in the workshop. Smaller hand operated versions are available in common (1/8", 1/4", 3/8", 1/2") sizes for bending up fuel and hydraulic pipes. These are very useful to have.
User avatar
ShakeyC
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 785
Joined: Sun Apr 29, 2007 11:00 pm

Fri Jun 12, 2009 7:05 pm

Using coiled spring inside is a good method if your NOT heating the pipe, if you are heating it up with a blowtorch the coil will stick to it inside :cry:

If heating the pipe with a blow torch tack a flat plate to one end fill it with sand and heat the hell out of the area where you wish to bend all round and it will bend very easily by slightest of touch (suggest using bbq tongs to save your fingers)

If its for a rollcage you must use seamless CDS tubing otherwise normal tubular steel will split open on impact, fold then cut parts of your body off like hot knife through butter.
n1tr0_9
E30 Zone Camper
E30 Zone Camper
Posts: 1083
Joined: Tue Aug 14, 2007 11:00 pm
Location: Kent (the shame)

Wed Jun 17, 2009 11:46 pm

Theo, my Dads boat has been shifted into the field, so let the welding fest begin!
Theo
Old Skooler
Old Skooler
Posts: 10735
Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Kent

Thu Jun 18, 2009 12:04 am

Excellent. Lets get it to yours as soon as the pug has a new gearbox. Oh, and my engine crane has a new seal :evil:
Karan
Married to the E30 Zone
Married to the E30 Zone
Posts: 8004
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Cheshunt, Hertfordshire

Thu Jun 25, 2009 12:10 am

let me know if you want to borrow mine...

not looking promising for me getting mine done by september :cry: dont know if finances will allow :cry: :cry: :cry: will defo come along though.
Theo
Old Skooler
Old Skooler
Posts: 10735
Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Kent

Thu Jun 25, 2009 12:57 am

Engine crane is now fixed and achieving a bigger erection than ever before.

I sincerely hope your datsun will be ready for September, if not come along in mine. Bring a tool kit.
n1tr0_9
E30 Zone Camper
E30 Zone Camper
Posts: 1083
Joined: Tue Aug 14, 2007 11:00 pm
Location: Kent (the shame)

Thu Jun 25, 2009 3:14 pm

And a trailer!
n1tr0_9
E30 Zone Camper
E30 Zone Camper
Posts: 1083
Joined: Tue Aug 14, 2007 11:00 pm
Location: Kent (the shame)

Thu Jul 09, 2009 7:59 pm

Theo - look, its you!

Theo
Old Skooler
Old Skooler
Posts: 10735
Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Kent

Thu Jul 09, 2009 8:09 pm

He really should be put down.
n1tr0_9
E30 Zone Camper
E30 Zone Camper
Posts: 1083
Joined: Tue Aug 14, 2007 11:00 pm
Location: Kent (the shame)

Thu Jul 09, 2009 8:11 pm

I think its time for an epic progress update
Theo
Old Skooler
Old Skooler
Posts: 10735
Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Kent

Thu Jul 09, 2009 8:13 pm

Good idea.




UPDATE - lot's of progress has been made.
DanThe
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 28644
Joined: Sat Sep 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Staffs
Contact:

Fri Jul 10, 2009 1:33 pm

n1tr0_9 wrote:Theo - look, its you!

Staines massive :)
E30BeemerLad
Married to the E30 Zone
Married to the E30 Zone
Posts: 16806
Joined: Mon Mar 28, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Norfolk

Fri Jul 10, 2009 6:26 pm

that's fooking hilarious! :D :D :D
Theo
Old Skooler
Old Skooler
Posts: 10735
Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Kent

Sat Jul 11, 2009 12:47 am

Here's a proper update then, after starting the projecct last summer I began to realise that doing the conversion was rather pointless with the shell in it's present rusty state. The thought of repairing all the rust scared me so I pretty much forgot about the project but for the occasional frivolous purchase.

Anyway, what with England enjoying it's first summer in three years I thought I'd pull my finger out and get on with things, with the assistance of my mate who actually has a knack of doing work rather than pottering around wasting time like I do.

Jobs done include;

relocation of fusebox inside car
fitting of adjustable pedal box
welding in rollcage load spreaders
welding in plates for eyebolt mounts
lowering steering column
fitting of Hartge bootspoiler
fitting of intercooler, oil cooler and radiator
modifying rear subframe to give adjustable camber & toe
replacing factory lifting squares with sheet metal
numerous rust repairs
removal of unnecessary wiring

New master cylinders
Image
Adjustable pedalbox
Image
Various heat exchanges
Image
Car pretty much as it looks now
Image

Still need to repair the rotten inner arches, underseal the car, paint the interior, cut holes for the intercooler pipes, finish off the throttle linkage and bracket etc, prep the car for paint, get it sprayed, get the exhaust and intercooler pipes fabricated, finish off the wiring, sort out the fuel system and brake lines, fit bonnet pins and cut holes to suit, make heatshield for exhaust downpipe, get custon PAS hoses made, get custom clutch hose made, get the oil cooler pipes tweaked, source a slimline electric fan, mount washer bottle and jets, hopefully fit a heated windscreen and bin the heater box, make up aluminium centre console for the various gauges, cornerweight and align car.....
bss325i
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 24536
Joined: Sat Jan 20, 2007 11:00 pm
Location: London/Surrey

Sat Jul 11, 2009 1:27 am

Aint this done yet?! :roll: :D

Look forward to a pax lap in this!
http://www.bmrperformance.co.uk

BMW and MINI specialist - Gatwick
Post Reply