Lee Parkes' E30 Alpina B10.

[leeparkes]

Sounds like a plan

[leeparkes]

im not so sure now it will clear just by twisting the flange,
In the pic above showing the flange touching the knuckle the manifold is not bolted flush to the head, ie there's a 10mm gap at the top (should of took a pic) so with the mani flush to the head it will push that flange even closer to the knuckle.
Im going to cut the flange off and see where i go from there.

Have you done this gcs?

I know Charlie's done it, where is he

[ImysE30]

Lovely weather for it

That's one heavy duty hoist What ton is it?

[gcs325i]

im not so sure now it will clear just by twisting the flange,
In the pic above showing the flange touching the knuckle the manifold is not bolted flush to the head, ie there's a 10mm gap at the top (should of took a pic) so with the mani flush to the head it will push that flange even closer to the knuckle.
Im going to cut the flange off and see where i go from there.

Have you done this gcs?

I know Charlie's done it, where is he Squint

Ah, I see, I thought that was final position bolted to the head. I've not done it on an m30 with a e36 rack, but spent last week finishing my m50's manifold. I seem to remember on Jake's m30 that it was tight on a standard rack. Only problem with sleeving to the down pipe is going to been future clutch change or engine removal being a bit more of a pain.

[leeparkes]

Lovely weather for it

That's one heavy duty hoist What ton is it?

Fully extended arm it will lift 250kg, short arm it will lift mid 400kg. The guy i brought it off used it to carry machines around his factory ive lifted about 10 engines with it (5 were M30's) and its never faulted
Its a good un

[leeparkes]

im not so sure now it will clear just by twisting the flange,
In the pic above showing the flange touching the knuckle the manifold is not bolted flush to the head, ie there's a 10mm gap at the top (should of took a pic) so with the mani flush to the head it will push that flange even closer to the knuckle.
Im going to cut the flange off and see where i go from there.

Have you done this gcs?

I know Charlie's done it, where is he Squint

Ah, I see, I thought that was final position bolted to the head. I've not done it on an m30 with a e36 rack, but spent last week finishing my m50's manifold. I seem to remember on Jake's m30 that it was tight on a standard rack. Only problem with sleeving to the down pipe is going to been future clutch change or engine removal being a bit more of a pain.

iirc with a standard rack theres about 10mm clearance so i knew id have problems with the E36 rack but just not sure which is the best way to do it.
Im hoping i wont be pulling the engine back out for a long time.


But you never know

[ImysE30]

Looks good, thinking of getting one myself for when the engine work starts, would a 1 ton one work like this?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1-Ton-Folding-Eng ... 27b8cad65d

Better?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2-TONNE-FOLDING-H ... 3a5c1b9c70

[Cypriotgeeza]

Only problem with sleeving to the down pipe is going to been future clutch change or engine removal being a bit more of a pain.

I was thinking the same thing..but do you have any choice?

i take it you wouldnt want to go back to a standard E30 rack? lol

[leeparkes]

One ton is with the arm furthest back, need to know the rating fully extended.
Either way it will be plenty strong enough and a free load leveler too, these things are a god send

[leeparkes]

i take it you wouldnt want to go back to a standard E30 rack? lol

It has crossed my mind i need the E30 back on the road asap the compact is boring me to death

[charlE30]

I did exactly what your planning Lee, cut the flange off and weld in a sleeve. It gives room for my E46 rack and I'm guessing the E36 rack has a similiar angle for the spindle
I did give the pipe a pinch in a vice aswell just to give it more breathing room as I didn't want to feed it in to have to redo it all again.

My M30 downpipes go back to just past the gearbox mount so when removing/fitting I have to raise the car slightly to feed it through the engine bay. Not really a proplem considering it allowed me 3 turns lock to lock

It's looking really good mate, should be fun at the pod

[leeparkes]

Cheers for the info Charlie

Got to work with a handfull of pipes of various sizes and thickness



Cut the flange off the manifold



Then test fitted in the bay, it will clear but its close



Just got to work out which bit of pipe to use to connect the two up but it looks like this ones a winner



Its 50mm and its got a kink in it to help clear the linkage

[Cypriotgeeza]

Nice!

[ImysE30]

Fit ok? Top work again

[leeparkes]

Ive got a 5" piece made up to sleeve between the mani and downpipe, ill get pics tomorrow and yes it clears with plenty room (well about 10mm anyway )

Been getting loads done, its almost ready to fire up

[ImysE30]

Nice one, just imagine this with a turbo

[leeparkes]

just imagine this with a turbo

If i went down the fi route i wouldnt know where to stop, id end up with stupid power and probably kill myself in it

Anyway, here's the sleeve i got made



Made up ( i do need to shorten it a bit but you get the idea)



Fitted, i may put a 'dink' in the pipe to give a bit more clearance but im happy with it




Had a go at welding today, first time too

Welded the hangers onto the back box straps

Quick grind down and a lick of Hammerite and there sound





Nearly there

[ImysE30]

Thought about fitting one of Dan's linkages?

Nice work btw

[leeparkes]

Its alive

Havent really touched the conversion for a while as i had other issues, ie new inner arch on the passenger side but with that done i got cracking on it today

put some fresh oil in some charge in the battery double checked everything then the moment came...

Spun the engine over a few times with the fuel pump disabled to get the oil circulating then got it ready for the biggy.

After a few turns and i bit of coughing it fired into life (without the downpipes of course) what a noise these M30's sound monstrous, gave it a blip on the throttle and the car twisted like a yank

All thats left to do is get the system back on then its ready to roll, Cant wait!


Oh and ive got myself a strut brace, Racing Dynamics Ebay bargain Its got a ding in the middle but for what i paid for it i cant complain...

It only just fits with the M30 in the way, i had to bend the throttle cable loop for it to clear.








The cars been off the road 6 months, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel now....

[Rav335uk]

Well done Lee, now all that's left is to give the M52's a spanking at the Pod

[ImysE30]

Good day for M30's today, bring it on

[sheebie]

top work
you got a video without the manifolds on?

[leeparkes]

Well done Lee, now all that's left is to give the M52's a spanking at the Pod

I ran 14.5 last year im hoping for low 14's this year. If this engine was in a chromie id put money on it getting into 13's.

No video noclue as my camera's on its last legs as it is

Cheers lads

[shedrool83]

Top work as usual .

[leeparkes]

Cheers Jake, have you cooked that plastic engine yet?

Only joking

Well, nightmare....Ive been scraping my knuckles, my neck is killing and its been doing my head in lifting and dropping the car to get the manifold sorted,i even smashed my nose off the lollipop bush along with eyes full of grit....

Then it clicked, ive got an M30 out of the car What a nobhead


So much easier

Fitted the rear downpipe then built up the front one to fit snug, ive no issues with the linkage either as where it needed tweeking it made it go closer to the block

Just got to get it welded up now Im leaving the top sleeve loose and clamping that up just in case i need to remove it in the future.










I was in such a good mood i decided to get the straps loosely fitted on the back box ready to be fitted.

[shedrool83]

Its coming along nicely Lee.I'll need to get down to the pod this year if funds allow an see this in the metal.

I'm hoping to get a fresh mot on the m30 soon now i can get it in the garage and tackle the rear beam bushes.
I havent cook the m52 yet lol.Its drives totally different to the m30 and i like it a lot but i like the m30 a lot to.

Once the m30 is back on the road it will be tough deciding which one to take when i go out.
Not a bad choice to have tho.


Keep the updates coming bud and get your self a pair of eye protectors

[realboss7669]

Wow, what progress. I am finally getting somewhere with mine. Engine is now out of the e34 and wrapped up securely in the back garden next to the garage. Next job is to remove the old 3.5 engine from the e30 and flog it, then shoe horn the beast in. Before we do though it will be spruced up a bit and serviced. I will upload some pics on my thread soon.

Nice work mate, I like the fact that you are clearly thorough with your work. The engine bay looks brilliant. Bet the drive will be phenomenal.

[retroboyo]

Awsome thread, thank you for posting

[leeparkes]

Cheers lads

Only update really is i get my manifold back from the the welder tomorrow, ill give more info then.

And got myself some Eibach 40mm springs for the front, (the rest is H&R cup kit)

[charlE30]

Looking good Lee, quality work as usual. How long do you reckon before it's on the road? This is going to be a weapon

[leeparkes]

Cheers, fingers crossed it will be driveable tomorrow but its got to go for an MOT, it expired November last year when i took it off the road.

[leeparkes]

Here's the manifold welded up.



Straight line through to show how much its bent over



Mocked up on the engine, cant really see in the pic but ive now got about 20-25mm clearance with the linkage



Not sure now whether im working on it tomorrow as ive got to go and collect my new rims

[Cypriotgeeza]

new rims what you doing with the ones in your sig?

Also do you have the part number handy for the exhaust straps and how much you payed for them?

Just bought a scorpion for my iS and my straps are on their last legs

Also good progress as usual mate! Loving it!

[leeparkes]

Ill try and get you the part number for the straps but i dont think they will be any good, you need to measure round your back box and go from there, my back box is quite small compared to say a 325i one.

Here's the new rims but im really not sure about them. They are staggered Exip's 7j and a hefty 9j,
Rears have a 3 1/2" dish







So they may be for sale soon

[Cypriotgeeza]

nah id def stick with the BBS's mate! thanx for the strap info!