Dan's track day to race car progression thread

[DanThe]

It is a common mod, more common in the US though for obvious reasons. It will need mapping to get the best out of them and will be done in due course, I want to get a better air intake setup first too.
Should be about 250hp now really, ive done the M50 inlet remap and 7k rev limit already so will be better than the last time I had it out

Tech 2 GRP job fitted, pig of a job, especially as the bumper moulding was made to fit a prefacelift bruv spec cab no doubt
Chopped up bumper reinforcer with loads of holesaw action and a big tube of 'motorsport' construction adhesive to hold it all together







Bumper with the bonded in reinforcer weighs 6.5kg, the front valance I chopped out is nearly 6kg so its like front end minus the standard bumper

Will duct the vents to the brakes later and find something to bodge the LH hole up with

[rix313]

I've been planning to attack my front bumper re-inforcer with a hole saw. May I ask how you've gone about bolting the tow strap on?

[Demlotcrew]

250! Let's hope the lighter S14 can make up for the measly 235hp!

I cut out my lower valance too, the hartge facelift valance fits on nicely. Have you done your bumper mounts?

I had all four 'lightened' £44 - I need to buy a welder!

[DanThe]

The torque is also a similar figure

I welded a 12mm nut to the front of the bracket where the tow eye normally screws in for the tow strap, just needed a couple of washers to space it forward slightly.

I did the RH bumper mount today, only because I had to reposition it and do the tow strap mount. Will do the LH some other time maybe, it doesnt take much out of them, only a few hundred grams really

[Demlotcrew]

I bought one of these tow straps blindly and I actually cannot see the point of it, it's hard to fit and is relatively heavy (for what it is) so I'm not going to waste time trying to fit it. It's quite a silly device.

[DanThe]

Its not silly
Its less than half the weight of the standard tow eye, which you have to have fitted when on track, but the best feature for me is it doesnt batter your shins when you walk past it in the garage

[Demlotcrew]

It really does depend who the organiser of the track day is, I was on one at Silverstone yesterday and over half the cars didn't have any towing anchors on the front.

Any reduction of mass compared to the standard eye will be negated by the aero drag, there are way too many hard edges with the way you have it mounted now.

[Duke137]

It really does depend who the organiser of the track day is, I was on one at Silverstone yesterday and over half the cars didn't have any towing anchors on the front.

Any reduction of mass compared to the standard eye will be negated by the aero drag, there are way too many hard edges with the way you have it mounted now.

The E30 itself is a "hard edged" car lol

@ Dan - nice job as always mate, I love this car!

[Demlotcrew]

Yes this is true, but it's not as bad as you might imagine.

[DanThe]

Any reduction of mass compared to the standard eye will be negated by the aero drag, there are way too many hard edges with the way you have it mounted now.

I also have rear mudflaps, which must be worth 0.0037hp due to the drag? Christ, im worried the car will move at all once the Evo3 rear spoiler is fitted

Ive wound the suspension down about an inch this morning, and given the tech2 front its first scar reversing off the lift

[Demlotcrew]

If you are not that worried how its going to cost you in performance terms, why are you quoting weight reductions? Modern BMWs have an ali screw in towing eye, much lighter than what E30's were fitted with

What ride heights are you running, front/rear?

[Jimbob]

Cool car Dan, got any other pics of it?

[DanThe]

I thought others might be interested in the weight differences, it was questioned on the bonnet group buy thread so thought I could help

Its a 'play as you go' build, so im chopping/changing things as I see fit or when I get time/feel like it. If I wanted to build a super efficient and aerodynamic car I wouldnt be using an E30

Will get a pic of the ride height once its settled a bit

[Demlotcrew]

Oh ok, well to put things in to perspective, a home made single skin CF bonnet weighs only 2.9kg.

[DanThe]

When are you doing a roof skin?

[Demlotcrew]

There was a company making them, but they have gone bust.

Personally i would not re-skin the roof unless i had a full multi point welded in cage and the chassis was seam welded.

[ross_jsy]

ABS motorsport have started producing them:

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... c&t=213160

Was keen, but the more I think about it the more I'm put off the idea and the weight saving can't be that big in the end

[DanThe]

I did see that Ross but they are too expensive for me

Andrew, the ride height is two fingers at the front and nearly two fingers at the rear

[Demlotcrew]

Dude, can you measure from the bottom of the lip on the wheel to the top centre of the arch?

Front and rear?

[Kos]

One finger is better cause is tighter

[Demlotcrew]

One finger is better cause is tighter

Pencil dick

[DanThe]

I measured 585mm front (ground to arch)
And 575mm rear

[Kos]

One finger is better cause is tighter

Pencil dick

if its a kit kat no matter the girth its going to be like a spoon stirring a bucket

[DanThe]

1063kg with a full tank of fuel

[Dezzy]

Thats going to be fun mate

[DanThe]

It was great fun today mate, I thoroughly enjoyed the damp/drying track!

[Dezzy]

It was great fun today mate, I thoroughly enjoyed the damp/drying track!

Im sure it was mate, I sort of meant when its mapped to suit the cam's.

Did you notice the difference?

Get it in to Waine asap!

[DanThe]

Oh yeah, I did the 2.8/M50 inlet remap and 7k RPM and it revs much more smoothly, loads more power up top!

[Dezzy]

Pulls so well up to the limiter from 1.5k revs with them sticks in doesn't it? I can't wait to get mine mapped.

[DanThe]

New anti-flappage device fitted

[rix313]

I was looking at mine the other day thinking I might have to fit one in the middle. Got a spare one?

[DanThe]

I dont no, bought the pair between me and a mate who had the same problem, you will defo need one, it looked like it was going to lift off down the straights at oulton

[DanThe]

Finally got round to re-plumbing the cooling system to give more space for an airbox

I was going to use an S50 LHD coolant pipe to move the expansion tank over to the battery tray, but the fitting to water pump is different and the pipe is now over £85, so I made one with an old M52 pipe and some bent tube

Mocked up on an old engine -



Extra tab to steady the pipe at the back of the head -



And fitted to the car -



Its very tight at the back, good job I pulled the sound deadening pad out, otherwise it wouldnt have gone in with the engine in place.







Ive cut the heater inlet/outlet pipes back to keep the hoses up against the bulkhead -



Changed all hoses to silicone while I was on -





Clamping the heater hoses down was a PITA!





Now I have lots of room for an airbox
Will be making more alterations to the box as soon as I get time



Some pics for Jozi





Coolant and wash bottle moved back here to the battery tray with an E36 intensive wash bottle for the wipers

[Dezzy]

Nice work as usual matey.

[glenn]

cant believe i've not seen this thread before.
after having a lazy sunday morning stroll around the zone, i've just stumbled across
this thread.
excellent read dan, makes me want to go and get a track car now !