Syko's M30 E30

[Sykopaf]

I had problems keeping mine cool. I've got a new e28 535i radiator, with a 16" Kenlowe fan on, and also took the rubber seal out on the slam panel which lets heat out too. Not had any overheating issues since. I didn't want to lift my bonnet either, mine still looks like a 320i from the outside, still got the badge on the back too

Have you thought about wrapping the manifolds to keep underbonnet temps down? I'm going to be wrapping my 6 branch manifolds in the next couple of weeks for this reason.

I know it's an uprated rad, I think Doug said it was an Alpina one, but might think about moving or swapping that if all else fails.

£10 for heat wrap off fleabay, ordered! got to be worth a go at that price.

[Sykopaf]

It's just been through it's MOT - failed in spectacular fashion!

The failure list is about 15 items long, but thankfully it's not as bad as it sounds.

Mostly bulbs, previous owner kindly put left hand drive headlights for me which is nice!! Handbrake is useless which I knew about, emissions but only just over so my mate reckons a bit of injector cleaner and tinkering will sort that, and a couple of other bits. Mate reckons he can get it done though, hopefully I'm gonna be tearing through the Dales in it the weekend

[Speedtouch]

The existing headlamps can be converted to RHD; just loosen three screws on the back of each, and twist the knurled bit to the appropriate setting.

[Sykopaf]

Cheers for the headlight trick, I've passed it on.

****URGENT****

Need a fog light switch ASAP. It's the only thing that is going to hold up the MOT! We've been flat out to get the car ready for the Buttertubs event this coming weekend, would be a nightmare if we didn't make it because of a fog light switch!

[mcbonio]

Just take the fogs out.! If they're not equipped then it can't fail on it.

[Sykopaf]

Doug to the resuce again lol, he's gonna give me his out of his E30 for the test and I'll buy him a new one.

[Sykopaf]

Passed it's MOT!

Next jobs: needs a LSD and it needs a ARB for the back.

And what I really need before Sunday is an auto electrician to sort out the electric windows. When they went in for MOT they only worked with the doors open, which was fairly useless, now they don't work at all and it's bloody hot in there! But at least I know the motors are OK, so it's a duff connection or a fuse or something.

[mcbonio]

Did it pass emissions ok? Did you tell the MOT examiner it had an engine swap?

[Sykopaf]

Did it pass emissions ok? Did you tell the MOT examiner it had an engine swap?

First time through it failed on emissions amongst other things, after my mate ran some injector cleaner through it it seems to have been at an acceptable level.

I never even saw the examiner, just dropped it into my mates garage on Sunday with the explicit instructions of get it through it's test by the weekend! He probably told the examiner it had an engine swap but couldn't say for sure.

[zaust]

engine swap or not, it's an m30 so will have the same limits of around 220. you should be around 130 for a decent burn anyway.

And the test will go by the newer ie 89 car / 88 engine then 89 car and vise versa.

[Sykopaf]

Now that she's fully road legal, been out for a spin this morning.

Sun shining but the roads are all very damp from a night of rain. Wheels spin up in every gear and it wags it's tail like an excited puppy! Take a corner at anything resembling speed and the back end breaks out. It's a torque monster, awesome fun!!

[mcbonio]

Yeah when it's damp there is no traction at all.!

[Sykopaf]

Just done a couple of little jobs.

Some new BMW centre caps:


Straightened the wheel:


Couple of questions -

While topping up the coolant noticed a bit of custard like gunk in the expansion tank - what's the best way to flush it? That won't be helping the cooling at all.

Anyone know which are the wires for the window motors? I've had them out but can't see what goes where

[Speedtouch]

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/imag ... indows.pdf

[Sykopaf]

Cheers for the above, sadly it don't help me much, but I'm getting a sparky to sort it for me ;)

Jumped in the E30 tonight and just blew a tank of fuel driving for the pure pleasure of it. It's years since I've done that. Absolutely love that thing.

Took a few pics while I was out as well, just on the camera phone. The car is a total axe murderer so that's what I was going for in the pics...

[zaust]

Hope your comming to pod in september !!!.

[Speedtouch]

Cool looking pics - it's got the psycho touch about it, alright!

[Sykopaf]

Hope your comming to pod in september !!!.

Maybe, what happening at Pod in September? I'm always up for a bit of quarter mile action. Should be taking her up York Raceway next Sunday.

[Sykopaf]

Hope your comming to pod in september !!!.

Ignore last, checked the events section. The BMW show - yes, I'll be coming along and will be racing. The only question is if I have NOS or not! ;)

[Sykopaf]

Latest on the wee beast. Sunday/Monday flushed the cooling system, managed to get an airlock and had to drain it a second time and bleed it.



This morning my 8 ball knob arrived. Basically just an old 8 ball with a hole drilled in it! Matches my track helmet bob on

[Sykopaf]

Some video, took her for a spin to the next village and back:

[Divol]

Looking awesome mate, hopefully be joining you in the near future.
Really need to see this in the flesh, you coming up for Knockhill this year?
Skyline is currently for sale so as soon as it goes i will start hunting.
Doug you fancy doing another conversion for me??

[Sykopaf]

Looking awesome mate, hopefully be joining you in the near future.
Really need to see this in the flesh, you coming up for Knockhill this year?
Skyline is currently for sale so as soon as it goes i will start hunting.
Doug you fancy doing another conversion for me??

Might do mate, see how funds go. May have to sell one of the toys just to pay a few bills at this rate!

[Sykopaf]

Quick update:

I've been mostly enjoying chucking the car about since it's now running and road legal, but I've just invested in a few bits to get her where I want her to be:

Modified steering linkage from DanThe - arrived, mucho gracias
E34 UJ's for use with the above
Mishimoto E34 M3 aluminium radiator to sort the cooling out
3.64 LSD - a mates building one for me this week

I'll no doubt be calling on Doug to help with persuading it all to go on the car, then I should have a complete weapon ready for anything!

[Sykopaf]

Oh yeah, and in the process of losing some dead weight:

[zaust]

Looking good, keep it up. Can't wait for a shoot out.

[leeparkes]

Should be taking her up York Raceway next Sunday.

Did you go and how did you get on?

[Sykopaf]

Should be taking her up York Raceway next Sunday.

Did you go and how did you get on?

I did mate, but didn't do well.

It was heaving so only got 3 runs all day.
1st run started in 2nd gear and pretty much just sat on the start line spinning 1 wheel (bloody open diff!)

2nd run started in 3rd gear but was more wheel spin.

3rd run was 3rd gear and very very gently on the power so I crawled off the line. Took an age to get up to speed and I ran a mid 15.

I know it's got a much better time in it, maybe a mid 13, just need to put it's power down.

[mcbonio]

Yes as you've noticed the e30 with larger engines can't get the power down. Next step would be looking at an LSD and staggered wheel setup.

[Sykopaf]

Yea, a mates building me an LSD for next week. I may give up drag strip plans and just drift it, it goes sideways like a good un.

[zaust]

Change the diff ratio. I used to run a 64, pretty good for drifting and that's all. I'm on a 46 now so it's better but I feel a 25 would be perfect..

[leeparkes]

You pulled off in third? what diff was that with?

Im running a .64 and was running a .73, i always fire off in 1st but you dont need much revs.
I tried pulling off in second but was a bit of a fail, bogged down too much and had to wait a second for it to pick up.
Just learn how to control getting the power down in 1st, i ran a 14.5 with a standard M30 in a fully dressed facelift car weighing 1300KG.

I agree with Marc .64 is probably the limit, anything above makes 1st useless, i have a .38 cw/p ready and waiting to be built into a diff.

[Sykopaf]

It's the standard diff from the 318is, not sure of ratio but it's open so you put any power through it and it just spins one wheel while the other sits there doing sweet FA. Completely useless.

Like I say, got a .64 one coming soon, we'll see how it goes with that.

[leeparkes]

It will be a 4.1 ratio then, im suprised it survived, gareth on here blew one to bits wailing it of the line at santa pod, twisted all the guts of it.
.64 is a perfect diff for blating about.

[Sykopaf]

To be fair, as useless as that diff is it has stood up to some serious punishment. I'm sideways round any corner I can get away with and I do rolling burnouts every time I move off. It is whining a bit now but still has a bit of life in it!