Rack change woes

Post Sat Jul 27, 2013 5:33 pm

fitted an e46 rack into my iS today. The steering linkage is causing major hassle. The lower uj fouls the manifold when the rack is in the correct rear mounting holes and is only about 5mm away with the rack in the front holes.

Anyone running an e46 rack in an m42? what did you do?

Also I've rebuilt the linkage without the guibo in order to shorten it. Does anyone know the correct size spacer in order to get the pinch bolt lining up with the grove in the upper steering column?

Thanks

Post Sat Jul 27, 2013 6:05 pm

Have a read through this

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... ng_Linkage

Post Sat Jul 27, 2013 6:10 pm

Will that give enough clearance for the rear mounting holes?

Post Sat Jul 27, 2013 6:17 pm

I dont know if it is short enough for that.

Mine is in the front holes to leave space for the power steering hose to run behind the rack.

Post Sat Jul 27, 2013 6:22 pm

Post Sat Jul 27, 2013 6:57 pm

Might have to go with the front holes then. I have my spacers above the rack though unlike your pic.

Post Sat Jul 27, 2013 7:04 pm

How much thinner is the corsa link uj? Can you fit it the other way up? Looks like there would be more clearance that way

Post Sat Jul 27, 2013 9:41 pm

So any m42 guys running e36/e46 racks on the rear mounting holes? if so how?

Post Sat Jul 27, 2013 9:44 pm

The spacers should always go above to keep the geometry the same

The corsa linkage is literally only 1 or 2mm smaller at the UJ, theres not much benefit if thats where the clearance issues are, your better off using slightly taller/firmer engine mounts, I think davem3 (the irish m42 meister) used an M5 mount on the drivers side

Post Sat Jul 27, 2013 9:48 pm

Im sure rix is using a standard/molested linkage and rack in the rear holes with his M42 - http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... sc&start=0

Post Sat Jul 27, 2013 9:58 pm

Yeah spacers are above Dan thanks for them and the pipes btw they fit a treat.

I'll have another go at it tomorrow. The ideal solution would be a taller engine mount driver side and shorter on the passenger side to effectively rotate the engine in the bay.

Post Sun Jul 28, 2013 6:19 pm

Had another play with this today ended up with about 5mm clearance between lower uj and manifold. It didn't catch on the test drive but is too close for comfort for my liking. I'm going to space the engine mount with a big washer.

this maybe a stupid question but can I just undo the nut holding the engine arm to the mount and jack the sump with a piece of wood then put the spacer washer between the mount and the arm?

Post Sun Jul 28, 2013 8:53 pm

Post Mon Jul 29, 2013 8:41 pm

when you do an e46 rack can you keep power steering ? I know that on e36 Z models you could. I also heard you can fit e46 Z racks as well but in the Z there is no peer steering. It is assisted by small electrical motors. Would the electrical motors still function when swapped into an e30?

Post Mon Jul 29, 2013 8:58 pm

Yep still power steering with an e46 rack. Just connect up to the existing system using custom hoses from danthe.