m50 rack UJ problem+pics! Now with fritz bits exhaust video

[JF008]

m50b25 swap,

Is it possible to fit an e36 m3 rack? I have one available but there seem to be a clearance issue with the downpipes, the e30 rack fit well with minor mods to the linkage but I'm looking for a faster rack.

Any advice would be much appreciated,

cheers,

JF

[Duke137]

Go E46 rack. If you can the '067' rack as it is a quicker rack. E36 stuff is inferior to E46 and the M3 rack is bad news (lock limiters, it is not 'quicker')

As regards fitment, yest it will fit, You need the following bits:

1 x E46 Rack
1 set E30 inner and outer Tie rod assemblies (E46 tie rods don't fit)
2 x14mm Spacers to take up the slack at the mounting points
1 x DanThe steering linkage
2 x E34 UJ's
A set of DanThe E46-M50-E30 Zinc plated PAS pipes.

A well worthy swap, some would say one of the better mods for the E30.

PM DanThe on here, excellent quality items at a good price.

Almost forgot, you need your existing E30 UJ to split and mate with one of the E34 UJ's.

[JF008]

Thanks Duke, most helpful indeed mate

I sourced a standard e46 rack, now I need to find some UJ's !

[Duke137]

Thanks Duke, most helpful indeed mate

I sourced a standard e46 rack, now I need to find some UJ's !

Bit of a chore that as 1 x UJ per E34 vehicle, so you need 2 x breakers to fulfil your requirements

If you get desperate you can still buy them new but obviously main dealer parts carry the dreaded main dealer price tag !

[JF008]

thank baby jesus for ebay

[JF008]

Now that the rack is installed and the whole conversion is completed, I think that the 2nd from top UJ touches the manifold sometime when turning. I feel a little crunch, enough to make me wonder if it will lock and make me crash.

Here is the setup:



Is a new better shaped manifold the only way ? I haven't install any of it so if its not good feel free to let me know

[JF008]

Any advise appreciated!

[JF008]

Any slimmer uj's I could use?

[SlammedTouring]

Not sure about the size of splines but a mk1 or 2 escort group 4 UJ might be slimmer

http://www.burtonpower.com/parts-by-cat ... mp199.html

http://www.burtonpower.com/parts-by-cat ... mp200.html

Jack

[harvey_inc]

Have you tried car builder solutions
quite a few options in there catalloge or on line

[harvey_inc]

Have you tried car builder solutions
quite a few options in there catalloge or on line

[pianist]

Go E46 rack. If you can the '067' rack as it is a quicker rack. E36 stuff is inferior to E46 and the M3 rack is bad news (lock limiters, it is not 'quicker').

And I been told that e36 and e46 racks are same so I got e36 since it was cheap

Can't trust ppl these days

[Quaser]

so whats the difference between the e36 and e46 racks?

[Brianmoooore]

I think that the 2nd from top UJ

Does this mean the lower fork of the top UJ? If so, it's an easy job to move the steering column across a few mm where it comes through the bulkhead. It's just a clamp and plate fitted on the bottom of the column and a couple of studs through the bulkhead.

[fonk]

Ive used corsa c linkage , 1x e34 uj , tig welded pas pipes e39 and e36 combination, e46 rack with 14mm spacers cut out from e46 wishbone bushing, cut and weld mainfold that broth it 15mm closer to engine. Corsa linkage got smaller diameter so it might give you 2 -3mm more clerance from thd motor

[mattxr2]

how much clearance do you have from the manifold, the manifold should have been modified to give enough clearance with the setup you have. either that or the engine mounts have too much flex

i have a danthe steering linkage, e46 067 rack and an m52, mine doesnt catch at all, on eurocar parts e28 mounts also

[Jozi]

I'd do what Brian suggested and I'd also remove the UJ and round of the edges if it were me. Seems like the least hassle.

[tomislav]

If you are gonna round off the edges of the ujs thats fine (i did it) but you will also need rock solid engine mounts as the engine moves when cornering 'spiritedly' and can lock the steering mid turn, trust me, it happened to me, not nice.

2 vibratechnics mk1-2 escort mounts from rally design, sorted

[JF008]

Hi guys thanks for the replies, I got frustrated and bought the whole fritz bits e30-m50 system as the exhaust setup i have is not great to begin with.

The manifolds on the pic are cut welded bought from a zoner which had no problem with it. e28 m5 mounts, e46 regular rack and danthe package.

I thought about rounding up the edges of the uj but I did not know the steering column could shift a few mm!! Neither did my now very expensive mechanic! bastard.

If the fritz bits manifold cause a problem I will know what to do, it was developed for the e36-z3 rack I was told but the fritz man was confident

Thanks everyone for your inputs its much appreciated.

I will post updates when the system is installed, after xmas most probably as I'm in tar sand country for work at the moment.

JF

[JF008]

Have you tried car builder solutions
quite a few options in there catalloge or on line

OMG i did not know about this cheers buddy!!

[DanThe]

You wont have problems with the fritz M50 exhaust, its a quality piece

Make sure you get some pics up once its all fitted

[JF008]

I will tony : ) might make a youtube exhaust sound video as well as I found none

[JF008]

So the Fritz bits system is now installed, The manifolds sound good especially when on compression, fits good too and clears the e46 rack/linkage. The exhaust is boomy on idle and is glorious when doing a 0-60mph sprint!

I will have to buy a new and quieter one at some point, the bitz 'zaust could be hard to shift I expect as its unbranded and over sized. Its all good fun and I'm pleased with the manifolds.







I still need to round off the edges of the top UJ and it makes contact when cornering recklessly but ever so slightly tho, it use to rub hard with the old setup. 99 percent improvement! Hard to believe when you see how congested it is around the linkage compared to before.

As for hp gains I'm not sure, my car was dyno'd at 194 hp before remap, non vanos m50. Pretty good for a 120k miles engine. May have given 5-8 hp?

[SteSE]

Looks great man. How does it sound? And is the back box small enough to tuck up inside the standards rear valance?

[DanThe]

If I were you id keep the exhaust and swap the engine

They are really designed for larger cc engines, hence the oversize tube, must admit it sounds great on my car!

[JF008]

Looks great man. How does it sound? And is the back box small enough to tuck up inside the standards rear valance?

Yeah it fits under the valance and has straight twin tail pipes, sounds loud



Never mind the cut out I had the valance repaired and repainted but have no better pics at the moment.

[DanThe]

Ste the fritz fits a chromie perfectly!

Might be some more pics in my thread but this is all I can find at the moment



It does sound different on a 2.8 to my Alpina 3.2 donkey, a bit on the loud side yes, but nevertheless its a great piece of work and IMO a bargain exhaust

[SteSE]

oh yeah. Cheers guys

[JF008]

I will tony : ) might make a youtube exhaust sound video as well as I found none

[youtube][/youtube]

There it is.

[JF008]

I decided to sell the exhaust (I'm keeping the manifolds) as I find it too loud for my daily/family car, anyone interested that wants to come down to Eastbourne to hear it and a drive around is welcome. I will post an advert in the for sale section once the exhaust is off and proper pictures can be taken. Its 2 months old and cost £735 inc. VAT new. Will be available in about 2 weeks at a fair price.

[JF008]

I will be selling the exhaust on the 17th if anyone is interested.

[TheMeathead]

your in eastbourne? hmmm..
might have to come over and have a look,
sounds pretty epic to me

[JF008]

You can come by anytime, I live 2min. walk from the station if that is more convenient.