Quick racks,Z3 conversion-now with pics! for 4 and 6 cyls

[Martinaston]

I used the original large pipe from the Z3 rack but it hits the sump so you need to grind the fixing down a bit and shorten the bolt as well and then for good measure grind half the top off the bolt head as well.
As the pipe turns forward towards the pump the angle is too acute and has clearance issues with the bulge in the side of the sump pan so has to be straightened out to run just in front of the engine mount.
The other smaller pipe is from an old pre-facelift steel rack from the E30 that needs to be straightened slightly around the pinion housing and then shortened and the banjo re-braised back onto the end (£10) which was a cheaper option than finding someone to make new pipes.


The 13mm spacers i had made (£15) and are placed under the rack because of the ground clearance issue with the pinion housing.
Not bad for a total cost of £115.

[schuey]

Good effort with the pipes,i eventually got some proper spacers before I sold the car,well worth £115 eh?

[Dan318-is]

Schuey you hero i don't no if you are still on the forum? But i just purchased a z3 1.9 rack as mine is seriously un well; pissing out fluid out of the end seals when its jacked up and when i steer.

Bump for simon and dodgem also!

[schuey]

Hi dan,still here,about to do the conversion to my 325i!!!
(dead easy on a 318is though)

[Dan318-is]

How come you switched to boat anchor six pot wrongness?

I paid £84.00 delivered for my rack which i thought was not bad; im going to try and use the original pipes like driftboy said as im useless with trying to find places to make me pipes etc.

Couple of queries; roughly how many spacers did you use on the rack; or is it just a case of you can tell by eye how many need to be inserted?

Did you ever find out why the z3 rack uses funny shaped track rods?

It will be the first time ive done anything with a bit of thought on my car; most the jobs are bolt on bolt off affairs like suspension and things that don't involve brains; do you think it can be done in a day (bearing in mind im use to working on my arse and back in the cold )

[schuey]

You could probably do it in a few hours if it all comes apart well and you re-use the old pipes,as for spacers(read big washers) I think I just put them in till it was tight as I didn't want to squeeze the subframe!

As for boat anchors ...........................

Its not a patch on the IS,faster in a straight line and sounds nicer but overall not as good.I sold the IS to fund a van and when it came to getting another e30 I went for the 325.

[Dan318-is]

Fair play mate!

got some spacers today and took the rack off, what a debacle! i had the two 15mm bolts and the track rods seperated from the hub in ten minutes; but the feed and return line, namely the bastard 17mm one by block had me stumped for hours. I got PAS fluid in the eye, racked two fingers, and stood on a nail and im now hopping about everywhere!

Anyhow, the old rack is off and it is completely fucked!:



The fluid was pisisng out the end seals and also from one of the small 12mm bolt connections on the rack itself; the subframe was a joke! All cleaned up and ready for the new one tomorrow though; i hope it does just bolt straight in then the only issue will be pipes!

Whats the story with this conversion on your six pot wrongen mate?

[schuey]

Not tried it yet,racks seem to be in short supply round here!! It looks to me like it will be easier since there is a load more room around the uj /manifold area.

[Kedge]

Going to get one of these ready for the weekend, engine is out so should be easier!

Is there anything that may get in the way though when i come to put the engine back in if i've done anything wrong with the pipes?

[Dan318-is]

Going to get one of these ready for the weekend, engine is out so should be easier!

Is there anything that may get in the way though when i come to put the engine back in if i've done anything wrong with the pipes?

Don't think so mate, the two feed bolts are different sizes!

[schuey]

will be a 10 min job with the engine out

[Kedge]

Sounds good then, just got to keep my patience with the pipes and all will be fine i think.

Dan; Has the rach turned up yet today pal?

[drifty325i]

Can you guys help me out? Was wondering if you could do me a favour if you have time.
I want a Z3 steering rack to put in my e30 while the v8s still out, they are bloody expensive here
and hard to find. Ive also posted this in the wanted parts section so i dont wreak this thread.

cheers

Riley

[mrgtsx]

this looks like an awesome conversion well done! i think i might give it a go since there is no engine in the car atm.

[Dan318-is]

Sounds good then, just got to keep my patience with the pipes and all will be fine i think.

Dan; Has the rach turned up yet today pal?

Nope! Was on the phone to them all tuesday and wednesday, and everytime they said it was being loaded and should be with me by five. I Kept my cool; this morning it still hadn't turned up so i rang back and they said that it hadn't been loaded and they didn't have one on the shelf like they thought and that they cant get me one until the middle of next week! So i told them were to go and am now carless

[drifty325i]

Please anyone

[schuey]

They are quite hard to get hold of over here at the minute drifty,I have a chapl looking though!

[oldroydsr4]

I need one to

[drifty325i]

They are quite hard to get hold of over here at the minute drifty,I have a chapl looking though!

Very hard to find, Not many peeps wreaking z3s here. Mate if you could have a wee look that would be awesome! cheers

Riley

[Kedge]

Still not got one, none of the breakers have got any anywhere. Almost considering buying a refurb one from ECP as i really want to do this while the engine is out.

[Dan318-is]

Mine should be here tuesday touch wood!

[nigel79]

nice to read how much do the z3 racks second hand normally sell for?

[drifty325i]

nice to read how much do the z3 racks second hand normally sell for?

good question

[Dan318-is]

I got mien for £90 delivered, some people have been quoting me upwards of £200 though!

[schuey]

I paid £100 for mine.... Same guy now wants £125 though

[Kedge]

I still aint found one yet

[Dan318-is]

Just got in from fitting it, yes literally just got in from the pissing rain! The scumbags that sold me mine did not give me any track rod ends! Thanks to that hero simon13 for saving my arse. The spacers were a swine to get in, and yes indeed you can only mount it on the front two holes due to the UJ from what iv seen. It looks to be clearing the manifold too

Regarding the pipes, which wont be in until tomorrow morning, i simply bolted them into the z3 rack while it was of the car and used my strength, which for those of you who have seen me will know is not much, to bend the pipes into shape; easy peasy!

Touch wood it should be up and running tomorrow

[Demlotcrew]

Good work dan the ducking hero man!

Lets have some pics

[Kedge]

Sweet mate, so the pipes weren't as bad as we expected then?

I'll just have to cross my finger the UJ clears the manifold, can't see why it won't fi no one else has had an issue.

Just got to find a bloody rack now

[Dan318-is]

Cheers andy! Had to go to simons in the end just didnt have the tools

im pretty sure that the normal PAS rack holes cant be used as the UJ does not go far back enough but this could be a stupid mistake; either way i will double check tomorrow and upload some when it is finished!

Kedge, the pipes are easy. I position the racks next to each other and took the pipes out of the car completely. I then bolted the pipes into the z3 rack using the original bolts and simply pulled them both back gently into place; Its easier than it sounds but hard to explain.

Pics tomorrow i hope guys!

[schuey]

Good effort bending the pipes saves loads of work.The front mounting holes are the way to go,the uj will clear the manifold no problem

[Dan318-is]

Will the rack (which has affected the UJ angle) affect steering or tyre were at all do you think?

At the moment for the returm i am simply using rubber hose which was been pathed under the upper sump and to the reservor. Im currently waiting on an m14 tap to try and save my PAS pump as a crossthreading issue in the dark meant that i cant get the bastard thing to stop leaking now! That should be sorted tomorrow.

At the moment my feed is bent across the front of the timing case (i have no viscous) and down to the pump but i will be replacing with a schuey style hose.

If i get it finished tomorrow and clean up (there is fluid everywhere!) i will actually upload some pics.

[Kedge]

Get some pics up of the current bodge as well please mate.

Have you been able to drive it yet?

[Dan318-is]

Only without PAS but its still wicked!

[Kedge]

Sweet, i'll try and give you a ring later and see how your getting on.