E36 racks

[Turbo-Brown]

'Ello!

Am I right in thinking that a rack from any E36 car will fit the E30 and give me a neat and rear-end saving 3ish turns lock to lock?

Cheers!

Alex

[jmc330i]

Any E36 rack will fit. The regular E36 has 3.4 turns lock to lock and the E36 M3 has 3.2 turns.

The Z3 1.9 rack will also fit and I think it has 2.8 turns lock to lock, but I think less steering travel.

M3Compact can tell you more, he did a lot testing.

[M3Compact]

Z3 is the best one to use. (Highest gearing.)

There are issues about tubular exhaust manifolds/ coupling clearance.

Ian 332isport knows more about this.

[jmc330i]

There are issues about tubular exhaust manifolds/ coupling clearance.

Ian 332isport knows more about this.

I have the same problem as Ian had. Trying to get the S50 manifolds to fit is a right PITA.

So is it 100% that the 1.9 Z3 rack is the best to use as a quickrack? Am I right to say it has less travel than the E36 M3 or was that something different?

[Turbo-Brown]

Sweet!

Cheers guys

Shouldn't have any exhaust problems as I've gotta make my turbo manifolds miss everything anyway

Thanks again!

Alex

[hoshy]

any idea of issues with manifolds on m40 with a z3 rack?? I'm thinking about changing mine to.

[M3Compact]

So is it 100% that the 1.9 Z3 rack is the best to use as a quickrack? Am I right to say it has less travel than the E36 M3 or was that something different?

The 1.9 Z3 rack has the same travel as M3 rack, but only 2.8 turns instead of 3.2.

Standard E36 rack has 10% more travel and 3.4 turns. I think it's possible that the Z3 and M3 racks have a removable 'lock limiting tab' for clearance issues.

Unsure about 6 cylinder Z3 racks, but they're rumoured to have 'standard' gearing/speed, as per M3.

[jmc330i]

The 1.9 Z3 rack has the same travel as M3 rack, but only 2.8 turns instead of 3.2.

Nice. Will get hold of a Z3 rack when my 3.0ltr M3 rack gives up.