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E46 M3 - Kumho Championship Race Car Build
So this is a somewhat belated build thread. Which is apt, because the build is also somewhat belated! When we are finished this will be the Track Tek / Braille Battery e46 M3 entry in the Kumho Championship.
This is my personal car but as Track Tek we have 15 years’ experience in building, supporting and racing various Japanese race cars, drift cars and turbo engines in various stages of tune before moving across to BMWs in the past couple of years. I’ve spent the past 6 years campaigning a heavily modified Nissan 200SX in the Nippon Challenge. Affectionately known as “The Hag” she has now been put out to pasture to make way for the e46. http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...663FEEA323.jpg So here’s where it started back in October last year: http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...8abfefdab9.jpg A completely standard 50,000 mile 2 owner e46 M3 with full BMW history, no accident damage, perfect boot floor and generally mint throughout. Seems like a bit of shame really…. Oh well on with the build :-) http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...57212660_n.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...age/photo5.jpg We will only be using top end, race proven products on the car. This does not make for a cheap build but it pays back dividends over the course of a season. With race weekends costing the best part of £2k, we’ve learned this lesson the painfully expensive hard way. So here’s some of the kit: http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...60807605_n.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...214408_n-1.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...68306565_n.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...72922705_n.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...14906936_n.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...49665998_n.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...43972788_n.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...13280774_n.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...73556817_n.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...11516758_n.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...85807638_n.jpg Motec M600 Motec PDM30 Motec CanBus Swtichpanel Custom Race Loom AIM MXL Pista Dash Logger AIM Smartycam More sensors than you shake a stick at Custom Cages FIA Cage + Track Tek Diff Mounts Alcon brakes Turner Motorsports Solid Bushes Mocal Diff Cooler and Pump GSR Airbox Drexler type Diff We are also working with a number of suppliers to bring some seriously trick suspension parts to the e46 for the first time. Watch this space… So firstly we stripped all underseal off the car. We did this the hard, manual way rather than dipping the shell. This allowed us to get up close and personal with the chassis so we could identify any cracks, issues or opportunities to make things lighter and/or stiffer. The Kumho rules are pretty strict when it comes to altering the chassis, so there’s a load of weight reduction that we’ve identified but sadly won’t be able to do on this occasion. http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...24326946_n.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...57660377_n.jpg It was then on to the seemingly endless task of seam welding every chassis join and junction, of which there are many on the e46! http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...74713782_n.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v..._1658788_n.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...ge/photo27.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...21870220_n.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...68522405_n.jpg Next up was the FIA Custom Cages cage. Just one or two bits and pieces to be getting on with here: http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...ge/photo25.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...94660457_n.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...39372336_n.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...ge/photo24.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...ge/photo23.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...02149179_n.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...ge/photo21.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...ge/photo26.jpg As we all know the e46 is somewhat structurally challenged around its hind quarters, which is why the FIA cage ties in to the rear floor. However, we identified an opportunity to create an even more robust solution and machined up our own diff mounts and welded the cage directly to them. Just take a look at the standard mounts vs the Track Tek mounts. Beefy. http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...ge/photo37.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...ge/photo38.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...ge/photo39.jpg Track Tek diff mount on the left, standard diff mount cut out of the floor on the right http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...ge/photo29.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...ge/photo41.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...20224937_n.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...ge/photo32.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...ge/photo34.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...ge/photo33.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...ge/photo35.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...d/Cage/pic.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...ge/photo36.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...71040711_n.jpg So with the cage finished it was off to paint. http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...17107672_n.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...33549864_n.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...ge/photo11.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...age/photo9.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...age/photo3.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...34947391_n.jpg |
And then it sat for a few months as the workshop filled up with customer cars, so we had to put the project on the back burner for a while.
http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...72589935_n.jpg As you can see from the pictures our new unit is still not quite yet finished but we've decided to crack on with this build instead of finishing the ceiling. Sensible choice I hope you agree :-) Updates to follow |
Nice.
Love a good build diary... |
THANX for sharing :beer: a MONSTER M3 in the making :supz: keep it coming :thumbs:
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So a bit of an update with trial fittings of various light weight panels today:
GTR bonnet http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...34657308_n.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...06562970_n.jpg Fibreglass Doors http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...04073346_n.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v..._8442878_n.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...rk/photo16.jpg Single skin CSL style boot http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...80932748_n.jpg Carbon roof http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...rk/photo15.jpg And light weight e36 type dash (makes for easier mounting of switch panel) http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...rk/photo17.jpg Not pictured but also going on are fibreglass front wings and CSL style front bumper with twin air scoops which we'll use for brake ducting. All the panels need quite a bit of work to get them properly aligned but we at least know where the issues are. Anyone know of anyone that does half decent (but cheap!) fibreglass rear bumpers? The standard rear bumper is outrageously heavy given that it's plastic. Job for tomorrow, get some pictures up of the suspension... |
Awesome build. Keep it coming.
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Very cool Build. Looking forward to updates.
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Thanks for the words of encouragement :-)
So we're now ready to start bolting bits to the car. However, before we could get started, Nick insisted that the suspension arms and various undercarriage bits had to be shot blasted and repainted. This is for no other reason than Nick is a tart and likes things to be all shiny. http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...18430313_n.jpg Next up was pressing bushes into the newly painted bits. For this we used Turner Motorsports solid or ball bearing bushes and standard BMW for the upper and lower trailing arms as they're ball bearing bushes as stock. http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...1abf07836a.jpg We also took the opportunity to replace the wheel bearings before refitting the hubs. http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...218efc0617.jpg So this is what the underside looked like a couple of days ago: http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...2dde49e265.jpg And now with the subframe, arms and rear coilovers fitted: http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...5276c4e85a.jpg You may notice that the nearside upper arm isn't nice and shiny. Sadly the painted arm had too much play in one the bearing housings so had to be binned. We'll get a another painted up but I'm itching to get this thing finished and tested so we're going to have to live with it for now. So onto the first of the new suspension parts we are developing for the e46. We have been working with Quantum Racing Suspension and Cornering Force for the past year to develop the QRS X Series range for the M3. These are 4 way adjustable recirculating shock absorbers that generate far greater damping forces than traditional mono-tube dampers. The design of the adjusters allows for far more accurate control of damping forces and Quantum have the expertise and flexibility to build shocks to a specified damping curve. They are also much lighter than the 3 way adjustable dampers we have used previously. http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...d99b3738ca.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...Quantum-14.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...Quantum-13.jpg |
So far we have the prototype set of rears on the car but the fronts will be a few months away. In the meantime, Quantum are making up a set of monotube dampers for the front end so we can get out and race this season. The X series will go on the front over the winter ready for the start of the 2015 season.
We will be using suspension potentiometers on all 4 corners linked in to the AIM datalogger*. So we'll be able to analyse compression and rebound speeds against a whole host of other parameters to help us fine tune damping and spring rates. By the end of some rather intense testing and calculations by people far cleverer than me, we should have a pretty decent base set up. Info on the X Series if you're interested: The X Series is a modern gas-pressurised recirculating shock absorber with in-line valve head permitting independent adjustment of high and low speed bump and rebound damping. The recirculating design passes oil around the outside of the shock absorber — as opposed to through the main piston as is the case with mono-tube shocks. In both bump and rebound, oil is compressed between the main piston and the valve head. The floating piston — separating the oil from the gas pressure charge — is behind the valve head and is never exposed to the high pressure on the ‘damping’ side. This means the shock can generate significantly greater damping forces than are possible with mono-tube shock absorbers — with significantly less gas pressure, too — as it is not necessary for the gas pressure to be greater than the peak operating pressure in order for the shock to function. What sets the X Series apart from similar designs is the unique method of adjustment. In place of the traditional needle-and-jet, the X Series employs a trademark drilled bleed adjuster. Every X Series low-speed bleed adjuster has exactly eight positions corresponding to eight drilled bleeds. At position one, one bleed is open. At position eight, all eight are open. Each bleed can only ever be open or closed — there is no in-between. Four different bleed adjusters are available, ranging from fine to coarse adjustment. The design offers a significant improvement in usability, with almost ‘digital’ operation and clear and precise adjustment; and because the eight positions are well defined, there is no need to ‘clock’ or ‘set’ the zero position. Where specified, high-speed damping adjustment is achieved by preloading four ball bearings against valve seats cut into ‘pistons’ inside the valve head — not to be confused with the piston on the end of the shaft. Each ball bearing has its own spring. There are no shims. Each high-speed adjuster has two full turns of adjustment affecting the ‘digressive’ part of the damping curve. Once the pressure behind the piston is sufficient to overcome the force applied by the springs, the adjuster ‘blows open’ and the rate at which damping force increases with velocity is significantly reduced. Exhaustive testing has proven the ball bearing design to be an effective and reliable method of achieving a digressive damping curve with a broad range of adjustment. The X Series will be available with two, three or four ways of adjustment. http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...Parts/bump.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...ts/rebound.jpg *Well we will have them plumbed into the AIM until Nathan from Race Data Systems finally wears me down and we buy a proper Motec logging setup :-) |
Found a few more cage pics just after it was painted, seemed rude not to post them...
http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...2114838E2C.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...B59299AF0C.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...4066F46C7F.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...76662BE38F.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...8068F2DC02.jpg |
proper and perfect work with details:thumbs:
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Martin, apart from an e36, I don't quite know what your car is but I like it! Any links you'd care to share?! :-)
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Wow! That's one amazing car Martin! Mad. Utterly, utterly mad. But amazing :-)
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Should have a proper update tomorrow but for now, here's some piccies of the passenger door shaped, fitted and working i.e. it fits in the hole! Shut lines look alright too for our first attempt at a fibreglass door, which is nice.
http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...16F860A1DE.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...961C7ABFD7.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...7205214922.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...534C0C5544.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...7A2F466E9C.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...94AFD4C658.jpg |
OK, first with the good news. We've managed to get all the arms bushed up and fitted
http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...517EAEB2DB.jpg Seriously impossible to fit these bushes without a hydraulic press! http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...E58DA4FE3D.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...4226AE02C2.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...04EF447E2B.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...87A65CD09A.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...2433CDC2AF.jpg |
So that was the good news.
The bad news is we bought a Butler Motorsport endurance engine off a reputable race team to reduce the build time on this project. This is only the second time we've bought an engine off someone, normally we build our own race engines, not least because we can but secondly because... ...the first time we bought an engine was a part built Nissan SR20DET with forged Tomei rods, CP Pistons and all sorts of other loveliness. We finished the build, mapped it up then watched as it ate head gaskets every time we took it out on track. "Why?" we thought "The parts are all genuine. The build is perfect. The machining is all good. Why the hell is it blowing head gaskets?!" Turns out the numpty we bought the engine off got his calculations wrong when removing the squish from the head. He'd mixed up mm cubed for cm cubed and specified the wrong pistons. Upshot was we were inadvertently running a 14:1 compression ratio turbo engine trying to push 1.2 bar. And we were the numpties for getting all over excited about expensive labels without checking the calculations. So lesson learned and never again, right? |
So to our "Butler Motorsport" endurance engine.
Now Terry at Butler has a cast iron reputation for building rock solid S54 race engines, he's also a thoroughly decent bloke. We've also known the race team that sold us the engine as they've been buying batteries off us for a number of years. So a Butler endurance engine running 288/280 Schricks, ARP bolts, tilton clutch, flywheel, all ancilliaries etc that "just needs dropping in after a precautionary refresh of the shells" for a not inconsiderable premium over a donor S54 engine? Well. It was going to cost us more than building our own but would cut a week off our build time (and frankly we needed all the help we could get to get this project back on track). So what could go wrong? Right? http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...4D8DC98FC4.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...F5CFB3DEDC.jpg |
So we pulled the sump off and started to have a nosey about the bottom end. Looks OK on first inspection, new chain, guides, ARP bolts all present, just as we'd been told.
http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...6F432FF19B.jpg Better give Terry a bell to check which shells he used to build up the bottom end. "Sorry guys, I didn't build that engine." OINK?! |
Oh dear. Best take a closer look at this then...
The oil came out looking fresh and clean but let's check the sump http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...FE16530960.jpg Pants. Hope none of that's steel... http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...FEFE461217.jpg Oh Joy. Big chunks of steel. Better get the rocker cover off http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...4F3AA10CDD.jpg Now there's some marking on the cams but hopefully that's it right? Let's check the plugs. http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...7506520DE8.jpg Oh look a stick. An actual stick! Yup. That's a stick wedged down there next to the spark plug. Can't get any worse can it? http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...81CB2F69B1.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...1E70343743.jpg Oh yes. It can. What is that inside the sealed rocker cover? Sand. Yup. Actual big ass bits of sand. So with a horrible sinking feeling we refit the rocker cover to protect it from any more heavy aggregate and start to strip the engine down. http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...2B521B983B.jpg Can't see it too well here but the valves are covered in a dusty white coating. Not really ideal from a engine longevity perspective... http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...212C091632.jpg I wonder what the water pump looks like? http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...B5FBE76240.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...6F9E49657E.jpg Sludgy orangey black stuff? That's a good sign, right?! Now I want to be 100% clear on this subject. We have spoken to Terry and this is NOT a Butler Motorsport engine. Terry has never had his hands inside this engine apart from fitting the ARP bolts before supplying it as a donor engine to a race team that wanted to build it themselves. Our jobs for tomorrow: - Taking the head off - Wincing - Prizing open the wallet for a full rebuild or worse - Taking advice - Having a conversation with the people that sold us this engine |
Love your posts :thumbs:
just goes to show how not to build an engine :banghead: That would not have lasted long does the people who sold you the engine race in the same races as you :whistle: |
Apologies for the delayed update. We've been getting the new unit finished and pointedly ignoring the stricken S54 sat in the corner.
After finally biting the bullet, we removed the head: http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...9567B39086.jpg And peered into the bores: http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...3725C48B1E.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...41122EE7E5.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...2A265B9662.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...98D3ED37F7.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...AC7FE55287.jpg So our recently refreshed "Butler Motorsport" engine has big chunks of steel in the sump, signs of piston slap, lean running and scored bores that at the very least need a hone and possibly a bore. It's off to the machine shop tomorrow for all the tolerances to be checked and the head and block to be crack and pressure tested. Once we've got the news back from the machine shop we will be opening discussion with the people that (mis)sold us this motor... and depending on the outcome of that conversation. Naming and shaming. Currently oh so very far from impressed. |
Well this past week has been something of a mixed bag. So starting with the less than happy news...
We stripped the engine down, sent oil samples from the sump, filter housing and head off for analysis and sent the big metal bits off to the machine shop. So we're we waiting with bated breath for the outcome of this in depth analysis? Well no, not really. On top of the bore scoring and chunks of metal in the sump and lumps of sand in the head, take a look at the state of the rest of this motor: A set of more than slightly second hand pistons and rods http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...ine/photo6.jpg On closer inspection, I'm thinking this is a slightly misaligned big end shell http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...ine/photo7.jpg A crank scored and pitted beyond repair http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...ne/photo15.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...ine/photo1.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...ine/photo2.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...ine/photo3.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...ine/photo4.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...ine/photo5.jpg And with moving pictures too! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gFKWsFSS20 Looking at the state of this follower, you may think this is bad, but fear not! The cam lobe has been worn to a handy 50 pence piece profile to match the wear pattern on the follower. http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...253EFA960A.jpg We have made initial contact with the people that sold us this "good working order" "Butler Motorsport” engine but they have become mysteriously difficult to contact since sending them these images and video. Still tomorrow's another day and we've made some half decent progress on the rest of the build... |
To happier news...
Despite all sorts of engine related shenanigans, we got round to sorting the back end of the car, starting with a set of cleaned up and repainted driveshafts http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...07011384B4.jpg A happy little diff installed http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...DE77A88CB5.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...F81BBEBFAA.jpg And a random close up of the front suspension http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...80E9D266FA.jpg |
That must be seriously annoying. Good luck with getting some compensation from the sellers...
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Certainly more than a little annoying but we've made some good progress towards a settlement today. Hopefully we'll have it resolved before the end of the weekend and we can get cracking on a replacement engine.
For today's update we're finishing up the back axle, which means fitting our diff cooler and pump. Out came the custom loom for a (very) quick and dirty lay out in the car to check where best to mount the diff pump. http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...D3EB0A1A1C.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...8EE0DA99A8.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...C1BF5FB4F4.jpg We also figured out where the rear firewall will be located. Next step is making up a template, then fabricating a firewall in carbon fibre. In the meantime it's on with fitting the diff cooler and pump. http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...0458235B72.jpg You may also notice a rogue driveshaft laying on the floor there. Turns out one of its universal joints is a bit graunchy so we'll fit another one next week. |
When you've finished this and got bored of it and cant sell it for decent money, can you PM me and ill have it, looks ace :smokin:
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Oh alright then, seeing as it's you :-)
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Jason, what pump are you using ?
Also, what are you doing to control it ? Any thermostat or it will just run all the time ? PS: I want to fit diff cooling too. |
Hey Alexk, we're using a Mocal diff pump and cooler. For control we're using the Motec PDM to turn the pump on and off based on a set temperature range. Amazing bit of kit the PDM, can't recommend it enough. However, complete over kill and utterly impractical in a road car.
Once we've got this set up sorted we were planning on putting it together as a kit including mountings for the pump and cooler. It should be pretty straight forward to add in a simple thermostatic control and wiring for a road car. Will happily look into control options and keep you posted on how we're getting on :-) |
Thanks for the update. Also bad luck about the engine - I hope they have sorted you out well and proper.
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E46 build
Fantastic thread jibber_monkey. I have only dabbled with modifying and your car is superb. The attention to detail on the chassis is epic. I hope your engine supplier compensates you.:thumbs:
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Orangey stuff looks like k seal or similar to me?
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Well it really has been a busy few months! Sadly the M3 has been sat in the corner of the workshop, looking on whilst customer cars get built.
http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...EDD368DF80.jpg However, we have settled the engine fiasco, part of which included a Motec CDL3. Good news on one hand, bit of a pain on the other as our rather expensive chassis loom was designed around the Aim MXL Pista and not the Motec CDL3. On balance though the CDL3 is the better option given it can send and receive signals from the other Motec boxes in the car. http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...73F57F3EB4.jpg So with that behind us we are now working flat out getting the car ready for the Autosport show on 8th and 9th Jan. So no pressure then... As with pretty much every e46 race car, we swapped the 6 box for the lighter, stronger 5 speed box from the e36 M3. The 5 speed box is c100mm shorter than the 6 speed, making it a little difficult hooking up the propshaft http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...37EF41A573.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...396293761B.jpg After measuring up we sent the prop off to be lengthened and balanced. http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...239088DDBA.jpg Prop back from the machine shop http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...BB5C1BE81B.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...14DB69C8A7.jpg Freshly installed! http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...C34E731C39.jpg More updates to follow including: prototype blade anti-roll bars, diff oil cooling system, fuel system, light weight body panels, more posh suspension and lots more :-) |
One of the original rear lower wishbones had excess wear in a bush housing so we sourced a second hand part. I was all for cracking on and getting it fitted but Nick insisted on rubbing it down, priming and painting it. Got to love the anal attention to detail on a part no one will see until I stuff the car into the gravel and put it on its roof!
http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...38775F621E.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...6DBB6CCB08.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...8436C5FEFC.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...EB104F0385.jpg I'm not sure if I mentioned it in earlier posts but we are converting the car from right to left hand drive. This was after discussions with our friends at AC Schnitzer in Germany who advised that the e46 M3 is much easier to corner weight in left hand drive due to the orientation of the engine (canted over to the offside of the car). So seeing as they've won more WTCC and DTM titles than we have, we thought it best to listen to them! http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...E296504615.jpg LHD and RHD wiper motors http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...812612DB09.jpg Drilling out left hand drive blanking plugs for said wiper motor http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...C463B29D8A.jpg All fitted http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...F95885BF84.jpg New left hand drive rack all the way from the USofA (much cheaper than buying in the UK) And that's all you need to swap from right to left hand drive. So much easier when you don't have an interior and you're running a pedal box and standalone engine management :) |
Mocal diff cooler and pump all fitted. Just waiting on diff fittings to turn up so we can get them plumbed in.
http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...6DF7A106EC.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...F280FB18B8.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...F436A2F671.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...EA0774C6D4.jpg |
The eagle eyed amongst you may have spotted the rear dampers have changed from purple to gold. We still plan on running the Quantum X Series dampers but Quantum have been flat out fulfilling orders for a number of one make series which means they haven't had time to programme our new front dampers into their machines. So when a complete set of 4 way adjustable Öhlins TTX came up for sale, it was rude not to buy them (Thanks Alexk!)...
http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...A65F1671AF.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...3CF9485149.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...09BA1A3C88.jpg We also test fitted the prototype blade anti-roll bars. Seem to fit OK but need to get the rest of the suspension up and together before we can be 100% sure no further adjustments are necessary http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...912897C7CF.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...5567BC86FB.jpg |
Onto the brakes. We first fitted wheel studs in place of the standard bolts.
http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...64C304FCD2.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...6AC34674B9.jpg And then moved onto the brakes. http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...9E838F3162.jpg We've had a lot of experience with various caliper types and manufacturers over the years and have come to the conclusion that for racing purposes only a monoblock caliper will do on a relatively heavy saloon car. We've also found Alcon to be the best for the money but unfortunately they do not sell a racing kit for the e46 M3. Whilst their road kit is a monoblock construction it has dust shields (which invariably melt on front calipers) and doesn't have a removable bridge, making pad swaps that little bit more painful on a car straight off the track. So we've used a set of racing calipers from an Evo kit and machined up the mounting brackets to fit. http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...7CC6A94F57.jpg http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/v...598FBB4B21.jpg |
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