Cement
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Everything posted by Cement
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The worst one is the middle tube, you can see its also twisted where the flange is 😕 Otherwise they are probably 10-15mm out i guess ? Will install them into the car and see how it all looks as I hope for a Christmas miracle hah. Priority at the moment is to start on the other side's welding so I can use the remaining gas and get another bottle to complete things over the holidays. Should have my drive shaft back this week also which will allow me to start looking at the integrated transmission mount and driveshaft hoop etc.
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Yeeeaaauuuuuurrrp Here are the bank 2 headers finish welded apart from the flanges. Not sure how I am going to rectify the distortion caused by the welding just yet ... a real bummer and something the experienced header builder would expect. Should have build and welded one or two sections as I went. Still, they look good in a picture
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Still here ... still doing headers pretty much, will be half way through the finish welding tonight and completed the most difficult side of the engine. Did something fun today also and added the elusive 337 Ci boot badges Other pic shows what I've been doing to bridge some of the gap left in the donut sections ... those things have been such a nightmare 😕 Really could use some thin strip stainless ... could make some but yeeaaaa. Also had a hose fitting burst in the garage, super lucky is just blasted straight down from the roof and just splashed over everything.
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Got the heat shields glass bead blasted to give them a freshen up and applied some VHT high temp silver ... they look fairly good now and a lot cheaper than replacements Finish welded the first header tube ... got some distorsion issues to take care of unfortunately 😕 Will have to experiment a bit with the subsequent tubes to try and minimise, else all of the hard work making them accurate for the collectors is out the window. And some clearances to the engine and trans might also be compromised which would be a real ball ache.
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Ohhh look something that's not header related !! Got my fictional model badge ready to go on
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Got my AliExpress numbers ... they arrived super fast and much to my surprise, look great !!! The 318Ci are OEM ones from my car.
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A'hoy there ... good times ahead mocking and building the headers I'm on the home stretch fabricating mine also and have used a similar approach, just printed on 3D printer instead of purchased. I've got a build thread in the projects section with plenty of pics (really, i've been working on the damn things for MONTHS) and such of my process which may be helpful to you. The biggest PITA for mine was dealing with the 1D CLR donuts ... just not high quality pieces which means loads more time dicking around getting things to play nice. Looks like you're avoiding them which will make life easier for sure !! All in all its a good approach I think but quite time consuming as are most things that get a quality result.
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Looks great as always, shame you're having to sell it !! Forgot the M3 mirrors in the details ? Wish I could magic all of the interior and nice bits over to my car !! I'll hit your auction up and ask for the parts i want haha.
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Huzzah I've completed my scale model of the large colon !! The last tube will unfortunately need a tweak as I had to improvise a little when building it up (only one of the six) and its interfering with a bolt head from the starter motor 😕 It fits if I take the bolt out ... maybe i can weld the starter to the block I managed to crack the secret code of twists and turns needed to get them installed as well which is good news but a little nerve wracking !
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One tube to go now !!! Hell tube came up fairly well ... I decided to close up the gaps in the 'seamless' donuts where I had bend meeting bend and it gave a very pleasing joint. However, at some point you have to transition back to the straight tube and there is a substantial size mismatch 😕 REALLY wishing the donuts were perfect as it would reduce the fab time by nearly half I'd say. Will be a lot more work during the final welding also to diddle around with the gaps and oval vs round tube etc.
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Cousin cars !!!!! Great minds,
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Ok here is my full list and [ VQ E46 ] actually featured !! Think I still like THE337 as it is the standard plate format so will look subtle. The other cheeky option would be one of the JDM surrounds which coincidentally you can get with '337' on it as thats the JDM designation for engines over 2 litres. Complete with Japanese characters, that ought to get some folks triggered hah. THE337 TORU37 VQ E46 VEEQ46 SOMEVQ MOVQ4U VQINME IHASVQ MYVQ37 337C1 337BMW VQ4ME V6BMW VVEL
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You got it 337Ci ... I think its a nice touch of subtle that only those who know, will know. I want to get a plate also which will likewise look stock unless you're in the know. Just have to ensure I purchase before new registrations reach T hah.
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I've ordered some also from AliExpress .... the boot letters that is 🤣
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This may be a long shot but I'm trying to get a hold of some E46 style boot numbers (like 318 / 325 etc) and I need a 3 and a 7 Anyone have any ideas ? Maybe the 7 series of the same era had the same lettering and I can locate a 730 or some such ?
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Still stuck in header fab land ... now 4 out of 6 tubes assembled however. Onto the most complicated one of the lot, the dreaded cylinder 4 ... or as I call it 'hell tube' At least I have cut all of the segments on my day off today and can start assembly tomorrow. Will be 3D printing some 'helper jigs' tonight where I have bends that meet other bends at an angle etc.
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Thanks for the input @Sammo ... nothing is a direct fitment with my engine swap 😂 So will be manufacturing (likely in Australia) no matter what I do but just need to decide on the spec. I might go with the M3 sizing as a safe option and considering I'm no suspension guru !! Where did you get the ST gear from ? I was looking at that as its not that much more than Koni Yellow's plus springs ... does it feel like a good matchup with the M3 bar ?
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Thanks for the reply @M3AN ... rear will be unchanged for the time being as focus is on simply getting it out of the garage and mobile !! Its an open diff (3.38 ratio) from a 330 at present but will need some sort of LSD for sure so that will be addressed once mobile. Engine is a Nissan VQ37, call it 250kW give or take. Unsure on what suspension will end up in it ultimately but I'm happy to take recommendation on this also if there are known great combinations people go to for street use, good looks / height and ok capability at a track day once or twice a year say.
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Anybody have recommendations on front sway bar size / stiffness for an E46 ? Will be street duties primarily. This will be getting made custom for my engine swapped 318Ci so don't need specific brands etc, more interested in the spec / sizing for a performance orientated street car. Suspension is standard for now but will likely change to a good spring / shock combo with a slight lower in the future.
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I did mine at home by myself, can't recall specifics of what I did but don't remember it being a drama. I have this picture ... looks like i just wrestled the old one off with a hammer / punch or similar then popped the new one on with a socket or something Edit: Take note of the direction when taking the old one off ... they are not reversible.
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A milestone today, one side of the headers completely tacked up and ready for finish welding !! So much work ... can't wait until they are completely done. Onto some pics ... pretty self explanatory, the first is all of the pieces for the last tube on this side.
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Thanks @adro, just had a quick look at mine and as it was a 318 with cable throttle M43 it never had any cruise ... or any steering wheel controls for that matter so its just a plain 3 spoke wheel. Will investigate later what might take its place. Hopefully the airbag itself is the same just with a different cover etc 👍
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Very nice wheel, I would love one for me 318Ci !! Have not researched them as yet but are they hard to come by ? I have no control buttons currently and will need some shortly plus maybe the airbag is different so not sure how that works.
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Finally completed my little benchtop power supply project !! Will be using this to power the spare gauge cluster I'm using for Arduino development. Its based on a spare ATX PC power supply I had ... a pretty useful up-cycling project !!
