conrod 1 Report post Posted October 20, 2005 I am in the process of gathering parts together to build myself an E30 tarmac rally/circuit car with E36 M3 3.2 motor and 6 speed box. I know I am certainly not the first to attempt this conversion, but possibly the first in NZ? Anyway, I have managed to round up the hard bits, I was lucky enough to buy a rolled M3 through Turners damaged vehicle auctions, and have robbed it of all the bits I need. I have also managed to get my hands on an M Roadster rear end, which is much like an E30, but with bigger outer C.V. joints, M3 brakes, beefed up trailing arms, LSD and of course that lovely finned alloy diff cover. Here is a pic of the most important part...... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
conrod 1 Report post Posted October 20, 2005 And it came with these lovely set of headers! Well, at a retail of over $8000 (really!) you would expect them to be a bit special.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
E30stz 0 Report post Posted October 20, 2005 (edited) I have an E30 you can put it into Edited October 20, 2005 by E30stz Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
conrod 1 Report post Posted October 20, 2005 You mean to sell? I'm still looking for a suitable "donor"- but it must be a goodie, a 2 door (of course) without sunroof, facelift, preferably white,and must be mint. Obviously not worried which model it is, as all of the running gear will be turfed out, but as the project is going to cost quite a bit to do I may as well start out with the best shell I can get my hands on. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
topless 13 Report post Posted October 20, 2005 I have just turned into a little green man.... :bowdown: :bowdown: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Andrew Report post Posted October 20, 2005 Has been done before in NZ - in fact one has done targa before. Will be very awesome - Did you used to own the white race e30 with m stripes? If so my roll cage is identical to yours - did you get yours done at Herberts? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
318is 0 Report post Posted October 20, 2005 That engine is just oozing sex. Those headders, why not get clones made from them? Onya man - look forward to more posts! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
conrod 1 Report post Posted October 20, 2005 (edited) Andrew, which car is the one you describe that has done Targa? The white 325 you describe is one I built for a friend about 4 years ago, and yes, Mark Herbert did the cage in that one for me. The headers would take a lot of work to copy, the primaries are one piece, possibly hydro-formed or sand formed, you could make them from mandrel bends, but would be a lot of work, and the flange plates are quite a piece of work, all individual castings in stainless. Edited October 20, 2005 by conrod Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dave 2 Report post Posted October 20, 2005 looks mint, keep us updated Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gus 5 Report post Posted October 20, 2005 cant believe no one has said it yet badass Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
conrod 1 Report post Posted October 20, 2005 Thanks for your kind words guys, I'll be sure to keep you updated as it makes progress. I expect the build time to be around 12 months, and there will be a lot of trick parts going into it, I'm really looking forward to this one.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bravo 35 Report post Posted October 20, 2005 I'm loving it. Dayum! Looking forward to updates.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Andrew Report post Posted October 20, 2005 Andrew, which car is the one you describe that has done Targa? The white 325 you describe is one I built for a friend about 4 years ago, and yes, Mark Herbert did the cage in that one for me. The headers would take a lot of work to copy, the primaries are one piece, possibly hydro-formed or sand formed, you could make them from mandrel bends, but would be a lot of work, and the flange plates are quite a piece of work, all individual castings in stainless. Unsure of the exact car - I just remember perhaps two years ago an e30 with an s50 did targa. Yeah Mark thought we were related - we share the same last name. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
conrod 1 Report post Posted October 20, 2005 Aha, I've just realised who you are!! You placed the ad for me on the BMWCC website a while back. Was the E30 that you speak of a Red M3 with BBS wheels? If so, it was one I did a lot of work on, a big AP brake package, and a lot of suspension work, as well as some other bits and pieces. It was powered by an M50 2.5 litre, and I had managed to find for the owner a low milage S50 and 5 speed out of an M Roadster, which I was going to fit. Unfortunately he changed his mind about this, and since then a crowd in the Sth Island attempted (rather unsuccessfully it seems) to build an alloy blocked S50, using the block from an M52, with the internals and head off an S50. After spending VAST amounts of money (I Know how much too) they gave up, and instead fitted an M54 3 litre, with a few mods, which apparently performs reasonably well. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Carl 3 Report post Posted October 20, 2005 Oh man what a couple of sweet car porn pictures - they just took my mind of my terrible hang over Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Andrew Report post Posted October 21, 2005 Aha, I've just realised who you are!! You placed the ad for me on the BMWCC website a while back. Was the E30 that you speak of a Red M3 with BBS wheels? If so, it was one I did a lot of work on, a big AP brake package, and a lot of suspension work, as well as some other bits and pieces. It was powered by an M50 2.5 litre, and I had managed to find for the owner a low milage S50 and 5 speed out of an M Roadster, which I was going to fit. Unfortunately he changed his mind about this, and since then a crowd in the Sth Island attempted (rather unsuccessfully it seems) to build an alloy blocked S50, using the block from an M52, with the internals and head off an S50. After spending VAST amounts of money (I Know how much too) they gave up, and instead fitted an M54 3 litre, with a few mods, which apparently performs reasonably well. That is the one - I only remember quick TV footage of it saying "M3 motor with blah blah".Look forward to seeing the result of this. P.S - the white car (your old one) was in Bavarian Motors getting prepped for targa a day ago - leaving it a bit close. Cambelt stickers etc etc. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alex 0 Report post Posted October 21, 2005 damn dude, thats mean. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
westy 614 Report post Posted October 21, 2005 (edited) Did you have it running before you pulled it? Low 40000kms wasnt it? Good to see those updates So a ally blocked m3 dosnt work? Edited October 21, 2005 by DirtySix Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BM WORLD 1286 Report post Posted October 21, 2005 ernst at baverian auto services use to service this M3 that the enegine came from . he siad it was mint and well serviced . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
E30-323ti 66 Report post Posted October 21, 2005 Sounds like you have plenty of $$$ to play with. Look forward to seeing a top notch result. Where did the M roadster backend come from?? Not NZ I presume??? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
conrod 1 Report post Posted October 21, 2005 (edited) I did manage to get it running before I pulled the engine out- couldn't find the keys so tried hotwiring it, that didn't work because of the EWS system. Gave up on that until I was pulling the seats out and found the keys had been thrown underneath! Anyway, at 48000 kms the engine sounded good as you would expect, luckily no engine damage whatsoever, radiator still mint, oil cooler a bit bent from tow truck operator hooking up to anti rollbar.... The car came into NZ as a left hooker from Japan with some frontal damage, it was repaired and converted to RHD about 4 years ago it turns out.It was only by chance I found this out, as the person I bought the roadster rear end off, upon seeing it recognized it, and said he had imported it about 2001! The was a service stamp from Bavarian in the service book, in fact, it was the ONLY stamp in the book in the entire life of the car! I think BMW continued with the cast iron block on the M3 (while all other E36 6 cylinders went ally) for a very good reason, I suspect they didn't feel the ally block was stiff enough for the job, and so stuck with cast cast iron for this reason. The E46 M3 continued as the only cast iron six, and I suspect they would have loved to have taken excess weight out if they could have by going to an ally block. I could be wrong on this, it is only my opinion here- anyone know different? Meanwhile, here is a pic of what NOT to do with your M3.............. :thumbsdown: Edited October 21, 2005 by conrod Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
conrod 1 Report post Posted October 21, 2005 And a pic of the Roadster rear diff... :thumb: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
conrod 1 Report post Posted October 21, 2005 And another shot of one of the rear trailing arms, very similar to an E30, but the casting around the wheel bearing is bigger to accomodate the larger outer CV joint, and the caliper mounting lugs further apart to fit the M3 brakes. As well, you can just see the cross brace at the front, welded on to give it a bit more strength, and the are a few additional gussets in various places to tie it all together better.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Andrew Report post Posted October 21, 2005 does that trailing arm bolt straight to the e30 subframe? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
conrod 1 Report post Posted October 21, 2005 (edited) Yes it does, the spacing and geometry is exactly the same as an E30. Halfshafts are the same length, same inner CV as a 325, outer CV is bigger than an E30(same size cage and balls as the inner) BMW have made this project easy for me! Edited October 21, 2005 by conrod Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
