adz 50 Report post Posted February 2, 2015 Hey, So as previously mentioned in the intro page I'm building an E30 coupe rally car. Basically turning this... Into this... Some of you will notice what I based the livery off. The aim is to have a car that looks like a gravel spec M3, unfortunately without the $$$$$s14. Engine wise, I was hoping to get my hands on a S50b32, but might settle on going down the M52 route for a start so I can get the car running sooner. It will be running a 5 stud conversion with group4 escort bilstein coilovers in the rear, with hybrid group4 escort/E36 front coilovers. I have most off these bits, just a few little bits to finish them off. Brakes are from a R33 Gtst skyline, basically the biggest brakes I could get to fit inside a 15" rim, apart from going to APs etc. And today some M3 panels arrived... I'm going down the steel panel route due to gravel destroying fibreglass. Finding the bits will take awhile, but I'm set on doing it. The car is stripped right out, ready to go onto the rotisserie to start stripping the underseal off, and cage build. 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BMTHUG 1064 Report post Posted February 2, 2015 woohoo! looking forward to seeing the progress on this! good luck man! looks like its going to be fun Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BreakMyWindow 1878 Report post Posted February 2, 2015 Awesome! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adz 50 Report post Posted February 2, 2015 Threw a guard on to make me feel all warm and fuzzie!!! Thanks to Jonesey for helping me sort freight of these parts. Bit of a side note, the boot deck is a prodrive item, so kinda cool to have something from those guys on the car. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Apex 693 Report post Posted February 2, 2015 Subscribed. What events are you going to enter? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adz 50 Report post Posted February 2, 2015 Once it's running, we'll do some club gravel sprints, the eventually work our way up to the Catlins rally, Otago etc. then when I win lotto, Silver Fern haha 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nobimmer 694 Report post Posted February 2, 2015 Awesome dude Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eliongater 718 Report post Posted February 3, 2015 I take it you play Assetto Corsa? Should be an interesting project Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adz 50 Report post Posted February 3, 2015 No I don't, just managed to find a guy to put my livery into the game, you do? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eliongater 718 Report post Posted February 3, 2015 No I don't, just managed to find a guy to put my livery into the game, you do? Occasionally, but with varying skill and results depending on the settings... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adz 50 Report post Posted February 3, 2015 Eliongater was good enough to make some more shots of the livery, pretty good motivation. 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
E30 325i Rag-Top 2963 Report post Posted February 4, 2015 Good idea going with the steel panels, are you using genuine parts or have you managed to find some copies in steel? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adz 50 Report post Posted February 4, 2015 At the moment, I've got original parts, didn't realise you could get copies done in steel. I'd be open to copies if they are out there Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
E30 325i Rag-Top 2963 Report post Posted February 4, 2015 I have heard tales of copy steel panels, but never managed to find any for sale so might just be an Internet myth. Used panels come up now and again, but the quality can be a bit variable, especially those that have to be cut off, like the rears. With prices of M3 chassis going up faster than I can save, I am seriously looking into converting my existing race car to M3 spec, as most of the panels are still available from BMW or good quality fibre glass in some areas (appreciate this wouldn't work for you!). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adz 50 Report post Posted February 4, 2015 I haven't actually tried bmw for panels yet, might have to look into that. Yeah I really couldn't justify turning a real M3 into a rally car. I think they're a little to special for that. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adz 50 Report post Posted March 5, 2015 (edited) Still here, just slowly gathering parts here and there. Am in the process of designing/making a rotisserie so we can start stripping all the underseal off. Any tips here would be appreciated... Really looking forward to that job. Can anyone tell me what is the highest ratio you can get for a medium case diff? I'm pretty sure you can get a 4:27, just unsure from what, and if there are any higher ratios. Edited March 5, 2015 by adz Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
E30 325i Rag-Top 2963 Report post Posted March 7, 2015 You can get 4.45 diffs, may be small case, but possibly medium also. You can also get crown-wheel and pinnions insome crazy ratios - even upto 5. Something from BMW Motirsport, there was one up on TradeMe a while back. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adz 50 Report post Posted March 7, 2015 Yeah I saw that one on trademe, I'll try to find a 4.45 crown-wheel and pinion. I've got a lsd. That ratio should be perfect. Also picked this up yesterday, M52b28, problem is that it's attached to a whole car, so will have to flick some parts on and scrap it. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adz 50 Report post Posted March 29, 2016 So after a few changes at home, new kid, selling our house I finally got back into this project. Started pulling the engine apart for a look, it's pretty full of what looks like carbon build up. I'm not sure if I want to pull the vanos/cams etc apart to clean it all up. Anyone got any ideas to give this a tidy up? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ahmedsinc 414 Report post Posted March 30, 2016 How the hell did I not see this thread sooner?! Why not go to an M54B30? They don't like spending extended periods of time at high rpm but you start with an extra 29kW & 80Nm torque. Similar dollars these days for a longblock assembly but you will need to go for an aftermarket ECU or remap an M50/52 dme to suit. Plenty of solvents that will clean the grunge off your new donk, might pay to disassemble and check for wear on the cams - looks like that poor engine went for extended periods between services and was fed the wrong oil, pretty good chance the Vanos unit will be poked going by the looks of that. Cam lobes seem ok though, you might get lucky Thumbs up for going down the steel panel route! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jibs05 86 Report post Posted March 30, 2016 me likey Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adz 50 Report post Posted March 30, 2016 To be honest I don't know a hell of a lot about these engines, never even thought of the M54b30. Hopefully this one doesn't turn into a boat anchor! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ahmedsinc 414 Report post Posted March 30, 2016 They're pretty reliable little units as long as they haven't been overheated. The aluminium blocks tend to have the head bolts strip their threads if they've been overheated, and the Viton seals on the Vanos don't last forever but those are the only mechanical issues really. M52 is a great place to start for an E30 repower - all you need is the sump kit, correct engine arms, find someone to delete the EWS from the ecu and adapt the loom to marry up with the E30 connector. 24 valve swaps are VERY well documented so reliable answers are quite easy to find. Quite torquey given their relatively low displacement, free revving & parts can be gotten cheap if youre prepared to look around & be patient. Will be following this build with great interest Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adz 50 Report post Posted March 30, 2016 I've got the arms and sump kit, so shouldn't be too far away from getting it near the car, once I get my hands on a gearbox Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adz 50 Report post Posted April 4, 2016 Starting cleaning this blackened mess down, quite an interesting engine, I'm use to looking at Toyota 4age's. Got the cam trays out and soaked them in degreaser and got stuck in with a tooth brush, cleaned up the cams, pulled the head, apart from a little build up on the valves it all looks ok. What's the options for head gaskets? I see the cometic one on trademe, any other options? Cheers Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
