I'm the New Guy

[325ix]

Nice db car. Welcome

[z31maniac]

Welcome aboard Tommy!

[TomSuddard]

A few more pics. Sorry I don't have more, I haven't done a proper photo shoot of it finished yet.

Ok, the car's story.

It came into my life about 3 years ago. A reader called, saying he had a rat E30 he wanted to get rid of. There weren't any takers at the office, so I (not so subtly) mentioned that I'd like the car. I was only 13, was already tired of my Triumph Spitfire, and had always dreamed of something fuel injected.

So, I figured out a way to get the car home, and wasn't exactly impressed when it got here. It barely ran and drove, albeit without brakes. The guy was serious when he said it was too rough to make a spec E30 out of. I worked on it over the summer, and by the end it was a perfectly reliable stock E30. I put a decklid and a door on it, and rattle canned a fender and a few other bits. The mechanicals were all fixed with junkyard parts. It stayed stock for about a year, because I wasn't old enough to drive it yet. It was the family beater, as I only had a little under a grand in it at that point. Mom drove it to work, dad left it at the airport, etc.

Then, when I turned 15 and got my permit, everything changed. We sold the Go-Kart, and began autoXing the E30. SCCA will let you run with only a learner's permit, as long as your dad is in the passenger seat.

After a few events, we quickly got bored. Compared to what we were used to (A kart and an M3) It was slow and wallow-y, like a barge. Dad told me I could do whatever I want to it, as long as I figure out a way to pay for the parts, and do the work myself.

So, with that in mind, and realizing I'd be driving 60 miles to school every day in it, we decided that STX was the class for us. As it sits, its got IE urethane bushings all around (M3 control arm bushings), urethane motor mounts, IE bars with the revised rear mounts, Koni Sports, Vogtland sport springs, and IE camber plates. While I was under there (and had the subframes out) I also replaced all the other, um, everything. New driveshaft, new gas tank, new CV joints/ axels, Guibo, tie rods, Power steering hoses, radiator hoses, wheel bearings, etc. That about wrapped it up for the suspension, for the engine, I went with a Miller MAF conversion w/chip, cold air intake, and exhaust. I also replaced the brake rotors, rebuilt the calipers, and added Carbotech pads. IE short shift kit, too. To top it off, the grey C1s with Kumho Ecsta XS tires.

Moving on to the interior...
I replaced the dash, pulled all the seats and cleaned the carpet, replaced the back seat with a better one, replaced the windshield, found some new sport seats on eBay, fixed the sunroof, replaced most of the seals, replaced the door cards, and added a good stereo.

Exterior
Buffed the hell out of the paint, blacked out some stuff, buffed some more, wetsanded, buffed more. The paint looks decent, but I think I'm getting a job at a body shop this summer to respray it. Added Hella lights, too.

With all of that done, I ended up with a great car. ~155whp on the dyno, handles much better than dad's E30M3, a great daily driver. And if you add it all up, I only have about 5k in the car.

Sorry for the really long writeup. Also sorry for the atrocious grammar, this was written hastily.

[Kershaw]

you really put in the time, nice job.

great sign placement on mazdas part in the above pic. haha.

[HarryPotter]

You're under 18?

If so you've shown more maturity than 3/4's of this site has put together.

[TomSuddard]

Yep, I just turned 16 a few months ago.

Thanks.

[HarryPotter]

jesus christ you must have a nice life.

[blunttech]

wanna play a game?

[HarryPotter]

wanna play a game?

For christ sakes he's only 16!!:crazy:

[Cong405]

Welcome and damn you!!!

[kamotors]

welcome, I love those wheels.

[2002maniac]

welcome! I worship all things GRM btw.

[Jean]

Welcome.

GRM / Bimmer and EVO are the only 3 car mags I keep buying....

[TomSuddard]

wanna play a game?

Kid, have you ever seen a grown man naked?

Do you like Gladiator movies, son?

NOTE: Not calling Blunt a kid. Just quotes from the movie Airplane.

[Farbin Kaiber]

If anyone asks if you wanna play a game, be prepared, and cover your butthole.

No, but seriously, you should be fine, and welcome aboard.

wanna play a game?

Told ya.

Also, don't call blunt a kid. He is a dangerous individual. I would suggest being careful around that one...


(Dude, I can already tell, we are SOOO keeping you around. Don't bother with e30tech, you are already free and clear of what 87.289% of the users there fear, the wrath of r3v. You have shown yourself to be well versed, not an idiot, and pretty humble. That goes a very long way around here.

There are some threads where people are getting torn a new one for some silly e34 m20 delusions of grandeur. There are others too. You will probably come across them in your browsing here.

Again, glad to have ya around.)

Stuff in parenthesis were written before you called blunt a kid...