build E30 or E36? opinions :)

[Roysneon]

Why rhd?

Because JDM racecar.

[Wanganstyle]

I have a WBS E36M 4 door sedan body already; It is my preference over the coupe, prior owned a E36 WBS coupe and it was flexy in the middle over big expansion hits.

I also need a WBS body for strength, I cracked a prior WBS body @ strut top mountings front AND rear even with re-inforcement items; B roads are very rough here.

The sedan body is getting full gutted, seam welded for racing use, RHD is just another thing to check off :)

I Will dream of PTG M3 :P....someday just buy one.



I did RHD conversion on my scooby and DD'ed/tracked it for 3 years post :)

ABS will also be deleted, pedal config may go aftermarket :)

Why rhd?

Because JDM racecar.

Because I shift better with my left hand, steer better with right. Car wont be a street car so no issues with street affairs.

I used to track both RHD and LHD cars back to back. (2005-2008 or so)

[trackjunkie21]

Because I shift better with my left hand, steer better with right.

This is the stupidest thing I ever heard Oh and tell your friend about throttle modulation, that's how you stay out of the gravel. It's not an on/off switch.

[Wanganstyle]

This is the stupidest thing I ever heard Oh and tell your friend about throttle modulation, that's how you stay out of the gravel. It's not an on/off switch.

how much do you trackjunkie trackjunkie?>???



Pictured is Me driving; you can voice all comments to me directly:

***
have you ever ran Laguna seca?

In the short time I have ran laguna (only 7 years, probably only 12-15 days there) I have changed lines quite a few times on 7a/7b, and run a different line between RWD and AWD. Many friends have ran laguna for decades, Perhaps my line will change after I hit the decade or multi decade mark.

That line requires quite a bit of throttle modulation to pin down the landing clean........pretty famous AWD Laguna 7a/7b Line. Youtube " the pass" or "Zanardi + Laguna Seca". Zanardi obviously goes over the top as a shock pass, but it gives you an idea of how much room is not used there, and how a car with no travel at all can still maintain speed over a blind hill and gravel.

IMO the straightest fastest line is to avoid turning entirely and dive down the corkscrew if you can if you have the traction/travel.

For entry into 7A (corkscrew A) you can brake deep very wide and apex early to line the car up straight, avoid as much turning as possible; kiss the candy cane with left front tire on 7A, and then straddle the right berm with the car on 7B. dive Directly over the blind hill, pretend there IS NO CORK SCREW.

a car with 4-5' of travel and AWD can take this compression hit A-OK, loose no speed and hit tarmac with your foot about 65% into the throttle and then WOT to AWD gripforce the turn in line of 8/9 to the infield.

All grip is on outside tyres because you are turning, decending at same time, its a Clean line although the gravel may scare the little boys.


I think if you track alot and have actually ran your own AWD car at a track with similar elevation/technicality you would not have this sentiment.


***

Have you even driven your own RHD and LHD car on the same race track? Which do you prefer? If you were going all out which weapon would you pick?

I am not ambidextrous talented, you could be.

Europeans would know more of this this rhd/lhd issue, its personal preference. I have had both LHD and RHD cars at the same time stateside, both dd/track toys.

Do you play soccer? Would you think it rude if I wanted to take penalty kicks with only my right foot?

I am right handed, right footed, right eye'ed. all controls on right side of body make sense to me, Left hand can just Pavlov dog reaction to rpm sound + shift motion. Realistically if your shifting is on point you are just driving an automatic car with human SMG shifting function.

Disconnect left arm from brain entirely and let it function as needed; triggered by engine noise to shift.

If one plays violin/Guitar/trumpet or other musical instruments this would make perfect sense.

[Dean]

I hear you. My car was RHD as standard, I find it easier being right handed also. I also drive LHD drive cars, on both sides of road right and left. It is however easier in a performance car having the shifter on the right as per LHD. But its easier being on the right as most tracks in the UK are clockwise meaning going round to the right. With RHD its quicker turning to the right. It sounds silly to those reading but I understand. I recently drove a Mini Cooper S around the Nurburgring and it is easier and more fun using my BMW as its RHD as the majority of the track is clockwise. Only problem that road users, those who having RHD or LHD on the opposite side of road, driving in a normal scenario is overtaking on highway, other than that it makes no difference on road.

One thing you may notice driving a RHD BMW E36 is that you will sit slanted to pedals, and the RHD car sits higher on the right side (with standard suspension) for some reason but with coilovers you won't notice this at all.

Good luck

[HarryPotter]

:wgaf:

.

[accident]

87 325e 5mt 4dr all stock with 3.07 torsen LSD

wat. ETAs came with a 2.93, and no E30 came with a torsen.

[Wanganstyle]

wat. ETAs came with a 2.93, and no E30 came with a torsen.

Sorry, now it has a 3.15 1.5 way Kaaz LSD. This thread was Initially posted while Torsen was installed

My e30 has had 4 different rear end sets in it:

2.93 open
3.07 Torsen from z3 3.0 m54b30
2.93 2 way 60% high lock OEM LSD
3.15 1.5 way KAAZ LSD (Afternarket)

[robrez]

I don't understand why everyone is stepping up to get beat down in this thread Sounds like both builds will turn out nice and get used well.

[Wanganstyle]

I don't understand why everyone is stepping up to get beat down in this thread Sounds like both builds will turn out nice and get used well.

I quite appreciate the input, it made me want to build both.

I just can't handle Lsx motors in non Lsx body, just not my thing.

Love LSx though.

[trackjunkie21]

Very nice story, care to share it again? you completely avoided what I said. I was getting at your friend constantly ending up in the gravel with his lsx FD rx-7. Just because he has a torquier engine, doesn't justify him ending up in the ditch all the time. Maybe he should learn to drive.

[VinniE30]

hey guys-

I did a season of trackdays with s52 powered e36m, and eventually did a s54 into that car alpha N but it was not worth the expense/cost/effort - car was too heavy! even no AC, CF sunroof weight was about 2950lbs without driver.


S54 has weight a bit too far up, was pondering a 4 cylinder turbo in the e36 for that reason...

Is the S54 really that much heavier than the s50/s52/m52/etc? If heavier at all? How? The s54 is derived from the S5X, both same size, both iron block, both alu 24v head, close to the same displacement, etc. I'm not seeing where this extra weight is coming from. Internal parts made from different materials seems negligible difference, ITB's aren't that heavy.

[trackjunkie21]

Is the S54 really that much heavier than the s50/s52/m52/etc? If heavier at all? How? The s54 is derived from the S5X, both same size, both iron block, both alu 24v head, close to the same displacement, etc. I'm not seeing where this extra weight is coming from. Internal parts made from different materials seems negligible difference, ITB's aren't that heavy.

s54 is aluminum block

[VinniE30]

s54 is aluminum block

No it's not. It's an iron block.

[Wh33lhop]

s54 is aluminum block

You are wrong. Would possibly be more jizz worthy if it were, but like all M inline-6s it is iron.

Edit: ITBs, double vanos and extra intake plumbing likely contribute most of the extra weight. Remember though, while they have the same bore spacing, the euro S5x is very different to an M5x. I would not be surprised if the blocks differed quite a bit, and the head is a completely different design.