18x10 in the rear! Who said it can't be done!?

[mpowerjon]

Holy fucking rake, Batman!

I'm curious, how truly functional is the wing? I only ask because it looks bad to me, but OBVIOUSLY this car was built with function FAR over form.

The wing is actually very functional. Just like the one on my car, they look like rice crap, which they are, making them cheap, but they really add noticable DF. Especially on the light a$$ed E30.

Jon

[E30-323ti]

Bavarian3:

I'd like to see some pics of what mods you have done to the wheel well on the front (where the footwell is)

And, Are you using the Mcoupe front suspension also??

Wheel well mods? Huh? Negative. I opened up the fender at the last few inches to allow really tight turns, but no changes to the footwell. the cage foot protection goes there anyway, and you don't want it any closer to the driver.

Mcoupe front suspension? Negative. It's my regular 5 Lug kit, BBK, and coilovers.

Jon

Right...

So you are telling me, in this pic here (see below), when the wheel is cranked around, the tyre doesn't touch the wheel well!! Or the chassis rail!! At all!!!

I have E36 front spindals, koni coilovers, +96 M3 CA's & E30 M3 CAB's with 245/40's on 17x8's and it touches the wheel well!!! And the chassis rail (at full lock)!!
I have spoken to you before about your solid CAB's and you told me they give the same geometry as E30 M3 offset CAB's, so my setup should be nothing different to your "regular 5lug kit"


Maybe I should have been a little less specific, E36 M3/Mcoupe/Mroadster front spindals & any old E36 shock with coilovers, cause that ain't no BBK, just "M" parts!!
(I guess it is a BBK in terms of OEM E30 Shite :))

Don't get me wrong here, I'm not dissing your work, I just think if you have done something tricky, let us know.

Thanks

[Bryson]

yea, I have to agree with the misinformation being spread about the CABs.. you've said that they solve the 5 lug conversion problems, but when people ask you about them, you say that's they're e30M3 geometry.. do you sell two versions or something?

[mpowerjon]

Jon Said: I opened up the fender at the last few inches to allow really tight turns, but no changes to the footwell.

e30-323ti Said: Don't get me wrong here, I'm not dissing your work, I just think if you have done something tricky, let us know.

Bryson Said: yea, I have to agree with the misinformation being spread about the CABs.. you've said that they solve the 5 lug conversion problems, but when people ask you about them, you say that's they're e30M3 geometry.. do you sell two versions or something?

That's just it. I'm not doing anything "tricky", but for some reason many other people have had trouble with this swap. The E30 M3 geometry CAB DOES help/fix wheel position. It moves the wheel forward slightly. The Eyeball arms have this offset, BUT NOT ONLY FOR THIS REASON. I have actually started making some custom mounts for people who want to move it forward more. I can't see how anyone would need it, but that's what some people report. As you can read above E30-323ti, i told you i opened up the fender at the door edge for tight turns. The 285's are quite wide!

I've said it before, I'll say it again: there's a zillion different configurations of parts to accomplish this 5 lug swap. I ONLY DO IT 1 WAY. that's it. I don't install parts configs for complicated packages that *may* work. You can see it here plainly in this thread, I put the 18x10's front and rear with 285/30/18's. It was a challenge, but I used my normal kit and rolled the fenders for hours.

Remember all; Treehouse Racing is not a parts warehouse. We're not a "race shop" without a shop. We have 8,000 sq feet of shop where we work on these cars everyday AND we sell parts. It brings new meaning to "We install what we sell". I'm not bragging or dissing anyone here at all. But there is a pretty big difference. Many people forget about this as they buy something from some of the larger online vendors.... some of them DO NOT EVEN HAVE A LIFT. And that's fine, they sell parts. But when a tech from an online vendor says something online, you need to think about where that info is coming from. If it comes from me, then you're getting real info. I do this everyday not just selling parts, but also hands on customer cars doing the work over and over again. We build street cars and race cars. We do regular maintenance on BMW's. I see quite a few cars come through the shop AND take them apart and reassemble them.

All that to say: I'm not a 1 time DIYer that heard from a friend that you can put a 5 lug suspension on an E30. I didn't just read about it on the internet. I install these kits. I designed the Eyeball Arm parts to accomplish certain functions and address problems. We didn't just whip some out on the CNC and tell everyone they will stroke you if you install them correctly.

It's frustrating reading posts on boards like this because people post recklessly sometimes "asking" for info or "questioning" or whatever. Most posts are read and considered equally, when in reality they should not. People who are genuinely interested in a product will seek it out. They will not poke on the net and wait to see if they get a satisfactory answer. They will contact the person privately and directly. They will call. or they may even show up at the door.

Anyway, I don't know about the problems people have with their 5 lug swaps because I can't put their cars on the lift and look at them. Apparently people heve a problem with the wheel being too far back in the wheel well. I'm sorry for these folks, especially because I can't solve a problem I can't determine. The kit I put together has worked quite well and does not have these problems. I don't exactly know why yet. There's just too many different configs possible. This is why I don't change my kit at all. I know it works and you've all seen pictures of it working.

Maybe this will help clarify any "misinformation"

Gotta get back to work.

Jon

[Charlie]

[


It's frustrating reading posts on boards like this because people post recklessly sometimes "asking" for info or "questioning" or whatever. Most posts are read and considered equally, when in reality they should not. People who are genuinely interested in a product will seek it out. They will not poke on the net and wait to see if they get a satisfactory answer. They will contact the person privately and directly. They will call. or they may even show up at the door.

I think you over-estimate the current generation of e30 owners. They want it cheap, they want it half-assed, and they want it explained for free on the internet in 300 words or less. These kids will do anything they can to make some junkyard part fit, rather than pay a little more for the proper equipment, and then bitch that the aftermarket support for e30's is drying up.

That being said, great post.

-Charlie

[trent]

[It's frustrating reading posts on boards like this because people post recklessly sometimes "asking" for info or "questioning" or whatever. Most posts are read and considered equally, when in reality they should not. People who are genuinely interested in a product will seek it out. They will not poke on the net and wait to see if they get a satisfactory answer. They will contact the person privately and directly. They will call. or they may even show up at the door.

I think you over-estimate the current generation of e30 owners. They want it cheap, they want it half-assed, and they want it explained for free on the internet in 300 words or less. These kids will do anything they can to make some junkyard part fit, rather than pay a little more for the proper equipment, and then bitch that the aftermarket support for e30's is drying up.

That being said, great post.

-Charlie

I am going to have to agree with Charlie. Great post. Jon, you are 100% correct.

[mpowerjon]

I think you over-estimate the current generation of e30 owners. They want it cheap, they want it half-assed, and they want it explained for free on the internet in 300 words or less. These kids will do anything they can to make some junkyard part fit, rather than pay a little more for the proper equipment, and then bitch that the aftermarket support for e30's is drying up.

That being said, great post.

-Charlie

LOL. Thanks Charlie.

Jon

[qimis]

[


It's frustrating reading posts on boards like this because people post recklessly sometimes "asking" for info or "questioning" or whatever. Most posts are read and considered equally, when in reality they should not. People who are genuinely interested in a product will seek it out. They will not poke on the net and wait to see if they get a satisfactory answer. They will contact the person privately and directly. They will call. or they may even show up at the door.

I think you over-estimate the current generation of e30 owners. They want it cheap, they want it half-assed, and they want it explained for free on the internet in 300 words or less. These kids will do anything they can to make some junkyard part fit, rather than pay a little more for the proper equipment, and then bitch that the aftermarket support for e30's is drying up.

That being said, great post.

-Charlie

well said .... :up:

[kylebes1]

Does everyone think that rolling the fenders is cheating? Just wondering, it will be a while before my next e30, but I think i tmakes tehm look even better.

[Mystikal]

Does everyone think that rolling the fenders is cheating? Just wondering, it will be a while before my next e30, but I think i tmakes tehm look even better.

In general, you can't see rolled fenders. Only super-extreme examples like this one (which are rare).

[kylebes1]

Does everyone think that rolling the fenders is cheating? Just wondering, it will be a while before my next e30, but I think i tmakes tehm look even better.

In general, you can't see rolled fenders. Only super-extreme examples like this one (which are rare).

Is the work much more involved? I know it would only be worth doing if yuo were making some major power and want the huge tires.

[Mystikal]

Is the work much more involved? I know it would only be worth doing if yuo were making some major power and want the huge tires.

Lots of patience and experience, not really much work per se. But if you haven't done it you'd need to pay someone to sit there for hours, it'd be cheaper to get something like BMP flares (careful with race classing).

[E30-323ti]

[OT]

Jon:
As I said, I'm not dissing your work, full credit for what you have done/do.
If your solid CAB's were around when I got my urethane ones, I would have got yours for sure!!

Just out of curiousity, what does your 5 lug "kit" include that isn't OEM?? Except the solid CAB's (Which are OEM geometry of course).
So, from my POV there is no reason why a "DIYer" like myself can't get the parts and sucessfully do a 5lug conversion, which I have (I just want to use big tyres for some stupid reason)!!

On another note, I resent comments like this:

it's frustrating reading posts on boards like this because people post recklessly sometimes "asking" for info or "questioning" or whatever. Most posts are read and considered equally, when in reality they should not. People who are genuinely interested in a product will seek it out. They will not poke on the net and wait to see if they get a satisfactory answer. They will contact the person privately and directly. They will call. or they may even show up at the door.

For some of us these forums are the BEST way of communicating (both for people like yourself promoting new products as you reach a huge group & people seeking information), since many of us are not in the US and can not give you a call, or stop by, and I would like to, believe me.
My opinion on issues like this is:
If you are generous enough to post examples of your work, information about your mods, products etc.. You should be courteous to answer people questions about them!!

I agree that not all posts are equal, but it is up to the reader to determine if the information contained is of any merit, and all information is open to criticism and questioning, no matter who posted it, thats why it is a FORUM.

Sorry if I come across argumentative (as I'm not usually), I just feel if there if info being shared, share it all, not 1/2 the story 'cause thats what causes alot of confusion on these forums.

[/OT]

Maybe I am wrongly interpreting what you define as " I opened up the fender at the last few inches to allow really tight turns, but no changes to the footwell."
'cause I class the fender as the flimsy sheetmetal part that you can remove.
Anything else is the wheel well!!
I'll take some pic's tonight to further clarify.
I beat the drivers side wheel well last night with a rubber mallet and that enabled the wheel to get full lock, but it still rubs, so I'll revisit it with a 4lb sledge :)
(btw: I am checking the clearance with the shock fully compressed, which is a very unrealistic scenario of course).

[alex]

Re: You're all missing the point.

18 x 10's was not that hard on the rear. It was putting the 18 x 10's on the front that posed the challenge to me.

here's some of the pics: http://davidmcintyre.org/gallery/vie...=AkardPrepared

You can see ME ROLLING the fenders. Akard wanted me to use heat but I insisted on NOT breaking the rules. For minor and moderate rolling, paint breakage is not an issue - IF you use the correct tools. A bat is not the correct tool. Try a professional roller and a heat gun. No, a hair dryer is not the correct tool. Mike's fenders took aggressive rolling. so we skimmed them with bondo and painted them while the rest of the car got shot.

The wheels in most of the pics are SSR GT1's .. but really they're just street wheels. SSR COMP H's are on there now.

UPDATE: Even Skafrog (weird name buddy) does not know, but the car is coming back to my shop this week and we will take the 285 - 30 - 18 tires off and put on 305 Pirelli slicks. We will be moving the car to BMW CCA CMOD class. The car will race at Roebling Road in two weeks.. like Dec 12th ish.

Have'nt you all noticed my Sig before? I've got 12" wide goodyear slicks F&R under the factory fenders.

Jon

Anyone have a location of where to rent one of these?

I need to roll my fenders for my new wheels, and am very wary of the baseball bat method, so I'd like to do this properly.

-Charlie

Charlie,
Give me a call, I can get one of those for a weekend. That;s what I used on mine.

[Nick325is]

Alex, I am in Va and I have been trying to track down one of these for forever. Is there anyway that the one you have access to could find its way down here?


Thanks
Nick