My E30: an LS3 Powered 1991 318iS

[markseven]

You'd actually be surprised at how well the 215s stick, it's pretty great. You can burn in 1st-3rd but only on launch or extremely hard acceleration on a crappy road. More or less they somehow stick. If I was doing a lot of corners however, those extra 2cm of grip would probably be worthwhile.

I was going to do a BBK as well, Ireland sells a Willwood one that I was going to go for. At $3k for front/rear however, I decided to hold off and do that after my interior.

The Touring Cup Kit is actually really nice. Sometimes I tell myself that I want it a little firmer but that would probably not do so well with normal, everyday driving, which is really what the car excels at.

Just come to the e30 picnic one of these years guys, we need more non-PNW blood out there!

Like F34R said, the UUC kit is light, strong and effective... and an awesome deal at less than $800. I have H&R Race on my daily, and my wife and daughter do not complain, if that is any indication.

Any plans to bring the car to Bimmerfest?

[OldDrunkenSailor]

All of this^

LS3 and you went with 215

Don't take it as me bashing you OP, just it is well...dumb to have 215/40 in a LS3 e30. The Corvette has 245front and 285 rear...HAS to have wide tires to put that power into traction ;)

UUC sells a great BBK that is direct fit and has plenty of stopping power for that monster. Granted it is just more bite since your car e30 did not gain a lot of weight.

How do you like the Touring springs? The Race springs by H&R are fantastic fyi.

Just like Mr. 325 is saying "give me you car" ;)

You'd actually be surprised at how well the 215s stick, it's pretty great. You can burn in 1st-3rd but only on launch or extremely hard acceleration on a crappy road. More or less they somehow stick. If I was doing a lot of corners however, those extra 2cm of grip would probably be worthwhile.

I was going to do a BBK as well, Ireland sells a Willwood one that I was going to go for. At $3k for front/rear however, I decided to hold off and do that after my interior.

The Touring Cup Kit is actually really nice. Sometimes I tell myself that I want it a little firmer but that would probably not do so well with normal, everyday driving, which is really what the car excels at.

Just come to the e30 picnic one of these years guys, we need more non-PNW blood out there!

[F34R]

Nice dude! But you should have AT LEAST went with 235s, can easily make them fit with right wheel/offset :)

Also, this car NEEDS better suspension and brakes!!!

All of this^

LS3 and you went with 215

Don't take it as me bashing you OP, just it is well...dumb to have 215/40 in a LS3 e30. The Corvette has 245front and 285 rear...HAS to have wide tires to put that power into traction ;)

UUC sells a great BBK that is direct fit and has plenty of stopping power for that monster. Granted it is just more bite since your car e30 did not gain a lot of weight.

How do you like the Touring springs? The Race springs by H&R are fantastic fyi.

Just like Mr. 325 is saying "give me you car" ;)

[Vegas227]

Now I want to move to Washington. Such a beautiful car.

[OldDrunkenSailor]

i would really like to see this again...and maybe a ride along, especially if / when at the track...monroe speedway anytime...or just a local cruise. as i am pondering a v8 swap (m60, or ls1,3,) and want to ask...what is the ballpark cost you went through for eng, tran, steering alone (if you care to tell)

i saw another ls3 being built with a porsche rear end....4 door, and havent seen it since.

I would love to take it out to the track, just need the time/money to do it. If you wanted to do a ridealong just let me know when next you'll be at one of our meets. We get burgers and beer almost every Tuesday (an always shifting, semi-consistent group of r3v fellows....and Sparkle).

As for cost, there's about a thousand ways that you can do it for less than I did, I went new for almost everything but I know that most people don't care that much. We can talk about your budget and what you can do when next we're around the car.

[idanity]

i would really like to see this again...and maybe a ride along, especially if / when at the track...monroe speedway anytime...or just a local cruise. as i am pondering a v8 swap (m60, or ls1,3,) and want to ask...what is the ballpark cost you went through for eng, tran, steering alone (if you care to tell)

i saw another ls3 being built with a porsche rear end....4 door, and havent seen it since.

[MR 325]

I still want this car... BAD!

[ButtJuice]

daaayumn honey!

[jaywood]

I wish I had enough money for that engine. I bet it's so fun!

[OldDrunkenSailor]

Ha, nothing major. Mechanically the car is completely and utterly sound. Just changed the oil on it, it came out to a whopping 4 quarts before being at the dipstick.

Other than that, I've done this to it:
10" Lukebox w/ amprack
AudioControl Three.2 EQ
New MTech2 wheel
8.2" removable tablet in the dashboard
-To control audio, GPS, and get engine stats
HVAC relocate (in progress)
e46 armrest (in progress)
HUD system (in progress)

And then next year I'd like to get the interior redone in quilted leather. That's still a while out though.

The car's still averaging about 20-25mpg. It idles at 35mph and sits at 1k at 60mph when cruising. I sold my DD because this car was just too good, so now my daily ride is a little more sensible.

[kristov]

Any news here?

[cg138]

^Did I meet you in the safeway parking lot on the ave?

Yeah, you did.

[MR.LUGO]

No dont...I had 4in straight pipe and it was crazy loud.

what rear end gearing are you running btw?

Yeah it sounds good. I looked up ls3's straight piped. I was just imagining that sound coming out of an e30.

[OldDrunkenSailor]

Very awesome. I hope to cross paths with you in the future when my bank account goes from (loans) to $$$.

I know you do software design (at least I think, something related) which is very awesome for car applications.

I'm a web developer, so I design/build web stuff 9-5 and run my own company nights/weekends doing side projects and consultancy work.

After the phone I'm planning on building a car-centric system for tablets, so hopefully I'll have a pretty sweet carputer by the end of the build.

[87e30]

^Did I meet you in the safeway parking lot on the ave?