Diaries of a AWD E30

[Chrisbike]

Wow Chris, this thing escalated quickly!

Haha typical! Soon I will have it back together. Need to get it back together running on ms2 and wasted spark or cop.

Should be making some decent progress this coming week.

Lots to do!

[downforce22]

Wow Chris, this thing escalated quickly!

[jeenyus]

Thanks!

no haha, the valve cover plugs are easily replaced and pulling the head off/ engine out to replace those would be laughable. its the heater hose gasket on the back of the head.

I was gonna say... Hahaha

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[Chrisbike]

Which seal on the back are you referring to? The little rubber inserts? That's what appears to be leaking.

Love how the car is looking. Coming together nicely.

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Thanks!

no haha, the valve cover plugs are easily replaced and pulling the head off/ engine out to replace those would be laughable. its the heater hose gasket on the back of the head.

[jeenyus]

Which seal on the back are you referring to? The little rubber inserts? That's what appears to be leaking.

Love how the car is looking. Coming together nicely.

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[Chrisbike]

little update/ backwards progress

I picked up a e36 swaybar this one is the 23mm *some m3 bars were 22.5mm*, I believe the earlier s50 cars are 22.5 and late 23mm... I used the stock mounts with poly 23mm bar bushes, got some new measurements for my sway mounts.


I bolted in my 4 point cage, kinda shows how hard of a life this car has had because I had to make up a 1/4 aluminum spacer for the cage pad on the driverside rear pad.


I got my frenchies and got a idea of how they'd look and I like them alot, these are very useful since I'm sure my morimoto 7.0minis will be bright.


Pulled the m20 to replace the dumb seal on the back of the head (already had trans out), I have to bolt some 95a engine mounts and 80a bushing for transfercase mount for my rtd shifter



Strut housings should be welded by September, finland fix front shaft and rebuildable rear driveshaft. Will most likely bolt the used 140k trans with stock clutch and RHD flywheel back together because I dont see myself boosting this thing for a while considering I like to do things right and the cost of building a proper turbo kit is alot of money, might just get a tig to be honest...

[Chrisbike]

Holy cow that front axle angle is insane but then again you are pretty low. Wow!!!!

Is it hard to find those smoked tails? They look great.

Yeah MHWs are a rare find. They’re is a perfect set on fleaBay for 1300. As for the axle angle (that pic was where I think my max angle will beat around 10” ride height. I plan on correcting in the future but for now I’m just going to buy many iX axles and rebuild (now have 3 sets, 2 are rebuilt).

I'm jealous of your cage! The car looks badass to, always good to see ix's getting put to their potential.

It’s nicely built, got it made by Ben Sipson in FL, he’s built many many e36 4-points and has a really impressive full cage in his e30 HC car. Yeah man it’s nothing like your iX but not many are!

[nomansland92]

I'm jealous of your cage! The car looks badass to, always good to see ix's getting put to their potential.

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[driftxsequence]

Holy cow that front axle angle is insane but then again you are pretty low. Wow!!!!

Is it hard to find those smoked tails? They look great.

[Chrisbike]

Hey Chris, it's nice to see the project going forward.

What's the best way to lift the subframe?

Yeah, it’s moving now. Mw044 has done something like so. I’m planning on doing essentially the same. You cut the frame rail and notch it and the axle thus raising the subframe.

So much yes.

Is the Fin still making those extensions? I need one. You plan on doing it so you don't have to drop the TC each time youd like to check it? I know it's greasable through the nipple, but always nice to have that easy access too.

Is that CV angle how it drives?

Please give impressions on the LWF from UUC.

You're making me jealous.

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I am unsure as I bought this one local. Just trying to make it work with an x5/ rear driveshaft sized flex disc since I have one and they are half the price of a stock one. I actually think dropping the transfer case is rather easy... No that was where I presume would be max compression with the new housings/ spring setup not ride height. Should be similar to the RHD flywheel but the clutch should take a massive beating compared to a stock clutch. The nice thing about the M5 clutch comparison is that you can use a stock m5 clutch that holds 300whp in a 3700lb car and is very forgiving to drive. Making you jealous is just a side effect of spending too much, thanks... haha

[jeenyus]

So much yes.

Is the Fin still making those extensions? I need one. You plan on doing it so you don't have to drop the TC each time youd like to check it? I know it's greasable through the nipple, but always nice to have that easy access too.

Is that CV angle how it drives?

Please give impressions on the LWF from UUC.

You're making me jealous.

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[notanawdix80]

Hey Chris, it's nice to see the project going forward.

What's the best way to lift the subframe?

[Chrisbike]

Wow, this thing is really coming along great! This is exactly how I had always wanted to build an iX if I didn't ditch the chassis.

Thanks Bob, I believe the iX chassis that has a lot more pontential than it’s rwd counterpart. Some hate them cause the parts are expensive or since you can’t do a burnout or drift they’re useless. Wouldn’t wanna waste expensive rubber anyway...

Working on the sway upgrade, lift the subframe to correct axle angle and bumpsteer like you said. I’m changing my springs to something around 525/6inch /750/5” springs and after setting height I will make measurements for lifting the subframe but it will affect the driveline angle so it will be quite complex. For now I’ll measure for links and get the housings welded with the tube below knuckle instead of flush to give me more travel. Oh and still looking at a e36 rack...

Yes, planning on a turbo in the future, goals are to be around 280-350whp stock engine on pump gas 91. I have only looked at a few manifold options and different chargers. Yeah I’m going to see if CVJ will rebuilt some of mine. Ideally I’ll have at least 2 rebuilt sets at any giving time. Ideally I can lift the subframe and correct the angle. That picture is what the angle looks like at what my maximum angle would be close to ride height. Max inner is 20 degrees and outer is 45* so I’m shooting to keep the angle away from that. So I can install some offset cabs. When I get the suspension sorted and start driving it again we’ll be looking into boosting it.

[AWDBOB]

Wow, this thing is really coming along great! This is exactly how I had always wanted to build an iX if I didn't ditch the chassis haha. Good on you for seeing the front sway through, I'm sure that'll be a nice upgrade.

I'm assuming you're going turbo due to the flywheel/clutch change? Good you're stockpiling axles. I had like 6 pair at one point, all rebuilt. My brother just did his annual passenger side inner boot change. I have but one spare used pair left. That axle angle is crazy.

Have you done any measurements to see how moving the subframe will change bumpsteer?

[Chrisbike]

Big update

Hey, guys so it been a while and I thought I'd give an update on the car. Many more to come. Pulled my RHD flywheel and Purchased a UUC clutch kit and iX getrag 260 with 10k from Stevan on here. Got some Hella Frenchies on the way and some smoked MHW's. Got a Italvolanti Formel 365mm and also have a OMP suede wheel in a 330 for track/ autoX days same with a omp HRC-R XL. going to get a 6-pnt belt and hans after I get the car roadworthy. Got a roll bar from Ben Simpson built to my specifications. Flocked my dash with a kit from flockit.com. Ordered a pair of used SR3 recaros from used racing parts which will be reupholstered in the silver mtech cloth which came in the johnny cecotto m3's. all my seat brackets are from MassiveLee. Got a e36 swaybar and am currently welding up the second set of shortened housings, planning on lifting the subframe a inch or so to reduce some of the high axle angle. I also got my 3rd set of axles and a finland fix from a local so that will get welded to work with a x5 guibo. Got a ACS Front apron (yes its real)... got a 360 v0 RTD shifter... Also a sneak peak at my next wheel setup, 17x8 et35