325i track project ...kinda slow updates sometimes...

[t1502]

Great project! I'll bet it is an absolute blast to drive. I might have missed this somewhere, but what type and weight oil are you running? With the engine staying cooler, you may be able to run a thinner oil to reduce motor drag and save a little power. Has your oil pressure been within spec?

It is a blast to drive and that is exactly what it has been built for

I use Castol 10W-60 oil at the moment and it has worked great for the summer. Last summer I had Shell Helix Ultra 5W-40 which my engine didn't like at all. Oil pressure didn't stay up and it just oozed out of every possible place, Total sh*t if you ask me...

Been drooling one of those crank-scrapers for my engine. Just haven't found any near Finland, probably will order from the states if postage isn't too expensive.

[mojorising]

Great project! I'll bet it is an absolute blast to drive. I might have missed this somewhere, but what type and weight oil are you running? With the engine staying cooler, you may be able to run a thinner oil to reduce motor drag and save a little power. Has your oil pressure been within spec?

[t1502]

Also air filter got some help getting cool air from outside instead of hot enginebay air...

[t1502]

The brakes got some help cooling when I modded the original backing plates and installed ducting to them.

[t1502]

Went to the track yesterday and got to finally test the changes that I made to the cooling system. It works!!! Temp used to rise after a couple laps to 240F and now it didn't go past 210F even after 12 laps! :D

Got some other things done too. I'll post a few pics of these doings...

Painted the trunk lid...


...these little grilles...


and the door mirrors.


Couldn't get a good picture where you could clearly see the paint finish, but though it's fine for my project, I can tell you it's far from perfect.

[t1502]

I just picked up one of these from the junk yard. I was thinking of fabbing something like this up out of aluminum, but this was free and looks like it will work well!

If you make one out of aluminum, please post some pics. Interested in seeing how it turns out.

My plan was making one out of glassfiber, but that has to be later project. Weight savings compared to orginal plastic one is next to nothing, the plastic thingy doesn't weigh a thing... But hey, it's nice to do something just for the fun of it, right? :D

[Eric]

Also installed the air intake tube that I had to eliminate earlier to make room for the Ni*san electric fan infront of the radiator.
[ATTACH]20661[/ATTACH]

I just picked up one of these from the junk yard. I was thinking of fabbing something like this up out of aluminum, but this was free and looks like it will work well!

[t1502]

Hopefully got the cooling issue sorted now. Ni*san electric fan that I had mounted in front of the radiator got kicked from this project and a Spal unit found it's way to the enginebay.
While the radiator was off, I flushed the system. No surprises there, everything that came out was clear as it should be :)

Also installed the air intake tube that I had to eliminate earlier to make room for the Ni*san electric fan infront of the radiator.


Design sure is different, hopefully cooling power also...


Still got 18mm cleareance :D


Enginebay in it's current state. Lots of things to do... :???:

[t1502]

Here is the latest short video from mondays track session. I was able to whip 4 seconds off my previous lap record it being 1:38,9 and now it's 1:34,9 :D

The lap on the video is about 1:35.

Suspension was modified -> stiffer and lower and tires were changed to Toyo R888 225/45R15. Ran into some issues also that have to be dealt with before next track session... temperature outside was 27degrees celsius(81F) and I was clearly having trouble with cooling. Temp gauge was knocking 240F so I had to back off after 3 fast laps to cool it down.

Also my right rear tire (is this even possible to get so different traction left or right?) doesn't seem to get the traction it needs on couple of the corners, rear end feels a bit lively all around or bouncy would be more accurate. Have to think about options for these over night...

[Eric]

that's hot

[t1502]

Thanks, nice to hear someone else besides me likes the sound of M20 when pushed around the track :D

Last pic before going to the track in the morning.



Tomorrow morning 8am heading to Ahvenisto to get some new video with faster laptimes hopefully...

[ikkitousen]

Short video of a lap around Ahvenisto race track with my project. At this stage only suspension mod was lowering springs. Tires are 205/45R16 Hankook K104´s.

Awesome vid man. Car sounds fantastic! Keep it up brother!

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DAMN IM JEALOUS!!!

[t1502]

Short video of a lap around Ahvenisto race track with my project. At this stage only suspension mod was lowering springs. Tires are 205/45R16 Hankook K104´s.

[t1502]

Small updates: Suspension mods are now installed and so are the new Toyo R888 tires with some old 15" wheels I had from earlier stages of the car.



Took it for a very short spin around the garage and it felt absolutely great! Initial thoughts that it could be couple of seconds faster per lap than used to be ...happy with that! :D

I have the next monday off, so planning to put a day off in a good use and head to the track to see if it really is faster than a month ago

[t1502]

Great project! I see your oem tank was removed, did you replace it with a fuel cell or?

Curious if you didn't, and were you able to re-install oem tank with the subframe installed.

I replaced oem tank with a 12gal drag race fuel cell from Jaz, not ideal for my purpose but happened to have laying around.


Now a little break from cars and onto celebrating midsummer :up::drink: