E30 M3 Steel Bodywork Conversion

[MR 325]

I've just got to bust your balls. Work is looking excellent and I love it either way.

[bmwmech1]

I wanna see this thing on a dyno when it's all done

Haha, you and everybody else...

almost! looking good!

Thank man!

Whoops! :D

:razz:

I think the wheels themselves look GREAT but I still feel like this car needs something better. Maybe something in 17x9 all around. :)

I hear you... remember that I am building this thing to enjoy and drive, so these wheels will be my driving wheels. I didn't want something too nice, but they had to look decent and these fit the bill. The baller wheels will be something in the iForged or Modulare flavor, in an 18X8 front, 18X9 rear setup, but those are a bit down the road. I need to get it finished, then I'll worry about the little things...;)

Lookin' good Garey, almost done!

Yup, I should be driving it this week!
Garey

[CoreyZ]

Lookin' good Garey, almost done!

[MR 325]

I think the wheels themselves look GREAT but I still feel like this car needs something better. Maybe something in 17x9 all around. :)

[MR 325]

You do realize that they are in the OEM configuration, right, lol?

Whoops! :D

[Kershaw]

almost! looking good!

[85e325]

I wanna see this thing on a dyno when it's all done

[bmwmech1]

Tires and some miscellaneous fittings came in today. I finished the exhaust system this morning and got the fuel system tidied up along with mounting the wheels and tires, this afternoon. I really only have a few things left to finish before I can fire it off, so I may have some good news soon. Pics of the CAI and the wheels and tires on it. I got a little overzealous with the ride height, lol. It needs to come up an inch or so to be practical. Tires are Conti DW's...











Garey

[bmwmech1]

Loving the gauge setup! Are you going to keep them in that configuration or swap the speedo and tach to have it same as OEM?

The add-on work to the exhaust looks great too!

You do realize that they are in the OEM configuration, right, lol? I'm hoping to still utilize the original idiot lights and stuff. We'll see... thanks for the exhaust kudos. I feel better about the end result of the exhaust now... It kind of felt like I was taking the easy way out with the first design... this feels more like the rest of the car....

Wow, man...great update, per usual! Very inspirational!

Thanks man, just tryin' to get it done...

Loving everything about this swap, garey! I don't think ill make it to gutenfest as I wont have all the bugs worked out of my swap by then. Looks like you're doing great with it and the exhaust welds are phenomenal. Any sound or video clips?

I'm still pushing for G'fest, so we'll see how it shakes out... I have not started it yet, just got the fuel system buttoned up today. That exhaust was time consuming, for sure, but I'm happy with the results...

Garey

[Garageaholic]

Loving everything about this swap, garey! I don't think ill make it to gutenfest as I wont have all the bugs worked out of my swap by then. Looks like you're doing great with it and the exhaust welds are phenomenal. Any sound or video clips?

[kingston]

Wow, man...great update, per usual! Very inspirational!

[MR 325]

Loving the gauge setup! Are you going to keep them in that configuration or swap the speedo and tach to have it same as OEM?

The add-on work to the exhaust looks great too!

[bmwmech1]

exhaust is beautiful. just beautiful

Thanks man... many hours in it so far and a few more yet before it's done... it's funny, but it looks very similar to the exhaust I made for my 540 and that wasn't what I intended, lol!

Garey

[DuMa]

exhaust is beautiful. just beautiful

[bmwmech1]

Those subframe bushings look like they might get a bit toasty, but I'm sure you already have a solution for that.

They're poly and it's just the mufflers they're next to... not enough heat to worry about that far back in the system and they're not really very close...

i'm sorry if i missed it, but why swap the exhaust system and fuel supply location? i have been under the belief that cars have their fuel in the center for safety and weight balance.

Several reasons...
1. V8 swap means very limited range with stock tank. I now have a 20 gallon fuel cell.
2. By moving cell to the rear, it opened up space for the mufflers to hang in.
3. Having the fuel tank in the center does help with balance and safety, but many cars have their tank behind the rear axle. You have to compensate for the change in balance with the suspension setup... Only place to put a 20 gallon cell is behind the axle...

lolwut 120 mph speedo

Only speedo VDO offers in the Vision series in 4" diameter... not really a big deal, obviously the car will exceed the mechanical limits of the speedo...

16 days! *Build it Drive it!

Thanks Levent, like I need any more stress... lol!

Garey