E30 M3 Steel Bodywork Conversion

[bmwmech1]

Maybe speed sensitive cut-off ? :)

Thought of that... I'd need to build a circuit for it, but it would work.

Garey

[xphiledan]

just out of curiosity, what vin will this beast have? did you keep the vin from the e30 m3 shell?

[bmwmech1]

just out of curiosity, what vin will this beast have? did you keep the vin from the e30 m3 shell?

No, that would be illegal. You can't take the VIN from one vehicle and swap it to another. This car started out as an 87 325E and it still is an 87 325E, by VIN. It has been modified, heavily at that, but that doesn't change the VIN. I did keep the section of cowl with the VIN, the title and the keys to the M3. I have them on a shelf, in my office... a tribute to the M3 that I owned for 4 days, but that's where they are staying... and the car stays an 87 E, by VIN...

Garey

[bmwmech1]

Long time, no post... been busy, blah, blah, blah. Anyway, I have done a little work on it but I picked up a big piece of the puzzle this week and it came in today. Big thanks to Corey at Track One Motorsports for getting this monster out to me quick-like. It's a Mishimoto, Z3M, 3 row radiator and as you'll see from the pics, it's a monster! The very best part about it is, it's a drop in, 1 small mod install. Pics...









And the one, small mod to bolt it in... 2 slits in the inverted round parts of the factory top mount...







I have to shorten the upper hose by about 3/4" at the water pump nipple to get rid of the slight kink, but that's it... Pretty F-in slick and should cool the V8 without question...

Garey

[catuned]

Very nice and simple. I love it!

[bmwmech1]

Very nice and simple. I love it!

Thanks man, trying to keep it simple and easy to service, should the need arise...

Garey

[MR 325]

Radiator looks great!

[bmwmech1]

Radiator looks great!

Thanks! Now to get the rest of the plumbing done, so I can paint the thing and finish it...

Garey

[bmwmech1]

Quick update and a couple of pics... I've been working on getting the brakes and clutch plumbing done and all of the associated hardware back on the car, which is going well. I got my brake/clutch reservoir in today, it's a Tilton 3 chamber unit, which I'm mounting where the blower motor used to go, behind the access cover. I'm also working on trying to finish up the component locations under the hood and I'm down to the power steering reservoir, so I'm making progress there, as well. I also put the car up on jackstands, so I have access to everything, without having to move it. That makes it much easier to work on, if I have a spare couple of minutes. Pics...

New Tilton reservoir


HVAC box block off plate with new home for the fluid reservoir




Dual filter housing with Bosch spin on filters


The oil cooler is mounted, still have to plumb everything, though. It's getting there...

Garey

[catuned]

I love the things your are doing! :) :) :)

[bmwmech1]

I love the things your are doing! :) :) :)

Thanks man... it's kind of like an Americanized German Hot Rod, lol! I'm happy with it so far, starting to get the itch for it to be done...

Garey

[kingston]

Garey,

Do you have any worries about the slits you put it the radiator 'mount'? I look at things like that I wonder when, not if, they'll fail. Please understand that I don't have ANY engineering degree to back that up or anything, but that looks like a less-well engineered solution than virtually everything else you've done. Perhaps I am just looking at it wrong; I just see a potential for heat/vibration-induced failure.

Having said that, I ALWAYS love to see updates on your project!!

[catuned]

The way I feel is if it makes the car better and it's better quality why not?
Looks better, feels better or functions better then by all means- Yes!

[bmwmech1]

Garey,

Do you have any worries about the slits you put it the radiator 'mount'? I look at things like that I wonder when, not if, they'll fail. Please understand that I don't have ANY engineering degree to back that up or anything, but that looks like a less-well engineered solution than virtually everything else you've done. Perhaps I am just looking at it wrong; I just see a potential for heat/vibration-induced failure.

Having said that, I ALWAYS love to see updates on your project!!

Maybe I'll get another picture or 2 of the mount itself to better clarify the slits. They aren't in a place that affects the integrity of the part. I think the only way it could break is in an accident, which, then, I have bigger issues than a broken rad mount, lol. Having said that, I had also entertained the idea of fabbing steel clips to go into the E36 slots, at the top on each side, then bolted to the core support, so that may happen. I just like the look of that plastic mount, but we'll see...

I'll sleep on it...

Thanks man,

Garey

[bmwmech1]

The way I feel is if it makes the car better and it's better quality why not?
Looks better, feels better or functions better then by all means- Yes!

Exactly...

Garey