E30 Rally Build Thread

[E30 Wagen]

very cool, and you're somewhat local to me, too. I'd love to check out the rally scene some more since I might have some fun with my eta before it dies. I also have a bunch of spare parts including strut housings, rear trailing arms.

[Jkersh]

damn you for making me want to turn one of my e30s into a rally rig.

Nice work so far... love the hood.

Where did you get the flock for the dash?


Also digging the riveted garden lip ^^

Subd

[irish44j]

^^ I do like those mudflaps. Where did you get those?

they look like RallyArmor.

[iamsam]

^^ I do like those mudflaps. Where did you get those?

[futureficus]

Been following this thread, this build is awesome. Just wanted to share, if your interested in putting on a front lip/spoiler, I did one with some garden edging I recently found. I know there have been lots of different HomeDepot stuff people have been using as DIY lips. This seems to be a decent alternative to not so great HD lips and expensive IS spoliers that would get torn off in some real action.

The lip is pretty stiff where it wont flop in the wind and at the same time I think it has the right amount of flex. I riveted it on to my valance. The edging I used is Master Mark Plastics "Trim coiled edge". Got it locally at a hardware store for $5. Add in $5 for rivets and $11 for a rivet gun, not a bad deal in my opinion.

Couple pics.



I'm sure this might get some criticism but anyway, keep up the great work!

[Nsquared97]

I haven't put too many miles on the E30 since coming up here, and the project has slowed greatly due to the move, but you can swing by the garage any time - PM me and we can figure it out. Either that or you can join me on a weeknight shred of the mall parking lot... (below). Everything shuts down at 9 pm so by 9:15 the lot is empty, and I live about two miles from there. I may relieve you of some of your spares, too, especially if you have suspension goodies.

Holy shit haha, I was just there last night, except out back. There's a nice little sand pile that is a bunch of fun to slide around.

[MasterOfPuppets]

If your cool with it, I would love to check out your build sometime. It would definitely be nice to see another E30 up here haha. Not to mention I have a boatload of spare parts if you need anything.

I haven't put too many miles on the E30 since coming up here, and the project has slowed greatly due to the move, but you can swing by the garage any time - PM me and we can figure it out. Either that or you can join me on a weeknight shred of the mall parking lot... (below). Everything shuts down at 9 pm so by 9:15 the lot is empty, and I live about two miles from there. I may relieve you of some of your spares, too, especially if you have suspension goodies.

[iamsam]

There you go, Mike!!!

[Nsquared97]

So I went and drove the E30, among other places, on an actual LSPR rally stage yesterday:

Dang, how have I not bumped into you at all?!?!? Going to school at Tech, been to LSPR every year I have been up here, crewed this past year. Also been down that very stage myself ;) ANother really fun one to run is Menge creek, although that is most likely snow covered by now, but it is a much slower paced stage.

If your cool with it, I would love to check out your build sometime. It would definitely be nice to see another E30 up here haha. Not to mention I have a boatload of spare parts if you need anything.

[irish44j]

regarding the skid - I would try to do a setup like the e30motorwerks skid, with the extra tubular U-brace mounted to the frame rails. I personally do not trust a simple angle-sheet skid to protect my oilpan - the additional bracing seems like a good idea, and also will be a convenient center jack-point :)

[iamsam]

ship the manual stuff to me, and I'll ship my working power stuff to you ;)

the guy wouldn't take my offer of $300 for the car, so its a no-go.

[irish44j]

Weird. I am looking at an '85 318i coupe that is manual everything.

ship the manual stuff to me, and I'll ship my working power stuff to you ;)

[monkeytaco]

I may put some little flaps in the skid plates in front of the rear suspension to try to keep rocks from hitting the CV boots and shocks when the wheel is in full rebound.

If I were you I'd figure out a way to attach some skid plating to the rear trailing arms, even if its just the high density plastic, which would provide the same function as a flap, but possibly be more effective.

Also, this thread makes me happy. Carry on.

[MasterOfPuppets]

OP, if you have any suggestions or thoughts on rally setup, feel free to toss some knowledge my way in my build thread http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=224191 and keep up the good work.

btw, what kind of skid are you using? Any diff protection (is it needed?)

I will surely do so the minute I have any practical knowledge of rally suspension! Right now I'm winging it in the hopes that this car will get me through a few rallies so I can figure out what I want for the next one.

My current (mental) design for the skid involves several overlapping sections from front to rear, with the frontward ones overlapping the rearward. From the front bumper to the back of the engine compartment will be one metal plate, reinforced with steel tubing (leftover cage material) in several places. I have yet to decide on a specific material, probably something like 1/4" aluminum or 3/16" steel. Then, from there back to the exhaust exit, I'll do HDPE sheets on each side of the exhaust. Rear of the exhaust exit there will be one final big piece the whole width of the car.

I don't plan to do any additional shielding for the diff, seeing as it's probably tied with the engine block for the strongest single part of the car (probably and hopefully). I may put some little flaps in the skid plates in front of the rear suspension to try to keep rocks from hitting the CV boots and shocks when the wheel is in full rebound.

[MasterOfPuppets]

Weird. I am looking at an '85 318i coupe that is manual everything.

Methinks you commit the logical fallacy of hasty generalization!