S54 powered E30 track car

[grt]

damage anything going off the track like that?

Nah not really. If you look at one of the front on pics the front bar got pushed up which the the guard. Very cosmetic.

This is so great man. All 13 pages, good work! Cool vids too!

Thanks heaps! Hopefully get another 13 pages of awesomeness :)

[grt]

Small update!

Last weekend I did Mt Cotton Hillclimb. It was a pretty disappointing weekend.

I will start by saying it was scheduled to be a 2 day event. However due to lack of numbers the cancelled the first day (Saturday). This was annoying because there was no refund of any of the entrance fee. But in saying that it pissed down rain on Saturday anyway.

As for Sunday it was suppose to be a 8.30am start. We didn't get under-way until 9.30am and finished at 3.30pm. That meant we only got 5 runs in. Also because of the rain on Saturday the track wasn't completely dry and at the top section of track until the finale run. Thus only really having one good run the whole weekend!

Positives though I was trying a few different camera angles. I liked the helmet cam the best. Just ignored the s%#t gear change, 1st to 4th doesn't work.

There is a bit of a break until the next event I plan on entering. So I will be doing a fair bit of maintenance and tidy up. Here are a few photos and a video.

[grt]

I lied... no photos for now.

[grt]

Big update coming!!!!

[e30guydownunder]

C'mon man, I been refreshing the thread all morning

[grt]

Here are a few pics from Lakeside and Mt Cotton. All credit to the photographers.

[grt]

Big update time.

Ok there is going to be a fair bit of writing here and also a DIY to give back to the R3vlimted community.

Alrighty so there is a month and a half break until the next event so it has been a good time to get some updates to the car for circuit racing. At my local racetrack (lakeside raceway) there have been three very serious accidents in the past few months which has made me rethink my safety equipment. One resulted in a broken back and another one was fatal. Please don't ask me about this, google it if you want more information.

I started with stripping the interior again. Once this was done a got the rattle cans out and started painting! The colour is 'Medium Grey'. It took about three days all up and I am super happy with the outcome. I was quoted $800 by a painter. This job cost me $50 + the local newspaper.

Next up was a battery isolation. I already had the switch installed into the dash I just never hooked it up. After having a quick think I decided to relocate the battery to behind the passenger seat. I did this for a few reasons, it keeps the fuel and battery in a separate compartment, it's better for weight distribution and saves me cable. I went out and bought a battery container and bolted it to the floor. I then ran the battery clamps through the floor. I have done a DIY on how to make battery cable.

I am picking up a new seat next weekend. It's a Sparco circuit.

I have removed the front grills to install some wire in front of the radiator and oil cooler so they don't get smashed by stones at the track. I am also putting some carbon fibre ducting around the radiator to help cooling.

Dad and I will be rewiring the dash in the next few weeks and I am also getting the door trims re-covered in a suede type material. I really can't wait to get the interior back together and see what it looks like.

Stayed tuned for more updates in the next few weeks.

[87e30]

That looks like it turned out perfectly for it's purpose. Nice work!

[grt]

That looks like it turned out perfectly for it's purpose. Nice work!

Thanks!

[MkII]

The car looks really quick in those latest videos!

What did you think of the BC coilovers that you had in the red car? I am unsure whether I want to get a set of them or go the typical h&r race/bilsteins route on my 318is (I plan on using it on the street but tracking it too). I also noticed that most places in Australia advertise them as 6kg front/rear springs, is it worth getting them custom made for the extra stiffness?

[grt]

The car looks really quick in those latest videos!

What did you think of the BC coilovers that you had in the red car? I am unsure whether I want to get a set of them or go the typical h&r race/bilsteins route on my 318is (I plan on using it on the street but tracking it too). I also noticed that most places in Australia advertise them as 6kg front/rear springs, is it worth getting them custom made for the extra stiffness?

Thanks!

I actually run 6kg front and 8kg rear. I am still running them. They are still in the car. They are really good bang for $$$ and I rather never had a a problem with them.

[MkII]

Good to know, thanks. They only cost a little bit more than the spring/shock combo and it also guarantees that I wont have to fight the reverse rake problem. How do they ride on the street?

[grt]

Good to know, thanks. They only cost a little bit more than the spring/shock combo and it also guarantees that I wont have to fight the reverse rake problem. How do they ride on the street?

Exactly. Well my red car use to be my everyday car and they weren't too harsh. In saying that though I never really cared for a comfy ride. They are stiff but definitely not unbearable on the road.

[grt]

Pre-update.

Just about to finish up on another huge update which will be up in the next week or so . I have a track day on Friday so hopefully it is ready. There are a lot of things in pieces.

I will be a completely different interior. Lots of things are getting re-do to hopefully make one of the cleanest E30 track cars.

Stay tuned!

[grt]

Update time!!!!!!

All right where do it start.

Last time I left you guys I had painted the interior. Now it was time to rewire the dash so all the buttons and switches were in the same place. This was all pretty simple just very time consuming. We also installed a battery isolator for safety.

I made a carbon fibre plate that goes where the headlight switch was and installed a start button and ignition switch. The headlights, wipers, battery master, fan and fuel pump are all on the centre dash piece.

When I was at the track last I noticed quite a lot of stone chips on my front bar. I released if a rock was the go through the big air holes it could smash my expensive PWR radiator. I picked up some mesh and screwed it through the front bar and zip tied it onto the front radiator support.

I also picked up a second seat to terrify some passengers!

I remounted the seat using the OMP side seat mounts. I just re-drilled the holes on the mount. I now sit about an inch lower. It feels much more comfortable.

I booked into a BMW Club track day last Friday so it was a last minute rush to get the car finished. We started the car for the first time at lunchtime on Thursday. After this we changed the engine and diff oil. I also did a spanner check for all the bolts and nuts. At 8.30pm I gave it a quick wash and loaded in onto the trailer.

When we got to the track on Friday a fellow racer dropped off my newly re-covered door trims.

The day went extremely well. I ended up taking .7 of a second off my best time. Although I was quicker the brakes need to be upgraded. I was finding I braking as hard as I can but still not locking the wheels. I am also still using 3 year old Hankooks which were well past there used by.

As soon as I got home I order a new set of Hankook Z214s in 225/45 ZR15. Only problem is now I have to get bigger wheels :D So I purchased a set of Konig 15x8s in matte black.

I also researched some big brake options. I settled on a set of RX-7 4 piston callipers which I pick up tomorrow. I have purchased a set of brackets as well. I am yet to decide on a set of brake rotors. I am leaning towards a set of EBC slotted discs. Stay tuned as I will do a big write up on the install.

Anyway on with the photos!

The task at hand!


Carbon plate


Start button and ignition switch


Seat mount


Chicken wire!


Painted black and fitted


Nut and bolt check + oil change


Passenger seat


Recovered door trims and finished interior!





Late night wash


New wheels on the way


Lakeside pictures