BMW Dixi hot rod

[evandael]

consider a mercedes w201/w124 rear subframe. it's 5-link and infinitely better than the e30's semi trailing arms.

[poopin04]

this is going to be bad ass!

Sub'd

[Emre]

Looks like your engine bay is pretty narrow. I would think downdraught carbs, like the Weber IDA/IDF, would take the least amount of horizontal space.

[mcibmw533]

So it's been more than just a little while and I'm sure many thought this project died. Life has kind of sidetracked both my father and myself from this project so it's been sitting dormant. I did make some progress recently through the purchase of a 245/5 speed transmission. This gets us one step closer to getting the car to the frame builder. Now I just have to find a decent m10 and a suitable rear end assembly to get to the frame builder, then progress can begin.

The plan at this point is a built, fuel injected m10. The big question is if it will all fit under the hood (but it can't be all that different, space wise, than carbs right?). I'd really like to supercharge it, but that might get even harder to fit under the hood, but in reality, the side panels of the hood might have to be eliminated anyways.

Anyways, if anybody has some input on design considerations for the m10, I'm open to it. I have a little experience with 2002's but never drove one long enough to get to work on it much, so a little bit of new territory for me.

On to suspension - definitely an A-arm front suspension. My father wants to modify a Mustang II kit since there's so many kits out there, but I'm hesitant that it won't accomplish what we want. The priority is on handling with a goal of being an excellent canyon cruiser chassis. The rear is still up in the air. This will likely be a modified 2002 or e30 subframe. We really wanted to do a jag rearend, but we can't figure out how to fit the discs under the body without jacking it way up. There's not really space on the interior of the cabin to bring the floor up and hide it in, so this isn't likely an option. It's already going to be hard enough building and hiding mounts for the rear shocks and springs.

Just thought I'd post a little bit since it's been some time and will probably be just as long before future progress.

[LJ851]

Any progress here?

[slammin.e28]

Was this the one on ebay a few weeks ago?

Yes.

[ANDRÜ]

Was this the one on ebay a few weeks ago?

[slammin.e28]

I wish. Unfortunately if that happened some chopping would also have to happen to my dad and myself as we are both 6-foot and barely fit in the car now. The goal is to be able to drive the car in reasonable comfort on day trips, maybe an overnighter if needed. Although chopping would look awesome, it'd be too small inside. Also, we are trying to retain as much of the original exterior appearance as possible so somebody will see it as a Dixi at first glance, then see some trick engineering upon closer inspection.

Like this!

I love the bold!

You're going to bring this thing to the Vintage when it's done. You just have to. Doesn't get any more vintage than this. ;) I don't care if it's across the country, we'll take up a collection to get it here!

[euroshark]

Bad ass project!

Odd that your age and your dads age exactly matches my dad and myself. Very odd.

[FunfGan]

This is going to be awesome :) Now if there was only a way to fit an s62 in there...

[mcibmw533]

Thanks for all the input.

Super excited for this. Why the M10? I read the words "BMW Hotrod" and assumed it would be an inline 6.

I wish I could, but I'll have to move the firewall back just to fit the m10 in there. The current "engine bay" is 23-inches long and 29-inches wide at the firewall, 17-inches wide at the grille. This car is TINY (think original Mini Cooper for size). To make it a comfortable driver, the back seat will be eliminated and the front seats will be moved back, likely so you're looking out the back seat windows when driving. Also, economy plays some role in this. By moving the firewall back, the original gas tank location is eliminated and there isn't much space available to hide one. I figure the fuel tank will be 5-7 gallons if we're lucky. The m90 I'd like to put in there get's horrible mileage and would make for many fuel stops on an afternoon drive. I feel I can get similar hp figures with a nicely built m10 in a much smaller package. As much as I prefer larger displacement engines, there's just not the space without major modification to the car.

Sounds great, looking forward to seeing this on the road.

Basically all BMWs use a strut suspension on the front end which does not lend itself to the shape of a 30s car at all. Have you considered something with double A arms like a miata to fit under the fenders?

I like that idea, and probably much simpler than what I was figuring (adding to the research list now). Originally I was thinking of going the double A arm route but haven't had much of a chance to find smaller frame cars for reference. Thanks, this helps the R&D stage immensely!

Currently, the fenders are definitely going to be widened to allow fitment of modern wheels and the suspension - the suspension has to be determined first, to tell us how much the fenders get widened.

This.

i expect some chopping of this to also follow in the words of "hot rod"

I wish. Unfortunately if that happened some chopping would also have to happen to my dad and myself as we are both 6-foot and barely fit in the car now. The goal is to be able to drive the car in reasonable comfort on day trips, maybe an overnighter if needed. Although chopping would look awesome, it'd be too small inside. Also, we are trying to retain as much of the original exterior appearance as possible so somebody will see it as a Dixi at first glance, then see some trick engineering upon closer inspection.

[CorvallisBMW]

I would old school M30 it. triple webers.

That would be pretty fucking sweet

[lambo]

I would old school M30 it. triple webers.

This. A big six would be awesome!

[akorcovelos]

Sub'd

[JasonC]

It's nice to see something different! Sounds pretty cool to use an m10. Cause back in the day, people did build four poppers. And even today people use Pinto engines to power thier hot rod.