325ic Calypso Euro Conversion - Houndstooth & dbilas now, MT1 & MM 3.2 stroker coming

[bradnic]

for the record, John and I swapped a few PMs before I pulled the trigger with Jim - who called me on a Sunday and talked my ears off :-)

What a great way to lighten your wallet

[ForcedFirebird]

Why not contact John (ForcedFirebird) he is closer to you and has documented results to his M20 builds....

Thanks for the plug :D

[bradnic]

those were indeed the 3 folks I was considering.
I've spent years digging through m20 build threads. Digger's my guru, as is Nando. When I decided to go stroker I was heading down the Jared/Tinkerputzer route. For ECUs I am planning on whodwho's standalone MS-in-motronic-case setup, which I hope is finally running MS3 now.

Key to my sourcing decision was deciding I wasn't going to assemble the long block myself. This decision came after I was convinced I wanted MM pistons and rods along with the S52 crank for max displacement, highest possible compression and minimal reciprocating mass. That left the cam decision open, which in the end I deferred to MM on since this is a convertible and the build is for street use by BOTH my wife and I. The last factor was around tolerancing on the assembly. I have admittedly drunk MM koolaid on that front through their 16 page m20 reference guide and the 90 minute phone call with their builders. I'm certain John would be as good or better, and I suspect BH would be too but I just don't know them well enough.

Finally on the dbilas, if I need to swap them out for RHDs I'll figure that out later after the initial build's done.

Comparing the 3 options:
- If I lived closer to John I would have gone with him and looked over his shoulder til he kicked me out of his shop
- I dig MYSTER-E / Shanty's work at B-heads. I honestly don't know Matt and the rest of the folks's engine work that well though.
- MM is about 5 hours away and has an insane pedigree with M20 work. They also started with transmissions so I can get a rebuilt G260 from them too.

If I lived in SoCal I would probably go BH or IE, but I'd prob still end up with MM rally pistons and h-beam rods.
If I lived down south I'd go with John for sure.

[2mAn]

Why not contact John (ForcedFirebird) he is closer to you and has documented results to his M20 builds....

[e30austin]

Congrats to you on keeping this one! Might give Bimmerheads a call, too. They will be building a 3.0 M20 for me, eventually.

[bradnic]

So if I ended up with it I'd have to mothball:
- the interior
- full drivetrain
- the cluster (can’t stand the US all caps cluster)
- the airbag wheel

I’d have to sell off the mtech1 setup and Callie as well. On the plus side at that point I could fund the stroker. Ironic since it was seeing how beautiful the original euro spec car was that hooked me. I don't know anyone who would genuinely pick a DB car for appearance - it's something you settle for really. The world / plastic bumper cars look better to most people, but I still like the thinner metal euro bumper design visually more. I also continue to believe that an msport or mtech1 euro spec car with shadowline trim is the best looking e30.

I am happy to report that I've been outbid by $250.


Calling Metric Mechanic now :-)

[bradnic]

Hi Brad

I see you are plugging away on project.

I finally bought a m30 motor for the Silver H bomb.

wow! is that the 4th car? Man I would love to see a couple of updated pics of your rides all in one place!

[bradnic]

Thinking of the 3.1L stroker.. my favorite build is still tinkerputzer's.. Myster-E / bimmerheads ported head, MM pistons, S52 crank and rods, Schrick 284/272, IE rockers, whodwho MS. Between this thread and digger's I have the bases covered well.

It looks stock on the exterior, yet over 200lb ft and 210hp at the rear wheels..


Don't really need more than that in a vert, so the Vortech idea may get shelved. Besides already decided I need an E30 coupe hotrod in my life, after the IX build.

Spent an hour and a half on the phone yesterday with metric mechanic talking about stroker options. In the end I've built engines before, but I just don't have the time and equipment to take the on again. So I'm gonna go MM build given their incredible reputation and proximity.

Soon as this auction thing settles I'll likely be moving on a 3200 Sport/Rally, new clutch, lightweight flywheel and rebuilt G260. They're backlogged a good 6 months, so timing is great for a spring install.

The 3200 Sport Rally is basically MM's top 3200 Rally engine with a 3200 Sport cam. NA operation, S52 crank, H-beam chrome-moly rods, 10.5:1 or 11:1 compression - need to re-confirm that last bit. Keeping the dbilas, will probably end up using my RD long tube headers and will most likely go MS after first trying another ssquid tune.

[e30m3s54turbo]

Hi Brad

I see you are plugging away on project.

I finally bought a m30 motor for the Silver H bomb.

[bradnic]

wow great comments.. thanks guys

Developing feelings for inanimate objects probably isn't wise, but it would make me sad to see this car get dumped for another near equivalent example after that kind of bonding experience.

Definitely have the "feelings for inanimate objects" @zwill23. I'm really torn.

From that pic I can't tell which car is which :)

Jeff you crack me up with your trolling. You’ve seen Callie up close, but I guess not since I finished the shadowline trim and interior trim color matching.

is it really worth THAT kind of money to exchange something you can and do love to drive, for the bragging rights of a garage queen ?

"bragging rights' I couldn't give a damn less about. But you probably know that. I’m honestly drawn to the close to showroom condition aspect of it. Of course if it wasn't calypso I probably would never have bid either.

Stick with what you have and make it what you want and never be afraid to drive it. Unless you have a giant collection of sub 30k mile cars, there's no point in owning one. You'll be afraid to drive it and afraid to rack up miles on it.

I totally agree with Austin, those cars are so expensive at the moment that they can't be driven without thinking all the time about racking up the miles or being in any kind of accident.

I hear ya. The BaT car is basically a new vehicle, last of the E30 verts. Who wouldn’t want one if you were an E30 vert fanatic?

The whole garage queen thing is seriously unappealing. Not to mention dealing with a bone stock motor. I don't feel the need to OWN a time capsule / garage queen - would rather just see those cars in a museum as long as I could study their details up close.

I’m certainly not willing to park this car to keep the miles down. It’s not an investment to me. I also don’t have cash to burn so I’m not willing to mod low mile OEM parts.

So if I ended up with it I'd have to mothball:
- the interior
- full drivetrain
- the cluster (can’t stand the US all caps cluster)
- the airbag wheel

I’d have to sell off the mtech1 setup and Callie as well. On the plus side at that point I could fund the stroker. Ironic since it was seeing how beautiful the original euro spec car was that hooked me. I don't know anyone who would genuinely pick a DB car for appearance - it's something you settle for really. The world / plastic bumper cars look better to most people, but I still like the thinner metal euro bumper design visually more. I also continue to believe that an msport or mtech1 euro spec car with shadowline trim is the best looking e30.

I also owned a 771 for a while, but I still think the mtech2 kit looks best on a coupe.

Seems like a ton of effort for little gain, I'm with Austin! and pipeuy. Callie is an astounding example in my eyes, only you know what defects (if any) it has. From the public eye, no one will be able to tell the difference beyond a mileage readout.

No lie there. Callie’s just a treat to look at.

I think there is something to be said about spending 7 years wrenching and working on a project to mold it into your vision.

It’s certainly been a very satisfying experience.

[jeffnhiscars]

From that pic I can't tell which car is which :)

Seriously...in the 80s I spent $4600 (figure triple in today's $$s) to strip and paint a car and driving it eventually made me so neurotic I had to sell it....well actually traded it for a wooden boat which I figured would be less trouble to care for.

is it really worth THAT kind of money to exchange something you can and do love to drive, for the bragging rights of a garage queen ?

[zwill23]

Seems like a ton of effort for little gain, I'm with Austin! and pipeuy. Callie is an astounding example in my eyes, only you know what defects (if any) it has. From the public eye, no one will be able to tell the difference beyond a mileage readout.

I think there is something to be said about spending 7 years wrenching and working on a project to mold it into your vision. Developing feelings for inanimate objects probably isn't wise, but it would make me sad to see this car get dumped for another near equivalent example after that kind of bonding experience.

[pipeuy]

Stick with what you have and make it what you want and never be afraid to drive it. Unless you have a giant collection of sub 30k mile cars, there's no point in owning one. You'll be afraid to drive it and afraid to rack up miles on it.

I totally agree with Austin, those cars are so expensive at the moment that they can't be driven without thinking all the time about racking up the miles or being in any kind of accident.

[e30austin]

Stick with what you have and make it what you want and never be afraid to drive it. Unless you have a giant collection of sub 30k mile cars, there's no point in owning one. You'll be afraid to drive it and afraid to rack up miles on it.

[bradnic]

My rational side says stick with what I have. The insane side wants to turn the new car into a custom 771 5 speed with my current interior. But then I’m stuck with the stock, new, and absolutely unmodifiable drivetrain

If the price goes any higher the rational side will probably win out and I’ll be kicking off the stroker build