►►►Tales from IronFreak and his shop shenanigans◄◄◄

[golde30]

Fox body mustang Koni are the same. Wonder which is better valved for e30, and what the price difference is.

[acolella76]

Well, the Porsche shock is valved for a rear engine car. Personally I would opt for something valved for my car, but these might make a nice budget upgrade

[IronFreak]

Are the fox body externally adjustable? From the information I have gathered from various sites the 1977 Porsche shocks are the same ones that TC Kline sells as there e36 rear shocks. Maybe they have them re-valved. I can't seeing that happen for the price they go for. Who knows, it would be interesting to see the difference between the two.

[IronFreak]

Fox body mustang Koni are the same. Wonder which is better valved for e30, and what the price difference is.

Can you give me some information that shows they are the same. Price wise they are $70 cheaper a shock them the Porsche variation. I'll do some research but it might be beneficial to send the Porsche back and get the Fox version as it's designed for a front engine car....and I'd save about $140 bucks.

[acolella76]

Hell maybe they work with the E30 I don't know, it's your car I don't want to tell you how to build it. I do know that the valving we use for Porsche rear shocks is a good bit stiffer than what we use in the rear of a BMW. And the Fox-body shocks are shorter and are top adjustable.

[IronFreak]

Hell maybe they work with the E30 I don't know, it's your car I don't want to tell you how to build it. I do know that the valving we use for Porsche rear shocks is a good bit stiffer than what we use in the rear of a BMW. And the Fox-body shocks are shorter and are top adjustable.

Ya I saw that. I'll have to do some research. I am running 850# springs in the rear of the car.....or will be. Maybe I should up that spring rate to compliment the valving. Isn't that rate roughly half based on the style of suspension and the location of the spring on the e30? I know that Hellabad had an awesome explanation of that somewhere but I can't seem to find it.

[acolella76]

Ya I saw that. I'll have to do some research. I am running 850# springs in the rear of the car.....or will be. Maybe I should up that spring rate to compliment the valving. Isn't that rate roughly half based on the style of suspension and the location of the spring on the e30? I know that Hellabad had an awesome explanation of that somewhere but I can't seem to find it.

The wheel sees roughly half (I think closer to 45%) of the spring rate with the spring in it's OEM location. The formula is [(spring rate)x(Length of spring from the shock / Total length of arm)^2]. So the farther inboard you move the spring, the more spring rate you need to equal the desired wheel rate.

[IronFreak]

I need to be patient and just get the car together. I have all these parts I've never installed. Need to get a good baseline before I start tweaking.

[IronFreak]

Well I fried the board on my welder, found a place that has an exchange program for refurbished boards that carries a 6 month warranty. At $140 that's much more appealing then one from Miller for $600+.

I have also made a few lists of things that I still need to finish to accomplish what I call "Phase 1" of my build. They are as follows:

CHASSIS/SUSPENSION

• Finish engine bay (includes some stitch welding, making a removable radiator mount and modifying the strut towers for the E28 camber plates.
• Cage - still deciding if I want to go full cage at this point or just a 4-point setup
• sunroof insert/body work. wrinkled the top a bit removing the sunroof crap.
• install subframe adjusters (camber/toe)
• shoadowline trim
• trailing arm support/reinforcement
• bump stops
• rebuild halfshafts
• inspect/clean diff..
• brakes
• brake lines
• hydro brake setup
• build steering shaft
• paint bay/interior
• UnloadedAK is going to modify the interior harness

ENGINE/TRANNY

• install flat top pistons and rings
• LS7 lifters
• modify oil pan
• LS1 intake
• HG & bolts
• ZR1 hot cam
• rocker upgrade
• find t-56 tranny or full built th-400 with manual shift and engine braking
• drive shaft
• fuel pump, filter and lines
• custom exhaust
• Modify wiring harness

After that it's wheels, tires and put the interior back in. Probably going to get some e38 5's this go around. Believe it or not that's an abbreviated list as I feel I'm missing more stuff.

In my head there is still 2 more phases I want to complete. 30k foot view of them:

"Phase 2"

• Drivetrain upgrades (diff swap surprise?)
• engine upgrades (FI)
• things that need tweaking from phase 1

"Phase 3"

• cosmetic upgrades, Pesch M3 kit
• Paint
• tweaks from phase 2
• bigger wheels and tires

If I get the new board this weekend I should be able to finish my tube bender I'm building. I'll post some pictures of that. Then hit the bay and get that finished then start the cage. I'd like to get a lot of the dirty noisy fab stuff done while I can have the garage doors open. save the cleaner activities when it's cold out.

[kingston]

Keep at it Ross. Just try to do a little bit every day. She's going to be awesome when you are done with her!!

[89AlpineM3]

Sweet build bud....

[kingston]

Updates, Ross, updates!!!

[IronFreak]

Ive been really bad at taking pictures the last couple weekends. I'll get some this weekend for you guys.

[Chriskbmx]

We need progress! This is why i love e30's because we are mental enough to do crazy stuff like this!

[IronFreak]

I'll get some pictures posted up this weekend after I play in the shop a bit more. Btw.......This area of the build has changed a bit. Red is now scratched, green is the changes.....

ENGINE/TRANNY
install flat top pistons and rings
Stock rotating assembly
LS7 lifters
modify oil pan
Modify cross member and relocate motor back
LS1 intake
HG & Studs
ZR1 hot cam
Stock or gm ls6 hot cam
rocker upgrade
find t-56 tranny or full built th-400 with manual shift and engine braking drive shaft
4L80E with transgo kit
fuel pump, filter and lines
custom exhaust
Modify wiring harness
GT45 turbo
Meth. injection
Wastegate

Slight changes.........