New Member - Autox Build

[ATone517]

Hey guys, I wanted to introduce myself to the forums; showoff and get some feedback on my build.
A little intro, I’ve been autoxing my 07 GTI for the past 3 years and wanted to get a little more serious and retire the GTI to DD duty. I always loved the e30 and thought it would make a good autox / track car.
The goal for this car is to build an autox machine that can handle the track and be driven on the street.
Major parts/mods are:
S52
Z3 Steering Rack
GC Coilovers
Roll Bar
Seats and Harnesses
Wheels and tires
In addition I will be replacing every bushing, ball joint ect..

A couple of months ago I picked up a 325e for cheap and started to tear it apart.



There was some rust issues I had to fix.

I tapped the rocker to see if it was solid and punched a hole through it.

I cut the old rocker out and welded in a new one, as well as patch the inside.


Gutted the interior and built a roll bar.


This past weekend the suspension and brakes came out. Next on the list is modify the strut housings for the GC coilovers and rebuild the brake calipers.

I still need to make a decision on my wheel and tire combo. I would love to stay on 15s but I would like at least a 245 section tire, witch doesn't seem to exist. Flares are an option, but I want to try to roll and pull the crap out of them first. If anyone has suggestions please let me know.

Also if anyone knows about or has s52 swap parts available I am currently looking!

[F34R]

I was freaking out about that damage to the rockers...then saw you did it right! Hope you did not pay a ton for that with the work you had to do. And nice cage! I need to get started on mine.

[JCarp90]

I like where this is going.

[ATone517]

I was freaking out about that damage to the rockers...then saw you did it right! Hope you did not pay a ton for that with the work you had to do. And nice cage! I need to get started on mine.

I freaked out too when I realized it was made of 90% bondo. Who ever fixed it before me did a terrible job. As far as costs a new rocker only cost me 45 bucks then some sheet metal to patch up the inside.

I like where this is going.

Thanks, me too!! Cant wait to get it done.

[ATone517]

New updates from this weekend. I removed the suspension and brakes from the car, cleaned and painted everything. I modified the strut housings and assembled the coilovers.





Next calipers need to be rebuilt, new bushings and bearings need to be installed, then everything goes back on the car.

Now I need to find a motor and make a decision on wheels and tires. Its such a PITA to find what Im looking for in a 4x100 bolt pattern.

[E30 Wagen]

Great job. I love seeing rust fixed properly.

[Eric]

Great start, love the fab work.

What class are you planning on running in with those planned mods?

[Ocell]

Are you planning to put in a 5-speed with the engine swap? (Was that a stupid question?)

[deutschman]

Cool beans. To bad it had all that rust. What a cool color!

[ATone517]

Cool beans. To bad it had all that rust. What a cool color!

It is but the car recently had a cheap macco paint job and considering all the rust removal I had to do, it will be repainted eventually, most likely a different color.

Are you planning to put in a 5-speed with the engine swap? (Was that a stupid question?)

Yup, of course. :D

Great start, love the fab work.

What class are you planning on running in with those planned mods?

Off the top of my head for SCCA I think Prepared Class. Im going to start running with BMWCA too. For that they just keep tacking on points for every mod you have. If I remember correctly ill be in the modded e46 m3 or stock e92 range. Hopefully its competitive in at least one of those clubs.

Great job. I love seeing rust fixed properly.

I couldn't sleep at night if it wasn't.

[F34R]

Did you shorten your housings? From the looks you are running Koni SA inerts, I would take the time to cut 1" out of the housings.

[matthugie]

Nice work! Glad to see this being done properly. For SCCA you'll be in Street Mod (SM) because of the engine swap.

[ATone517]

Did you shorten your housings? From the looks you are running Koni SA inerts, I would take the time to cut 1" out of the housings.

Yup, the housings were shortened 1 inch.

For wheels Im thinking either TRMotorsports C1 or C3 or Team Dynamics Pro Race. My problem now is do I go with 15 225s to keep low unsprung weight or 17 245/255 and have a grip advantage. If anyone has experience with these types of setups, I would love to get some feedback.

[F34R]

If you are staying with stock brakes I would stick with a smaller lighter 15". You can get tons of grippy tires in a 225/50/15. I am personally tossing up sticking with my UUC BBK just so I can fit a smaller lighter wheel for autox.

I personally think two sets of wheels are in order for people that autox a bunch. One set for daily use and the other fitted with sticky tires.

[WhorifyingHunty]

When I read through this all I thought was "a VW guy doing it right" Then I teared up a lil.

In all seriousness great work and I wish that color was oem. It looks so good from a distance.