Build Thread: 325iC Turbo - Total Restoration

[ThatOneEuroE30]

We thought it would be an interesting and unique upgrade. Plus it'd get rid of the potentially messy hydraulic PS system. We'd like to build in some high-tech upgrades, especially if they're low-visibility and/or tasteful.

Along those lines, I'd love to get one of those econometer-to-boost ("Econoboost?") gauge retrofit pieces if I could find one.

There's a guy on here that makes them. Can't remember his name. I'm subscribed to his thread for when I go turbo m30 haha

[E34DIYer]

Justrack?

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=291812

[itskingsteelo]

Extremely impressed with all the work youre putting into this car, when youre done with it, the car will be immaculate.

[george graves]

More for cosmetics than performance. Besides, how much current does an E30 with a stock stereo & lighting need?

At night? With your blower motor going, the head lights on? A good amount!

If I were you I would invest in a voltmeter. There is a guy on here that sells a ebay voltmeter for like $10 shipped. Just do yourself a favor and add a fuse to it - or risk your car catching on fire.

CorvallisBMW has a point though. The alternator doesn't "rob" power from the motor in the same way your AC compressor does. It only takes what it needs. It has a built in voltage regulator, and only works as hard as it needs to. So a smaller pulley is, well, pointless. If anything you'll make it so that's it's less efficient, and rob more power, would be my educamated guess.

Love that break bleader BTW -most of us has made their own with a fertilizer sprayer, and a NAPA/Autozone cap.

[E34DIYer]

Don't worry, guys! We'll report back if we have any electrical issues. And again, we weren't chasing horsepower when we installed the underdrive pulley. We just wanted it for cosmetics.

As you can tell by the level of detail and all the powdercoating, this is more of a weekend cruiser than a daily driver. I'm not sure that the blower motor will ever get much use. But again, it's easy to swap out if it doesn't work for us.

[E34DIYer]

And hello, george graves!! If you ever make any more of your stealth AFR gauges, you have a military veteran ready and willing to buy one! :-) In fact, I'd love to have the following "stealth" gauges:

Econoboost (econometer converted to boost pressure)
Stealth AFR (bars, not numerical)
Voltmeter SI lights
Oil temp stealth gauge ... somewhere...?

[sayed ali]

Nice build man!

[E34DIYer]

Thanks! I'm going to polish the distributor cover plate, then have it etched with a black BMW roundel.

[badwella]

Awesome thread, man!

Quick question: where did you get that evaporator for your a/c? I've not seen a serpentine design for E30's, only the old tube and fin style before.

[E34DIYer]

Good question... in the picture with our evaporators, the new one is on the right and is a tube-and-fin. The one on the left - the old one - was a serpentine unit installed back in 1998 when the car was converted to R134A. To answer your question, I have no idea who installed the R134A retrofit, or where they got a serpentine unit. Here's the more detailed post where we discussed this:

http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?2090118-Build-Thread-1991-325ic-Restoration-engine-swap&p=27739056#post27739056

[badwella]

Cool. Thanks!

[george graves]

And hello, george graves!! If you ever make any more of your stealth AFR gauges, you have a military veteran ready and willing to buy one! :-) In fact, I'd love to have the following "stealth" gauges:

Econoboost (econometer converted to boost pressure)
Stealth AFR (bars, not numerical)
Voltmeter SI lights
Oil temp stealth gauge ... somewhere...?

Yep! PM me - let's not sidetrack this gentleman's thread.

[E34DIYer]

For the ignition coil pack, I'm currently looking at an Accel ignition coil pack that's a direct replacement for the Ford EDIS-6. I like the EDIS connectors because they're good and solid, and this unit wouldn't require me to custom-wire a base plate. MSD's comparable part is #5528. Appreciate any educated and/or constructive opinions:

EDIT: I'm only interested in this option if I can directly drive the coil from Megasquirt without having to use the EDIS module. Researching this...

http://shop.accel-ignition.com/ignition-electrical-and-wiring/ignition-coils/ford-6-tower-coil-horizontal.html

Here's the connector pigtail:

http://www.diyautotune.com/catalog/wire-pigtail-for-ford-maf-map-coils-p-362.html

- - - Updated - - -

EDIT: Only interested in using the EDIS coil pack if I don't have to run the EDIS module as well. Hmm.

[E34DIYer]

Ordered a new engine wiring harness from ECS Tuning. We'll see if they actually manage to locate one...

UPDATE: ECS Tuning cancelled my order, as it was NLA in the U.S. However.... BMW of South Atlanta was able to confirm SEVEN (7) harnesses still available in Germany, so I should have one in 2-3 weeks.

[E34DIYer]

Aeromotive #13129 regulator and Marshall gauge arrived: