Hello all!
I wanted to document/ show the progress and build of my new car. Im coming from a 95 miata rpkg that I had started building to take to the track but unfortunitely, no matter how much I did to the suspension, or for safety, the shell was a mess. It had a ton of rust, and a massive dent. It was honestly daunting to think about what it would take to get the shell in a condition that I felt would come close to passing tech at a track day. On top of that, as much as i loved the feel of driving such a small car with insanely direct steerign imput, it had its trade offs. Long story short, an oppertunity came up to snag an E30 sedan that was a former track car that had been sitting in a garage, mostly un touched for the last couple years. It had a straight body, with the exception of a few bumps and bruises and some faded paint. Spec e30 suspension, bolt in rear hoop and a few other odds and ends. The sun roof was taken out, the HVAC is completely gutted, sound detening is gone, so I would imagine the car is fairly light. The m20 is stock with the exception of a full exhaust and it has an earlier version of megasquirt that is sort of tuned. This is the only drawback to the car right now. I have no experience with MS and am torn between trying to do what it takes to get it tuned (may need a new wideband) or trying to convert back to the stock ECU so that I can have a fun car that starts and feels the same every day.
As the car sits now, I threw what I kept from my miata on whch are the fdd motorsport wheels and my Nardi. Im waiting on getting some side mounts from massive and then I will mount my Recaro SPG that I have as well. Future plans will include trying to tighten some stuff up suspension wise. I wante get a condor kit and do the motor and trans mounts as well as a few interior bits and what not. I am Thrilled with the car so far and to be honest stoked to finally have one of these things. It has everything that my miata was lacking.
My miata
Off to FLorida!
The day I got it. The paint was faded as hell and not exactly loving the wheels.
With the wheels on. By the way, the size details are as follows. 15x8 + 20 2mm spacer up front to clear UUC BBK and 205 50 15 star specs
Finally, after spending a day on the paint, it started to look a lot closer to how I had wanted.
I am going to post more pics when I get them and am looking forward to documenting the progress on here. Feel free to ask any questions you may have!
I wanted to document/ show the progress and build of my new car. Im coming from a 95 miata rpkg that I had started building to take to the track but unfortunitely, no matter how much I did to the suspension, or for safety, the shell was a mess. It had a ton of rust, and a massive dent. It was honestly daunting to think about what it would take to get the shell in a condition that I felt would come close to passing tech at a track day. On top of that, as much as i loved the feel of driving such a small car with insanely direct steerign imput, it had its trade offs. Long story short, an oppertunity came up to snag an E30 sedan that was a former track car that had been sitting in a garage, mostly un touched for the last couple years. It had a straight body, with the exception of a few bumps and bruises and some faded paint. Spec e30 suspension, bolt in rear hoop and a few other odds and ends. The sun roof was taken out, the HVAC is completely gutted, sound detening is gone, so I would imagine the car is fairly light. The m20 is stock with the exception of a full exhaust and it has an earlier version of megasquirt that is sort of tuned. This is the only drawback to the car right now. I have no experience with MS and am torn between trying to do what it takes to get it tuned (may need a new wideband) or trying to convert back to the stock ECU so that I can have a fun car that starts and feels the same every day.
As the car sits now, I threw what I kept from my miata on whch are the fdd motorsport wheels and my Nardi. Im waiting on getting some side mounts from massive and then I will mount my Recaro SPG that I have as well. Future plans will include trying to tighten some stuff up suspension wise. I wante get a condor kit and do the motor and trans mounts as well as a few interior bits and what not. I am Thrilled with the car so far and to be honest stoked to finally have one of these things. It has everything that my miata was lacking.
My miata
Off to FLorida!
The day I got it. The paint was faded as hell and not exactly loving the wheels.
With the wheels on. By the way, the size details are as follows. 15x8 + 20 2mm spacer up front to clear UUC BBK and 205 50 15 star specs
Finally, after spending a day on the paint, it started to look a lot closer to how I had wanted.
I am going to post more pics when I get them and am looking forward to documenting the progress on here. Feel free to ask any questions you may have!
suspension/steering: your standard stuff here: condor bushings all around and GC coilovers. E36 m3 rack (de powered) 205 r888rs 
I love this set up... I came from a very modified Miata and when I first bought the e30 it had sloppy suspension and a factory rack. i remember thinking to myself “did I make a mistake? This thing is like driving a truck” Since doing what I have done, it’s as good as the Miata and even better. 
I am going to finish updating shortly as there’s a ton more to update on and a handful of pictures but here are a few recent shots of the car, as I prep for a track weekend in May. 
So after a long winter of trying to get e car sorted, I had my first “real” track day/weekend. Previously, I had only done a TNIA at Lime Rock, which was 3 20 minute sessions. Enough to hook me in for good but not enough to really start to get conformable. This time, my buddy and I made the 250 or so mile trek up to New York Safety Track for a 2 day event with Mass Tuning. We woke up to snow on Saturday and needless to say, the first few sessions were “interesting” I don’t think I have ever even started the car in sub 40 degree weather, let alone push it. Thank goodness I put that race heater in in the fall. Having no heat at all would have been brutal. 
Overall, the car was amazing. Hard to ask more from it. I did have a few issues and a handful of things I have to address after 750 miles and 2 full track days. I went with a new wheel set up specifically for the track and 205 RT660s and they were awesome. Lived up to the hype...
One of my brand new rear Konis from GC exploded for some reason... weird. 
My oil temps were quite high (compared to what I’m used to) saw 230 a few times and on the way home a sustained 220-225 on the highway (measured from the sandwich plate by washer bottle mount) Historically I had run 15-50 M1 synthetic and just switched to conventional 20/50 VR1. Per some Spec E30 threads I read through, I deleted my stock oil cooler (simplicity) but am also running a skid plate so think that’s the main issue. Water temps never saw above 180 all day so engine is being cooled. I’m going to try the UUC skid plate that has cut outs to cool the oil pan and hope that just the air flow to the pan helps and then go back to an oil cooler if need be. Finally, I have a massive oil pan gasket leak from the previous owner installing a crank scraper. I’m going to finally fix that and also install an IE oil pan baffle to be on the safe side. I am dreading and have been dreading doing this haha. Outside of pulling the motor/trans, it’s the last job that I have been dreading/putting off but needs to be done. Aside from that, the car was really awesome. I cannot wait to get back to the track and could not be more stoked on how this car has been. 
Here are a few other shots from the weekend/prep of the car 
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