1970 BMW Gruppe 2 2002 (M20B29 Turbo) Build

[s14brent]

awesome thread!!

[jeenyus]

great progress! can't make it easy to pack up your project and do it somewhere else! I'm honestly surprised that the M20 doesn't fit in the 2002 better. I would have thought it would be a pretty straight-forward process, but man, was i wrong!

[88SuperETABD]

1970 BMW Gruppe 2 2002 (M20B29 Turbo) Build

Update:

Made a milestone I was scared wouldn't work, but looks like it will.

I pulled out my e30 rear suspension and began cleaning up areas to reinforce.



Getting a bit better at TIG, not pretty but it will do! Haha.



Reinforced the subframe for the differential mounting points.



Then reinforced the shock knuckle because I will be using true coilovers on the rear of the car. Also reinforced the rear sway bar tab because those are prone to breaking with big sway bars and track use. I still need to use the plate on the bottom of trailing arms but wanted to use my time to get this car back rolling so stopped welding there and made a jig from the old subframe to get the spacing of the 2002 studs to help locate the new mounts on the e30 subframe.



Once that was complete I knew I was good locating it from side to side but had to figure the front to back location, I did this by measuring from the wheel center to the studs of my 2002 mounting location. Took that as reference to know how far forward the subframe needed to be.





Then I put the wheels on and made everything level and tacked the subframe bushings in place after lots of grinding and checking fit.





Here's my dad and I attacking both sides with grinders.



We tacked them in place and dragged the suspension under the car to check fit with wheels centered in the wheel well.



Also checked the differential alignment with lasers. We used a chalk line on the ground from the output shaft of transmission to centerline of the car. Thank god my dad has all these fancy carpentry tools. I'd have no faith that this thing is straight without it.

Diff lines up nicely. And so do the wheel wells.


I still need to swap diff covers to the dual ear and make diff mounting tabs to hang down similar to 2002 since mine are in a different location. (Forgot the dual ear diff cover in storage tho).

For mean time just made a strap to hold the diff to distribute load evenly.




After we felt success. We got hit with this.


My Ground control coilover springs I had bought for the 2002 suspension was way to short. My fenders were sitting on the tires and we needed to get the car back in the garage but it wouldn't roll. We scratched our head looking for stuff to space out the TA's so it would roll. Finally found some pvc pipe that we cut to 12" to space the arms up high enough since my offset is so aggressive with the 15x10 and e30 suspension under the stock 2002 body.





That static life lol!!!! But it worked!!



So happy to roll back into the garage knowing this will all work out. Unfortunately I gotta take it all back apart and finish weld and reinforce the subframe mounts. Don't need those breaking on me.



The 2002 really needs a apron or diffuser. Any ideas that won't look ricer?

Granted the car will be 4-5" lower than this.



Here's a engine Bay shot with the brake booster set in place. All clear :)


Just gotta call Ireland engineering for some true coils now :). Will post more when I work on it next.

Still need to:
mount trans to floor
Check drive shaft fit
Finish welding subframe
Finish reinforcing control arms
Csb mounting
And a billion other things...

But it's getting there.

Need some more 3 day weekends :)





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[kronus]

nice! on all 4, sort of!

did you weld the subframe mounts straight to the e30 one? seems like you could potentially weld plates with captive nuts to the cutoff ends and have your subframe bushings be replaceable 2002-style..

[88SuperETABD]

nice! on all 4, sort of!

did you weld the subframe mounts straight to the e30 one? seems like you could potentially weld plates with captive nuts to the cutoff ends and have your subframe bushings be replaceable 2002-style..

Yes. I want to do that on revision 2 of my subframe. Now that I know what "works". I can make a better subframe that maybe I can sell: these subframe mounts last 100k miles or more tho. So doubt this car will ever need replacements. But hope to make a more cost efficient set up. There's a couple ways that have custom subframes but they're $2k+. I want to use what we can find in junkyards readily available. There isn't a lot of room. I had to undercut the subframe quite a bit to keep the trailing arm tab locations in order to use everything as is.

I want the only modified part to be the subframe ideally. I asked my self same question and anxious I just said fuck it. I'll get another subframe down the road. Let's just get this thing rolling.


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[88SuperETABD]

Finished welding up and reinforcing the subframe.


Tacked it in and test fit again to ensure nothing moved.



Then fully welded it underneath and a little bit in top.



Reassembled everything.





Back on 4 wheels.



Then test fit the fenders and marked where to cut.



Decided to put the front apron on just sit back and admire.



Since I kept putting stuff on top of these I figured they were safer installed. So I glued in the gaskets to my euro turn signals and installed them.



Can't wait to roll her out of the garage this weekend and cut the fenders to see it at ride height.

I installed the passenger side grille too. Found out the right one doesn't fit because of the accident by PO. Gotta do some massaging.

[Metallated]

Wow, just wow. Your attention to detail and passion for this project are awe inspiring...

This is going to turn out fantastic.

[SkiFree]

Just looked over your rear setup a little closer. Awesome awesome awesome work.

[Maikkeli]

This car is starting to look really good, really like the bodykit.

[88SuperETABD]

1970 BMW Gruppe 2 2002 (M20B29 Turbo) Build

Update:

Been working on the car some more. Ordering parts.



While I waited for the parts, I decided to cut the fenders...


This was harder than I thought. Getting through both inner and outer fenders.

I ground up to about 1" from the line. I'm gonna go back under and cut the outer fender about 1/2" then bend the inner fender up to the outer and weld together for strength and to prevent shit from getting in between.



Then I set it down. Took a "stance pic" haha. Ride height will be 1/2" or so higher. I need to mount the 245/40r15s on there.



Then I did the other side :)



Flare back on.



Booty shot, i don't like how the flares are like tilted. But still looks decent imo.


BMW has been getting all the attention so I decided to treat my corvette. Bought some PFadt coilovers and some R8 pirelli take offs for the rear. Funny how big the tires are compared to the 2002


Installed the brake booster and e21 brake master for the wilwoods


Also got a SS strut brace from Ireland engineering. Got lucky. Clears the throttle body lever by 1" or so.




Got some polyurethane trans bushings as well so I can floor mount the getrag 260.





Next I'll rebuild the trans tunnel.



Decided to fit the grilles so I wouldn't mess them up since they were in the trunk of the car getting beat up a bit.

Found out the drivers side won't fit due to the previous owners crash. Gonna have a buddy help me pull it back into shape with his slide hammer.



I'm spending too much money so i'm welding these old control arms up that I have to sell to make some money for more parts.



Stitch welded and painted. Getting a bit better at TIG







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[88SuperETABD]

Working with ground control on spring rates and a solution for new body spring mount.



No going back to 2002. I'm committed.

I accidentally ripped the sheet metal when chiseling off the original body mount




Measuring for spring length.



I wish the GC adjusters were bigger. Not much adjustment. Leaves smaller room for error haha.





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[rzerob]

I got pfadt feather lights for my Corvette recently as well.

[ak-]

Maybe cut the bottom of the flares in the rear horizontally so that they won't 'look' tilted anymore.

[88SuperETABD]

Been working on the car here and there...I post more on Instagram now than this haha. @beedeebd for my insta.



I got my 12" springs in...but really needed 13" cuz of the static height needed to be 12". With the weight of car it compresses about 1"
With the springs in I realized my shock won't mount. The shock towers are at a different angle than e30 trailing arms so I am going to have to modify the rear shock towers.



Friend gave me a alternator bracket, I cleaned up and painted.



Since I was on 4 tires again, I wanted to get these 245s on my rear wheels.



I don't like stretched tires. Looks loads better, but wished they made a 275/35r15 in 200tw.



Got my scirocco all aluminum radiator (triple pass). Gonna try this since there's no way to get the z3m radiator in. It's way too thick and tall. Hope my m20 stays cool.



Here's how I decided to make my new spring mounts. Got the spring cones from ground control.





Set them in for a test fit and i'm happy with the ride height! This is in the middle of the adjuster. So can go up or down from here :)



Welded to body


Now the springs won't fall out every time I lift the rear of the car.


Plenty of room for bigger tires. Will get some Hoosiers one day to fill these fenders





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[88SuperETABD]

Rolled the car out of the garage to take a look at intercooler fitment.



These hood uprights need to go to gain room for intercooler/radiator/electric fans.






Took my measurements and fast forward a couple days when the FMIC came in.



Will be tight, but should all fit!!





Order 2x 7.5" electric puller spal fans.



Started fabbing the radiator support. I got some brushed 304SS to match the IE strut brace. Got some 3/16" 304ss plate to mount the bar to. Will sandwhich that with a backing plate and 4 bolts to the front of the fenders.

Once this is complete I'll mount the radiator and intercooler and start the IC piping. Got this universal kit I'll hack up to fit my set up.


And one more because of the eclipse! Haha.
Brought my welders helmet to work.



More work planned this weekend....


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