NEW UPDATES! Bretts Turbo Twin-Cam M3 bodied project.

[David Alejandro]

where did you source the rear panels from?

[turbo325i]

285/30-18 on all corners.... that would be amazing

I want to go with the 275 rear and 245 front like the e36 M3, and other cars that used this set up.

where did you source the rear panels from?

They were molded off an oem m3 car. I am making some more for my buddies car.

[SamE30e]

That main hoop for the cage looks good. But I'd make it tighter to the car.

[turbo325i]

That main hoop for the cage looks good. But I'd make it tighter to the car.

The picture of the hoop in the car is NOT, how its going to fit. It will fit much tighter. We were only test fitting for general spots to start the bends and such.

[turbo325i]

Ok. I havent updated this thread lately but I am making decent progress condsidering my many other obligations. The m52 is machined and waiting for parts to be re assembled.
The drivers side body work is nearing completion and getting ready to start on the passenger side.

The drivers quarter is bonded on and using short hair fiberglass to smooth the lines.


Finally recieved my oem m3 rear bumper from e30damen... Thanks to all who helped me get the bumper! It was a group effort by the r3v community.


Just bonded on with no body work done yet


Here you can see the green short hair fiberglass bondo being used


To give you an idea of what it will end up looking like...


Decided to go with a zf trans due to ease of install and low mile and build design of the zf
43k m3 tranny


Getting the skirts in mock position to see what is needed to mount them. They are an excellent made piece but proving to be more dificult to mount than I had thought.


Had a dent right near the rear light so I had to do some work to make it right again. This is a trick I learned to get your body lines dead perfect with the exact gap.

rogh it out

and finish it off.


Got to go, I am late for class. Will update as much as possible!!!!

[BrewCity11]

I Love it
can't wait to see it painted, even just primer!
Oh, and I love it

[turbo325i]

Haha thank you! I am dying to see it in primer myself!

[vlad]

what are your plans for suspension and the rims ?

[turbo325i]

what are your plans for suspension and the rims ?

that is a really good question... Because my funds are limited I will probably be 4-lug for some time until I find out what I want to do on 5-lug. I will have to find some low offset wheels and space them out for now.

Ideally I want e30 m3 suspension.

[blunttech]

can we hear more about your turbo set up? what manifold etc?? looks great

[turbo325i]

can we hear more about your turbo set up? what manifold etc?? looks great

Hey blunt. Sorry for the late reply. I didnt realize you had posted. Well I had a turbo m20 in the car before and ran a pro-turbo manifold out of finland, and two turbos, a garrett t3/t4 and a holset hx-35. I absolutely loved that car on boost! Amazing!

My plans for the m52 are very similar. I want to break the motor in n/a just to make sure everything is functioning well and to have a good solid starting point. Then for boost I am still up in the air on building my own mani with a buddy of mine or a bottom mount spa, or other options. I will start again with the hx35 and go from there!

[turbo325i]

Ok, here is an update for you my friends. Bodywork is a BITCH!!! Seriously though, it is immensely time consuming ESPECIALLY if you want to do a half decent job like I am trying to do... I would spend longer and try to do a show car job... but I just want this thing on the road...

Having said that, I am having a blast doing the bodywork. It is very pleasureful to see this project take shape. Even though by my pictures it does not look like a lot of progress is being made. It is.

I have filled in the door guard moulding recess to mirror the m3 doors body lines, I have shaped the rear quarter to fit the tail light and have gotten the panels pretty close to ready for primer. The side skirt is now permanently mounted (although I need to sort out the ripple issue as the glass is so thin... )

Things are coming along nicely. I am hoping to have it painted by the semesters end. I will keep updating this as things unfold, although small things on my end are great progress, they might not appear that way on yours. this is expected. :D

Worst pic ever... I know. But I do all of my work on tuesday, and thursday at night because I get off work at 6.



On the flip side, I have a friend with an e30 m3 that allows me to go look at it anytime I want to check my body lines and help keep me on course. :D

[So Live]

Looks like she's coming along nicely dude! Keep it up!

I know body work sucks. I hate it and it's one aspect of building a car that i would much rather pay someone for than do myself. So props on doing this much work and still being motivated lol.

Oh and my manifold might be for sale soon and it'd work nicely with that hx35. I'm going to a t4 flange and someone local needs a 24v e30 to mock up a manifold to sell em.

[HiTheNameIsBJ]

big fan of sunflower seeds are ya. Awesome build progress so far. Actually at first I didn't read your last post, saw the m3 and thought you were done. Its nice that you have a finished image though, keeps things in perspective.

[turbo325i]

Looks like she's coming along nicely dude! Keep it up!

I know body work sucks. I hate it and it's one aspect of building a car that i would much rather pay someone for than do myself. So props on doing this much work and still being motivated lol.

Oh and my manifold might be for sale soon and it'd work nicely with that hx35. I'm going to a t4 flange and someone local needs a 24v e30 to mock up a manifold to sell em.

Thanks Solive! Yea body work takes a LONG time. The reason I am doing it myself is because it was always the one aspect of building a car that I was scared to do and "couldnt" do. So I decided to overcome my fears and am in the auto body program at UVU. I have learned how fun it can be to do your own projects.

I paid $ to have someone do the paint and bodywork on my Chevelle, and It cost $4000. And My dad knew the guy and got a "deal" Mind you it is a show car and looks perfect... I am just not in a position to shell out that much cash anymore. Plus I think that If I spend enough time I can do just as good.


Solive: Keep me posted on the mani!!! I needs boost!

big fan of sunflower seeds are ya. Awesome build progress so far. Actually at first I didn't read your last post, saw the m3 and thought you were done. Its nice that you have a finished image though, keeps things in perspective.

Yea I love sunflower seeds! Chew 'em all the time when working on cars and driving and... well everywhere! Yea it is very nice to have the real m3 to look at whenever I am concerned with something