ITS E30 Build

[Snowmann]

Starting my build thread... Will be posting here but mostly the blog...

I'm finishing up my last year in college and building this at the same time. It's proving to be a challenge thus far. This is my second IT build - the first being with my brother and a the car a 318is. Doing things a little differently this time around on my own car...

http://itse30.blogspot.com/

Please comment!
-Tim

[kishg]

looks good. good luck with the build!

[AlarmedBread]

Looking good! Hope to see it out on the track.

[Snowmann]

Got some painting done today and started bolting up some interior bits...

[E-Thirty]

Nice to see another e30 headed for ITS. I still plan on building one in the future, so any info on engine and suspension mods(Even minute) is much appreciated.

[CincinnatiKid]

Love the grip tape on the floor idea, I might steal that.

[blueapplesoda]

damn. we need more IT e30s out here. I have only seen 2 or 3 IT BMWs period.

[Snowmann]

Couple little weekend projects. Did some more cleaning etc... and made this nice little door handle setup. Just had to make some new linkage and it works like a charm.

[E-Thirty]

Nice, very clean job.

[Jean]

Looking good so far!

what do the ITS rules say about that seat "brace/bracket" attached to the cage?

[karimMsalama]

you have a nice looking E30

[Snowmann]

Since I don't have an FIA homo. seat I need a fixed seat back brace.

There is a lot of discussion on this topic really - those that agree, those that disagree.

I especially see the reasoning on these aluminum seats, Once bolted to the seat back brace its solid as a rock, prior to that there is some give in the upper section.

[mlytle64]

FIA seats need a brace too if the cert is expired (5yrs).

your a-pillar cage tubes and dash bar look odd. they look about a foot too far back. really should be up against the a-pillars and the dash bar should be inside the dash. you can also add two more attachement points on the cage from the lower a-pillar bars to the back of the front wheel wells as foot protection.

you have a lot of tubes in your cage. unless you are a light person, might have challenge getting the car down to 2750lb race wt.

looks clean...keep posting updates and direction you are going with the build.

marshall
ex-scca ITAC member
ex-e30 ITS race car
current E36 ITR rce car
both built to the limit of IT rules.

[Snowmann]

That's why I said there is a lot of discussion about the topic on seats w/o going into details. The mfg's don't want you to drill into their composite seats while sanctioning bodies push for it in the situation you stated. I'm on the fence with the idea. A properly mounted seat back brace should do no harm in either situation and should only help in my opinion.

The A-pillar bars were done merely for ease of installation. We all know in perfect world how cage design SHOULD be done but there are always compromises when building anything.

They are extremely close to the a-pillar, the only difference is the bend - the same degree of bend you would have 5-6" further along the a pillar is early to allow for installation outside of the dash. The knee bar was installed above the steering wheel to allow for more leg room - I have glorified basketball player legs.

Our 91 318is with essentially the same cage design came in 100lbs under its weight w/driver and zero fuel. That car has to weigh 100lbs less then the 325is, I don't have any worries about weight.

We added foot protection in the ITA car, but I chose not to do this as I want to easily upgrade this to e-prod in the future and will be extending to the front shock towers.

FIA seats need a brace too if the cert is expired (5yrs).

your a-pillar cage tubes and dash bar look odd. they look about a foot too far back. really should be up against the a-pillars and the dash bar should be inside the dash. you can also add two more attachement points on the cage from the lower a-pillar bars to the back of the front wheel wells as foot protection.

you have a lot of tubes in your cage. unless you are a light person, might have challenge getting the car down to 2750lb race wt.

looks clean...keep posting updates and direction you are going with the build.

marshall
ex-scca ITAC member
ex-e30 ITS race car
current E36 ITR rce car
both built to the limit of IT rules.

[mlytle64]

just a thought for the next car....;-) pull dash, build cage to match pillars and roof line, but 4in short. then raise cage up in car and weld to boxes against the rockers that are the max scca cage foot dimensions. put dash back in with knee bar up inside dash. end result is cage up tight against the pillars, cage feet are more securely attached to floor and rockers, and the dash bar is up in the dash out of sight and well clear of any length legs (safer).

weld in the foot protection for safety. you can cut it out later when you go to prod.

i agree with the seat manufacturers on the fia seats`. seat back brace on composite seat not so good. metal brace could end up a spear in your back in hard rear hit since it is far stronger than the composite, which could flex a little and absorb shock. oh well!

suspension and engine plans?