prepairing a track car, what am i missing?

[Eric]

ok I'm compiling a list of parts needed before this car comes off the lift in the spring. I'm going to use the car on the nurburgring, and possibly hockenheimring. maximum reliability is the goal here.

so far i'm planning on these items, but opinions are always welcome

-parts that are already in possession
momo quick release hub
autopwer 4 point roll bar
E36 M3 lightweight shift lever
Mtech II body kit (not for performance, but i'm a good deal whore)
kevlar clutch
3.73 lSD

-parts i'm planning on purchasing
KW variant 3 coil overs
massive brakes in the front
hawk pads in the rear
new front wheel bearings
new control arms/poly bushings etc.
poly rear bushings
deep dish stearing wheel
recaro pole position seats, or possibly the GT3 replica seats on the bay (think those are any good?)

-parts i'm thinking about
sway bars
wheels to clear brakes, opinions?
tires, brands sizes etc

so what am i forgetting, or should change?

[YAN-3]

your forgetting a co driver.:) ME!

[Eric]

I'll get a super wide pole position just for you!

[1991 318is]

Move sway bars up to right after coil overs. Then add adjustible shocks. At the top of the list put "Read the Rule Book".

[PiercedE30]

cage and harnesses?

[Eric]

Move sway bars up to right after coil overs. Then add adjustible shocks. At the top of the list put "Read the Rule Book".

good idea. I didn't get aftermarked sways on my GC equiped E30 M3, but i think i'll go for that this time around. The KW V3 have adjustable rebound and dampening, they are not cheap, around $2000 euro!

the beautiful thing about building this car, is i'm just building it to bang around the nurburgring for a couple of years, i don't have to conform to any rule books. I'm just trying to make the most reliable car i can so i can have more driving weekends and less on my back looking at the oil pan!

I have an autopower roll bar currently, and i haven't found a harness that i like that is in my budget. jake over on S14.net has a great set in his 320is, but they run about $450 each! I'm looking for a 6 point in the $300ish range.

wheels - think i can run 245/45/16 on 16x8 rota slips?

[jlevie]

Suggestion... Put a set of H&R Race springs and Bilstein sports one and add in an Ireland or Suspension Techniques 22/19mm sway set. And rather than a big brake kit, cooling ducts and race pads will be more than enough for the speeds that an M20B25 can achieve in an E30. Those are a lot cheaper than what you've proposed and will leave lots of money for race seats and 6 point harnesses.

BTW, GForce has good 6 point harnesses for less than $300 per set.

[Eric]

I want something superior to the set of ground control/bilstein setup that was on my old E30 M3.

I've ridden in a few KW V3 equiped E30's including 318is, 327, and M3 with a big 2.5L rebuild and like how these cars handle.

just brake ducts might be fine on a 9 turn 2 mile course, but on the nordschliefe you will boil the brake fluid before reaching adenau Forest, that's only 1/3 through one lap!

I'm trying to build a car that i can do lap after lap at the Nordscheife, and brake ducts will be included, but not the conclusion to brake upgrades.

oh, and the car will not come back to the states with a M20, that's next winters project...

thanks for the Gforce contact link, they look like quality harnesses

[JeffBij]

I want something superior to the set of ground control/bilstein setup that was on my old E30 M3.

I've ridden in a few KW V3 equiped E30's including 318is, 327, and M3 with a big 2.5L rebuild and like how these cars handle.

just brake ducts might be fine on a 9 turn 2 mile course, but on the nordschliefe you will boil the brake fluid before reaching adenau Forest, that's only 1/3 through one lap!

I'm trying to build a car that i can do lap after lap at the Nordscheife, and brake ducts will be included, but not the conclusion to brake upgrades.

oh, and the car will not come back to the states with a M20, that's next winters project...

thanks for the Gforce contact link, they look like quality harnesses

Don't forget a good helmet, especially with the roll bar right next to your head. And get good seats, racing quality. Cheap "racing style" street seats can break/bend and rip loose in an accident.

[m42technic]

Safety equipment.

[Teaguer]

Looks like you've got a decent list going so far .

But don't concentrate only on the performance mods .

I would seriously suggest you include all cooling hose ,even the small ones along the block and the heater hoses as well .

Don't forget to remedy or reseal any leaking seals in the engine , trans and diff .

Make sure the power steering pump or rack is also leak free .

I would also throw in another clutch slave and slave line when you do the clutch .

Include all new bushings and coupler in the shift linkage when you instal the LTW lever .

While you are under there looking up at the pan change out the guibo and CSB as well .


You get what I'm saying , make sure the thing is going to very trackworthy as well as being improved upon .

Good luck mang .

[Eric]

Looks like you've got a decent list going so far .

But don't concentrate only on the performance mods .

I would seriously suggest you include all cooling hose ,even the small ones along the block and the heater hoses as well .

Don't forget to remedy or reseal any leaking seals in the engine , trans and diff .

Make sure the power steering pump or rack is also leak free .

I would also throw in another clutch slave and slave line when you do the clutch .

Include all new bushings and coupler in the shift linkage when you instal the LTW lever .

While you are under there looking up at the pan change out the guibo and CSB as well .


You get what I'm saying , make sure the thing is going to very trackworthy as well as being improved upon .

Good luck mang .

good ideas guys, i hadn't thought of some things like guilbo and CSB. the LTW lever is already installed, with new OE bushings, i'm getting quite good at this! I'm still of a DTM shift lincage...

I was thinking of swaping to a manual rack from a euro model, since mine does leak like all older bmw's. i know of two in a local yard. drop a few pounds too.

my mechanic prepares cars for 24hour races, who is going to go over the car for little mechanical issues that I might over look, cool thing is he is nice enough to let me help wrench on the car in his shop!

already have a helmet.

i should replace the brake lines as well as the clutch line... hadn't thought of that yet

[Erick]

I wasnt aware KW made a variant 3 for e30s. Sickening.

[Teaguer]

Eric you might be better off using an M3 rack or going the E36 route as the manual E30 racks are the slowest ones out there .

Do some research and decide which rack is the best/most available for your needs .
Once you have the rack you can always fill it and loop a line back to itsely to disable and drop the pump .

I assumed the Massive brake kit will come with braided lines for the front so yes you should get a regular e30 set and utilize the rear 4 lines .


Keep us informed as you progress .