BNC's E30

[Bruce Colby]

What about performance wise?

Is this a trick question? I never heard of a car similar to an E30 which was quicker based solely on where or how the springs were mounted. Being able to tune the suspension setup easily is useful but once set, I'd be very surprised if there was a significant difference. Perhaps one arrangement has a bit more/less total, and/or unsprung weight but I suspect this is a fairly minor issue in terms of the big picture.

[E-Thirty]

It's not a trick question, I'm just curious.:p

[Elephant]

Simon's car looks hot, and good to see it out of Vaughn's.

You mean after the rear end alignment? It's still there from Nats waiting to be fixed. What a pisser that was. Oh well, that's racing.

[Elephant]

Is this a trick question? I never heard of a car similar to an E30 which was quicker based solely on where or how the springs were mounted. Being able to tune the suspension setup easily is useful but once set, I'd be very surprised if there was a significant difference. Perhaps one arrangement has a bit more/less total, and/or unsprung weight but I suspect this is a fairly minor issue in terms of the big picture.

Well, there is a performance factor to it. In addition to the things already mentioned the effectiveness of the spring is improved. When the spring is inboard it moves more in an arc with the TA. When it's outboard over the damper it moves much more linearly.

Additionally, from a roll cage standpoint it's much easier to tie in the rear shock tower with both damper/spring loads at the same point vs the spring, the large majority of it, in a different location.

These may not all be large differences but then it's adding up a bunch of small differences that makes a big difference! ; )

[rwh11385]

You mean after the rear end alignment? It's still there from Nats waiting to be fixed. What a pisser that was. Oh well, that's racing.

I haven't seen the car period, and always heard it was still there getting a cage or what-all. It's BACK?! I need to drop by for an inspection so I won't be surprised to see her.

Now that I think about it, the M3 pretty much lived there too.

[Elephant]

I haven't seen the car period, and always heard it was still there getting a cage or what-all. It's BACK?! I need to drop by for an inspection so I won't be surprised to see her.

Now that I think about it, the M3 pretty much lived there too.

I built the car, not Vaughn. Well, I don't do roll cage fabrication I have that done exclusively by Mark McMahan but I designed the cage. I did most of the construction/reconstruction and prep and then Vaughn did some finish work and some of maintenance/stuff over the summer. Simon lives quite aways from me so it's not so convenient for me to do all of it since the car would then have to be here mostly.

Unfortunately at NASA Nationals Simon was involved in a sorta nasty incident that took out the right front pretty good. We thrashed on it pretty late into the eve and got it back up and running pretty good. Had to set the camber plates at the full out position and that took us back to just over 3deg negative...the impact had tweaked things enough to put it at over 6. Ouch.

Anyway, he started dead last in the Champ race and finished 4th. A great finish but a pretty tough weekend. Simon does still hold the SpecE30 lap record at Mid Ohio....set on Toyo's with 15 heat cycles on them. ; ) And we haven't done anything to the motor yet.....

Oh, and the M3 is mine now. ; )

[rwh11385]

I wasn't sure if the M3 was one in the same or not. Like how it has come along. I enjoyed it when we gave me a few times around Putnam in it before I was able to track myself (ROS 2005 - bushings failed tech).

Oops, didn't know you did most the wrench work on the SE30. I just know his cars are neither strangers to bad luck nor Zionsville. My home is not more than 2 miles from him and both of us trust Rick as the good local indie shop.

[SA E30]

I've been giving the rear valance a load of thought, I've even cut it up already (the steel valance has been chopped up as much as possible, and the FB M-Tech 2 one has had a cut out made in it.

I haven't been able to get my metals bent up yet, for the rear diffuser that will go in place... For now it's just there so I dont have a gaping hole in the rear, as it's not that affective without the Fullbody under tray (which will only come later once the car is up and running)

I dont see it being a big issue to get a diffuser mounted up, I'm going to be mounting it to the trunk floor via threaded rods, it will be as the same height as the bottom of the diff, running upwards to the valance cut out, the fins will be 14cm long (only 6cm long if keeping the horizonal with the ground.

What it will do for aero, I'm not sure, but I know it will eliminate the parachute in the rear.

[Farbin Kaiber]

It's always possible to go faster by applying more $$$$ in the proper places!

So true. Hey Bruce, Terry M. from arosc.org is one of my customers, we had a long convo about e30's and I've been planning to get min done and ot to a weekend with all the guys. I take care of those mr2's he runs around in.

[Bruce Colby]

So true. Hey Bruce, Terry M. from arosc.org is one of my customers, we had a long convo about e30's and I've been planning to get min done and ot to a weekend with all the guys. I take care of those mr2's he runs around in.

Go for it ... get it done and come on out! But don't underestimate the Mister 2's. Terry & Bev hustle them around pretty well.

[Farbin Kaiber]

Go for it ... get it done and come on out! But don't underestimate the Mister 2's. Terry & Bev hustle them around pretty well.

For sure they do, I see the after effects. Terry knows by the time I'm done I won't want to scratch it.

[Jean]

I dig

[speedblind]

I acquired the car in Oct 06 but didn't get it on the track until Jun 07.

I hear that! Car looks great man...good to see these things being driven hard.

[madjurgen]

Where did you get your side mirror from?

[Mike B.]

It looks like a Vitaloni Sebring Mach 1 Mirror.