New SCCA SM happenings...........

[DSP74]

My point exactly.
Minimum weight for RWD is 1800lbs plus 200lbs per litre. F/I adds 1.4L to the equation.
200lbsX4.6L=2719.

[ed94r]

Jogging my memory...

I swear Terry's car was at 2500+ lbs...it was a non-roof car with all the legal weight removed. No radio, No AC, the right glass, the right carpet, Kirkey drag passenger seat, and nothing else. I'm also pretty sure he had the built 2.9L alloy block at Nationals.

Like I said. It was, and still would be the best-of-the best stuff.

I am hesitant to believe that you would be able to put those FI 300+rwhp to the ground. Especially on any sweeper with bumps or off-camber stuff. The E36 was proven to be a superior chassis for SM *even back then*, and the e36 is a has-been for SM.

I don't want to precipitate on the E30 SM parade, It would be a fun-assed car to run and maybe even impressive...but it aint no National SM threat. It so far off the SM radar it aint even funny.

Ed

[DSP74]

I'll certainly have to review the rear suspension as far as roll center locations, and camber curves as well as toe changes go, but I'm inclined to think that aluminum subframe bushings, diff bushing, and either the I/E toe and camber adjusters (if legal under S/T wording) or poly or delrin eccentric bushings, should be able to help alleviate much of the what is supposedly a horrid rear suspension.

NO?

[E30 Racer]

I see your point about FI. I did not consider the multiplier...

Good luck with you SM project. You should drive down for an OVR event (Columbus, OH) some time. We have a pretty fierce DSP class comprised of five nationally competitive drivers, four of which drive E30s. The courses are decent, and would provide an excellent opportunity for you prove us all wrong. : )

[ed94r]

The rear is the limiting factor for the E30 chassis, aaaand there's nothing you can do about it.

It's just the basic architecture that you have to work with...the bones. You can't do much with the E30 "bones". The toe curves, the camber curves. If you have driven an E36, or even better an E46 then you know what I'm talking about. E30+bump=spin. E36+bump=was there reeeealy a bump there???

It may be OK in DSP as Alex and Tom and others have shown, but against the big buk SM crowd it really is a back-marker.

I would build an E30 for DSP before I build one for SM.

Ed

[Jean]

I disagree. Even a US-spec S52 is a huge step in the right, if not misguided, direction. Throw on a small ball bearing turbo and powerwise you'd be good to go with near factory reliability (and *that* is super important).

That said, it think the harsh reality is that even an uber-E30 will never be able to keep up with properly sorted Evo.

+1. e36 has more chances at the national level but not an e30.

I am only wanting to prep my car up to the reginal level, national level prep is just out of my budget and e30 is not going to cut it.

[DSP74]

geez I guess I'll give up with you guys. But you aren't going to convince me that the rear suspension will offset being several hundred lbs lighter. Besides if the rear suspension was an absolute killer, then Tom Ellams old RX3 would have never dominated CSP, and the AE86 Toyaota wouldn't have been fast enough to move up a class. The Mazda a STRAIT axle with LEAF springs, and the Yota strait axle with multi link PHR/coils

Garrick that is a LONG way for me......I'd be more inclined to hit up cendiv events. But I did drive all the way over there a couple years ago to run my ESP car I had at the time. I was meeting a bunch of F-body guys, and aside from cone problems I ran OK.

[DSP74]

BTW after checking the results, I just can't see how you guys think the sky is falling out of SM.....Just look at the results. There are FWD Honda's not far off Daddio's AWD car. And one can be CERTAIN, that Daddio is wheelin' his car better than alot if not most in the class.....A former national champ Leiber was outgunned by FWD's even......The sky certainly isn't falling, and the E30 is certainly capable of winning.

[xLibelle]

by no means stop because its an uphill battle with the e30 at nationals... i agree with you, it may be possible with the weight advantage and being a proven race car.

[Fair!]

The rear is the limiting factor for the E30 chassis, aaaand there's nothing you can do about it.

It's just the basic architecture that you have to work with...the bones. You can't do much with the E30 "bones". The toe curves, the camber curves. If you have driven an E36, or even better an E46 then you know what I'm talking about. E30+bump=spin. E36+bump=was there reeeealy a bump there???

It may be OK in DSP as Alex and Tom and others have shown, but against the big buk SM crowd it really is a back-marker.

I would build an E30 for DSP before I build one for SM.

Ed

Have to agree with Ed here. The limiting factor on the E30 in Street Mod is the rear suspension, which you can't legally fix in the SMOD rules. And with the low grip of HPT its gonna be hard to beat the AWD cars, even if they are heavier.



DSP might be the better route, as you can still make a lighter DSP legal E30 than the E36. (the E36 is still fairly dominant) Spring it high enough and don't let the rear suspension move and you might make it work in DSP. :D

[DSP74]

to late.:o

The thought of a 350hp car that only weighs 2400lbs just sounds to damn fun for me......So we are going to give it a shot.......

I thought I'd have the car autoxing this summer but decided I need to buy a house first, do some work in the garage, and get ready to thrash on the car all winter......And still have a stock-ish engine. In SM................But I'll be gathering parts for that too......:blowup:

[ed94r]

If you're married to the idea that it'll work (SM E30), build it and develop it and see what happens.

I have to agree with you that a 350bhp 2400lb doorslammer would be fun. If not the tip-top competitive Solo car, it would be a beast on track days.

Good Luck!

[Fair!]

to late.:o

The thought of a 350hp car that only weighs 2400lbs just sounds to damn fun for me......So we are going to give it a shot.......

I thought I'd have the car autoxing this summer but decided I need to buy a house first, do some work in the garage, and get ready to thrash on the car all winter......And still have a stock-ish engine. In SM................But I'll be gathering parts for that too......:blowup:

Cool, I'd still love to see more BMWs in SMOD.

And if you get tired of that, there's always XP... where you can fix what ails the E30 rear suspension (and more!)


Our LS1 powered, 2500 pound, 400hp, XP classed E36...

[Jean]

That's pretty much what I've been told from a seasoned SM guy. I wish I could start all over and build a car for DSP, but since there is no back/up date allowed between the various e30s I am stuck with SM because of my rear brakes/lsd swap... the plus side is SM here has more cars than DSP.

[DSP74]

Maybe I can talk Strano into taking for a spin at a couple Tours......That'd be a couple years out though.....


Yeah I kind of have that idea in my head too. An XP build.....As much as F/I can build HP it just isn't going to help make V8 torque........My old S/P car would pull the LS1's off line like crazy and I miss that. A S/P LS1 aint' no slouch either.