My very first build thread

[Justin]

So, one thing I have always wanted to do is learn how to drive a car quickly around a track. Never wanted to try it because I knew that I would be almost instantly hooked. Anyhow, after heading out with Curtis last month I decided it is something I would like to persue. I started looking for a car that I could turn into a track only car. Full cage and what not will make it not street legal.

I had a jumbled list of cars I was considering:
VW's, except I really dislike FWD and haven't driven a FWD car in awhile

RX-7, my automotive knowledge is limited, really limited...I understand how they work, my hands don't like to help...I know less about rotary however, I did watch a youtube animation

944, had one, expensive everything especially since they break a lot.

S2000, out of my price range


240sx, seems like the drifter crowd has made them more expensive than they really should be

240-280z, I really like them just finding a decent model proved to be a bit harder than I wanted and I never came across one I wanted. Except one that sold before I called.

BMW, really liked the sound of a 325 or 328 car to start as a base. I liked driving my old E36 and it seemed like it was a popular track car and a good amount of support was offered.

Anyhow, my brother sold my old M3 that I gave to him about 6 months ago, guy only paid him half really pisses me off.

I was browsing CL the other night and came across a black M3 for cheap. Person selling was named David, didn't work on Sunday, just got married, small auto dealership. Emailed and asked if it was D Tracy, then saw his Corrado in the background. Went to see it Saturday, made and offer and picked it up today.

Making a knock sound and not gonna lie, not the prettiest M3 around and it smells of something when it gets hot. Don't care. Motor is coming out hopefully Thursday when I can buy a hoist.

[Stilladub]

It may not be pretty but like you said, a good platform to build a track car. I'm interested to see where this thread goes. Congrats!

[jhayesvw]

what are you putting in it?

[Justin]

what are you putting in it?

gas and oil...haha

It needs to have a full cage. Keeping the original motor, trying to decide which org to build the car for (SCCA or NASA)...Leaning towards an SCCA STU class prep. Means that I can bump the compression up a half point and run it .40 over.

Depending on how things go and if I ever actually need more car, you can run in another class and swap an E46 motor in. However, as the cars get faster the amount of prep needed gets longer.

I saw the Corrado listed to run in a GT class except to be anywhere near the other cars on the track it really would have to be some Corrado sheetmetal around a tube frame and a good bit of work elsewhere.

[kptaylor]

Damn! Didn't realize you were going to have to build it! That looks like it will be a lot of work, but fun in the end. You should check out Ian's build thread at AZBMW.org. He bought an E36 M3 and was planning to build it up. Did a lot of research on parts before he changed his mind and sold everything off.

You should still buy my car so you can run something now that you can afford to write off if you have an off. It's already caged, gutted, upgraded suspension, etc. All you'd need is a new seat and harness. Maybe your dad will get the bug and join you.

Good luck!

[Justin]

Damn! Didn't realize you were going to have to build it! That looks like it will be a lot of work, but fun in the end. You should check out Ian's build thread at AZBMW.org. He bought an E36 M3 and was planning to build it up. Did a lot of research on parts before he changed his mind and sold everything off.

You should still buy my car so you can run something now that you can afford to write off if you have an off. It's already caged, gutted, upgraded suspension, etc. All you'd need is a new seat and harness. Maybe your dad will get the bug and join you.

Good luck!

Yeah, that was a lot of work Ian put into that car and sold it off pretty quick. Never saw why but his new car...assuming he hasn't moved on yet is awesome.

Taking Dad out with me hopefully this weekend or next...It usually doesn't take much prodding if he likes something...Hell, when he dropped me off at the dealership to take delivery of my wife's car I sold him a ZR-1...amazingly the dealership never sent me the commission I demanded.

[.T.o.n.y.]

This is awesome, im currently looking for a decent body E30 to swap the S50 motor from the early E36 M's, maybe i'l have to join you when we're complete

[gnatman]

Nice, also rent a hoist from a-z equipment. they have great prices.


For anyone else
2nd gen RX7 with an LT1 race ready.. if interested let me know

Justin should have told me you had it bad man. lol

[gnatman]

Yeah, that was a lot of work Ian put into that car and sold it off pretty quick. Never saw why but his new car...assuming he hasn't moved on yet is awesome.

Taking Dad out with me hopefully this weekend or next...It usually doesn't take much prodding if he likes something...Hell, when he dropped me off at the dealership to take delivery of my wife's car I sold him a ZR-1...amazingly the dealership never sent me the commission I demanded.

I'm glad your dad is coming out.

is he going to race too? perfect track for him to learn on

[Grifnsqest]

Still see the F350 lurking in the background...

Perhaps when fuel gets closer to $3 instead of $4, I'll come back to the table with a good offer for ya! It was a good driving truck, and even got the girlfriends approval! Just couldn't justify the fuel to commute...

[Justin]

Still see the F350 lurking in the background...

Perhaps when fuel gets closer to $3 instead of $4, I'll come back to the table with a good offer for ya! It was a good driving truck, and even got the girlfriends approval! Just couldn't justify the fuel to commute...

I haven't been too active selling it, mainly because I am not sure if one of my work trucks is gonna make it through summer and I would then re purpose that truck...It is tough commuting with a truck and the wonderful mileage.

[vortexpert.]

just dont spray paint metal brackets or you will piss derek off

[j0oftheworld]

Glad to see this Justin..
If you're planning on taking a BMW on track might as well go see Leroy @ 602flatout.com
He's got all the lime green bimmers out there if you haven't met him. I'm planning on having him do chassis setup on my E30 once the cage and a bunch of other items are all finished up!

Mine version 1.0:

[..Derek..]

just dont spray paint metal brackets or you will piss derek off

What ever could you mean? According to the MK3 forums all you have to do is take a turd apart, spray paint it to look like sh1t and bolt it back together and its a "build thread". Just make sure your paint palette only includes gold or pastel colors. Oh and you also need an illest sticker

[Justin]

Glad to see this Justin..
If you're planning on taking a BMW on track might as well go see Leroy @ 602flatout.com
He's got all the lime green bimmers out there if you haven't met him. I'm planning on having him do chassis setup on my E30 once the cage and a bunch of other items are all finished up!

I talked to him a few weeks ago, he actually was my instructor when I did the first HPDE

[GTTechnics]

Nice. Of all of the cars I've owned my E36 may have been the most confidence inspiring. If it's a track car you have a good excuse to put on the LTW wing and splitter too
BTW- that chrome kidney grill is pretty terrible (but it's nothing a little trim black couldn't fix).

[gnatman]

hows the track car coming along?

The camaro went out to AMP and had a db of 92.3 stock exhaust lol

[Justin]

hows the track car coming along?

The camaro went out to AMP and had a db of 92.3 stock exhaust lol

It's making progress...Interior is pretty much stripped out so I can send it out to get the cage installed.

Front end is apart except for radiator support since there is a stripped torx screw holding it in. Intake manifold and valve cover are off. Need the BMW tool to remove the head to send it in. Hopefully, picking up a trailer this week so I have an easy way to get it places to get work done.

[Justin]

It would be coming along faster but I am reading the Bentley manual as I go, trying to keep bolts and nuts in an order so I can put it back together and learning as I go...Going to need to buy some clips when it all goes back together since they all were in bad shape and I broke a lot when taking it apart.

[vortexpert.]

hacker

[Justin]

hacker

damn right...next, I'm gonna open a shop.

[vortexpert.]

damn right...next, I'm gonna open a shop.

too bad se auto, exklusiv, tunning group, camelback volkswagen, joes auto, napa and autozone are taken.

[VR6inAZ]

Anyhow, my brother sold my old M3 that I gave to him about 6 months ago, guy only paid him half really pisses me off.

Wow, really? Should have given it to me! It was nice, too!

[jhayesvw]

Don't get rid of the exhaust or cat. I may need the cat.

[Justin]

Don't get rid of the exhaust or cat. I may need the cat.

I'll put it in a box for you...I made some progress yesterday...I'll get some pics tomorrow.

[gnatman]

Justin will you be there the 28-29th?

[Justin]

Justin will you be there the 28-29th?

I'm hoping, I'll still be driving the Evo...Depends on the weather, I don't do well with heat.

[jhayesvw]

I'll put it in a box for you...I made some progress yesterday...I'll get some pics tomorrow.

thanks!
and im keeping an eye on this thread for sure. im looking at picking one up too

[Justin]

hoping to have the motor pulled this week...

ran into Nacho at London's baby party yesterday and he offered me use of his hoist...Sometimes I miss the old community of guys, always had help with whatever you needed. Borrowing a tool or calling Johnny because of a botched short shift install.

[boraIV]

agreed!

btw, where's those pics?

[IAmTheNacho]

It needed some exercise. Even though it takes up space I like keeping it around incase anyone needs to borrow it. Should help with the progress anyways.

[Justin]

So Thursday night it looked like this:


we got all the hoses off on Friday, then started disconnecting the driveshaft and a few other things...Monday we hooked the hoist up and pulled to realize that both of us thought we took out the steering shaft...once we figured that out it came out pretty easy...Tranny is still attached, one of the bolts is stripped going to heat it up tomorrow.