318IS Track Car? Nickxx?

MrKnifey · 2 Jan 2012 at 18:48

Thought i'd update this thread, I swapped over the suspension for a set of Fully Adjustable Coilovers. Fitted new bottom arms and Rear Bushes as the old ones were shot.

Ive got the drivers and passengers seats fully mounted so they are good to go.

Ive also ordered an OMP Roll Cage, so that should be with me this month at any time between 2-4 weeks.

Right guys, got a little it more done today.. Decided I wanted a strut brace for the rear and didn't really wanna buy one.. So made one myself..

Take some tube:

Weld two little feet on it:

Then weld it into the car (Make sure its straight first! Took me AGGGGES):

Don't think its going to make a massive difference, but hey ill give it a go...

MrKnifey · 2 Jan 2012 at 18:49

Also managed to grab some pictures of some previous work i've done, here is a picture of the floor plate I made up out of chequer plating:

A piccy of the steering wheel:

And some pics of how the car stands now:

danza · 2 Jan 2012 at 19:16

So jealous, that looks awesome. :cool:

Duke · 2 Jan 2012 at 19:27

That is great. Was looking at E30 for track use but def would go for the E36 now.

shoes · 2 Jan 2012 at 20:16

Crankbro - your's reminds me of my 328i, even down to cutting out excess internal metalwork and welding in a bar in its place!

Duke - I'd highly recommend it, I had mine at Donington and Mallory between Christmas and New Year - lots of fun.

Dunks · 2 Jan 2012 at 20:27

Have you just welded that strut brace onto the body panel? Can't see it making much difference

MrKnifey · 2 Jan 2012 at 21:51

You cut out the it below the rear window? Any ideas where you cut etc? Didnt think id get away with cutting that part out! Gonna look into it.. Also noitced youve welded in the sunroof same as mine

Dunks, the strut brace ive fitted with be a hell of a lot better than the ones you can buy which fit in the suspension mount bolts!

Ive also gone to the lengths of cutting out parts of the wiring I aint gonna be needing too! Airbag system = Gone.. Wires going to rear which aint for the lights = Gone!

Clarkey · 2 Jan 2012 at 22:03

Dunks said:
Have you just welded that strut brace onto the body panel? Can't see it making much difference

What else you going to weld it to, thin air?

shoes · 2 Jan 2012 at 22:18

I didn't do any of the work, the car came like that! Can't take any credit I'm afraid.

Skeeter · 2 Jan 2012 at 23:54

Building a track car, your doing it right!

Looks great!

Jonnycoupe · 3 Jan 2012 at 09:12

crankbro said:
You cut out the it below the rear window? Any ideas where you cut etc? Didnt think id get away with cutting that part out! Gonna look into it.. Also noitced youve welded in the sunroof same as mine

Dunks, the strut brace ive fitted with be a hell of a lot better than the ones you can buy which fit in the suspension mount bolts!

Why? Thats where the reaction loads into the body are being generated.

Duke · 3 Jan 2012 at 10:11

What sort of weight are you able to get the E36 down to with it all being stripped out (to OP and shoes)?

shoes · 3 Jan 2012 at 10:15

Mine weighs in at 1202kg at the moment, however those standard seats weigh a lot... and i mean a LOT!

I have two corbeau's to go in, however I need to modify the frames I have to get them to fit, although I estimate losing around 50kg from the seat swap - so 1150 kg.

I think scubascorpian said he had managed to get his E36 to sub 1100kg - god knows how though. Saying that, I still have some creature comforts in there, heaters, radio, onboard computer, glovebox, two speakers etc.

DRZ · 3 Jan 2012 at 11:03

I don't recall my E36 seats being anywhere NEAR 25KGs.

paradigm · 3 Jan 2012 at 11:06

DRZ said:
I don't recall my E36 seats being anywhere NEAR 25KGs.

Maybe including the panel between the back of the rear seats and the boot, but then a) that would only be applicable to the saloons, and b) cutting it out would render the entire car far less stiff.

The rear bench and back only weigh a tiny amount, the front seats are quite heavy I guess, but certainly wouldn't add up to 25KG, unless perhaps they were electric ones.

DRZ · 3 Jan 2012 at 11:13

paradigm said:
Maybe including the panel between the back of the rear seats and the boot, but then a) that would only be applicable to the saloons, and b) cutting it out would render the entire car far less stiff.

The rear bench and back only weigh a tiny amount, the front seats are quite heavy I guess, but certainly wouldn't add up to 25KG, unless perhaps they were electric ones.

That's what I was thinking - but he's talking about 25KG per seat (so a 50KG saving) - I can't see it myself.

If the seats were made of cast iron then yeah

shoes · 3 Jan 2012 at 12:07

They're out the car at the moment, I'll bang them on the scales when I get home tonight. Perhaps a slight exaggeration at 25kg a piece but believe me they are ******* heavy!

MrKnifey · 3 Jan 2012 at 13:03

Mine were just shy of 25kg each! I weighed them when I started stripping it..

Jonnycoupe · 3 Jan 2012 at 14:50

DRZ said:
That's what I was thinking - but he's talking about 25KG per seat (so a 50KG saving) - I can't see it myself.

If the seats were made of cast iron then yeah

Seats in your S Class are probably around 33kg each. Are they cast iron?

NickXX · 3 Jan 2012 at 19:56

The two front (electric) seats in an e46 M3 weigh about 55kg.