BMW's galore!

[Mark]

Funnily enough I saw a Volvo in that colour today.

New rear lenses arrived from Holland today. I could have probably got away with using the old ones but inspired by the other builds on here, I figured I would go the extra mile - or try to anyway. Final parts from Eurometric should be here next week and the rear beam, running gear etc can all go back in.



Currently we are making an adaptor plate in an effort to keep the M52 sat at the same level as it's at in the donor e36. Also looking at other mounts including some from 4x4 BMW's, to get the length we want/need.

[Mark]

Brake conversion is pretty much complete now. Just waiting on callipers & discs from WMS and sourcing a new fluid reservoir before everything gets plumbed in. Also got a new sound deadening pad for the bulkhead.

Work started on getting the engine in and making custom mounts.

[joem83]

Nice choice in colour

[Mark]

It's funny but since we painted my car I keep seeing this colour (or blue's like it) crop up all over the place.

I had a phone call from a chap in Cornwall a few days ago and he has a pair of NOS bumpers, which he offered me. Fortunately I'm in Cornwall next month so I'll drop in and take a look. I still need to find a set of black door cards and rear quarter cards. I'm still toying with the idea of a black headlining? If I'm going to do it now is the time, while the glass is all out.

Today's mission is to try and find some new headlights. I bought some VW Golf crosshairs, which are the right size, but they're just a bit too bling for my liking. I just want simple 7'' H4's but minty condition.

[grifterkid]

I really do like the idea of the 'Black-on-Black' interior, that'd be great and seeing as you're going down a slightly different route with the re-born MIB the perfect thing to do...

[Mark]

I've asked for an idea of cost from the trimmer so we'll see. The cage is going to be bodycolour so there's going to be a bit of colour in there to break things up a little. I've been looking at the Singer Vehicle Design website to get some inspiration. Their cars are incredible. If ever I win the lottery I would love to set up a business doing the same for 60's & 70's BMW as they do for Porsche. I was toying with the idea of painting my Prototipo steering wheel in bodycolour (the spokes) but I may have to try and find someone with photoshop skills first.

Treat yourself and drool over www.singervehicledesign.com

[grifterkid]

Yes indeed to the body-colour spokes on your steering wheel, that'd be ace

[Mark]

Hoping for good weather!

[hairnet]

THREAD HORN!!!!

you need to change yer name to englemann tho ;D

[Mark]

Cheers fella.

Well the billet diff mounts that I ordered when I was still a young boy have finally arrived. OK, maybe I'm exaggerating but it does feel like it's been a while and I never was the most patient of people. Either way they should look really nice and are certainly much better than the stock mounts. I'm still considering adding s small oil cooler across the lower bolts.

The braided hoses mean we can finally get the rear beam etc back in and set the rear ride height. I had the LEDA coilovers altered by the chaps at GAZ and I can bring the car super low. We also reworked the rear arches to give maximum clearance and tuck the tyre wall beneath them. I'm determined not to have any rubbing issues.



I need to paint the strut braces but can't decide between body colour or gloss black?

[grifterkid]

Gloss black, nice bit of contrast...!!!

[Mark]

Yeah, I think you're right.

[stevietuck]

I'm with the black too

[Mark]

Went and saw my car today. The m50 inlet swap is done and the 6 branch is also one. The nitrous jets are going on and going to be hidden beneath the inlet manifold. I'm still waiting on the lightened flywheel but everything needs to come apart again for final cleaning anyway. It's going to look so much better with all the redundant e36 wiring being binned and no OE fuse box and clutter.

[stevietuck]

This is going to be soooo cool!

[Mark]

I hope so.

Well as if one build wasn't enough, I am pulling the bits together to build a sprint / hillclimb e21 for next year. It's going to be a very basic car built on a very tight budget but I'm fortunate enough to have a nice non-sunroof shell to base it on.

The shell is going to be stripped and made as light as possible. I already have fibreglass bonnet, boot and front wings, plus a full Group2 arch kit. If you don't know what a Group2 e21 looks like here you go....



I'm going to aim for getting the shell down to 900kgs and thanks to the guys at www.rallyprep.co.uk it will be running an m20/2.5 from an e30. They're pretty much bullet proof and sound great. The biggest single expense is going to be the LSD but I'm hoping we might be able to squeeze an e36 slipper into the e21 casing. I have a Wilwood front brake set-up and a 323 rear is coming later. I also owe a big thank-you to Mike at Templar for the poly window kit.

For now though I need to keep stripping the shell so that www.questmotorsport.co.uk can stick a cage in and start removing as much weight as possible.

[Mark]

New brakes arrived so hopefully things will move along now.






Picked up a barn-find e30 M3 this week too. 10 years of sitting around unused.

[sumpcracker]

WTF? Where do you find this stuff?
I always swear out loud at this thread! Barn find e30 m3?!

Well done on the E21, the engine looks very sexy, and the colour choice is epic.

[stevietuck]

What are your plans for the m3?

[Mark]

I was in the right place at the right time for the M3. It's gone off to the good folk at www.rallyprep.co.uk where it's going to be prepped as a Group A replica. Much as I like e30 M3's I just think they're way too much money and my e21 has a far higher cool factor for me.

Got the angles right on mocked up custom mounts. Just need boxing and powder coating.





You can see from the old sump how the engine used to sit in my old car, compared to this one. (the bottom of the sump used to be level and the engine canted over)



Now everything fits as it should the mounts etc have all gone for powder coating in black, along with the strut braces. We also fitted the 6 branch which fits remarkably well considering it's an e36 item.









There's way more room with the engine sat at the correct level.



We also dug out the new fuel tank & swirl pot for the track car. If all goes to plan (does it ever?) the Group 2 e21 will be ready for the engone, box & LSD by the end of June. I'm aiming to get it under 900kgs and it should look awesome. I'd like a 16v four pot but the only one I can afford is an m42. I think m20/2.5 might be a better bet and they always sound great.