FuturisticConcept Art BMW E36 with a V8 on a bottom dollar budget

[suspenceful]

Why 'daddie' and not 'daddy'?

Can't read the font anyways, lol.

[Jdesign]

suspenceful said:

Why 'daddie' and not 'daddy'?

Can't read the font anyways, lol.

IDK It was a last minute decision. It was less legible with the "IE" vs. the "Y" I was on the fence about just putting random numbers and letters on there too and just saying screw it.

[Jdesign]

I bought some simple goodies online it anticipation that I can start driving this car.. Normally?

• CHEAP Angle kit
• New Heater valve (Thanks @Daggerty but the one you gave me was shot  ) 
• Wink Mirror ( The stock one is really loose and falls constantly, plus having a helmet kills visibility)
• Harness Bar - I was originally going to just weld a tube across the car, but then I would need to do that again with the next chassis. So I went about finding a and ordering a Cipher Racing one online, only to be bummed out as I ordered it and shipping said 5-7 business days. I have yet to get a tracking number so I contacted the website I bought it from and they said its a tentative order. It should ship out around April 30th LOLOL. Needless to say I want to cancel.

Accomplished:

• Earl helped me re-bleed the brakes again this past weekend so the brakes work great again. We took it for a drive and the rear still seems funky but I haven't adjusted the toe at all. I think that might be my problem
• I installed the wink mirror which only took a few minutes
• I test fit one of the wheels, but not all of them because I was in a hurry

Still need to order and find:

• A full set of matching lug nuts- Right now the car has about 5 different kinds and its really annoying
• Coilovers - The Megan or whatever brand the ones that are on the car are too soft for my liking. Im not sure if they are blown because they dont clunk, but under heavy load it rubs, and its no where near low enough
• Exhaust- @wasnt m3 Found some killer tips I need to make use of now! I will order some pipping and re route the cobbled exhaust. Hopefully I can make it sound less like a truck lol.

[suspenceful]

Sweet. I had a Wink mirror in my Miata. Prepare for the center to start sagging without any bracing.

[Jdesign]

suspenceful said:

Sweet. I had a Wink mirror in my Miata. Prepare for the center to start sagging without any bracing.

I think I have bigger things to worry about...

[Daggerty]

Tires look awesome, glad I didn't make you pay for the valve. I have spare solenoids if you need them.

[Jdesign]

Daggerty said:

Tires look awesome, glad I didn't make you pay for the valve. I have spare solenoids if you need them.

Im surprised how they turned out considering its all plastidip. I just bought a new valve online for $30. Earl and I drove the car and the heat started working now though...???

[jc43089]

I think unplugged the valve goes full open, don't quote me on that though.

[Jdesign]

jc43089 said:

I think unplugged the valve goes full open, don't quote me on that though.

Ohhhh? I will have to check. i think most of the problem is the vents in the car and the main interface is just zip tied to the dash.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to convert my door windows to manual crank style?

[jc43089]

Jdesign said:

Ohhhh? I will have to check. i think most of the problem is the vents in the car and the main interface is just zip tied to the dash.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to convert my door windows to manual crank style?

I've looked into crank windows for my sedan and as far as I could tell they were never an option for the USA.  I was looking into it for weight reasons and quit after finding out that the manual mechanisms are almost no lighter than the power system.

[Jdesign]

jc43089 said:

I've looked into crank windows for my sedan and as far as I could tell they were never an option for the USA.  I was looking into it for weight reasons and quit after finding out that the manual mechanisms are almost no lighter than the power system.

Yeah I know. They were availble in the compacts. I was just looking for a simple way to do it, I thought someone may have a lead.

[Jdesign]

Been driving this thing more and more. Adjusted the rear toe angle as the rear still felt off. Turns out that the rear wheels were toes in quite a bit. I adjusted that and its MUCH better. I need to figure out what brakes I have, as the front calipers are rotors are huge for an E36. 17's seem to be the smallest wheels I can fit. I will need pads an rotors soon.

I finally painted the underside of the hood. It use to be white with a weird looking skull from the PO. Black with red paint drips was my quick solution.

I also want to get new coilovers. The entire car just feels so soft, but I do not want to spend $900 on coilovers on such a cheap car.

Do you guys have any suggestions?

So far I have heard - solowerks/maxpeddingrods/ RSK/ Raceland ultimo

[m42b32]

Jdesign said:

I need to figure out what brakes I have, as the front calipers are rotors are huge for an E36. 17's seem to be the smallest wheels I can fit. I will need pads an rotors soon.

I'd guess that they're most likely E46 330ci brakes in the front as they are a direct bolt-on to the stock non-m e36 knuckles and require 17" wheels.

[Jdesign]

m42b32 said:

I'd guess that they're most likely E46 330ci brakes in the front as they are a direct bolt-on to the stock non-m e36 knuckles and require 17" wheels. 

Should I just order pads and rotors and see if they fit? 

Pic of my brakes and 17” wheel for reference;

[jc43089]

Check the rotor diameter.  I have e46 330 front brakes I think they are 325mm, M3 brakes are smaller at 315mm.  That is if you aren't sure if someone put M spindles on at some point.  

Quoted from here linky "The E46 330 uses 325x25mm (front)"

[wasnt m3]

Might just be me but that really looks like a 16" wheel.

[jc43089]

I have 16" Countour Reps and they do clear e46 330 brakes but barely.  Most 16" wheels do not.

[patsbimmer1]

I had a set of FK's and they were decent for the price.  Megan racing makes a coilover and i've always heard good things about them from my 240sx days.  They're slightly more expensive than the other options but only by a couple $100.  Let me know if you go with Solowerks, FK or Megan and I can get you a good price.

[GunMetalGrey]

+1 for SoloWerks
I (and Jake) run them in the daily. The price was hard to beat, and the ride is pretty darn good, especially considering the price.

[Jdesign]

"Maxpeeding" rods it is.

Honestly, the spring rates (8K), 32 levels of adjustability, and the overall quality for $300 is unbelievable. To top that off, they have a two year warranty. I figured that the worst thing that could happen, would be that I considered these a mistake if they are not what I need or im not happy with them, and I will sell them for slightly less and buy something a lot nicer.