BMW Sienna 2.5i build

[jc43089]

HipMF said:

Won't it steer the opposite direction now? Also concerned about acremen...

Did you think this through?

I think that is something we will get used to, the only concern is a panic situation where a quick reaction could send you the wrong way. 

Just being funny.  I will be using an e36 steering rack with some hybrid ends.  "Thinking it totally through" might be a bit generous but the orientation and angles of the tie rods will be pretty similar to stock.

Snap said:

This is hilariously awesome! So your wife doesnt mind  a manual trans?

Please show up to the E30 picnic with a kidney grille ziptied on the front. The spectators and organizers will say "great another dickbag in a BMW Sienna this year" and then you can steal the show when you pop the hood.

We have always had manual transmission cars.  Her car in high school was the 99 Maxima with a 5 speed manual that I had been driving until recently.  Funny story actually, she was driving my parents Sienna and texted me to say she went to the store and couldn't get the key out so she just left it and went inside and it didn't dawn on her until she was in the store that it was because she hadn't put it in park.  Her car has been the v70R with a 6 speed for the last couple years.

[Jdesign]

DUDE. You just made my day. I am watching this with anticipation. 

[YoungCR]

The poor sedan will never get finished but you’ll have a sweet daily! Haha

[jc43089]

YoungCR said:

The poor sedan will never get finished but you’ll have a sweet daily! Haha 

This just means I have to go bigger for the sedan.  Maybe V8 swap, maybe m54, someday...

[Jdesign]

The last two times I have read the thread title and just keep thinking you are building some crazy F1 tribute car to this man...

[B C]

I too have made that mistake

[jc43089]

F1 engine powered van next maybe.

I got it home.  The tow driver AAA sent was confused why I said no need to put the shifter out of park.  I just popped the hood to as an explanation.  "Oh" was all he said.

[B C]

Tow driver's inner monologue "No duramax, no care"

[jc43089]

Finally going to get back to this tomorrow.  I had to work all weekend last weekend.

Thinking about instrumentation.  I have used Autometer in the past and had good results.  But populating the whole cluster will be quite pricey.  I do see that the digital gauges from Autometer are somewhat cheaper than full sweep gauges because they don't need the stepper motor mechanism.  I don't care for a digital tach though, maybe digital everything else and analog tach.  Any other thoughts? 

Also going to try to get the clutch pedal area measured up so I can figure out what to buy for that.

I'm wishing I had insulation in my garage, also being interrupted by "nesting"  about 2 weeks until baby is due.

[Jdesign]

Does it not have a factory tach? Why not stick with the factory gauges? I know that aftermarket stuff is more precise but I would think you would want to keep this as stock as possible inside?

[jc43089]

Jdesign said:

Does it not have a factory tach? Why not stick with the factory gauges? I know that aftermarket stuff is more precise but I would think you would want to keep this as stock as possible inside?

It does have a tach in the factory dash.  I haven't dug into the wiring diagrams much yet for the Toyota but I assumed it was canbus from ECU-Dash.  If not then maybe I can drive the tach with the BMW signal.  The speedometer signal came from a sensor in the transmission.  Maybe I could mount it to a custom bracket and look at a tab on the driveshaft.  I will have to see what the relation of speed would be compared to what it was looking at inside the transmission.

I got it in the garage this weekend and up on jack stands.  Installed N54 studs and OBD2 exhaust manifolds.  There is much more room than in an e36 which is nice.

[B C]

probably tons easier than working on the original V6 too.

[jc43089]

Snap said:

probably tons easier than working on the original V6 too.

This too.  You can't even change spark plugs on the 3mz without removing the intake manifold.

[B C]

I did it once without pulling the manifold. the last 2 were horrible

[stealthbimmer]

jc43089 said:

also being interrupted by "nesting"  about 2 weeks until baby is due.

 You have one of those as well?

[jc43089]

stealthbimmer said:

 You have one of those as well?

yup, this is number 3.  Hence the van for kid hauling.

[stealthbimmer]

jc43089 said:

yup, this is number 3.  Hence the van for kid hauling.

Twinsies....although we got the van before the second one. Mine isn't bmw powered though.

Sent from my SM-G930R4 using Tapatalk

[basedspider]

Definitely looking forward to watching this build enfold.

[jc43089]

Ordered a bunch of Willwood parts for the clutch pedal setup.  I need to modify the brake pedal bracket to get a little room and move the pedal over about 2 inches and trim it narrower.  The reverse swing mount pedal is necessary because there is no room on the other side of the firewall from where the pedal needs to be.  The strut tower is hardly an inch away. 

The warmer day yesterday was nice, I got a couple hours of work done after the kiddos were in bed.  My wife's due date is tomorrow so baby is coming anytime.

[B C]

I didn't even think about the clutch pedal situation. By the way the pedal bracket looks, the MC will be mounted inside the car with the fluid reservoir inside the car also, is this correct?

Hope everything is well for you guys tomorrow and if nothing else, that everybody is calm and relaxed.