budget E30 mods

I was dumb enough to get lured into leading a team for the 24Hrs of LeMons at the end of the year (arse freezeapalooza). I picked up a 170k mile 1990 325i with a blown headgasket and who knows what else. I race spec E30, so I'm familiar with the car, but I also haven't had to think about what mods to make since it's mostly spec parts.

With the head gasket my budget is at $300 of $500 total, so $200 to spend. What should I buy? What can I get cheap? Ideally I'd be able to find springs, shocks (the stock ones are toast), more front camber, and swaybars. Are there any cheap swap in parts from other models? Thus far I've found that E30 M3 springs will fit, just gotta find a deal on em. Any advice would be much appreciated.

"safety" is unlimited. That includes brakes, tires, cage, etc, so I'm good to go on that stuff.

Honestly I would look into some stock car springs. Find springs that are close to the same size and use that. Will probably be overall cheaprer there. Then get cheap shocks that are new....er.

Cold air from the headlight bucket, custom homemade camber plates. Been awhile since I played with one.

Valve adjustment = free or cheap and might get you a HP or two

Test AFM = free... unless it needs to be replaced :)

Pull and check plugs = free unless they need replacing

Test resistance of plug wires = free unless they need replacing

Test the coil. It should spec out to 5's. 0.5 ohms on the high side, 500 on the low side. I think that's right... I might have my decimals off, but its definitely some multiple of 5. If its off by any more than 1 (like if you get 0.6 or over 600 on the low side) it should be replaced.

junk yard turbo system!!! email me for details

Mark D chip if you're looking power.

But those come in at $229, so $30 over budget for you.

I think reliability would get you further than performance mods. Make sure it is in good running order with good brakes.

Try s14.net for e30 m3 springs (that's where I got mine). A lot of people claim to find bilsteins on e30s in the junkyard, but I have never been so fortunate.

Thanks for the ideas guys. Curtis, valve adjustment is part of the plan while I'm doing the headgasket. I'm going to try to swing some springs and shocks for my $275 (+$75 I traded our pristine passenger door for a dented passenger door and cash) :)

I've had great luck with no-name $50 performance chips off ebay.

I can't believe I just said that, but really. The stock 173 ecu's fuel and spark tables must be terrible. I've dyno'ed an extra 15-20 hp across the useful rev range. Not many N/A cars can say that.

JohnW wrote: Try s14.net for e30 m3 springs (that's where I got mine). A lot of people claim to find bilsteins on e30s in the junkyard, but I have never been so fortunate.

I've heard the same. Some models came with blue shocks from the factory, some with yellow. Be careful that you aren't mistaking the stock yellow shocks for Bilsteins. I paid 10 bucks to learn that lesson early in my E30 ownership.

laz wrote: Thus far I've found that E30 M3 springs will fit, just gotta find a deal on em. Any advice would be much appreciated.

I'm pretty sure they share most suspension components with the Z3. I'm sure you can find one in a junkyard that should have some parts you can pull off.

e30 m3 control arm bushings are a nice cheap upgrade.

DirtE30 wrote: junk yard turbo system!!! email me for details

http://www.turborick.com/dirt.html smog blower super charger?

Before you weld in the cage cut out the sunroof cassette. Gut the front bumpers and remove all of the radiator bracket, etc... and replace the entire front valence, headlights and so on with a used plastic camaro modified dirt track car front end. They are around $100. Basically cut everything off but the frame rails.

Remove the rear window, gut the doors and remove the door bars from inside. Remove the front glass, replace all the side rear glass with 3/32 poly from home depot.

Remove the wiper motor, AC pump/condenser/dryer, fuse box, ABS pump, all the wiring, ebrake lever, cables, rear shoes, PS resivoir, pump, tubing and put 2 small breathers where the high pressure lines went. Remove the heaterbox - it saves weight and it eliminates plumbing that can leak/explode. Remove the airbox and replace with cheap ricer screen.

Gut the dash - you need a $30 tach from Summit racing and some power switches... maybe a fuel and temp too... oh and run a wire back for brakelights :)

Cut the exhaust off right after the crossover before the cat, weld a right angle on there and point it at the ground.

If you don't have light wheels find the 14" BBS basket weaves that came with the cars in '90 - really light and you can still get tires.

Cut the top off the front shock towers and relocate it for camber and castor... weld it back and tie it into the cage.

Drop the rear as low as you can (cut the springs...) and stiff the hell out of it with junkyard swaybars... something big off the front of a ford/chevy pickup. You can cut holes and locate in the trunk - make long links to the control arm. (if you are on dirt... probably ignore this one)

If the rear subframe bushings are shot and you can't afford them in the budget - just weld it - that goes for the diff/carrier too. Make sure the guibo and center support bearing are in good shape.

Scour the junkyard for aftermarket shocks... you can cut and fit a lot of stuff in the rear but the fronts are tougher. Probably ebay/craigslist.

You should be pretty light now - around 2200 lbs with cage+driver which makes the brakes, steering, springs and everything else work good - make sure you have adequate cooling in the nose, fill it with 20-50 GTX, fill the gearbox & diff with Lucas 80-90, radiator with water + water wetter and go racin'

Salanis wrote:

laz wrote: Thus far I've found that E30 M3 springs will fit, just gotta find a deal on em. Any advice would be much appreciated.

I'm pretty sure they share most suspension components with the Z3. I'm sure you can find one in a junkyard that should have some parts you can pull off.

Not really. The front of a Z3 is all E36, the rear - the diff fits but everything else is heavier and 5 lugs. You have to swap all or nothing.