Martine30rallly's E30 tarmac car.

[martine30rally]

Have been on here a while so thought I would post some piccies of what I am doing over the next couple of months to my e30. Its undergoing a minor front end rebuild in preparation for an S50B30.

Instead of using the traditional method of the e34 sump which sits in front of the cross member, Ive decided to keep the standard rear loading sump and mod the cross member to suit. Along with this I have fitted a mk2 escort rack (2.2 turns) and Group A style rose jointed arms.













The car previously had an M50 fitted which was chassis mounted. You can see in the pic below where the old chassis mounts were. I didnt like this position as they pointed to the rear of the car meaning the engine hovered over the front end and under braking it effectively pulled up on the gearbox mountings. In order to get more of the weight of the engine closer to the rear I moved the mounts forward to get more of the weight on the gearbox X member.



Thats it for now. Next instalement will be modifying the bulkhead for more clearance

[Tris-m3]

As i said mate, looks awesome!

If you need a hand pulling that engine out give me a call

[martine30rally]

Cheers mate, may well be this weekend provided the weather holds out. Want to get the bulkhead done on saturday and the engine taken out of the dirty6 on Sunday really. Then if the engine mounts are mocked up during next week and the bay prepped, it will be sprayed next weekend and assembled the week after. Well thats the plan anyway

Do you know anyone that has an e30 dash? I remember you had a load at one point.

[is-si]

It looks like you've got the project under control, thanks for the pic's
Thats a good point regarding moving the mounts forward to stabilise the motor.
An S50B30 should liven it up

[m3heaven]

Nice welding.

[bruvs1]

agreed , some good fabbin , but will the crossmember be strong enough?

[martine30rally]

Cheers guys, the crossmember will be plenty strong enough. You cant see it very well but the rear has a box section seam welded to it to aid lateral rigidity, the rack mounts will also be further reinforced and are already an integral feature of the x member, without them it would be significantly weaker. Have made a start on the bulkhead now as well as finishing off my removeable slam panel and front brace. pics to follow shortly

[martine30rally]

Right, time for an update, got the bulkhead sorted last week. I say bulkhead but its more a massive gearbox tunnel. the idea is that it will be a piece of piss to change a gearbox and it gives me a little more space, meaning the engine is around an inch further back then it would be normally.





Engine mounts made up, will add some bracing to keep things in check once its all out before painting.



Then made a start on the exhaust manifold, only needed to mod the sixth branch which I was surprised about. I cut it off between the flange and the collecter and chopped it up until it fitted. This way I lost absolutley no length and it therfore wont affect performance. Clears the steering joint by about 5mm






Thats it for now, going to finish off the weldings, things like little brackets for brake and clutch reservoirs etc. then it will all be strpped down again and painted next weekend. Lightflywheel and copper ceramic paddle clutch is on its way from the states aswell as silicon hoses bla bla bla..... More next weekend.

[jono]

Hello Martin, any chance of a photo of the Grp A style rose joints please, would like to fit them to my car to reduce bump steer for different suspension setings, where did you buy them from.
cheers
jono

[martine30rally]

Jono, Arms are my own product. I built them earlier in the year based a a jig I made up around a standard wishbone. They are made form 1" Cds tube with threaded inserts welded in to suit 5/8ths rose joints. The rear bracket is mk2 escort compression strut bracket welded to the chassis leg in the same way as on an escort. The tapered ball joint hole on the front leg has the thiner end drilled to 5/8ths to suit the outer rose joint and and a high tensile bolts replaces the standard item. If there was enough interest then I could knock a load out a reasonable price. But would need at least a few sets to make it worthwhile.

[jono]

hello again, bought the rose joints / started the project but am struggling to get the high tension bolts - where did you buy yours
cheers
jono

[martine30rally]

I bought mine from a local tool supplier. They are the bolts which hold threashers in hedgecutters if that helps.

[martine30rally]

Right, Bay was bare-metaled and painted on tuesday evening, here's how it looks now. Decided I didnt want it white again as it although it looks good when its fresh, its looks utter shite when it gets dirty, dusty and chipped in places. Opted for the same grey that I did the inside of the car in back in the summer.





Also made a strut brace. It braces to the scuttle aswell for a little more rigidity.



Mounts something like this. Its Rose-jointed at the ends so I hopefully never need struggle with jacking the car up to get the damn thing to line up with the holes.



Now comes the job I hate most of all, painting all the crap such as the crossmember, strut brace etc. have decided I will do it properly in 2 pack semi matt black. Although aerosoles would be easier I know I'd just be annoyed with finish they give, plus 2k is much more hard wearing.

[is-si]

i like the grey
+ you can change the colour of the car at later date a little easier

[martine30rally]

More progress, painted all the bits and bobs and started assembly so now resembles something like a car.