I bought this 5/96 Build M3 back in September of 2006 with the intent of turning into a track day car. Theres more to the story, and I will get to that later.

Initial Purchase vitals:
5/96 Build
140,000 miles
Single Adult Owner for 11 years
Religiously Dealer Maintained
Manual Seats
No Sunroof
Re-enforced rear shock towers
Mild mods - Bilstein Sports, H&R Springs, ZKW's, X-Brace

Here is what it started out as...

http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/silvm3.jpg


Heres quick photoshop concept image Ive worked of what it will very likely look like at the end.

http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/IPconcept.jpg


When I bought the Coupe I had just come off a driving event at WGI with with an M3 sedan. The sedan, when I bought it was supercharged, but when I made the concious decision to go back to the track, I converted the car to NA.

Before that event the last time I saw the Glen was in a e30 318is 2 years prior. Obviously the M3 was much faster, but that was ok as I knew how an s52 felt from the time I tracked an Z3 M Coupe.

After that August event I started looking for a track car. My goals then were not as lofty as they are now. I just wanted a fun track car. A week later I located the Arctic Silver Coupe near boston. Mileage was a bit high, the price was fair, lightly modded, amzing inteior, but more importantly it was a non sunroof optioned car and the same adult owner owned it for 11 years.

http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/s52stock.JPG

http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/stockint.JPG

http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/stockint2.JPG

Before agreeing to the price I had PPI performed by BMW of Peabody. After extensive owner questioning about certain key components replacement intervals (radiator, TAB, CAB typical e36 items) I negotiated a price of $9200. Perhaps a bit high for the mileage, but the car had a very extensive maintenance history - in excel!!. Upon receipt of all documentation, it came to light that that even TMS serviced the car to address common e36 maladies - water pump, thermo housing.

A deal was struck, I flew to Boston and drove the car back to NJ. ON the way back I stopped at HMS to try out fixed back seats and HANS devices.

Within days of coming home, I performed a slew of preventative maintenance work - Radiator for one. 140k on the same rad. Time for a new one. I think the reason it lasted this long was because the PO had the cooling system fushed at least once a year.

Rear Shocks - they were on the way out so they were replaced with new Bilstein Sports.

Installed GC Rear Shock Mounts. Probably overkill considering the PO had the rear shock toweres re-enforced with an additional layer of factory sheetmetal.

So after that work, I had a decent platform to start with.

Then I let my wife drive the car....

She loved it so much and being the good husband that I am, I gave her the car. It was fall anyway so my driving was over. Over the fall I focused on developing my M3 sedan in the spring.

Then in January I went to India on a business trip. Since the M3 was seldomly driven in the winter, the battery was dead. My wife when she tried to use the car was unable to. She was left to drive the family van, which she loves. But during this time she came to a realization. Why do I need a car I hardly drive. She made me a proposition.

http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/twin2.jpg

I cant keep both M3s. We already had 2 other cars (a 328 and the Van). She proposed that I sell one of the two M3s. Whatever one I kept, I could use the money from the sale of the other to put into the remaining one.

In an instant I decided to sell the sedan and keep the sunroofless coupe.

Thats where the journey starts.

Sweeeet. Keep us updated on the progress to IP Mario!!
-Ted

door panel FTMFW

cant wait to see more pics budd

Ted how have you been?

Door panels - LOL...I will be removing the drivers side soon to prep for cage work and door gut. Templates will be made.

Then in January I went to India on a business trip. Since the M3 was seldomly driven in the winter, the battery was dead. My wife when she tried to use the car was unable to. She was left to drive the family van, which she loves. But during this time she came to a realization. Why do I need a car I hardly drive. She made me a proposition.

http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/twin2.jpg

I cant keep both M3s. We already had 2 other cars (a 328 and the Van). She proposed that I sell one of the two M3s. Whatever one I kept, I could use the money from the sale of the other to put into the remaining one.

In an instant I decided to sell the sedan and keep the sunroofless coupe.


.....Hmmmmm, never crossed your mind to keep both cars and lose the wife..?...;)

.....Hmmmmm, never crossed your mind to keep both cars and lose the wife..?...;)

Maybe for an instant...:D

Tiato's wife comes to the track and supports his addiction, that's a keeper in my book.

I was going to make one of these threads but you did it for me, thanks. I'm about at the same spot doing the same thing, just imagine a white car in the pictures. :D

well my Baby is trailing behind you guys....slower project....but this is her last year on the street....just installed the roll bar and BOY IS IT NOISY inside now without the rear seat....:(

THen off Monday to TC Kline for some suspension work.

Hoping to have her IP ready for next season in roughly April...:)

Bob

Tiato's wife comes to the track and supports his addiction, that's a keeper in my book.



Yes sir, def. a keeper.


Once I decided that the coupe will become a track car I put to paper my plan.

One goal was to make the car reliable, no exotic parts, just simple tried, true durable stuff. Another goal was to focus on driver safety.

Relialibilty:
AA Diff Support Bracket
Oil Pump nut
Aluminum Thermo Housing
New OEM Motor Mounts
UUC Race Mounts
Ground Control Rear Shock Mounts
Conforti CAI
PWR 57mm Rad
New Rad Hoses
Stewart H20 Pump
New Front Control Arms
New Tie Rods
New FCAB
New RTAB
Z3 Steering Rack
New PS Hoses
Lower rear ball joints
TMS adjustable rear control arms
TMS Sway Bars
TMS Sway Bar Tab Re-enforcements
TMS Wheel Studs
Spal Fan
Fan Delete Mod
New Clutch
New Flywheel
New Rear Main Seal
New Transmission Input Shaft seal
New Guibo
Shifter Assembly re-build

Driver Safety:
Kirk 4 pt rollbar
Cobra Suzuka Seats
VAC Mounts
New 6pt Harness
HANS
New Helmet
MA Shaw Wing
LTW Splitter
(While not exactly safety mods, the wing and splitter help plant the car at high speeds. In my mind a stable car is a safe car)

Driver Controls:
Momo Mod 78 Wheel
Momo Competition Shifter
UUC Clutch Stop
Gauges for Oil Temp, Oil Press., Water Temp


So that was the plan on paper. Focus on reliability and safety before speed.

One thing that I did forgot to mention was that one of the very first and very important preventative maintenance performed was the securing of the oil pump nut. Cheap insurance.

Since this was in the middle of winter, my first priority was to swap parts between the M3 sedan and the coupe.

I needed to move the following: Full suspension, rotors, exhaust, acc. gauges, senders and wiring.

While that was going on I ordered Cobra Suzuka GT seats, side mounts, VAC plates and a momo type 78 steering wheel from HMS. Sway bars, rear sway mount re-enforcements and rear lower control arms from Turner.

http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/gcstrut.jpg

http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/gccp.jpg

http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/gauges.jpg

http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/momo78.jpg

http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/mason1.jpg

Mario!

likin' the potential graphics scheme! blue on silver looks goooood
get some more damn interior pictures up from that thing and show everyone how gosh darn clean it really is there!


OT: thought you'd like to know I have a set of EvoII's, harnessses, bar, and VAC mounts on the way and its all your fault because sitting in your car, although it has those very nice cobras, set me on getting fixed back seats. Not sure if you remember Rick from Ken's demo day, but I'm getting it all through him.

Hopefully....you also have a printing press for money....go with $ 20.....less obvious...:)

Mario!

likin' the potential graphics scheme! blue on silver looks goooood
get some more damn interior pictures up from that thing and show everyone how gosh darn clean it really is there!


OT: thought you'd like to know I have a set of EvoII's, harnessses, bar, and VAC mounts on the way and its all your fault because sitting in your car, although it has those very nice cobras, set me on getting fixed back seats. Not sure if you remember Rick from Ken's demo day, but I'm getting it all through him.


Thanks Mike.

Im glad to hear you are heading in the right direction. Thats money well spent. Im happy I was able to influence your spending habits...:evil2 You working on those "special" projects we spoke about?

Ill be chatting with Rick in the spring about gloves, nomex under garb and a suit. Heck, we may have another demo day in the spring...:D




Id love to have a printing press...

MA Shaw Wing
LTW Splitter
(While not exactly safety mods, the wing and splitter help plant the car at high speeds. In my mind a stable car is a safe car)

Interestingly enough, I take the opposite approach. Aero grip, while it "feels" good and planted, can bite you in the butt a lot more than mechanical grip. When you overstep the bounds of mechanical grip (i.e. exceed the optimal slip angle of your tires), the car tends to be catchable because the grip drops off at a reasonable rate...with aero grip, when the car starts moving sideways, the aero grip tends to fall off at a much sharper rate and you've already exceeded the maximum mechanical grip. It's not a huge deal on these cars, but somewhat noticeable even with a basic wing/splitter setup. It's an entirely eye opening experience when you get a formula car a little too much sideways and you go from feeling planted to wondering why you're now facing the car that was just in your rearview. :D

Project looks fun. I did something similar with a 325 back when I first started racing. You'll appreciate everything about the car while at the same time wondering why you didn't buy a fully built car for 50 cents on the dollar. :)

....because we can ALL build them better.....;)

Interestingly enough, I take the opposite approach. Aero grip, while it "feels" good and planted, can bite you in the butt a lot more than mechanical grip. When you overstep the bounds of mechanical grip (i.e. exceed the optimal slip angle of your tires), the car tends to be catchable because the grip drops off at a reasonable rate...with aero grip, when the car starts moving sideways, the aero grip tends to fall off at a much sharper rate and you've already exceeded the maximum mechanical grip. It's not a huge deal on these cars, but somewhat noticeable even with a basic wing/splitter setup. It's an entirely eye opening experience when you get a formula car a little too much sideways and you go from feeling planted to wondering why you're now facing the car that was just in your rearview. :D

Project looks fun. I did something similar with a 325 back when I first started racing. You'll appreciate everything about the car while at the same time wondering why you didn't buy a fully built car for 50 cents on the dollar. :)

Bryan,

Excellent information!


During this build, the thought of "I should have bought a built car" has crossed my mind several times, especially when I was facing one problem or another. In the end I suppose I enjoy the process involved and all that I have learned.

Next time, Im buying pre built.

During this build, the thought of "I should have bought a built car" has crossed my mind several times, especially when I was facing one problem or another. In the end I suppose I enjoy the process involved and all that I have learned.

Next time, Im buying pre built.

Same exact thoughts here! I've heard the warnings over and over, but it wasn't until I got impatient with a stuck seat and used an exacto knife to cut out 90% of what used to really nice carpet that I truly understood what people were telling me. At least mine's almost done and will be on track in a few weeks.

Stay strong! ;)

Thanks Mike.

Im glad to hear you are heading in the right direction. Thats money well spent. Im happy I was able to influence your spending habits...:evil2 You working on those "special" projects we spoke about?

Ill be chatting with Rick in the spring about gloves, nomex under garb and a suit. Heck, we may have another demo day in the spring...:D




Id love to have a printing press...

safety first! especially when comfort is included!
your car is influencing a lot! im not going to say in terms of what else but ill supply a hint... MASHAW:devillook

hey just so you know, soon you may be able to chat with me about getting things from midatlantic too


and about the "special projects"...i already spoke with my uncle. he said at the very least i need a drawing with dimensions. CAD would be nice but he knows i don't have access to that at the time. I came up with a few different ways to make them level too as you suggested. I have one thing in particular I'm waiting on before i can get things rolling with him. I promise you tho, you will at least a set of that one little thing i initially mentioned by the time you and I do our first track days of '08

such a nice m3, must have been hard...

While the parts swapping was going on, a few items arrived :D

1. 4 pt Kirk Rollbar, Da'Lan Hitch and some super blue

http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/rollbar.jpg


2. MA Shaw Carbon LTW Wing

http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/cfs1.jpg

http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/cfs2.jpg


3. Cobra Suzuka GT Seats + Cobra Side plates (not pictured) and VAC PLates (not pictured)

http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/SUZGT1.jpg

http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/SUZSTICKER.jpg

http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/SUZSTICKER2.jpg

While the parts swapping was going on, a few items arrived :D

1. 4 pt Kirk Rollbar, Da'Lan Hitch and some super blue


Is this just a recap of what was on the car before your IP plans?

-Carlos.

A key part part of this project was preventative maintenance. as I was swapping parts over, from the suspension to the exhaust I used new mounting hardware.

Once the car was back on the ground, I began preparations for the rollbar and seat install by removing the stock seats. I had placed the passenger seat in loosely to determine how far back I wanted to move it. I still had reasons to move the car so I had to improvise with one of my 4 year old's chairs. :D

http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/alts1.jpg

http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/alts2.jpg

Is this just a recap of what was on the car before your IP plans?

-Carlos.

Yes, this is my cars complete evolution from DE to Race car.

Maybe I'm alone, but I have no regrets about putting my own car together. I enjoy it quite a bit. :shrug

more...

Once I had an idea how and where to mount the seats ans well as the lapbelts I turned my attention to the 4pt. Kirk Rollbar. Work was made easy by the fact that I already had the seats out.

I took my time searching for rollbars the previous winter. While I was really hoping to get a HMS/TC Kline/MacMahon rollbar, it became evedent that they were no longer being produced. That prompted me to look at Kirk, Autopower and Safety Devices.

Safety devices required welding. Not what I was looking for at that time as I wanted to keep options open. That left Kirk and Autopower. Research showed that autopowers quality left a lot to be desired.

Kirk turned out to be the best bar for the money while at the same time offering excellent build quality and features. I bought the Kirk bar for non sunroof cars with a welded diagnoal.

While the install was straight forward, the bar's weakness are the mounting feet. Not a deal breaker by any means, but I would have spent a few more dollars to get feet that were contoured to the surfaces they would go against. Case in point - the rear leg mounting plates required some massaging with a BFH.

Once the bar was in, I added high density foam padding (love that stuff -self adhesive backing, easy to cut), installed my schroth belts (which since then have been replaced with HANS compatible Schroth belts).

http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/testfit.jpg

http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/footdetail.jpg

http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/downleg.jpg

http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/finished.jpg

http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/bpillar.jpg

http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/bdetail2.jpg

http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/finished.jpg

http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/bpillar.jpg


You might seriously consider some additional harness guides. The outer shoulder belt could slip off the side of the harness bar in your case. Just a thought.
Also, check your shoulder harness wrap, doesn't look quite correct. But I'm not the safety police.....and you mentioned these have since been removed and replaced with something else, so perhaps it has been fixed?
Cheers,
Chet

Chet - observant you are. When the images were taken, I had not yet finished tidying up the belts yet. My current configuration has foam blocks on the outside edges of the belts as well.

Mario-

I hope you have also threaded the shoulder harnesses correctly. I know the pic of them is pre-completion. If you aren't sure, check the Schroth instructions.

Jay

Can't wait to see the pics of that crazy month when "Animal" went to work on your car.
http://projects.csail.mit.edu/olympics/04/images/muppets-animal.jpg

-Scott

Can't wait to see the pics of that crazy month when "Animal" went to work on your car.
http://projects.csail.mit.edu/olympics/04/images/muppets-animal.jpg

-Scott

LOL, he was a great help.

Any major winter progress, Mario? I'm slowly catching up.

Any major winter progress, Mario? I'm slowly catching up.

After not doing anything for a while, Im now on a roll again. Took a few days off to do the Skip Barber 3 Day Race school at Road Atlanta, was sick for a week. Was awaiting parts to do the euro coolant tank mod, evosport oil distribution block, remote inline oil filter, oil cooler and the M50 manifold mod. Figured while the manifold was off, Id go to town with under the manifold mods and do the work once.

Also doing brake coolings ducts, followed by a GC AD suspension and new RTABs. Got to get the work done by end of the month as I have a lot of travel next month. Cage goes in middle of May.

SUBSCRIBED!!

Hey, Jesse. Hey mmmCookies!

Updates!?!?!?

;)

-Scott

Updates!?!?!?

;)

-Scott

Indeed. There have been a few changes :D. Just got to find the time to update the thread.

Other work performed during this period of March - April was a PWR 57 radiator, stewart water pump, new front control arms, LCAB, tied rods, Z3 steering rack.

Once the roll bar was in, the belts sorted, high density foam pads applied and full suspension installed, including a fun rear ball joint bolt replacement and other associated bushings in the car, it was time for corner balancing and alignment.

http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/silvyltw3.jpg

http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/pwr4.jpg

After the alignment in order to improve the feel of the car I installed a momo type 78 wheel, LTB Motorsport Quick Release and a Momo competition shift knob. Also installed was a Edge Motorworks gauges.

http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/ltbqr.jpg

http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/mod78.jpg

At this time in the car's development, it was still being built for a dedicated DE car that was to be drive to events. As such I had installed a hitch for my Southsport tire trailer.

http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/silvysig.jpg

Cars condition on the eve of its first event of the season in its dedictaed DE configuration.

http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/gate12.jpg

At the track - That CF MA Shaw LTW wings works very well.
http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/SCDAGLEN.jpg
http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/SCDAGLEN2.jpg

The car as configured in the previous post was a great re-introduction to a M3 coupe. It was as i remembered my first M3 to be.

That configuration lasted only a month. Big changes were the addition of the LTW front spiltter and fresh tires. The BBS RX / Kumho Victoracer wheelset had been had been in storage for over 6 years but provided a nice re-introduction to r-comps. Unfortunately, driving to and from the track, a nail punctured one of the 4 tires and was forced to obtain a new set. Hell it was time anyway. Enter the Toyo RA1. Great tire but damn, it need a lot of neg. camber. By this time the BBS RX wheels were looking pretty ragged from paint chips and sheets of paint peeling off. I gave them a makeover.

The splitter was a fun addition. I could dial in/out understeeer by varying extension. The combination of both the splitter and wing made for noticeabe increase in stability at the expense of top end speed.

http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/LTWSPLITTER.jpg

http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/BBSRXDARK.jpg

http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/PATROONGLEN.jpg

I was very content with the configuration as depicted in the last post. The car was fast, stable and forgiving. 8 months prior, returning after a 2 year track hiatus, I was at the Glen with a modified M3 sedan. Lap times were in the 2:28 range. The first outing in the coupe, with essentially the same wheel/tire suspension combination yielded times in the 2:25 area. With the above post combo I got down into the 2:20's. Subsequesnt visitis to the Glen, as a result of improved driver confidence, familiarty of the car, some "speed secrets" provided by our own SE36 Meister Gilbert yielded lap times reaching into 2:17 territory. Im convinced that the car is capable of at least a 2:14 in its current (yet to be described) state on a nearly stock motor.

2007 was a big year for my safety program. Prior to that year I was only on track once in the previous two. My equipment was nearing the end of its useable service period.

My schroth belts were 6 years old. The Bieffe Predator helmet as well. When I planned this car out, a rollbar was a definate must have. Just before my second event of the season I took delivery of a HANS device as well as a new helmet, an Arai HANS compatible GP5W. At the same time I installed new 6pt. Schroth HANS compatible belts. Combined a very worthy investment of over $2500.

At this point the car could very easily be retured to stock if I chose to. I visited the Glen again at the end of July for some open lapping and that was the start of what became a very vertical slippery slope. I remember the moment very precisely. I was on the back straight and just about to pass the 600ft brake marker at nearly 130 when I tought "wow, Im at a speed much faster than some race classes...and all I have is a rollbar". As I applied brakes at 400ft I thought "Its time for a cage."

On the way home from that event. Driving 2 cars back to NJ (my wife in our van and me in the M3) we came to the conclusion that it was time for a trailer and a tow vehicle. A week later we were the proud owners of a 2007 F150 Super Crew. A few days after that, a trailer.

Then there was the incident at Mid Ohio. John Engle survived the collision but unfortunately passed away as a result of his injuries. His passing crystalized the idea to fully cage the car over the winter. All in all, the heavy investment in safety (belts, helmet, HANS, rollbar, proper seats) was over 50% of my 2007 car expenditures. Even if you add in the cost of a full prepared class cage, fire supression, window nets the 6-8k one would spend for everything (including a new suit, nomex, new gloved and shoes) is but a small fraction of what a serious emergency room visit would cost. I look at safety equipment as a cheap life insurance policy. It will either protect me or save my life, minimize injury or at worst prolong my life long enough to be able to say good bye to the ones dear to me.

At the end of August I was back at the Glen. I had some time to kill between sessions so I started stripping easily removeable iitems from the car.

After August event I gave some serious thought to the cage project and where that would lead me. In the back of my mind I always knew that the DE would lead to either instructing or racing or both.

So the first question was, what kind of cage. I researched BMW Club Race classes and and cars built to suit. I took note of club race trends in preparation. Size of class fields.

One thing was certain, I was going to keep the M3. Research told me that it would be less expensive to buy a prebuilt race car. However developing the car at my speed would alllow me to spread out the payments of the project. Callt the difference in cost of prebuilt and building the interest charge.

I stock was out. Considering the field sizes, the potential re-sale market was limited. The trend was GTS, IP or Mod. So I decided to build to a class where the potential market would be larger and more interesting. I chose I-P.

Once that decision was made I went about gutting the M3 to the core. I had 30 days before my next event and then another 30 days after that to get a cage build for an event in November.

http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/int2.jpg

http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/int1.jpg

http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/dashless.jpg


From the get go, this car was going to be a budget build. I got creatice by going to my local DOT depot and asked for some scrap aluminum for the heater core plate and floor boards.
http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/materials.jpg

http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/sign.jpg

http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/rear.jpg

Real lightweight material. :D
http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/panels.jpg

Thin gauge home depot aluminum, cut, bent, modified and painted to suit.
http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/nint1.jpg

For the door panels, I obtained a sheet of .060: architectual grade aluminum for $100.
http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/nint3.jpg

The Glen in the fall is awesome as it is, but the Sept. GVC event was amazing. The car now weighed about 2650 lbs. In that sense it weighed as much as my former e30 318is but with 100+ more hp.

The by product of pulling nearly 500 lbs out of the car was a significant improvement in the car's responsiveness to any sort of input. Light, nimble, quick. I loved it. Also very noticeable was in increase in acceleration and top end speed.The drag of the splitter and LTW wing costs me at least 6/8mph at the end of the back straight at WGI. To get to 128mph took a while.
Now at the 400ft brake marker I was hitting 132mph. Of course deceleration was much brisker as well.

The lightning of the car along with a spring change darmatically altered the way the car would rotate in turns such as T1, T7, T8. Trailbraking became much easier.

Needless to say, the car was transformed.

Time to plan for the cage in the off season and the next event at VIR in November.

Then halloween, 1 week before Chin/VIR everything was put on hold and life was re-prioritized in a matter of hours. I had to tend to my kids and car stuff was out for the next 4 months. I did not touch the car until March. I continued the search for a cage builder.

At the beginning of May, inbetween a hectic business travel schedule, I dropped the car of at K-Fab in West Chester,PA. The goal was to have it done by the 3rd week of May so that I could make an early June event. Well, I got the car back just a little over two weeks ago and worked steadily to get the car ready for annual tech, alignment and balance on Monday in preparation for and event at Summit Point next Monday and tuesday

Friday I determine that the car wont start. I double check all kill switch wiring. Trace my steps back. tried different switch connection configurations. Nothing. But all remaining lights work. I had a schedule to maintain so I kept on working on completing other details. The car is nearly done and it still wont start. A post on BFC is i order - Diagnosis: EWS misalignment.

Great. The car is dead. EWS is misalignened. Shop doesnt want a dead car (nor did I want to pay to have them fix it). Solution: Called BW, discussed options and overnighted them my ECU for EWS, air pump and O2 sensor
delete. ECU was reflashed and overnighted back. I recieved it today, installed it, car started - :alright - loaded up and trailered it to my shop.

So the work performed since the spring to get the car ready for an O-fest race debut was:

March/April:
M50 manifold install
Air Pump Delete
AKG Shifter Install
Remote, inline oil filter
Oil Cooler
Euro coolant tank conversion

In the last 2 weeks:
Alcon Brakes
UUC Race Motor Mounts
Swapped GC track/school suspension for advance design
Rebuilt GC camber plates
GC weight jackers
Powerfelx TAB
Paint cage and partial interior
SPA 4L fire supression
Kill switch
BW brake cooling kit
Set ride height
Modified my DIY aliminum floor boards
Modified the dash to fit around a pillar cage tubes
Reinstall dash
Fitted center and drivers side net
Remount seats - passenger side needed new modified side mounts

http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/kalani.jpg

http://www.dtmotorsports.com/~tiato/cage1.jpg

http://www.dtmotorsports.com/~tiato/cage2.jpg

http://www.dtmotorsports.com/~tiato/cage3.jpg

http://www.dtmotorsports.com/~tiato/cage4.jpg

http://www.dtmotorsports.com/~tiato/cage5.jpg

http://www.dtmotorsports.com/~tiato/cage6.jpg

Nearly 2 weeks of work resulted in this.....

http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/side1.jpg

Dreamy picture baby. Cold lens, hot humid morning. Fog.
http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/side2.jpg

http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/finint1.jpg

http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/finint2.jpg

http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/decals.jpg

Still have to paint the disconnect handle red. Handle is tied to stainless wire, routed via main hoop and attached to the window bar. I just reach up and pull to disconnect.
http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/safety.jpg

Travel window made from OEM window. Determined height, cut and bent some stock flat .060" aluminum, bolted brackets to window using OEM hardware and slide in.
http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/travelwindow.jpg

http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/fspull.jpg

http://www.altechcorp.com/users/mario/M3/ipbuild/mswitch.jpg

where did you get your shift knob? is it white delrin?

Maybe I'm alone, but I have no regrets about putting my own car together. I enjoy it quite a bit. :shrug
its fullfilling that way

love how its turning out

where did you get your shift knob? is it white delrin?

Comes with the AKG DTM shifter.

Carlos.

where did you get your shift knob? is it white delrin?

Comes with the AKG DTM shifter.

Carlos.

White delrin indeed. I believe AKG sells them individualy as well plus they have different models. When I bought the AKG shifter a few months ago, I wanted to get the teardrop shaped knob, but they were fresh out, so I went with the Ball. No set screws or press fit. Ball is a scew on. Very nice unit.


love how its turning out

Thank you.

White delrin indeed. I believe AKG sells them individualy as well plus they have different models. When I bought the AKG shifter a few months ago, I wanted to get the teardrop shaped knob, but they were fresh out, so I went with the Ball. No set screws or press fit. Ball is a scew on. Very nice unit.




Thank you.

What made you go with AKG, instead of the other manufacturers out there like UUC... etc ??
..I'm looking to get one and am building a car pretty much just like yours just a lot of steps/dollars behind, haha.

Car looks sweet in person. I especially liked the attention to detail you had for those thin aluminum plates.

What made you go with AKG, instead of the other manufacturers out there like UUC... etc ??
..I'm looking to get one and am building a car pretty much just like yours just a lot of steps/dollars behind, haha.

Ive tried a few different shifters - UUC on 2 cars, 1.9L z3 on a e30, stock and I just wanted to try something different. I like the height extension the jaffster knob provides. I like the simplicity and height of the UUC race shifter (but the fit is optimized for an e30). Essentially I wanted a tall, short shift. The AKG unit was the answer to what I was looking for. Does away with the shifter carrier, few parts and very serviceable.

Car looks sweet in person. I especially liked the attention to detail you had for those thin aluminum plates.
Thanks Eric. I appreciate the positive comments. It was a sincere pleasure meeting you.