hi
the back end is fully custom. it will not resemble anything bmw.
im re-doing the engine bay while the engine's out, and have decided to remove the heater fan shroud, because the original heating system wont fit in due to the engine swap. im making a fake firewall to cover it all up. the remaining holes in the bay have been removed aswell. the other photos show where the removable panel goes, and how the front end has been modified to fit in a wider radiator, and to allow more front end air flow.
i will be doing a custom strut brace to replace the strength (and add a bit) lost by removing the heater cover panel.
Nice V8 project
update..
have just purchased some Nordskog digital gauges for it; speedo, tacho, fuel level, oil pressure, and water temp. i sold the monster tacho i had coz i think they look silly, and i can run a nicer shift light off the ecu, so dont need a big one attached to the tacho.
the removable panel at the front of the car is done, and the engine bay and rear end fibreglassing is getting closer to finishing.
it turns out that i dont even need seperate indicators at the back, as it is legal to have the tail lights flashing, like they have on old cars in america.
next up is a custom dash and sound system, and a whole heap of other minor things like custom made handbrake cables, and putting the whole shebang back together after polishing of some more engine parts.
the lights im using for the rear end are at the bottom of this page;
http://www.narva.com.au/Truck-Trailer_14.html
the headlights ive put on are at the top of this page;
http://www.narva.com.au/ForwardLighting_1.html
they are 'halo' type, like new bmw's. they're only 70mm diameter, but are mounted behind metal grills, so should look ok i hope...
have just purchased some Nordskog digital gauges for it; speedo, tacho, fuel level, oil pressure, and water temp. i sold the monster tacho i had coz i think they look silly, and i can run a nicer shift light off the ecu, so dont need a big one attached to the tacho.
the removable panel at the front of the car is done, and the engine bay and rear end fibreglassing is getting closer to finishing.
it turns out that i dont even need seperate indicators at the back, as it is legal to have the tail lights flashing, like they have on old cars in america.
next up is a custom dash and sound system, and a whole heap of other minor things like custom made handbrake cables, and putting the whole shebang back together after polishing of some more engine parts.
the lights im using for the rear end are at the bottom of this page;
http://www.narva.com.au/Truck-Trailer_14.html
the headlights ive put on are at the top of this page;
http://www.narva.com.au/ForwardLighting_1.html
they are 'halo' type, like new bmw's. they're only 70mm diameter, but are mounted behind metal grills, so should look ok i hope...
i finally found (by fluke) some 315 headlight grills, which i think are nicer, or more oldschool looking than the standard quad headlamps. i dont have high beams at the moment anyway, so dont really need the middle two holes of the standard grill.
does anyone else like the 315 style, or am i alone in this?
does anyone else like the 315 style, or am i alone in this?
well its been a while since anything major has happened on the car, but the engine bay is almost devoid of holes now, and primed, and the false (smooth) firewall is getting close, as well as the fibreglassing of the rear end is almost finished. i hope to get the engine back in and get the car on the dyno by febuary, then maybe finish all the small things to get the certification and warrent of fitness to make it road legal a few months later.
my plan is to also make a custom aluminium strut brace, which will double as an oil catch can, by making it out of large diameter (~50-70mm) tube then running lines to it from the cam covers, and then add a small filter on top, and drain plugs on the sides. it sounds a bit silly, but i think it will look clean and simple, and should work fine (many drift cars have horizontal catch cans, but usually behind the radiator).
as always, any comments or critisism welcome.
my plan is to also make a custom aluminium strut brace, which will double as an oil catch can, by making it out of large diameter (~50-70mm) tube then running lines to it from the cam covers, and then add a small filter on top, and drain plugs on the sides. it sounds a bit silly, but i think it will look clean and simple, and should work fine (many drift cars have horizontal catch cans, but usually behind the radiator).
as always, any comments or critisism welcome.
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biertje
i finally got a bit of time to go work on the car again, and have put the running gear back in, as well as starting on the custom dash and custom strut brace. im trying to focus on things that will get the car certified/road legal first, so she still needs the bodywork done, which will come later.
my fibreglass false firewall;
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218 ... 1small.jpg
my dash panel and digital gauges, switches with covers, and shift/warning lights;
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218 ... 8small.jpg
the old plug lead covers fibreglassed into the rear of the car;
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218 ... 5small.jpg
my new tail lamps/stop lights/rear indicators;
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218 ... 4small.jpg
final style of rear end, with shaved boot lock, lights, and badges;
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218 ... 3small.jpg
from the front, with 315 grill, shaved handles, and side exhaust;
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218 ... 6small.jpg
engine bay, almost finished except for strut brace and painting stuff;
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218 ... 5small.jpg
from the front;
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218 ... 2small.jpg
and again;
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218 ... 0small.jpg
i had some nice stainless mesh headlight covers with my 323i grills, but found that the 315 grills are made for a larger diameter light. im going to try find one that will fit so that there isnt an obvious gap due to the size difference of the lights im using and the original light size. also, ignore my drawings on the front bumper as these were just ideas for possibly opening up some more airflow to the radiator.
lastly, i noticed something i did ages ago on my bonnet that some people may like to also do. unbolt the grills on the top of the bonnet, paint them silver and bolt them in again. they look like stainlless mesh. it takes ten minutes and costs ten bucks and look great.
cheers
340i
my fibreglass false firewall;
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218 ... 1small.jpg
my dash panel and digital gauges, switches with covers, and shift/warning lights;
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218 ... 8small.jpg
the old plug lead covers fibreglassed into the rear of the car;
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218 ... 5small.jpg
my new tail lamps/stop lights/rear indicators;
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218 ... 4small.jpg
final style of rear end, with shaved boot lock, lights, and badges;
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218 ... 3small.jpg
from the front, with 315 grill, shaved handles, and side exhaust;
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218 ... 6small.jpg
engine bay, almost finished except for strut brace and painting stuff;
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218 ... 5small.jpg
from the front;
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218 ... 2small.jpg
and again;
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218 ... 0small.jpg
i had some nice stainless mesh headlight covers with my 323i grills, but found that the 315 grills are made for a larger diameter light. im going to try find one that will fit so that there isnt an obvious gap due to the size difference of the lights im using and the original light size. also, ignore my drawings on the front bumper as these were just ideas for possibly opening up some more airflow to the radiator.
lastly, i noticed something i did ages ago on my bonnet that some people may like to also do. unbolt the grills on the top of the bonnet, paint them silver and bolt them in again. they look like stainlless mesh. it takes ten minutes and costs ten bucks and look great.
cheers
340i
Looks like things are coming along well! Look forward to seeing it when it's all finished off!
With the 315 grille, I think I'd go for the larger diameter headlights over filling in the light surrounds to hide the gap to the headlights. Looks much more old school this way... more like an old 2002. I've also been thinking about fitting this grille to my 323i to get a bigger radiator in behind the grille when I do the 2.7L conversion (although the 3 row I already have is a monster, so I possibly won't need to worry).
Good Luck
With the 315 grille, I think I'd go for the larger diameter headlights over filling in the light surrounds to hide the gap to the headlights. Looks much more old school this way... more like an old 2002. I've also been thinking about fitting this grille to my 323i to get a bigger radiator in behind the grille when I do the 2.7L conversion (although the 3 row I already have is a monster, so I possibly won't need to worry).
Good Luck
a little update on progress...
iv made a few purchases and mods for the 340i;
i got myself a remote controlled shaved door handles kit (solenoids, door poppers, remotes, etc). its getting installed tomorrow, along with the boot solenoid, which will be openable by remote aswell. the remote doors and boot should be good for a laugh when combined with the remote engine start feature that my alarm has. i am considering removing the ignition barrel and installing switches and a start button, then i wont need keys at all.
i got a quick release unit for the steering wheel, more for security than anything. (its rather hard to steal a car that doesnt have a steering wheel)
i learnt some auto-electrics and built myself a relay setup to run the custom all-LED indicator system, with usa-style (brake light) indicators. it is a bit tricky, with 10 relays, and two special (ultra low current) LED flasher units. iv also had to rip out all the old wires and run new ones throughout the car to suit this.
im modifying the front indicator housings to fit LED's into them, and then will cover them over with perspex for the 'clear' indicator look. iv also taken the square corner edge off the housings, so that they are rounded instead.
the custom strutbrace/catch can is getting welded tomorrow, aswell as some welding done to finish the custom seatbrackets for my recaros. im still hunting for two matching seats to put in to replace the back seat.
iv put a nice aftermarket alloy radiator overflow tank in too. it is very shiny, and very well designed and built.
thats about it for now. its going in for dynotuning on wednesday so ill hopefully get some video footage, aswell as more photos too.
cheers
340i
iv made a few purchases and mods for the 340i;
i got myself a remote controlled shaved door handles kit (solenoids, door poppers, remotes, etc). its getting installed tomorrow, along with the boot solenoid, which will be openable by remote aswell. the remote doors and boot should be good for a laugh when combined with the remote engine start feature that my alarm has. i am considering removing the ignition barrel and installing switches and a start button, then i wont need keys at all.
i got a quick release unit for the steering wheel, more for security than anything. (its rather hard to steal a car that doesnt have a steering wheel)
i learnt some auto-electrics and built myself a relay setup to run the custom all-LED indicator system, with usa-style (brake light) indicators. it is a bit tricky, with 10 relays, and two special (ultra low current) LED flasher units. iv also had to rip out all the old wires and run new ones throughout the car to suit this.
im modifying the front indicator housings to fit LED's into them, and then will cover them over with perspex for the 'clear' indicator look. iv also taken the square corner edge off the housings, so that they are rounded instead.
the custom strutbrace/catch can is getting welded tomorrow, aswell as some welding done to finish the custom seatbrackets for my recaros. im still hunting for two matching seats to put in to replace the back seat.
iv put a nice aftermarket alloy radiator overflow tank in too. it is very shiny, and very well designed and built.
thats about it for now. its going in for dynotuning on wednesday so ill hopefully get some video footage, aswell as more photos too.
cheers
340i
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the dynotuning was a relative success , the clutch was slipping due to it not having a chance to 'run-in' as you are meant to do before hard use such as dynos, but that came right after a bit. then the alternator pulley fell off, as i hadnt tightened the nut enough after polishing it 
and my battery is dead now, but other than that and a few minor wiring problems, it was all go. the side exit exhaust was aiming straight at the hub-dyno machine, so heat shielding made the exhaust heat burn the left side panel, but i am yet to do a decent paint job so it isnt too much of an issue.
im very happy with the noise, it idles nice and quiet, but gets quite loud up high in the revs. the dyno is in a room built inside a warehouse, and i could hear the v8 clearly from over two blocks away.
, the clutch was slipping due to it not having a chance to 'run-in' as you are meant to do before hard use such as dynos, but that came right after a bit. then the alternator pulley fell off, as i hadnt tightened the nut enough after polishing it and my battery is dead now, but other than that and a few minor wiring problems, it was all go. the side exit exhaust was aiming straight at the hub-dyno machine, so heat shielding made the exhaust heat burn the left side panel, but i am yet to do a decent paint job so it isnt too much of an issue.im very happy with the noise, it idles nice and quiet, but gets quite loud up high in the revs. the dyno is in a room built inside a warehouse, and i could hear the v8 clearly from over two blocks away.
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218 ... 0small.jpg
alternator pulley falling off, and shiny new radiator overflow tank
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218 ... 9small.jpg
solenoid to open boot
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218 ... 4small.jpg
now its on...
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218 ... 5small.jpg
and now its off!
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218 ... 6small.jpg
340i on dyno
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218 ... 9small.jpg
shot of rear suspension and brakes (530i disks on custom hubs, and toyota levin rear callipers). nb. the background car is an old Ford jailbar, with full custom chassis, airbags (it sits on the ground), jag independent rear, and blown smallblock. when the body is done this will be a very nice hotrod.
i have dyno videos but they're too big at the moment so am trying to shrink them down for easier download.
alternator pulley falling off, and shiny new radiator overflow tank
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218 ... 9small.jpg
solenoid to open boot
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218 ... 4small.jpg
now its on...
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218 ... 5small.jpg
and now its off!
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218 ... 6small.jpg
340i on dyno
http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t218 ... 9small.jpg
shot of rear suspension and brakes (530i disks on custom hubs, and toyota levin rear callipers). nb. the background car is an old Ford jailbar, with full custom chassis, airbags (it sits on the ground), jag independent rear, and blown smallblock. when the body is done this will be a very nice hotrod.
i have dyno videos but they're too big at the moment so am trying to shrink them down for easier download.
