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12/28/06 – Obtaining the car

 This is what a 500 dollar BMW looks like.

 

 

 

 

 

 It's grey, not green. The Sparco seat is not mine. It's grey, not green.1 There are a few small dents and a little bit of rust2 that I will take care of when I paint the car. Today I am removing the dash and all the under dash components. I am rewiring the car from the driver seat forward.3 Originally, I was going to keep a full interior. After examining the car, I've decided that I am probably going to do a gutted, or at least "semi gutted" interior.4 The fitment is going to be tight, but I took some basic measurements.

The frame rail width on the skyline and BMW is 27"
The distance from the firewall to the rear of the cross member/sway bar is ~8" on both cars
The distance from the firewall to the front of the cross member/sway bar is ~16" on both cars
This is the tight one: the Distance from the firewall to radiator support on the GTR is 40", while the same distance on the E30 is 33". EEP. 5

However, the RB26 is 31" long, back of engine to front of crank pulley. The skyline radiator I have is 1.25 inches thick. This leaves 3/8 of clearance front and rear. Since the motor does not torque in this direction, I think it should be alright. If not, I can get a narrower radiator and put it UNDER the radiator support. (stock location is aft of it.)

The brake booster is definitely going to be a problem. To a lesser extent, so is the downpipe (damn LHD cars).

I've already stripped almost 100 lbs off of the chassis in the engine bay alone, and another 100 lbs+ off of the RB motor (Power Steering, Air Conditioning, Front diferential, Twin turbos and cast manifolds).

This is my tentative plan for construction:

Strip Body
Mount Engine
Build Exhaust and IC plumbing
New brake booster or remote mount
Build/buy driveshaft
Remove engine and all components. Strip to roller.
Shave firewall and engine bay.
Body work, paint, wheels
Paint engine covers, replace timing belt, thermostat and water pump
Reinstall engine and all plumbing
Rewire front half of car. Gauges?
Install race buckets. Possible bolt in cage.
Tune.


Mods: 7
RB26
GT35R @ 18psi
38mm tial WG
FMIC
Tial 50mm BOV
PFC or AEM. Ew. $$$ 6
Seats?
Cage?

 The chassis itself was a major project in itself.  This was never intended to be the case.  The car would be up and running had I not needed to spend so much time on the chassis.  However, it was a huge learning experience, in a number of ways.  First, I learned that if I am ever going to do a project like this again and cleaner shells are available for only a bit more money, SPEND THE EXTRA MONEY TO GET IT.  Secondly, and more importantly, I learned (and am in the midst of learning) a LOT a about doing bodywork.  This is information that I can take with me to future endeavors (such as bastardizing muscle cars with import engines…).   Also, I will never start a project like this without looking at the shell, thoroughly, in PERSON.


 The current progress on the tentative timeline:

Strip Body (done)
Mount Engine (done)
Build Exhaust and IC plumbing (done, still need to make a hanger or two)
New brake booster or remote mount (done)
Build/buy driveshaft (not done)
Remove engine and all components. Strip to roller. (definitely done)
Shave firewall and engine bay. (very soon)
Body work, paint, wheels (in process)
Paint engine covers, replace timing belt, thermostat and water pump (not done)
Reinstall engine and all plumbing (not done)
Rewire front half of car. Gauges? (not done)
Install race buckets. Possible bolt in cage. (seats soon, cage done)
Tune. (done.  Just Kidding)


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(1)       Really hammering that point home…

(2)       Ignorance is bliss…

(3)       Make that the ENTIRE car.

(4)       Or NO interior (at least for 08)

(5)       See also: Eff you mtech valence!!!

(6)       Needs another dollar sign at least…

        (7)       The mod list is laughably short