BMW 326rb build thread...

[ctnewman]

OK. Did work...


Mounted the fuel filter in the engine bay. Should be easy to get to. I machined that mounting bracket from billet.



Then I ran the -6 return line to a new bulkhead fitting on the tank (I still need a grommet.




Then I mounted the pump and ran the lines. I feel like a lot of guys spend pretty big money on braided fuel lines then turn it into a hackjob by ziptieing it to frame members. I wanted mine to be clean, so I used some shaker motor cable clamps. These are easy to install and look/hold great. (I also machined the fuel pump bracket)















































Oh yeah... this too:






Upgraded oil pump drive collar...

[96Turbo]

looks great. so whats the status on the head?? your billet mounts look pretty slick. however, i think you should move that fuel pump up above the tank...

it just seems a little vulnerable sitting so low. you'd probably never bottom out on it, but i suppose it would be possible backing into a steep driveway or somethin... it might get some rocks kicked up at it, etc. just somethin to think about....

[ctnewman]

I may make a protective cage for it, however, it will realistically be about 10+" off the ground...

[ctnewman]

I'll let the pix do the talking...

[GSXRJJordan]

Looks soooo good. That fuel pump is fine, and it's good to have it below the tank so it always has a gravity feed - every inline pump I've seen has recommended

I took a look at my alternator after seeing how nice yours was lookin, and died a little inside - it was the worst looking thing I've ever seen in my garage, dead hookers included.

So I took it apart (thanks for the tips btw) wire-wheeled it and hit it with some steel wool, painted the center section and pulley, and then clear coated each piece.



I've still got to clean up my block and finish the engine bay prep, but I want you to know that you're an inspiration to "do it right", instead of giving in to the urge to get the engine in the car and drive the piss out of it.

[josephin510]

Newman im jealous of you...lol baller cars a baller job but most of all a GIRLFRIEND...LOL NAH GOOD STUFF A for being original... but hurry with the updates.

[OBEEWON]

Wow, I was sleeping on this build hard.

[Bumnah]

Hats off to a great build.

[ctnewman]

Originally Posted by GSXRJJordan

I've still got to clean up my block and finish the engine bay prep, but I want you to know that you're an inspiration to "do it right", instead of giving in to the urge to get the engine in the car and drive the piss out of it.

Your alternator came out great....

And thanks for the above words, they actually mean a lot to me.

[enkei2k]

Originally Posted by OBEEWON

Wow, I was sleeping on this build hard.

agreed and damn, so that's how a clean alt looks like lol

[ctnewman]

this weekend I pulled all the fuel lines and brake lines out, painted the holes I had drilled for the mounting hardware. I also added some mounts for the brake lines.

While i was under there, I had to put por 15 back on places where i had welded the seat rails in, because it had burned off.

I also installed the oil restrictor that I made in the block.

Lastly, I made brackets from 3/8 304SS to mount my new bigger front brakes, which arrived today (so did my wheel studs... FINALLY)

Here are the new rotors (foreground) old rotor (background) and new 6 piston differential bore caliper.

[ctnewman]

WHEEL STUDS INSTALLED. Love the "extended stud look"




New caliper on new bracket with OLD ROTOR


for reference, here's where the old caliper sat:

[ctnewman]

Made 2 new mounting brackets and made 4 of these: (2 spares)



BEFORE:


AFTER:




11.75 x .81 w/ 4 piston -> 13 X 1.1 w/ 6 piston

[Kinzer SR13gtR]

hoooly poop, thats gorgeous
Yeaa, I need to get some brackets so I can get the 12.75" Brembos, that I have on the front of my 240. OUch... need something larger than a 16" wheel though. hmmmm!?

[GSXRJJordan]

SSIIIIIIIIIIIICCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKKKK.

You win, your brakes are killer. You have the turbo I want. You have valve springs.

Why wouldn't you let the head shop install the springs/valves and set lash? I hate dealing with that crap.

[ctnewman]

Because it's very labor intensive = expensive and it's something I can do...

[ctnewman]

Ok, so... I didn't want to wait weeks for valve shims, and I also didn't want to pay 10-22 dollars each for them. I called around to a few vendors in the states and no one had the sizes I needed.

So I made my own (did a few tests on the shims I pulled from the car to determine surface finish, hardness and material):

1) Started with a 6 feet of 1/2" 52100 bearing steel rod. $15

2) Using a CNC lathe, turned the OD to 12.3mm


3) Using the same CNC, chopped the rod into discs of varying thickness, about 40-50 total (no pic)

4) Sent the discs out to a local heat treating facility to be hardened to 62-65C (pic below, left) $50

5) Used a surface grinder to take the shims to within .0005" of what I needed. (pic below, right)





Here's a little video of the surface grinder in action. If you look closely you can see the sparks flying. The table moves left to right then indexes forward and backward. Once it has completed a whole plane, it drops down .0005" I could have incremented in .00025" steps, but that seemed like overkill, since nissan specs call out +/- .001"

VID00002.flv video by ctnewman2 - Photobucket

[clark]

i'm not nut swinging or anything...

but geez dude, you're an animal.

[shinmei-2006]

badass newman, this thread doesnt cease to amaze me, everytime i come in here its even more awesome than before lol. I'll be leaving to head to buffalo on thursday of next week so i'll give you a call up to come check out the work firsthand! thanks!

[Ca_Silvia]

Fuckin lovin the colour combo....

[ctnewman]

Took a half day and worked on the top end from 12-11. About half this was already done from a few days ago...

Head on:


Intake manifold on:


Coolant pipe on:


Balance tube and IAC valve on (also a ghetto hose clamp in the middle of a hose trying to relieve a kink):


Kink fixed with prebent tube, waterneck on:


Injectors and oil filter in:


Fuel rail on:


Plenum on:


Cams in, with custom valve shims...


Timing backing plate:


Timing gears and belt installed. All tensioned:


Rocker covers on:


Another shot:


Everything else. It's not really pink in person, it's more purple. The camera just doesn't represent it very well.

[helikz]

That manifold reminds me of this guy I met on acid once back about 15 years ago.

his name was










jesus.

[wgJoY]

wow.

this build.

I am in ruv.

[burnsauto]

car is coming along nicely.

[xBtony]

Haha! Love the freakin color! Cant wait to see it thrown in the car!

[PinkPanther]

your engine looks like a space ship. in a good way.

[bardabe]

Looking good man keep it up!

[GSXRJJordan]

Manifold is hot sex. Black block is a little fail though... couldn't find engine enamel in any more interesting colors? =P

I'm super jealous of your ATI damper... Sigh.

Your Greddy timing belt vs my Power Enterprise in a cage fight, who wins?

[ctnewman]

Haha, I want to keep the colors in the engine bay to a minimum.

The only WACKY colors are hidden.

I had a PE on my last car with no problems, but greddy was readily available.

They're probably all from the same place anyway.

[irritatedmax]

great work, man. my brother has been watching this build forever and has kept urging me to look at it. i am glad i am now finally caught up.