S54 Powered 323i - Duracel79 - England

User avatar
Duracel79
E21 VIP
E21 VIP
Posts: 802
Joined: Thu May 29, 2008 6:54 pm
Location: Stevenage, Hertfordshire

Re: S54 Powered 323i - Duracel79 - England

Post by Duracel79 »

first vid:



Ben


1982 323i (S54 "Test Mule" - to be rebuilt into M20 powered track car)
1983 316 (Taiga Thunder - The refined S54 Race car)
1982 635csiA (New project)
1985 728iA (For Sale)
2004 330d Touring (The Daily Hack / Tow Car / Load lugger)
User avatar
Duracel79
E21 VIP
E21 VIP
Posts: 802
Joined: Thu May 29, 2008 6:54 pm
Location: Stevenage, Hertfordshire

Re: S54 Powered 323i - Duracel79 - England

Post by Duracel79 »

First onboard:



Ben
1982 323i (S54 "Test Mule" - to be rebuilt into M20 powered track car)
1983 316 (Taiga Thunder - The refined S54 Race car)
1982 635csiA (New project)
1985 728iA (For Sale)
2004 330d Touring (The Daily Hack / Tow Car / Load lugger)
User avatar
Duracel79
E21 VIP
E21 VIP
Posts: 802
Joined: Thu May 29, 2008 6:54 pm
Location: Stevenage, Hertfordshire

Re: S54 Powered 323i - Duracel79 - England

Post by Duracel79 »

1982 323i (S54 "Test Mule" - to be rebuilt into M20 powered track car)
1983 316 (Taiga Thunder - The refined S54 Race car)
1982 635csiA (New project)
1985 728iA (For Sale)
2004 330d Touring (The Daily Hack / Tow Car / Load lugger)
User avatar
Duracel79
E21 VIP
E21 VIP
Posts: 802
Joined: Thu May 29, 2008 6:54 pm
Location: Stevenage, Hertfordshire

Re: S54 Powered 323i - Duracel79 - England

Post by Duracel79 »

I'm not the best at writing reports but here are some comments about the trackday:

Car generally went very well. Spent the first couple of sessions bedding in the new brakes (which now seem to work wvery well with no squeeling/screaching at all). I could probably of started leaning on them a bit more but I'm out of practice and need more seat time to gain confidence.

I have had some issues getting the correct oil level in the sump. Originally I had the level far too high (just above the maximum mark) at snetterton which caused the engine to smoke at high revs in long corners. This is due to the crank whipping the oil in the sump about and upto the rings. So for Lydden I lowered the level and things were improved, but still smoky after coming round Chessons Drift and into Dover Slope (you can see me short shifting through there to keep the revs lower and not generating too much g-force through that corner). During the day the oil was burning off and things improved. So re-checking the levels after the day shows the level needs to be half way between the marks. This is all due to the modified sump and pickup having different levels.

The biggest issue of the day was sourcing the knocking noise audible on the video during braking and cornering. Initially I believed it was tyre rub/scrub on the left hand rear which looking at the tyre was very minor. However during the day I noticed the knocking occuring on both sides, so needed to investigate further. On taking the rear wheels off the noise was obvious, both rear tyres under load where rubbing against the coilover collars. Static there was a good 5mm of clearance but under compression the coilover and swinging arm alignment was changing anough to allow contact. Both rear tyres had a groove machined into them e_surprised .

So the remedy here is to add some spacers to the rear to move the wheels away from the coilovers. This will also mean I need to massage/roll the arches away. At the same time I need to adjust the rear geometry, I had naively set the rear wheels at the minimum rear camber I could achieve (~1.5°). The thinking was to allow the best contact patch to get the power down. However inspecting the tyres after the day showed they were only wearing on the outer inch of the tread which would also explain how nervous and tail happy the rear felt through the corners. Previously I have been running ~3.5° static rear camber with a very stable rear end. Changing back to this setting will help with stability and grip but it also makes the inner tyre clearance issues worse.

So I have new hubcentric 15mm spacers ready to go on and have borrowed an arch rolling device for the weekend. Hopefully will be able to get the required clearance then.

Possibly looking at another Trackday at Lydden on 9th November but really it depends on the weather :whistle

Cheers

Ben
Last edited by Duracel79 on Thu Nov 14, 2013 5:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.
1982 323i (S54 "Test Mule" - to be rebuilt into M20 powered track car)
1983 316 (Taiga Thunder - The refined S54 Race car)
1982 635csiA (New project)
1985 728iA (For Sale)
2004 330d Touring (The Daily Hack / Tow Car / Load lugger)
User avatar
croma_man
E21 Pro
Posts: 594
Joined: Fri Sep 07, 2012 1:18 pm
My E21(s): '83 EU 327i
Location: Slovenia (EU)
Contact:

Re: S54 Powered 323i - Duracel79 - England

Post by croma_man »

Duracel79 wrote:The biggest issue of the day was sourcing the knocking noise audible on the video during braking and cornering. Initially I believed it was tyre rub/scrub on the left hand rear which looking at the tyre was very minor. However during the day I noticed the knocking occuring on both sides, sio needed to investigate further. On taking the rear wheels off the noise was obvious, both rear tyres under load where rubbing against the coilover collars. Static there was a good 5mm of clearance but under compression the coilover and swinging arm alignment was changing anough to allow contact. Both rear tyres had a groove machined into them e_surprised .
I had exactly the same problem, fresh Bilsteins, rubbing noise...ok, tyre off and eyes :shock , i took down 1-2mm of material on the corner of the shock. Then put down 7mm and fitted 12mm spacers and it rubs on the outer side...

ĐIBUS!
User avatar
Jeroen
Site Admin
Posts: 29194
Joined: Tue Sep 14, 2004 12:23 pm
My E21(s): '81 323i Baur
Location: The Netherlands
Contact:

Re: S54 Powered 323i - Duracel79 - England

Post by Jeroen »

Good enough attempt on a report haha, and nice vids. The car really takes big steps and with some more practice you'll improve even more. It was indeed noticeable that the brakes were very quiet!
Regards/groeten, Jeroen
User avatar
Duracel79
E21 VIP
E21 VIP
Posts: 802
Joined: Thu May 29, 2008 6:54 pm
Location: Stevenage, Hertfordshire

Re: S54 Powered 323i - Duracel79 - England

Post by Duracel79 »

Over the last few weeks have sorted some bits and bobs out.

Got the rear arches rolled out enough to fit the 15mm hubcentric spacers and the image splits with 225/50/15 R888 tyres.

I've fitted the uprated rubber engine and gearbox mounts. The studs on the mounts were short so my remaining original alloy M20 engine mount would not fit.
So knocked up another engine mount for the exhaust side. Also had to shim the gearbox crossmember to keep everything level.

Did a gearbox fluid change and added some 'Lucas Transmission fix' which has stopped the weeping rear seal on the gearbox.

Bought a new set of Falken ZE914 tyres in 205/55/15 and 205/60/15 to go on the MSW 7x15 wheels I've got.

Drove up from Kent to Letchworth to get the car Mot'd and it passed. Couple of advisaries but nother serious.
Bought 6 months tax and had a bit of a drive around ending up at the local BMW Car Club meet in Lemsford.
Weather was rather wet, which highlights the lack of traction the car has at the moment. Maybe brand new tyres still with releasing compound and wet greasy roads don't help here.
Good news is the drivetrain is soo much quieter now and the exhaust hasn't caught on the steering column yet so all seems good with the new rubber mounts.

Ben
1982 323i (S54 "Test Mule" - to be rebuilt into M20 powered track car)
1983 316 (Taiga Thunder - The refined S54 Race car)
1982 635csiA (New project)
1985 728iA (For Sale)
2004 330d Touring (The Daily Hack / Tow Car / Load lugger)
User avatar
Old Man
Upcoming E21 fanatic
Posts: 59
Joined: Fri Feb 06, 2009 2:43 pm
My E21(s): '80US320iS '82US320i '79Euro320/6 BEAST
Location: Ca., USA

Re: S54 Powered 323i - Duracel79 - England

Post by Old Man »

Ben
Great work - love the car looking forward to more videos and pics.

Like those wheels :cheers
Not the fastest - but always fun to drive.
Image
User avatar
Duracel79
E21 VIP
E21 VIP
Posts: 802
Joined: Thu May 29, 2008 6:54 pm
Location: Stevenage, Hertfordshire

Re: S54 Powered 323i - Duracel79 - England

Post by Duracel79 »

Not posted on my own thread for a little while, just before the castle combe meet the car got a yellow roof again:

Image

And this weekend I started on the speedo mods, I think the E24 dial fits quite well (good enough for a race car anyway :thumbsup ):

Image

Chopper wheel is being made for me, so will fit that when it arrives. Then it will just need to mount the E30 diff sensor and wire it all up.

Ben
Last edited by Duracel79 on Wed May 02, 2018 2:23 pm, edited 2 times in total.
1982 323i (S54 "Test Mule" - to be rebuilt into M20 powered track car)
1983 316 (Taiga Thunder - The refined S54 Race car)
1982 635csiA (New project)
1985 728iA (For Sale)
2004 330d Touring (The Daily Hack / Tow Car / Load lugger)
User avatar
e21-Mark
E21 Master
Posts: 5715
Joined: Fri Mar 21, 2008 2:19 pm
My E21(s): 316 m52/2.8 Cat Cams & Jenvey ITB
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/JackyardBackoff
Location: Cornwall - UK

Re: S54 Powered 323i - Duracel79 - England

Post by e21-Mark »

Are you coming to Retro Car track evening on July 15th Ben?
User avatar
croma_man
E21 Pro
Posts: 594
Joined: Fri Sep 07, 2012 1:18 pm
My E21(s): '83 EU 327i
Location: Slovenia (EU)
Contact:

Re: S54 Powered 323i - Duracel79 - England

Post by croma_man »

I want to drive this car so bad :mrgreen: I drove a few S50/S54 E30 conversions, but in a e21...not yet :)
User avatar
Duracel79
E21 VIP
E21 VIP
Posts: 802
Joined: Thu May 29, 2008 6:54 pm
Location: Stevenage, Hertfordshire

Re: S54 Powered 323i - Duracel79 - England

Post by Duracel79 »

e21-Mark wrote:Are you coming to Retro Car track evening on July 15th Ben?
Not sure Mark, not planning anything firm until after 1st June and the end of a 2500mile road trip.

Ben
1982 323i (S54 "Test Mule" - to be rebuilt into M20 powered track car)
1983 316 (Taiga Thunder - The refined S54 Race car)
1982 635csiA (New project)
1985 728iA (For Sale)
2004 330d Touring (The Daily Hack / Tow Car / Load lugger)
User avatar
Jeroen
Site Admin
Posts: 29194
Joined: Tue Sep 14, 2004 12:23 pm
My E21(s): '81 323i Baur
Location: The Netherlands
Contact:

Re: S54 Powered 323i - Duracel79 - England

Post by Jeroen »

Nice! Speedo looks like its factory!
Regards/groeten, Jeroen
User avatar
Duracel79
E21 VIP
E21 VIP
Posts: 802
Joined: Thu May 29, 2008 6:54 pm
Location: Stevenage, Hertfordshire

Re: S54 Powered 323i - Duracel79 - England

Post by Duracel79 »

Its in the car and the binnacle is all wired up. Fixed my dash lights as well.

Image
Image
Image
Image

Its not quite perfectly straight or central in the hole and the trip meter is being pressed a bit too much so won't work yet.
Needs some fettling

Ben
Last edited by Duracel79 on Wed May 02, 2018 2:24 pm, edited 2 times in total.
1982 323i (S54 "Test Mule" - to be rebuilt into M20 powered track car)
1983 316 (Taiga Thunder - The refined S54 Race car)
1982 635csiA (New project)
1985 728iA (For Sale)
2004 330d Touring (The Daily Hack / Tow Car / Load lugger)
User avatar
nas80
E21 Mad
Posts: 2975
Joined: Sun Jun 14, 2009 12:12 am
Location: West Yorkshire

Re: S54 Powered 323i - Duracel79 - England

Post by nas80 »

Nice work Ben. Let's see the back of it? Getting it rock steady was the biggest challenge I'm keen to see how you fixed it in place.

It's so annoying that all it needs is to be 1mm more in diameter it'd go perfectly
[img]http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a285/nasbucket/forumsig.jpg[/img]
Post Reply