316 - 1977 - petroscf - Greece

[petroscf]

Ok, last night I couldn't help it, although I was very much tired from my working day, I took the E21 to go for a night drive in Athens southern suburbs just to drive, enjoy and see how the car goes...

So I worked it on higher revs and saw it really goes well!!!
I am not sure if the extra HP is as much as we were estimating the other day, but for sure the car is faster, much faster than before.
What I didn't get, was higher maximum speed, this was exactly as before. (maybe probably power has not to do with max speed?)
Also because of the bar, 100km/h "shimmy" has disappeared (I don't know whether it'll come back after a while, though!)
and I was not feeling body roll (or at least what my perception of body roll is...)! In general I could enter the curves much faster than before, it was only my self-protection instict that was guiding my foot to press the brakes, in well known curves...
Next drive I hope to remember to take a camera with me, so that I make some pics and post here...

[petroscf]

Ok, here are some fresh pics taken this morning...Enjoy...

(I have to admit it could do with some washing...but no time for that...)


This one also used to be Jimi's (ALPINA)

Jeroen, see below for the sticker...








Car is dirty and dash is full of dust...I know...

[petroscf]

Jeroen this sticker is the one I fitted right...On the other side, by my mistake it's not aligned so I am ashamed to show
(This is why I told you I 'd like to have a new one...)

[petroscf]

Can anyone tell me what improvements will I have in driving and handling in case I fit rear brakes from 323i ? I mean apart from stronger braking, are there any differences because of different rear suspension?

[e21-Mark]

I wouldn't bother unless you want to remove the rear subframe and fit new bushes anyway? If you want to improve the brakes upgrade the fronts as they do most of the braking anyway. Even a simple pad upgrade to something like EBC Greenstuff would help. I've always found them to be pretty good.

[petroscf]

This is why I am asking: I also believe that for the current engine, (even with the weber ) no brake improvement is needed, or just fit those Alfa brembo calipers and vented disks to the front and that's the end.
I am asking just because I 've read somewhere (in here!) that by replacing the rear suspension, on M10 cars, with the rear susp from M20 cars, is not only done just in order to have rear disks, but improves the car's handling as well? does this make the car better in fast turns?

[e21-Mark]

I'm not sure? Maybe it's more to do with the fact you'd have the stiffer springs from an m20 engined car?

If I were you, I would buy a set of Toyo888r's and then go find some twisty roads.

[petroscf]

And what if I move the rear subframe?

[e21-Mark]

If your removing the rear subframe anyway, then yes you may as well swap for a 323 one. If not, I would leave well alone and buy sticky rubber instead. That's just my opinion though.

[petroscf]

If your removing the rear subframe anyway, then yes you may as well swap for a 323 one. If not, I would leave well alone and buy sticky rubber instead. That's just my opinion though.

What improvements should the 323i subframe have? That's the question (in order to understand if it 'll be worth swapping or not)
And, as I am soon about to replace tyres, I 'd like to know about these proxes: What are they, what differences do they make etc.

[e-einundzwanzig]

the only thing of improvement is the rear stabiliser, a 323i one is a couple of mm thicker...

[petroscf]

Can anyone tell me about the toyo 888??
What difference would they make instead of, say, Michelins or Bridgestones?

[e21-Mark]

They're road legal track tyres and stick like ''**** to a blanket'' as we say here in the UK. There are few tyres, if any, that will give you the same levels of grip as 888's do.

[petroscf]

and about the rain?

[e21-Mark]

They're great except on standing water and no tyres are gonna be brilliant then.