Kale's E36 STX build thread

[bmwohio]

Not sure if most on this forum would be interested in this type of thread, but we're all gearheads at heart, so I'll throw it up here......

 

So basically I am 'building' a 93 E36 325i w/186k miles to compete in STX in SCCA Solo(Autocross). I am going to build the car to about 90-95% of the rules, and plan to campaign it at quite a few national events this year, including Nationals in Lincoln, Nebraska in September.

 

Rules (most of the rules for my class start on Page 79 (Street Touring) --> http://scca.cdn.racersites.com/prod/assets/2014%20Solo%20Rules%20Book%201%20draft%20a%20reduced.pdf

 

I found the car on Craigslist, and after multiple email conversations with the owner and many pictures sent, my friend and I made the trip out to Pennsylvania to pick up the car. We brought many back up parts and tools, just in case, but the trip was luckily uneventful.

 

 

I will try and document as much as I can. Rules are there for guidelines, but everyone has their own 'set-ups' ......I may be vague in some of my descriptions, because I don't want to give away any of my research and work that I have done, so don't be offended if I don't answer a question directly

 

 

Onto the build.......

 

Here is my 'blank canvas'

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/1BBD6D46-9354-49DD-AA44-1C677D342ACD_zpswbsku7aj.jpg

 

I bought the car right at the end of last season, and thought to myself.....We have one 'Fun event' left and maybe i'll just take her out for a little shakedown and see how she does.....'

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/A84028D7-3DC7-433F-9B6A-DCEC06A308D6_zps64fktchw.jpg

 

Well......I was able to get 2 runs in, and then, not knowing this at the time, found out it still had the ORIGINAL RADIATOR at 186,000 miles!?!?! ...For an E36, that is like 300,000 on any other car....

 

Here was the end result (broken radiator neck) Thank God for AAA

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/DAD9F619-B95C-4F18-9213-070EDCCE7A0B_zpssr0utdcl.jpg

 

So here's how she sat for most of the winter.....sad....lonely....wanting some affection......

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/FC4635FE-1B29-4B55-B2AC-1E2745F3AED1_zpsg9ptiwz8.jpg

[bmwohio]

So this weekend, I was finally able to do some engine work. I am doing a 'top end' cylinder head rebuild on the car. These M50's are prone to valve spring retainer failure at high RPM's.

 

So the rebuild will consist of:

 

Machine, pressure test, and deck the head

new valve spring retainers

new keepers

new valve guides

new valve seals

 

Here's this weekends work:

 

Valve cover off

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/C2DC4576-6477-4665-89AF-128098523A1A_zpsjovs32sv.jpg

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/94A2EC7A-61F5-4BEA-9BBD-D071FB716542_zpshhcra4fk.jpg

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/6E6DA728-82B3-44B9-9EF3-C75D9009F009_zpsateyeuyp.jpg

 

Intake manifold removed

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/7E4620E4-38E1-4796-9E73-9389DB37C08F_zps3o6iq8gi.jpg

 

Cams, lifters, and trays removed

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/BAC90362-1F7C-430F-B553-42EDDCF00AC2_zps4wfialza.jpg

 

Head off!

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/6BFFA4ED-38BF-4389-87CA-8ADFED1F6326_zpsmmhcmlmv.jpg

 

Pistons looked good, and hardly any carbon build up

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/82D6F550-8C66-43F4-8D12-07004C928ED7_zpshmrtvwwl.jpg

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/3772A43E-2C3C-4AA2-987D-1C97823FABC8_zpstpyriipj.jpg

 

No major scoring and looked better than average for the mileage. I did do a compression test when I first got the car and all cylinders were within 3-4 psi of each other @146-150. Not the greatest numbers, but the fact that they are consistent makes me happy. I decided not to do a bottom end rebuild too, because the piston rings were already 'broken in' and I'm not getting any blow by, plus TDC looked right on, so timing was all good too. We'll see how she does with just the top end rebuild this season....

 

Compression

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/14A27EC9-507D-4B37-BFFF-D9B4A5DBDA28_zpsxbp6lb18.jpg

 

Cylinder walls

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/EA537A7E-B6C1-4859-8CE1-A5ECD656884D_zps6xbcufin.jpg

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/497E1238-70C8-4853-964B-A7A8B462A5CF_zpsm6kvvkvg.jpg

 

 

 

 

Stay tuned.....more to come....(and if most aren't interested, then I'll stop posting in the future)

[bmwohio]

Moved to the project management area for the built thread

 

Cheers.

 

 

Has anyone ever used a type of cleaner to 'polish' the piston faces? To get some of the carbon build up off of there.......looking for suggestions, please and thank you....

[Mr. Jones]

Cheers.

 

 

Has anyone ever used a type of cleaner to 'polish' the piston faces? To get some of the carbon build up off of there.......looking for suggestions, please and thank you....

 

Seeing as you have perfect access, you might try a can of BG44K.

Let it pool on top for a while and scrub it with a brush that won't leave behind any bristles later..

[bmwohio]

Seeing as you have perfect access, you might try a can of BG44K.

Let it pool on top for a while and scrub it with a brush that won't leave behind any bristles later..

 

Thanks for the suggestion, Jones.....Shouldn't I be worried about it leaking down into the oil pan, and take the 'carbon' with it and lodging it self between cylinder wall and piston?

[Mr. Jones]

Thanks for the suggestion, Jones.....Shouldn't I be worried about it leaking down into the oil pan, and take the 'carbon' with it and lodging it self between cylinder wall and piston?

 

No more than the 1000's of people using it in the FSI world to clean the carbon deposits on the valves or otherwise. BG44, small brushes, compressed air and rags should let you get 99% of it off.

A small portion will of course leak past the rings but I'm assuming you'll change your oil before racing it this spring..

[greg1647545532]

Looks like fun. LSD I presume? Did you seek out a 4-door?

[bmwohio]

No more than the 1000's of people using it in the FSI world to clean the carbon deposits on the valves or otherwise. BG44, small brushes, compressed air and rags should let you get 99% of it off.

A small portion will of course leak past the rings but I'm assuming you'll change your oil before racing it this spring..

 

Ok, wasn't sure....no oil in the car right now.....I will surely consider it.....

[bmwohio]

Looks like fun. LSD I presume? Did you seek out a 4-door?

 

Yes, must retain final drive but diff is 'open' other than that(ramp angles, OS Giken). I am going to do a 3 clutch (2 clutch is stock) for about 40-50% lockup an accel, and leave the factory LSD in for now to see how it does. I have budget for OS Giken, but want to see how car does without it.

 

Yes, I wanted 4 door for B-pillar (some say it's stiffer) and for when I travel to out of town events. I will have 2 fixed back seats in the car, so a coupe would have been difficult to utilize the space (if I decide to do 2nd set of wheels/tires, all 4 will fit in back seat with no problem).

[DKilbourne]

Keep posting. Worth the read.

[Versluis]

this is cool. i look forward to following the progress.

[unfunnyryan]

Cool project! That head is super clean for that many miles. Someone really took care of this car before hand, especially the radiator lasting that long.

[bmwohio]

Thanks all, I will carry on then......

 

When pulling the intake manifold, the fuel rail came off, so this is a perfect time to have the injectors cleaned and flow tested.

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/6F601B66-F552-40E0-B853-975503150875_zpsv7aov2hx.jpg

 

I am planning to use Mr. Injector, unless someone else has a better suggestion.....($16/injector for ultrasonic cleaning)

 

http://www.mrinjector.us/

 

Cool video of the before and after process

 

[zeitgeist57]

I put new Bosch fuel injectors on my Passat a few years back. I want to say it was around $180 for 6. Engine had well over 120k at the time and it ran a lot better but I would've happily just cleaned them.

 

Definitely go the Mr. Injector route...

[bmwohio]

I put new Bosch fuel injectors on my Passat a few years back. I want to say it was around $180 for 6. Engine had well over 120k at the time and it ran a lot better but I would've happily just cleaned them.

 

Definitely go the Mr. Injector route...

 

Ok, thanks for the feedback. I'm just going to clean them this go around....@$16/injector that's pretty good.

 

First of the large parts order starting to roll in. Head gasket, valve cover gasket, intake manifold gaskets, etc, etc......

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/519B9C06-327E-4C07-BE7E-B6A2B868C866_zpspjabtcnf.jpg

[WrxRcr]

I did the cheap route with my civic injectors, soaked them in seafaom over night. I have no idea if it helped though.

[99StockGT]

I did the seafoam soak on my Mustang injectors when I blew a Intake Manifold last year definitely helped. Of all the "Snake Oils" it's the one I trust and use the most. Loving the build so far, looking forward to seeing this at Auto-X this year with MY undercover project as well

[bmwohio]

Build was on hold for a week, while I took my little guy to Disney. Wasting no time when I got back though, as I had my 'parts' car delivered today all the way from DC, along with about $800 worth of refresh parts.......I will basically be performing surgery on both cars, and taking the best parts off this car and putting them on mine....

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/C32171CE-05EB-493D-B1F0-2971A109DF74_zpshd20ck0p.jpg

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/D382585F-6079-4146-B2CB-6B6002773995_zpsglzr3jcu.jpg

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/6196D796-46B8-47FA-A6F1-29280B8C4A6F_zpsnofc60u0.jpg

[WrxRcr]

I would do a build journal but all it would entitle is catback install and pictures of tires being mounted.

[zeitgeist57]

[bmwohio]

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/CC893C49-83B7-4A65-81CF-0704EFAB4D95_zps3rshudst.jpg

 

 

Ready for the head rebuild

 

-Valve guides

-Valve keepers

-Valve spring retainers

-Valve stem seals

-Timing chain tensioner piston and spring

-Timing chain guide rail

-Oil filter gasket

-Main drive and AC belts

-Besian seals to rebuild Vanos

-Behr radiator (not pictured)

 

-Bimmerworld Oil distribution block, which will be paired with stainless line for a remote sender to run oil pressure/temp gauges.

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/F7BC48D3-D56E-45DD-98EC-5A0669051D0F_zpsg5f3lzc9.jpg

[Ryan218]

Coming along. Makes me want to start a build thread for mine. Not sure what class mine will end up in.

[31rx7]

Didn't know you bought the Toilet Duck.

 

You have a busy five weeks in front of you.

[bmwohio]

Didn't know you bought the Toilet Duck.

 

You have a busy five weeks in front of you.

 

*crawls out from under car*

 

Yup! it's going to be a close one

 

*crawls back under car*

[bmwohio]

Quick update.....

 

Nothing too exciting...dropped the head and cam trays off at the machine shop today. Will have them back in time for next weekend to put the head back together.

 

I guess this guy does a ton of head work for local racers, really cool guy.

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/B31015A3-BD5F-4414-B68D-45DBEEB98B54_zpsazcdkoec.jpg

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/E8013F07-5DCC-4EC1-A2B9-F83FAAC46C3B_zpsytnwebwc.jpg