Project E30 (pics )

Matt Arruda · Post by **Matt Arruda** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 3:53 pm

So here goes I picked up a really clean 87 BMW 325I that was sitting at my friends auto body over the course of the 2008 summer. The car belonged to an appraiser who purchased it for his son he sank a ton of money into it to make it look presentable new paint and general maintenance stuff. Then his kid decided he didn't like it and it sat at the shop and mysteriously developed an electrical issue. After talking to the owner I played the car doesn't run card and got a killer deal. Its not much to look at no fancy "M" bumpers or anything like that just a freshly painted pin straight maroon 325i.
So first thing on the agenda was get rid of that junk power plant and eliminate any unnecessary wiring to make room for the 4G63

Parts list
-So far I have freshly built Eagle Weisco 2.0 combo and a fresh 2G head with FP2x cams and Bee hive springs
-For fuel system I put together a sleeper dual Walbro fuel system which still utilized the stock tank and sending unit with a -8 feed and -6 return.
-For management I am trying a Mirco tech system which I normally would shy away from but the price was right and I have some locals that have had great success with it. So needless to say it will be learning the new software.
- For the drive line I will be using one of Bill's T56 bell housings. With a competiton 6 puck sprung disc and CC pressure plate.
- In the turbo department the exhaust manifold will be fabbed in house with the help of friends. Turbo size is still undecided I have a new turbonetics BB T76 sitting on the shelf that needs to be put to use but I really think its over kill for this project I may just use it to build the mani then buy a T4 35R.

Here are some teaser pics I am in the parts collection stages, hopefully in the next few weeks I will be in the fabrication stages. Enjoy

More to come very soon

Matt Arruda · Post by **Matt Arruda** » Mon Apr 06, 2009 1:00 pm

Yea that straight 6 was a turd, the 4G63 is much more turbo freindly. I am hoping to have a 500HP true street car when all is said and done. Dollar for Dollar that would take a lot to replicate useing BMW parts. I need to update this thread,
long block is now compleate.
Some of the fab work completed
made a alternator relocation bracket,
-16AN water neck
-16AN water pump
-10 vented valve cover
manifold coming soon
I know everyone loves pics I promise they will come soon. In the mean time I will give you these to enjoy here's my other money pit (WARNING NOT MITSU) but may very well be 4g63 powered in the near future LOL Check out the last pic a action shot from last season when my fuel rail bracket decided to break off, needless to say we now own a fire suppersion system.

NightlifeD50 · Post by **NightlifeD50** » Mon Apr 06, 2009 2:25 pm

Nothing is better than watching a VW burn!

I'd just let it burn, save the 4g swap for something more worthy

Matt Arruda · Post by **Matt Arruda** » Mon Apr 06, 2009 2:49 pm

The mitu swap into the VW is just a brain storm at the moment I'm not ready to give up yet on the VW driveline, I have too much invested to turn back just yet. As for letting it burn, It was a thought in my head for a moment. Check out how my 07 season ended thats what happens when you break an axle with a spool

I swear the car is cursed.

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/garc ... 128313.htm

I gota admit the fire was a little scary being in the car but looking back at the video it looked cool as hell. Damage was minimal new fuel rail, brackets "reinforced", new stand alone harness and we where racing at E-town a week later.

Matt Arruda · Post by **Matt Arruda** » Sun May 17, 2009 11:46 pm

Heres some pics of differnt projects going on at the shop, the first few are of the manifold we started today around 6:30 we should have the rest tacked up tomorrow. dont mind the intake mani we still need to chop and flip it. Enjoy!

Heres some random fab and projects everything done with a Miller econotig

I'll try to have more pics of the manifold and stand alone tomorrow.

jeffball610 · Post by **jeffball610** » Mon May 18, 2009 8:04 pm

500hp in that little 325 chassis? Hope you got some good plans for rear rubber. I thought I was shooting high with my 510 project. I don't doubt you can do it (you've got some great cars) but do you really want to?

Just drop a nice built 2.0L and a decent turbo on there and go have fun. 500hp cars are for the track. 300hp street cars are a blast!

Matt Arruda · Post by **Matt Arruda** » Mon May 18, 2009 10:45 pm

Right now we are marking up the mani with the big turbo most likley it will be run with a 35R or 4088. We wanted to make sure it was made with the ability to fit the 76mm incase it turns into a race car in the future.
As far as draggin the bumper LOL it would dam be near impossible with the stock IRS. I know that its gona be my weak link but I dont plan on addressing it until winter months Im still undecided as to what to use vette IRS or 4 link 9". Right now I am taking it one step at a time. I cant wait to cruz it around town and bring it to street nights at the drags. Im so sick of big events I wana get back to the basics when it was fun.

Matt Arruda · Post by **Matt Arruda** » Thu May 21, 2009 11:10 pm

Heres some more pics I took today we finished tackin the mani, and have most of the stand alone wired, check out the sleeper muffler I scored on ebay more to come soon

89coltgt · Post by **89coltgt** » Fri May 22, 2009 11:53 am

The weld ell manifold looks really nice, where did you get the collector?

Matt Arruda · Post by **Matt Arruda** » Mon May 25, 2009 10:57 pm

89coltgt wrote:The weld ell manifold looks really nice, where did you get the collector?

Everything was made in-house that is going in a 2G it hangs the turbo over the trans.

Matt Arruda · Post by **Matt Arruda** » Mon May 25, 2009 10:58 pm

oldcolt75 wrote:wait so is that bexaust mani going in the bmw

The mani on the engine stand with the forward facing cast collector is going in the BMW

89coltgt · Post by **89coltgt** » Tue May 26, 2009 6:05 pm

Matt Arruda wrote:
oldcolt75 wrote:wait so is that bexaust mani going in the bmw
The mani on the engine stand with the forward facing cast collector is going in the BMW

Who makes the cast collectors?

Matt Arruda · Post by **Matt Arruda** » Tue May 26, 2009 10:32 pm

89coltgt wrote:
Matt Arruda wrote:
oldcolt75 wrote:wait so is that bexaust mani going in the bmw
The mani on the engine stand with the forward facing cast collector is going in the BMW
Who makes the cast collectors?

http://hondaswap.com/forced-induction/c ... ld-107116/

Z10 motorsports

its a nice peice but not divided I may be ditching it to build a divided mani the new turbo is twin scroll

marcky · Post by **marcky** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 1:31 am

update e-30!!!!! i have 86 325es soon 4g63 swap

Matt Arruda · Post by **Matt Arruda** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 11:14 am

the manifold design again its coming togeather pretty quick now should be running in 2 weeks. Enjoy

92 GSR-4 · Post by **92 GSR-4** » Tue Sep 22, 2009 9:19 pm

Step 1) 4G63 logo on back..........check

Haha I love it! Great fab work all around, the motor looks like its meant to be in there. Sure to be a sweet ride!

nick0900 · Post by **nick0900** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 2:10 am

Looks good matt, awesome job keep us updated.

77amc · Post by **77amc** » Thu Oct 01, 2009 7:03 pm

Can you 'clock' the cold side of the turbo to get a better angle?
I love this build..

E

Matt Arruda · Post by **Matt Arruda** » Fri Oct 02, 2009 8:45 am

77amc wrote:Can you 'clock' the cold side of the turbo to get a better angle?
I love this build..

E

We did clock it but the way its pictured is the best position to route the intercooler pipe. I'm not to fond of its position but unless I make a new manifold it's staying that way LOL. Thats what happens when you dont think 10 steps ahead.

Wilbur · Post by **Wilbur** » Sun Oct 11, 2009 5:19 am

AWESOME BUILD!!!! Best of both Worlds.

Somnambulist · Post by **Somnambulist** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 10:31 am

Nice build for sure. What transmission are you using?

77amc · Post by **77amc** » Fri Jan 15, 2010 10:23 am

WELL??

ANY MORE UPDATES?

E

Matt Arruda · Post by **Matt Arruda** » Thu Feb 04, 2010 12:47 am

Sorry guys I have been slacking on updates. As of right now the car is apart. To make a long story short 2 weeks ago we had a timing glitch on the dyno resulting in a pushed heag gasket and melted exhaust valves @ a whopping 370 HP

. Since then we had the machine shop rebuild the head and upgraded a few things while it was apart. To compliment our existing bee hive springs we added some new SS valves, new cams. Anyone interested in some extreamly low milage FP2X cams LOL

We also decided to remove the Micro Tech EFI. Now that we have more experience with V3 DSM link it seems to be the right decision at the moment to stick to the sofware that we know best. The current shop AWD car has been pretty sucessful running V3 to an astounding 703 HP so we are confident that the next dyno secsion will be a sucess.
Out with the old

In with the new
This harness took way longer to make then I had originally anticipated, mainly because I have OCD when it comes to messy wiring. It's far from what I had envisioned but much more presentable then the spagetti mess I started with.
Thanks Jeremy for your motivation.

Heres how the car looked before the dyno failer

More updates soon should be running again on Saturday.

2.3strokdtalon · Post by **2.3strokdtalon** » Thu Feb 04, 2010 6:14 pm

Definitely a good choice swapping to Link. Good luck with everything.

PS Glad you recovered from last Friday. We thought you died from the cold in the VR4. lol

Matt Arruda · Post by **Matt Arruda** » Thu Feb 04, 2010 7:56 pm

Thanks Justin, Im sure I will be seeking your expertise come tuning time.

LOL That was a good time I wish I would have made it through the whole night. Next time I need to pace myself and drink a little slower, my mind thinks I'm still in college but my body doesnt agree.

turbostellar · Post by **turbostellar** » Sun Feb 07, 2010 11:32 am

your car is coming along great. nice work. looking forward to seeing a video of this baby in action.

Matt Arruda · Post by **Matt Arruda** » Mon Jul 05, 2010 1:24 am

turbostellar wrote:your car is coming along great. nice work. looking forward to seeing a video of this baby in action.

Here is your video first time time at the track. 11.30 on my third pass. Stock short block and pump gas no cage

. We hope to go 10's in this platform.

Enjoy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dw-at8wT074

http://www.youtube.com/user/MrTurbobrian#p/u

Thanks Again Bill!

T(urd)67 · Post by **T(urd)67** » Mon Jul 05, 2010 3:56 pm

Nicely done. I'm enjoying the color as well. Any idea what the weight of the car is?

Matt Arruda · Post by **Matt Arruda** » Mon Jul 05, 2010 5:09 pm

T(urd)67 wrote:Nicely done. I'm enjoying the color as well. Any idea what the weight of the car is?

Thanks man, it weighed 2760 with me in it, and I weight 160 lbs so 2600 dry

jeffball610 · Post by **jeffball610** » Mon Jul 05, 2010 10:57 pm

More info on the car.

What kind of gearing do you have in the rear end? Is that a W58 or R154? What size turbo are you running? E85, pump gas or race gas? Did you get a clean dyno run to get us a HP number?

Matt Arruda · Post by **Matt Arruda** » Mon Jul 05, 2010 11:57 pm

We have a M3 4.10 LSD rear, we use Bill's T56 bell housing with a single disc comp. clutch. turbo is a PTE billet 6262 boost was at 21 psi on 93 pump gas. Unfortunatly we did not have time to dyno it this motor was assembled days before this event we literally broke it in on that pass. Probbly wouldnt recomend that to anyone but we could not miss the event so we took our chances. Weeks prior we hurt our built motor so this is a stock short block cast 2g piston 1g rod motor with arps. If I were to guess it was probbly making about mid 400's HP. We will have dyno numbers before Ohio we plan on turning it up a bit.

turbotalon1g · Post by **turbotalon1g** » Wed Jul 07, 2010 3:13 pm

God i love this car, awesome work now i have another reason to make the shootout/whatever major DSM meet is going on these days.

Bill Hincher · Post by **Bill Hincher** » Thu Jul 08, 2010 11:53 am

thanks for the kind words matt, my hats off to you, you sure made a nice swap

what happened on the Gm auto trans set up?

Matt Arruda · Post by **Matt Arruda** » Thu Jul 08, 2010 11:27 pm

Both still in the works the tube chassis dragster has been a slow progress, at this point its mobile again and can roll around the shop but very far from done. We picked up another BMW what we are going to do the same thing with but use your auto adapter on it.

Matt Arruda · Post by **Matt Arruda** » Tue Aug 31, 2010 9:56 pm

Once again as stated before Bill is the man !

dees75z · Post by **dees75z** » Thu Sep 09, 2010 3:32 pm

I thought that was you at the shootout. Congrats on the successful runs man, car was flawless.................................... and really moves out man!!!!!

Matt Arruda · Post by **Matt Arruda** » Fri Sep 10, 2010 8:42 pm

Thanks for the kind words,

I will be attending Import Maddness at NED Sept 25th hopfully i can report back with better numbers the current personal best is 10.77 @ 124 1.55 60'

dsmbuggy · Post by **dsmbuggy** » Thu Sep 30, 2010 6:58 am

Great work Matt.
I cant wait to be next to you at the track.

Don

TsTKl · Post by **TsTKl** » Thu Sep 30, 2010 7:54 pm

do you think you could post a datalog of your 10.9x pass, I have dsmlink and I'm curious as to how the gearing of my t-56 will be. Our rear ends will be different but it would be cool to see it. You can hide everything you want to I think, I just care about speed and rpm vs. time. If you want a screen shot will suffice. Thanks man, and congrads on a sick build. I hear you on the ocd wiring stuff, lol.

Brian

Matt Arruda · Post by **Matt Arruda** » Thu Oct 07, 2010 7:10 pm

TsTKl wrote:do you think you could post a datalog of your 10.9x pass, I have dsmlink and I'm curious as to how the gearing of my t-56 will be. Our rear ends will be different but it would be cool to see it. You can hide everything you want to I think, I just care about speed and rpm vs. time. If you want a screen shot will suffice. Thanks man, and congrads on a sick build. I hear you on the ocd wiring stuff, lol.

Brian

Brian unfortunatly I have no data from that weekend. My laptop decided to take a dump so I just ran the car on a pump gas map. As far as the data your looking for I dont have any speed vs RPM logs because I havent got the speed sensor dialed in yet. The didget the ECU to register speed off the GM VSS but I have yet to calibrate it. If you watch any of my video's youll notice I leave off a free rev because I cant use the 2 step without a working VSS. I should have some good data after my next outing which is the NJ event at the end of this month. I made a few changes to sqeeze out a little more power. But we wont see the full potential of the car untill next year when the roll bar goes in. I have been getting my chops busted at the track for lack of saftey equipment every time I attend. My local track is 2 hours away and the last time we went up I made one 11.0 pass and they told me to leave. Ill keep you posted on my progress

need2boostpsi · Post by **need2boostpsi** » Sat May 07, 2011 3:58 pm

are you still using the stock fwd style oil pan? any advice on that? I building a high hp (800rwp+/-) car and plan on using the oem oil pan, looks pretty well baffled. I plan on going to a custom unit once i get the project driving and funds can build back up.

Matt Arruda · Post by **Matt Arruda** » Mon May 09, 2011 9:33 am

need2boostpsi wrote:are you still using the stock fwd style oil pan? any advice on that? I building a high hp (800rwp+/-) car and plan on using the oem oil pan, looks pretty well baffled. I plan on going to a custom unit once i get the project driving and funds can build back up.

No I made a new pan because I had oil starvation issues on my 1st 2 motors. So since then I added a 3 qt accusump and made a larger capacity pan with additional baffling. It is probbly overkill but I was sick of loosing motors so I took every precaution I could without going dry sump. I think a slightly modified stock pan with additional baffles would do the trick. We just made another one like this for the S2000 I will try to snap pics tonight for you.

need2boostpsi · Post by **need2boostpsi** » Tue May 10, 2011 3:55 pm

That would be great!

77amc · Post by **77amc** » Sun Nov 13, 2011 8:36 am

You still here Matt?

I was supposed to get a '99 328i cabrio friday, got home a tiny bit late and called to give directions to my place, and I get... "..He closed early, and won't be back til Monday.."

Anywho, It's got a bad motor but it's an AUTO.. Beggars can't be choosers I guess.
I've been wanting a later BMW since the E30's came out and have missed a few since then.

Do you mind if I shoot ya a pm later this week?
BOY. I regret NOT getting those cams from you when I had the chance.

If ya don't mind, here's a pic..

Errol

Matt Arruda · Post by **Matt Arruda** » Wed Nov 16, 2011 11:03 am

Looks good Errol, did you give up on your other project? I've always liked the newer boldy style BMW's there only down fall is weight

. Us drag racing guys need all the help we can get. Whats your intentions for this project? If theres anyway I can help feel free.

77amc · Post by **77amc** » Fri Nov 18, 2011 9:44 pm

The Hornet is still 'simmerin' in the shop. I've got some projects that need to get put together and sold before I start back on it.

For the BMW, I'd like to get it running (pretty much stock) and enjoy it during the nicer weather. And by that time I should be finished building the 2.4 turbo motor and finalizing the plans for trans/wiring and fitments.

I really don't know much about the make. BUT am learning as much as I can every day.

BUT back to you..? What's been happnin with you?

HEY.. What type of mileage do you get? It might sound silly but I was hopping to get in the mid 20's with the 2.4
I'd doubt that I would make over 350hp just for reliability sakes.

E

PoorMans180SX · Post by **PoorMans180SX** » Wed Jan 11, 2012 10:30 pm

Could you post a shot of how your power steering pump is mounted? I'm looking at relocating mine and need ideas.

Really cool project btw, I've always enjoyed E30's!

ganbaa · Post by **ganbaa** » Tue Mar 27, 2012 2:19 am

It is cool are U used BMW gear box? plz share how U did adaptor palte

TsTKl · Post by **TsTKl** » Sat Mar 31, 2012 4:16 am

he did not use a bmw transmission. The bell housing was a custom made peice by someone who makes bell housings for a living.

Matt Arruda · Post by **Matt Arruda** » Tue Apr 17, 2012 11:38 pm

Sorry guys I been slacking latly with updates, we took the car the to track for the first time this year and finally got that single digit I have been chasing since this project started. Thanks again Bill for all your help and support.

Check out the video

http://youtu.be/6CU0War_pls