"Rose"

[Jason90m]

If not, perhaps by then the race car will have its S54, and perhaps my power-to-weight and enormo tires and brakes will give me a chance to run you dogs down......

uuuummmmm alex. I checked the video, i was running a ~1:50 at the extended gingerman (track felt green) and ~1:19 (manual steering) at blackhawk. If memory serves me correctly, your CM car was spinning blackhawk around 1:17. "run over us dogs" would be more factual. :(

I bet that S54 pulls very nicely

most definately. right foot very happy.

[1990m3]

Nice vids, I remember the days of running with you guys :(

Maybe next year, I can play catch up

Me too, plan to return for sure at some point next season

[e30rida]

Jason great stuff congrats. I can believe how appealing that S54 swap is. Makes the S50B32 swap look like ancient history. Euro engines are now so last year.

[new guy]

Any updates you want to share?

[e30polak]

Any updates you want to share?

x2

[GK-E30M3]

Any updates you want to share?

x3

[Jason90m]

just got a package of AST 5100's, e36 fronts, z3 rears. new hubs, bearings, etc.

Also re-worked the rear subframe. I had the rear subframe lifted 10-12mm (which helped a TON) but I wanted to go up even farther. Mocked up a jig, and moved the trailing arm pickup points about 25mm. it just pokes through the rear deck. I am hoping to finish it up this weekend. will try to post some pics.

cheers, Jason


edit: forgot to mention i got a dual orbital last fall. had to try it on my not-so-shiney paint. wet sanded the whole thing, cut it, buffed it, then put it away.

sand

cut / buff

fall pic in neighborhood

[Jason90m]

New throttle pulley. Better than expected.


Converting to throttle by cable is NOT as easy as I thought. After trying 5-6 different pulley / bell crank systems on the original build, I finally got the pedal to feel good. (it looked ghetto, but it worked well.)

Fortunately for us, Alex has made some REALLY slick hardware.

Tip in is perfect. No on-off throttle!
Breeze to install, no interference.

[Bruce]

Looking good. I'm glad I kept the FBW.

[Jason90m]

Last time out, I got a MAJOR engine vibration. I immediately thought it was the bearings. As it turned out, I distroyed the harmonic balancer. Apparently, the balancer should get a duct of fresh air to keep it cooler.

I found a good balancer, replaced it, much better. However I still get an occasional VERY slight vibration. Not sure if its my brain playing tricks or if the bearings got cooked. I am getting ready to run a compression test and pull the pan to check the bearings. Any insight? cheers, jason


pics of carnage...

[sprytel]

This has been a known issue going back to the euro3.0 and 3.2. The long 6cyl cranks have all sorts of harmonics at high RPMs. I lost mine on my 3.2 which shook the flywheel right off the crank. I contacted ATI a little while ago, to commission a custom damper for the S54. They were happy to make one for me, but at the exorbitant cost of $800+. I told them that there was no way I would fund their R&D for a product that would later retail for 3 or $400. They said that they might consider a volume discount, but I wasn't willing to shell out for the 25 or so units it would take.
In the interim, we're stuck with preventatively replacing the OEM damper at the tune of $500 a whack.

[FRNTHVY]

If anyone was going to arrange a GB for an ATI balancer I would be on that list. I too looked into these but the $800 price tag was too much for the current budget.

Sam

[sprytel]

If anyone wants to run with this, here's an alternate. We know what ATI will do for us, maybe these guys have a more favorable option:

Fluidampr by Horschel Motorsports
180 Zoar Valley Road
Springville, NY 14141
(716) 592-1000 phone
(716) 592-1001 fax

Email: support@fluidampr.com


I believe there is a market for the product, I just don't want to be the guy to finance the R&D.

[e30rida]

Is this damper thing a track car only issue or are all e46 M3's prone to it. First time I see that happen.

[sprytel]

any high RPM six cylinder is prone to the failure. Usually track cars experience the issue due to sustained high RPM/ high heat conditions, but it could happen to a street car as well.