Track build starting (spec 3)

ColinOConnell · **Posted:** Fri Nov 19, 2010 9:39 pm

And so it begins.....

Picked up an ugly 325is last night with visions of building a NASA Spec 3 toy over the winter. Well actually two Spec 3's.... we'll be converting Sean's into Spec 3 along with this one.

The body, engine and tranny appear to be good. Anybody need tan interior parts?

JohnByers · **Posted:** Fri Nov 19, 2010 9:44 pm

What kind of shape are the front seats in? With some work I have heard they can fit into an E30 and I really need to replace mine

Jason Tower · **Joined:** Wed Jun 11, 2008 3:31 pm **Posts:** 1173

awesome! i'm hoping that spec3 will pick up steam and eventually become as popular as spec e30 is today.

Sean O'Connell · **Posted:** Sat Nov 20, 2010 4:54 am

Jason Tower wrote:

awesome! i'm hoping that spec3 will pick up steam and eventually become as popular as spec e30 is today.

this is my hopes aswell, the fact that you guys had 30+ cars in se30 kinda makes me want to change my mind, but the e36 is too farmillar to me and i have so many sparirs already. hopefully we will have the cars ready to go by the first nasa comp school of the season.

Jason Tower · **Joined:** Wed Jun 11, 2008 3:31 pm **Posts:** 1173

i personally know three guys in the MA region building spec3 cars right now, expecting to race in 2011. hopefully SE will follow quickly.

ColinOConnell · **Posted:** Sat Nov 20, 2010 10:47 pm

Day one - tear down begins with a roll into the operating room:

It's all gotta go:

Quite a mess:

ColinOConnell · **Posted:** Sat Nov 20, 2010 11:02 pm

JohnByers wrote:

What kind of shape are the front seats in? With some work I have heard they can fit into an E30 and I really need to replace mine

A bit rough, but no tears (some cracks). They could be fixed up to like new by one of the local Fibrenew guys.

ColinOConnell · **Posted:** Sun Nov 21, 2010 6:10 pm

A closer look at the seats in daylight shows some tears and ugliness. Probably not worth salvaging.

JohnByers · **Posted:** Sun Nov 21, 2010 8:22 pm

thanks for looking Colin

ColinOConnell · **Posted:** Sat Feb 26, 2011 11:32 pm

Okay, I spent the day working on the cage setup. Here are the steps - Cut conservatively, fit, wiggle, mark, cut again, fit, wiggle, mark, grind, fit, mark, grind, fit, mark, grind...grind...grind, fit....cuss...cuss again (better profanity), mark, grind, fit, mark, grind, fit... okay. Start on the next joint. Cut conservatively, fit, wiggle, mark, cut again, fit, wiggle, mark, grind, fit, mark, grind, fit, mark, grind...grind...grind, fit, mark, grind, fit, mark, grind, fit... okay.

It's nice to have access to good equipment.

TomFreeman · **Posted:** Sun Feb 27, 2011 10:13 am

Better be careful about showing that access to good equipment. Some of might ask for access to it too :mrgreen:

Looks like solid progress.

Steven Carter · **Posted:** Sun Feb 27, 2011 2:05 pm

Ignorant question (sorry)

Any utility to extending the cage to contact/attach to the rear strut mounts, then incorporate a rear strut bar? I hear the strut towers are an E36 weakspot, was curious if including them in the cage would strengthen that area--or would it violate Spec3 rules for cage specifications?

Thanks for sharing your build progress!

ColinOConnell · **Posted:** Sun Feb 27, 2011 5:09 pm

It's allowed and I've seen a few cages on line that are done that way, but I bought a kit from Kirk Racing and the rear bars are not done that way. The rear strut tower has the reinforcer plates.

ColinOConnell · **Posted:** Sun Feb 27, 2011 9:33 pm

Made the seat mounts today and worked on cleaning up the mess of wiring that runs to the trunk. It all ran through a hole located right where the rear bar gets welded to the bulkhead. I had to unplug identify and pull them all through the hole so I could re-route them.

Cut and shaped new floor mount bars

Close to the right position.

I'm going to need a harness bar, the Kirk horizontal bar is too low.

steve remchak · **Posted:** Mon Feb 28, 2011 11:37 pm

my cage has a bar that crosses from the hoop behind my seat to the base of the passenger side floor mount Colin. granted mine is mounted inboard to the floorpan rather than the wheel wells but it would seem to me to be an extra level of protection to add another bar.

i also have a seperate bar across the rear shock towers, which makes me wonder this. does Spec E36 allow the X-brace / cowl brace from the convertible / M3?

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Track build starting (spec 3)

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