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Those spacers look just the job and when I eventually get there I would like to get the same make. Can you advise what thicknesses you are using and where you bought them from.
Those are nice spacers, got H&R ones for mine too. I'm using 3cm per side at the mo but I think I could have gone to 3.5cm per side. All depends on your wheel offset and width
Going back to the bobbling wings problem, which I have also pondered, is it at least partially due to the fact that the two stays can twist in relation to each other from the vibration, which is why the wings bobble??
If so, a possible solution (which is probably easier on the E36 hubs) would be a third bar, curved slightly and mounted approx horizontally, joining the other two bars and secured in the middle?
Or would this not cure the problem???
Tim
I think the main problem is that the stays simply aren't stiff enough. Most of the "7" lookalikes use larger section hollow tube which is much stiffer. Marlin tried this but due to the limited options for mounting on the E30 the welds failed. I think larger hollow stays with an alternative mounting arrangement would be the answer...
Those spacers look just the job and when I eventually get there I would like to get the same make. Can you advise what thicknesses you are using and where you bought them from.
If you've not got your wheels yet, you're better going for some with an ET of about ET 25 and then you won't need any spacers at the front and about 20mm spacers at the back (which are easier to find and cheaper).
I have been doing a survey of what other cars (mainly 7 style) use. Most of them use a fairly large diameter (20mm) round section stay which must be a tube or it would be too heavy. The larger the diameter, the stiffer it is. I am sure that's why Marlin temporarily used tubes for our cars - they just didn't take into consideration the weak point where it is welded to the mounting plate. So I reckon the 3rd stay should preferably be a tube for stiffness (and weight).
Robin
GreatOldOne wrote:
Mine vibrate.
I think I posted this in the wrong thread before, but here it is again. My idea for some 'bolt on' attachments for the e30 hub. It would need modifying, but I have no idea how feasible it would be to drill holes in the upright, considering the loads / stresses going through it.
timbo wrote:
Going back to the bobbling wings problem, which I have also pondered, is it at least partially due to the fact that the two stays can twist in relation to each other from the vibration, which is why the wings bobble??
If so, a possible solution (which is probably easier on the E36 hubs) would be a third bar, curved slightly and mounted approx horizontally, joining the other two bars and secured in the middle?
Or would this not cure the problem???
Tim
Googling (as you do) for other sources of stone protection led me to the locost builders forum and this thread regarding breaking wing stays:
My Locost has clamshells but the 2CV special has metal cycle wings (trailer) and book style stays. They used to break regularly, always next to the weld in the heat-affected-zone.
I changed the stays to bent square tube with no welds and no further failures. I used 12.5 mm square 16 gauge box - bugger to bend but worth it in the end
I don't thing that square box would look right on the sportster, but a similar thing could be done with round tube - form both the upper and lower stay from one long continuous length of tube, and then bolt that onto the "super clamps" we all have now.
We made a round trip of 300 miles to the Goodwood Revival this weekend. (OK so we made a stopover in a hotel about 2/3rds of the way there).
Sportster ran without any problems other than the airfilter coming loose! And that includes 90mins "parked" on the M25 on the way there - temperature gauge just sat in the middle. Even returned a good MPG!
Goodwood Revival is absolutely amazing! There is so much to see and do it's impossible to fit into 1 day. We went Saturday (also known as Ladies day...) I can't recommend it enough for anyone even vaguely interested in cars, motorsport or even 1960's fashion. Even my wife enjoyed it. I shall be going back next year if at all possible.
Unfortunately not many pictures. There were so many people there (sell out 64,000) it was very difficult to get any clear shots. Still I have a few - I will post them up at the weekend.
I saw the Alfa's - but they were in a part of the paddock that was VIP's only so wasn't able to get close enough for pictures. They were accompanied by Bugatti's, Maseratti's - just about everything from that era. Literally 100's of millions of pounds worth of machinery in a few 10's of square metres.
I've not been in the garage much this summer what with work and other things keeping me busy.
I think I was getting withdrawal symptoms and after seeing Patrick's car again in Completekitcar my interest in an M20B28 conversion was re-ignited. I've completely aborted ay idea of getting the M52 fitted. Aside from the dasterdly fiendish immobilser (which I was determined to beat) I decided the amount of oil sludge in the engine, it just wasn't worth the effort. The plan is to break the M52 for parts and recoup my losses selling the individual parts.
Anyway, back to my latest engine purchase (yes, I have three now!). It's a lowish mileage M2025 from 1988. The plan is to strip it, clean it and convert using a M50B28 crank and M20B20 crank rods.
So far i've collected the crank and some conrods. After a day in the garage, the engine dissmantling has begun and the engine is off the pallet and now mounted on the engine stand.
Another M20 Engine by marlinpeter, on Flickr
Progress is expected to be slow with a hope to fit the engine next year sometime.
I've started stripping and refurbishing my 'new' 325i engine.
The fuel injectors seem more rusty than the ones in my 320i engine but will be treated to the same ultrasonic clean and refurbishment with new 'o'rings. I'll be sending them away to the same company that did my 320i injectors. 325i Injector by marlinpeter, on Flickr
The fuel rail will get a fresh coat of black paint.
As is usual with these engine, once you remove some grime and light surface rust the components are as good a new.
This flywheel is in good nick which is hopefully a good sign for the rest of the engine.
As you will know from Patrick's M20B28 build you need to make a spacer for the crankshaft. Patrick made his own but apparantly you can make one from an M52 vibration damper flange. (Something I just happened to have in my garage. :smile
Here you can see it being trial fitted on my M50 328i crankshaft.
That's exactly what I used to make my spacer. That exact specs are on E30zone just spent some time on the lathe with it.
Hi Patrick,
yes, its the e30zone Wiki that i'm following. Looking at your pictures again, I can now see what you used. (And there was me thinking you'd made it from scratch!)
I also noticed you have 'flat bottom' pistons.
These pistons advertised recently on eBay look different to yours?
I took the head and and sump off today and popped out one of my pistons.
They look like the ones in the picture above, so hopefully no problems with clearance.
We had planned a little trip yesterday but after moving the car out of the garage, the engine started misfiring badly and had no power. It would start and run but wouldn't rev past 2000 rpm and and attempted blast down the road turned in a walking pace kangaroo hop up and down my road. The engine was coughing and small backfires which it had never done before.
I removed the spark plugs and gave them a clean but no difference.
Anyway, after a bit of trial and error I discovered it was the connector to the MAF. I'll have to get some of that contact cleaner stuff.
I took the car for a 30 mile blast this morning and everything is now back to normal. Great day for a little drive in the bright sunshine, just a liitle chilly.
On an unrelated note, if started buying some bits for my engine build. I came across this supplier for the first time so i tried them out.
I bought some e46 rear strut mounts, M20 water pump, thermostat, timing belt, tensioner and water pump. They are all Febi-Bilstein and their prices are good. They all arrived safely packed with no trouble so i'll be using them again.
Excellent thanks for the link I had a bit of a night time drive around on Friday. Was just going to move it from my parents garage to mine but then just kept going Got some odd looks when I went past the pubs in Basingstoke - not every cold night you see some nutter in car without a roof driving around
I managed to find a bit of garage time today and made some further progress on my engine build.
Here's some picture of the progress so far..
(all very familiar to those already completed this dirty task)
Looks like the engine had no problems with all valves and cylinders similar colour and in good condition. None of the valves were burnt or pitted.
Managed to finish fitting the first one Sunday. Quite a tight squeeze in the space available and, of course, I had to drill new mounting holes and fill the old ones. We chose these seats at last years Stoneleigh show. I think we tried every seat on display and chose these as the best comfort and support.
I've also found some time to clean my conrods and valves for the new engine.
hoto:
I really, really need to borrow the M62B44 in my dads car 
Got some odd looks when I went past the pubs in Basingstoke - not every cold night you see some nutter in car without a roof driving around 
