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Hi, here is a new member of this site/forum and also an celebration to all of you who has shared all of your buildings and problems and not at least - all solutions to solve yours/others problems - it has been joyful reading for many hours - so thanks to all of you!
So here I hope that I can share my building of a E39 based Marlin Sportster - located in the small village Ilsbo, just outside of Hudiksvall in the north part of the middle of Sweden.
It all started many years ago - I was thinking of a Superseven or similar - but it was one problem - my length - when I tried so squeese me in a Westfield - I relized I am in truble - I will never find out how it would feel like driving one. I searched for something other - and found Marlin Sportster. I felt this is it! That was back in time - and as all know - life can make some wild turns sometimes... so for many years I have planned for this moment - the arrivel of the parcel - and now it stands in my car place here at home.
We went to Mark and Terry for 2 years ago to find out for real if this would be something to spend money on. There Mark showed us his latest building of a sportster based on a E39 - and we felt this is what we have been looking for... and then he explained his own personel situation of life.....
He explained - what ever would happen - Terry will provide what you need - and she have done it in a great way - thanks a lot Terry!! So our parcel arrived one year and one day after that Mark passed away - RIP Mark.
So now starts all the work with dismantle the donator - at the same time that all our snow just have melted down and all we have hidded in it is showing that we have some work to do in the garden.... bad timing!
Pictures will be at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/our_marlin_sportster/
I'm not sure how much experience there is here of building the E39 based Sportster, but there's a wealth of experience from E30 and E36 based builds and everyone on here has always been happy to share their stories, experience, war wounds, and solutions.
Enjoy your build, and from many winter hours spent in a cold and damp garage, I hope yours in Sweden is heated................!!
Hi Rickard,
we have already chatted over on Flickr but another welcome to the MAKC forum.
I'm sure we will be all following your build with interest.
You must be the most nothern builder on this forum!
Are you planning to keep the auto gearbox or change to manual?
Hi Rickard,
we have already chatted over on Flickr but another welcome to the MAKC forum.
I'm sure we will be all following your build with interest.
You must be the most nothern builder on this forum!
Are you planning to keep the auto gearbox or change to manual?
looking forward to your updates, all the best,
Peter
Thanks, well - there is not many racetracks around here - nearest around about 150 kilometers, about 93 miles from me, next one is allmost the double - in the other direction... so my choice is automatic. Yes I know - very unusual choice, but i like cruising before racing, so far...
I have found one Marlin down at Arvika and he know one more - but he did not know his location yet - we contacted each one the same day to him, so he was very surprised over it - so it is at least 3 of us here in Sweden.
I'm not sure how much experience there is here of building the E39 based Sportster, but there's a wealth of experience from E30 and E36 based builds and everyone on here has always been happy to share their stories, experience, war wounds, and solutions.
Enjoy your build, and from many winter hours spent in a cold and damp garage, I hope yours in Sweden is heated................!!
Nigel
Thank you - yes, there will be a BIG heater....
Yes, I have found out that - but I am thrilled about getting the rear axle from the E39 to our Marlin - I fell in love with it when I saw it at Marlin Cars. I also found it easier to get a nice E39 here in my area..
If I manage to discribe my problems - I sure hope for all help I can get from you guys!
May I add my welcome too -it is great to see a new build appear, and I'm sure you will develop a strong following as you progress.
There is at least one other e39 Sportster build on the go - he is "Well North" too - somewhere around Aberdeen!. His name is Cameron Mitchell - on here as "Cammy". He started his project with an M52TU engine, but after some hard won advice from other builders elected to go with the same engine as yourself - the M52B28.
From what Cameron has described, the kit sounds very good, making use of the entire e39 rear sub frame which is secured with just 4 bolts - so easy. Installing the engine is bit more tricky though - you'll see we've all had our head scratching moments over getting it aligned in the chassis/bonnet!
(- mine is a Cabrio, but has essentially the same steel chassis from which the Sportster was developed)
Good luck, and keep posting photos of your progress.
May I add my welcome too -it is great to see a new build appear, and I'm sure you will develop a strong following as you progress.
There is at least one other e39 Sportster build on the go - he is "Well North" too - somewhere around Aberdeen!. His name is Cameron Mitchell - on here as "Cammy". He started his project with an M52TU engine, but after some hard won advice from other builders elected to go with the same engine as yourself - the M52B28.
From what Cameron has described, the kit sounds very good, making use of the entire e39 rear sub frame which is secured with just 4 bolts - so easy. Installing the engine is bit more tricky though - you'll see we've all had our head scratching moments over getting it aligned in the chassis/bonnet!
(- mine is a Cabrio, but has essentially the same steel chassis from which the Sportster was developed)
Good luck, and keep posting photos of your progress.
Mike
Thank you,
Yes I have secretly followed you both before I selected what to build of and I can only agree what kind of problems I think I can get into - and I am very happy about how you both have taken pictures and documented all of different situations there can be into this kind of building kit cars.
I think there is the most scary moment - the electrical wiring to get everything to work as before or how it should work... and what and how I should cut/skip different parts to my car.
One other thing I am thinking about is this with ABS brakes - should I or must I install it to get everything to work properly.... I have not decided yet what I should go for....
Welcome from me also. I will also be watching your build. I have an E30 Sportster built at arround the same time as the one that you have pictures off on your Flikr site.
The best advice for the electrics is to make sure you photograph and label everything carefully when dismantling the doner. I re-used the E30 wiring loom including the fuse box and all relays. I spent an entire winter season identifying all the circuits and stripping out everything not needed. As a result the electrics went together easily with everything working first time. Even the engine!
Thanks, yes I have prepared myself by investing in some good labels that I can write on and also invested into Bentley´s manual of E39 - there is very good descriptions of what everything are and what colour - it is "just to do it".... but the reality often get you some surprises sometimes and Mr Murphy can add in something.
Rickard, you are the third e39 builder on this forum, both cammy and I are also building, currently I am the furthest ahead building the e39 build and I can
Offer much advice as there are a few areas that need some attention! On the whole it is a really good build though! I live very close to marlin and have been helping them with a few of the problems with the e39 build. I would be happy to have a chat with you and offer some build advice of you want it. Send me a pm and we can have a chat.
I've been going through all your pictures, interesting the differences to the E30 donor chassis.
Seems they've re-enforced the scuttle are a bit and moved the light mounting. Biggest change is obviously the rear subframe mounting and suspension.
Nice to see the seatbelt bar part of the chassis now.
I think think the upper wishbone mounts could do with bracket front and back - I've got giant washers here to stop the wishbones wandering off the bushes.
As nice as the e39 mounts are they don't comply with the minimum anchorage point height for iva. My car is off back to Marlin to have the upper belt mounts moved higher up.
Well, I think I have solved my problem with brake servo and master brake cylinder collide with inlet mainfold system - I think that I have to angle my brake pedal 90 degrees so I get my servo and master cylinder into where the battery box is placed. It is a common way with US cars and hot rods to hide the servo and master cylinder from engine area. Now I have to decide if I buy a kit or do I make my own - there is about £200 for a complete kit. i think I start with making my own.
I also got a spreadsheet of Excel where I can put numbers in of what setup of you have of your car and then calculate what diameter you should have on the master brake cylinder. It would be nice to put in some figures of an existing Marlin and see what the calculation says...anyone who can get me some figures?
This is the route I'm looking at for the future so that I can upgrade to a 90 degree V8 or 60 degree V12 engine without the servo and master cylinder getting in the way of the wider heads and intake manifolds.
The master cylinder and servo would then be low down facing forwards and out of the way of anything. Ot would save you using up the space in the battery box as well
Hi Morris, hmmm yes in a short moment I had that solution in my mind also but I have not been measuring so much so I can say it would fit/work...
Yes - I am thinking to skip Marlin pedal box at all solutions
In this car it will just be accelerator and braking pedal so it can maybe be done in a easy way in the end... I am going soon on vacation so then I have time to think and check out in a better way..
Hope it all gets sorted properly. Build is looking really good.