Scott's E92 Drag Build

[mcleansc]

Well. I zip tied the cluster to the dash support. Gave it a quick service and tossed it on the back of an old , overloaded wagon and drove the 2 hours to Crail.

Was a great day, met a lot of great guys and managed to grab Calum, who is on this forum with an 11 second stock turbo E92, for some great advice and help. But disappointing times. My quickest run was my first, 13.1 (no MPH as they weren't working at the track on that day). Way too much torque and power for the budget low profile Uniroyal Rainsports, which was expected but still gutting. It was a roasting hot, busy day and the car wasn't happy with the high intake temps before the runs, started throwing codes as it got nearer to the afternoon and the peak temperature for the day.

I'll get in touch with Ken and tame the tune. Was consistently pulling up to 4 degrees from cylinder 4 after shifts on all the runs.

Good news is after sitting for nearly 2 years hardly being driven and after lots of work and changes it still went down the track and didn't blow up.

 

[mcleansc]

I bought a GoPro adapter for an external mic and a Rode mic to go along with it for some good footage of my drag day. Unfortunately my trusty cameraman didn't quite understand how it worked and every video he took had no audio still don't know how he managed it, all the videos I took were fine. So heres 2 photos of the car on the overloaded, sketchy wagon from the day.



I bought a tow car so I can get the car to more events this year, even in its unfinished state I miss driving it and was very very rusty.



That's the ol' heffer there. And my wee puddle jumper behind it. Just need to sort my trailer licence. Despite driving 18 tonne fire engines and holding an EFAD licence I can't drive with a trailer in the UK without sitting a test. Until then I'll have my mate (dodgy cameraman) tow it.

I did a little more weight reduction tonight. Window wipers, the motor, filler neck, fluid reservoir. Cage is finally booked in for August, so next I'll be removing all the glass and doors. I found a good YT video for the windscreen, but any help on the quarters and rear windscreen would be great.

 

[mcleansc]

Cage is finally booked in for this month. As all the glass comes out I was going to have polycarbonate replace it, but a mate is selling his trailer so if the GF ok's it (lots of flowers and chocolate bribery for the eyesore on the driveway) I'll be buying that instead. So itll be doorless and glassless when it comes back but hey ho.

I also need some honest advice. A while back I bought a set of Draglites which aren't available often in the UK. I got them for a good price and knew they wouldnt fit, but the question was how badly wouldn't they fit? Now I've done my brake conversion I sized them up today...



They poke 100mm out with no weight on the suspension, I'm not sure if that gets more, less or stays the same when weight is put on the axle. I can get 100mm overfenders and it's a 100% track car now so no legal issues, but honestly do you think this just looks too stupid?

15" brake conversion PN's for anyone interested. Cost me £90 all in:

Discs PN: 34216864901 (cheers Calum)
Caliper PN: 34216768697 & 34216768698
Carrier PN (if you only bought Calipers): 2 X 34216768696

 

[SJ_1989]

Personally, I don't like it

Will the tire even fit with it sticking out so far?

A cheap drag wheel some run is the Jeg 15x8 wheels if you can get them over there.
https://www.jegs.com/p/JEGS/JEGS-SSR-Spike-Wheels/3839195/10002/-1

 

[mcleansc]

Personally, I don't like it

Will the tire even fit with it sticking out so far?

A cheap drag wheel some run is the Jeg 15x8 wheels if you can get them over there.
https://www.jegs.com/p/JEGS/JEGS-SSR-Spike-Wheels/3839195/10002/-1

I'd probably need to cut the arch then hide the cut with the overfenders which I don't like the idea of.

I thought I'd be able to sell them on but it's such a small niche market in the UK I'm struggling which is why in contemplating fitting them.

However, you, sir, are a hero thanks for the link. I can get 2 of those in 15x10J landed for £343. That's the route I'm taking. Get the welds sold and use the proceeds for that. Cheers mate

 

[mcleansc]

Progress! I think I may have went a bit overkill with the 16 pointer, installer is having a great time

I nearly had a buyer for the Draglites but it fell through last minute. Hopefully another will come along soon and that means I can get my wheels ordered.

 

[SJ_1989]

Looks good! Did you go with a mild steel cage?

Do they follow NHRA rules over there? I see a few bars missing but maybe it's not complete yet.

 

[mcleansc]

Looks good! Did you go with a mild steel cage?

Do they follow NHRA rules over there? I see a few bars missing but maybe it's not complete yet.

It's T45 mate, and yeah it's still quite a ways off completion. You've got a keen eye.

I doubt I'd be competing, don't have the skills or money or skills or skills. It's FIA certified so if I was looking to compete I doubt I'd have may issues.

Really looking forward to getting it back, I may be biased but it looks like a work of art already. Not sure how to go about painting it, whether to rattle can it myself, have the whole interior painted or even brush on POR15 (seen a few cages painted in the gray and actually looks very clean and tidy).

 

[SJ_1989]

I'm sure you'll be fine. I followed it exact because there is a local track that's super strict about the cage but could care less about anything else lol. I rattle canned the engine bay and underside of the car with this stuff and it turned out great. It's all about the prep. Brush off any loose debris, wipe down with a microfiber cloth with laquer thinner, wipe with a tack cloth, then spray away. Worked well for me. POR15 is very durable stuff as well.

 

[mcleansc]

I'm sure you'll be fine. I followed it exact because there is a local track that's super strict about the cage but could care less about anything else lol. I rattle canned the engine bay and underside of the car with this stuff and it turned out great. It's all about the prep. Brush off any loose debris, wipe down with a microfiber cloth with laquer thinner, wipe with a tack cloth, then spray away. Worked well for me. POR15 is very durable stuff as well.

My local track let me on the strip with no MOT (similar to an inspection), no airbags, dash or interior sounds like yours is just a tad more strict than mines.

That stuff looks like it'd do the job great thanks for the link mate. I was gravitating toward POR15 just for ease of application.. and the fact I've never rattle canned anything

 

[mcleansc]

Wee preview of the cage. Car needs washed - inside and out. The OEM seat is just in position to move the car on and off the trailer. Really really happy with the progress.

 

[mcleansc]

Update: Slow progress. I've already missed 2 drag events, life gets in the way sometimes, what can ya do.

Cage is painted, seat is in. I binned the original OEM glass as I was buying pre shaped polycarbonate. Then I decided I'd DIY it. Well it turns out I need trim off the old 1/4 windows so had to buy 2 idiot. Anyway, windscreen is shaping up nicely and even with buying the windows it's still a fraction of the cost of the stuff I was gonna buy.



I sold the Weld Draglites, bought some JEGS that actually fit (10J, 15") and the brake conversion is done to fit them. I also just took delivery of a set of bias ply Hoosiers, 28x10x15.

Desperate to get out on the track, not long now hopefully.

 

[doublespaces]

Those seats look comfy

This looks really impressive!

 

[mcleansc]

Those seats look comfy

This looks really impressive!

From what I can gather from my highly scientific research (sitting in it making zoom noises) it appears more comfy than I first thought it would be.

Thanks man, it's still a bit all over the place, not quite impressive just yet but hopefully going in the right direction. Hopefully get stuck into it the next week or so

 

[SJ_1989]

Then I decided I'd DIY it. Well it turns out I need trim off the old 1/4 windows so had to buy 2 idiot. Anyway, windscreen is shaping up nicely and even with buying the windows it's still a fraction of the cost of the stuff I was gonna buy.

How did this turnout and how's the project coming along?

 

[mcleansc]

How did this turnout and how's the project coming along?

The front and rear windscreen turned out really good considering I had no template. And hey you can't go wrong with my time tested moto of cut your best silicone the rest for the whoopsy I wasn't paying attention bits. Are you thinking of doing something similar?



That's the most recent image (with the windscreen fitted). It's coming along ok mate just slow. I've got some parts en route and a few things to finish that I'll update the thread with soon. How's your build coming along?

 

[mcleansc]

When the cage was fitted the glass needed removing and because I was going polycarbonate I had it binned. I had no idea it had a rubber piece I'd need to mount the gloss black trim and also fill the gap between the window and trim.

Had to buy a window from eBay and carefully remove the rubber trim, glue it to the new window then pray I'd done a good enough job.







Worked out well. Happy with the progress I've been making thus far.

 

[mcleansc]

Finished off the driver's door. Weighed it before I started and it came in at 28kg. With the bars cut out and hole saw holes it's down to 16kg.

I wanted to just cut the edges I'd hole sawed off, leaving the latch area, but a mate said the door might end up a bit flippy floppy. I think it would be fine, whats the consensus?

Next issue is the window, I can't seem to find any decent way of mounting it. Anyone got suggestions or done it before?

I'm still tempted to go fibreglass, I think the fibreglass doors weigh in at around 8kg, so that would be the weight being halfed again. And they come with frames for the window which solves my mounting problem.

 

[mcleansc]

So amongst my mates I'm known as the kind of guy to get an idea, ask the opinion of people more knowledgeable than I, then go ahead and try it regardless.

Remember what I said about cutting the door more?



I did it. Took another 1.6kg off it but eh.. well..



Bottom doesn't quite fit anymore turns out it is in fact a bit flippy floppy. Looks ok from the front though, if you squint, with 1 eye close, wearing a pair of your grans reading glasses.



The beauty is. I won't learn from this. I might be an idiot, but I'm a dedicated idiot.

 

[mcleansc]

Salvation! Better to be lucky than smart. With the door seal refitted the door fits snug as a bug and doesn't stick out like before. Lucked out there ha.



And as you can see the drivers side has been totally finished. Really happy with the result given it was all DIY and my first attempt at anything remotely like this.



I used 2 strips of thin stainless steel to get the curve needed on the window. I'll paint them black to make them more pleasing to the eye.



I also mocked up a cover for the wing mirrors since I won't be needing them. Going to get some aluminium or stainless, paint it gloss black and mount them in to tidy it up.

Cannot wait for next year to get this thing out on the strip.