Justin's LS E46

[Novablue454]

I just go on EBay haha, I figure that's where the cheapest of the cheap composite parts live.

[tptrsn]

I guess the cheapest of the cheap hoods are still a lot more than I wanted to pay.. Figures, I'm THAT cheap. Haha

[Novablue454]

How much? I was finding duraflex hoods for like $400ish

[tptrsn]

Seems like everything was at least $600 shipped that I saw on a quick search. Alex makes really high quality stuff from what I can tell, so I'm not sure if he could bring himself to make a "budget friendly" piece like I was asking him about. A drift car item should be a very different sort of animal from the show quality stuff he usually makes, I think...

[Novablue454]

There's a few like these, not a bad price at all but no idea on shipping. I can tell you this one is about 1/5 what the ViS carbon one on my car was.

https://www.carid.com/duraflex/veloc...M6MaAiT98P8HAQ

It actually sort of sucks, I'm approaching the point where I'm almost afraid to compete in this car.

[tptrsn]

Seems like there are no options there for an e36 hood?

I get what you're saying about your car maybe getting too nice. It's a big part of why I enjoy my POS so much, NO worries about it. Very liberating.

[Novablue454]

My order from Texas Speed showed up!







got the new cam installed



timing back together



Started on the trunklid / tail light support

[Novablue454]

These ATI dampers are a nightmare. The press fit was like too tight and the instructions said to use an ARP crank bolt to install it, well when I did it froze on the crank and I pulled the threads in the snout Uh-Oh!



Made up this thread chaser thingy to fix the threads in the crank and by some miracle it worked, that was close!



Got the heads torqued on with new ARP head studs and the crank pulley installed, couldn't resist mocking up the manifold







Hoping to button it up tomorrow!

[doktor b]

awesome.
i feel like a lot of winter projects (and swaps) are coming together at the same time.
so pumped for 2017.

[protomor]

I don't have a winter build. Or maybe I should be proud of that fact.

[doktor b]

I don't have a winter build. Or maybe I should be proud of that fact.

i sure would be. spending all winter in the garage is getting a little old. lol.

[tptrsn]

But wait, isn't that what we do? You guys are freaking me out. Haha

[protomor]

I'm just trying to feel better that I get MAYBE 4 hours a week to work on a car. Or do anything really.

#babylife

[tptrsn]

Been there... Twice.

I must not be as good of a dad as you though, I think that is when I spent the most time in the garage hahaha...

[protomor]

I have no garage and no money for car parts. I asked permission to buy a proportioning valve for my E30 cuz it was $60 lol. Penny pinching!

[Novablue454]

Didn't get any picture of the process, but we rebuilt the failure prone factory rockers with the Texas Speed Trunion retrofit kit, and got them installed along with the TSP pushrods.



Got the valve covers back on and then spent the day working on motorcycles since it was so nice out, haha

[doktor b]

Are the TXSpeed reunion upgrade bits rollers/needles like the Comp Cams? Or are they the bushing style?
i got the bushing style from Colorado Speed.


...and then I met the supplier at PRI.
they weren't even re-boxed or wrapped or anything. Purchased from manufacturer, and sent to the consumer at a healthy markup. :/

[Novablue454]

Are the TXSpeed reunion upgrade bits rollers/needles like the Comp Cams? Or are they the bushing style?
i got the bushing style from Colorado Speed.


...and then I met the supplier at PRI.
they weren't even re-boxed or wrapped or anything. Purchased from manufacturer, and sent to the consumer at a healthy markup. :/

I'm pretty sure they're the same kit as the comp, just priced slightly less. The bearings have a part number on them and "made in usa" same as the comps. I even followed a comp tutorial on install and they were identical in every way I could tell.

[Novablue454]

Got the engine the rest of the way and fired her up (needs tuned)





Trying to figure out WTF I am doing back here

[protomor]

What's left back there? Mock looks good. Build a structure around it and be happy?

[tptrsn]

That sounds gnarly. I'm in love.

[Novablue454]

What's left back there? Mock looks good. Build a structure around it and be happy?

The main structure is done, just need to add another set of hood pins for the trunk and figure out how to mount the taillights

- - - Updated - - -

That sounds gnarly. I'm in love.

haha thanks, it doesn't have the Y pipe back section on in the video because I need to make new hangers for it so it's a bit loud

[protomor]

I saw some video by chelsea a few days ago. He just has the lenses from the tail lights and the rest are just light up LED strips behind it. So I guess when he hits stuff, it isn't so bad to replace? But for mounting, I see people use like 1/4" rod and weld on sheet metal tabs to mount stuff up. That way it bends when hit but can easily be bent back if needed at the track.

[tptrsn]

I need to make new hangers for it so it's a bit loud

NOOOOOO! Don't change it!

[Novablue454]

I saw some video by chelsea a few days ago. He just has the lenses from the tail lights and the rest are just light up LED strips behind it. So I guess when he hits stuff, it isn't so bad to replace? But for mounting, I see people use like 1/4" rod and weld on sheet metal tabs to mount stuff up. That way it bends when hit but can easily be bent back if needed at the track.

Shit, that's genius. Wish I knew that before I cut out the tail holes. Yeah, using small steel rod was what I was planning. Then welding like washers on to the ends for the tail light mount studs to go through. I'm just being paranoid about getting the locations exact because getting those mounts just a little off twists the 1/4 panel if that makes sense.