NASA SPEC 3 Track Build

[2 Fast]

After doing some DE's last year with NASA and thinking which way i have to go, i decided to start building SPEC3 car and have it ready for more fun for 2017 season, i have chose SPEC3 for numerous reasons i can name some of them (No. 1 budget friendly, No.2 great racers we have in this series, No.3 availability of Parts)
my plan was to find a nice 325is (Dont like 4 Doors) and convert it to SPEC3 Minus roll cage in 4 Months starting by Dec, 2016.
after searching over Craigslist, Facebook market place and other sites i found a 1994 325is Auto with 200k miles in Norfolk, body looks in good shape, but was not sure how the engine looks at this age, i have contacted the seller and he declared that the car had a miss fire and need tune up, beside that it does need front wheel bearing.

car picked up from Norfolk with the help of my friend Brian who own Truth Motorsport in Summit Point, after driving the car back home for 4 hours in rainy day the car was fine, no overheat no check engine light comes up but the miss fire was there, you may feel it only when the car idling but at regular driving speed (+30 Mph ) it was pulling Normal.

This is the picture of the car from the craigslist ads.



I will keep posting and updating the post for more pictures.

[Sterk]

Great choice! I have a 325is myself. Any plans on doing a motor/tranny swap?

[Brake_L8]

Welcome to the fold! The Mid-Atlantic Spec3 gang is a great group. I'm in TT and plan to move to GTS in 2017 but hang out with them a fair bit. Good luck with the build and let us know if you need any help!

[2 Fast]

with NASA Spec3 you have to use the stock M50 Engine + Tranny, engine on overhaul process at the current time

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Great choice! I have a 325is myself. Any plans on doing a motor/tranny swap?

with NASA Spec3 you have to use the stock M50 Engine + Tranny, engine on overhaul process at the current time

- - - Updated - - -

Welcome to the fold! The Mid-Atlantic Spec3 gang is a great group. I'm in TT and plan to move to GTS in 2017 but hang out with them a fair bit. Good luck with the build and let us know if you need any help!

Thank you Jake, i know there is an awesome folks over Spec3 facebook page and i know you are an active member over there,

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After bringing the car home, i tried to diagnose the problem to find which cylinder has a miss-fire and it was Cylinder# 2 & 3, changed the Spark plugs, Ignition Coils and the injectors but the problem was there, ECU replaced but never helped !! at this point i figure out that is not a miss fire so i did a compression test

This is Cylinder# 2


and this is Cylinder# 3



all other cylinders compression was good, Now Removing the cylinder head will be the next thing to do, since i have a limited garage space to pull the engine out, i removed the front end of the car to gain more space.






Valve cover and Manifold removed



after taking the head off, you can easy notice that there is two exhaust valves damaged (i assume clogged catalytic converter cause that) Cylinder# 2 on the left, Cylinder#3 on the right.



No damage noticed to the cylinder wall or the pistons and the gasket looks fine.



Cylinder head sent to the Machine shop for inspection and repair of damaged valves, hopefully will have it ready sometime next week.

[19Spec3]

That's not so bad. Hopefully all the damage was contained to the head and the bottom end is good to go. Good luck!

[SenorTaylor]

If anyone is curious. This car is with a new owner going through Comp School right now at VIR!