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Thread: NomadicVar's 745i - Build Thread

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
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    Minneapolis, MN
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    '85 Bronzit 745i

    NomadicVar's 745i - Build Thread

    I've never done this. Where do I start? I searched all over the country for a 745i fitting the bill for what I wanted, which was simple really. No rust, good engine, Buffalo interior, Euro bumpers. While that didn't seem terribly hard to accomplish, I didn't have much luck, and ended up missing out on the one I really wanted by just a few hours. In reality, I think the seller just changed his mind about letting it go. Here's a link - http://www.stanceworks.com/forums/sh...745i-euro-7250 It was also posted on his local Craigslist for something like $3900, adding to the weirdness. But after a little searching, I found a shop in Florida that had one sitting in storage, all known good parts fitting the criteria, with one stipulation. He wanted to build it out to match our collective dream before I take delivery. Complicated, yes. Deal, hell yes.

    As some of you have already seen through the vin search, it's an '85 in Bronzit with the brown Buffalo interior.
    The car is currently sitting in a pretty cramped space while the engine is torn down but I'll start the picture train.
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    Attached Images Attached Images

  2. #2
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    '85 Bronzit 745i
    Interior all looks to be in good shape, with a little attention needed on the headliner. Sunroof and rear sun shade are fully functional.
    Copy of VZM.IMG_20180823_192700.jpgCopy of VZM.IMG_20180823_192736.jpgCopy of VZM.IMG_20180823_192854.jpgCopy of VZM.IMG_20180823_193439.jpgCopy of 20180823_175639.jpg

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
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    My Cars
    '85 Bronzit 745i
    Hopes, Dreams, and Goals.

    When I first started my search, all I was looking for was a clean, good running summer driver. I wanted a 745i that would look right at home parked with all the other BMW's at C&C or similar meets, but wouldn't be just another -enter too common BMW here-, and could rip up some great roads afterwards. That all took a turn for the weirder the more I spoke with the builder. In the end, I decided this car is deserving of proper power on mild boost, with the ability to crank it up for the end goal. Put a 1985 BMW 745i in the 200mph club. I know, I'm dumb, but F it. With that goal in mind, we settled on a full port/polish and blueprinted build, polishing and balancing every component as we go. The 'street tune' if you will, is going to be ~15psi from a hybrid 70mm k27, aiming for 600whp. From there, we'll be able to turn up the boost to start chasing the end goal.

    Time to pull this old ticker, for some much needed love and tear down.
    Copy of 20180916_172650.jpgCopy of 20180916_172712.jpgCopy of 20180916_193935.jpg

    Valve cover off. Everything you see will be replaced. The cam is being sent out for a regrind.
    Copy of 20180917_130442.jpgCopy of 20180917_143638.jpg

  4. #4
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    '85 Bronzit 745i
    With the head removed, it looks like the headgasket had failed and was causing what 'feels like a misfire' when driven by the PO.
    Copy of 20180917_144025.jpgCopy of 20180917_144016.jpg

    Teardown of the block. We'll be reusing the stock connecting rods after a full polish and balance.
    Copy of 20180925_150656(1).jpgCopy of 20180925_154607.jpgCopy of 20180925_154639.jpg

  5. #5
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    Jun 2016
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    My Cars
    '85 Bronzit 745i
    With more boost, we'll definitely need a bigger intercooler, but one of my main concerns and goals is to keep the car looking as factory as possible. OEM+ Here is the stock location upgraded unit.
    Copy of image5.jpgCopy of image4.jpg

    New throttle body seemed like a must. Plus, it's gorgeous.
    Copy of VZM.IMG_20180915_200307.jpgCopy of VZM.IMG_20180915_200349.jpg

    Just a little guy. The component on the left is the start of a new coolant reservoir. We considered replacing stock with stock but this seemed like a better way to spend the down time waiting on parts to come in the mail. More on that later.
    Copy of VZM.IMG_20180911_205320.jpg

  6. #6
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    '85 Bronzit 745i
    With the power and use applications I hope to achieve, the stock auto trans just wasn't going to cut it. A manual seemed like a must for a multitude of reasons, and the deliberation began. While we initially settled for a Getrag 265, they don't feel as nice as I want and would be expensive to repair if grenaded. After reading through approximately one billion threads debating transmissions in regards to strength, aftermarket, gear ratios etc., and wanting to stay true with a BMW unit, we settled on a gs6-53bz. While these are claimed to be good up to around 400 lb ft of torque, user experience is guessing that number to be nearly double. Perfect.

    Fresh off the truck after a long stall during the hurricane!
    Copy of 20180926_135715.jpgCopy of 20180926_140005.jpg

    For retrofitting, we made sure to acquire the slave cylinder, clutch disk, shift linkage, transmission cross member and a few other small parts. The clutch disc will definitely not be reused.
    Copy of 20181003_115423.jpg

    One of the biggest debates was how to get the power we want into a trans and down to the ground without annihilating an OEM clutch. One caveat, it has to drive like OEM without all the gnarly chatter. Enter the Quartermaster Optimum RR. A billet triple disc built for Nascar, this little baddie ought to get the job done.
    optimum_rr.jpgqtm-rr_02.png

  7. #7
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    '85 Bronzit 745i
    What's a proper build without a little artistic flair? The builder likes shiny, and I maintain a nearly OCD level of cleanliness with my vehicles. That said, we have a *small* list of parts that will be getting polished. i.e. Everything. All go, with some show for the local car shows. With that in mind, and needing to replace the coolant reservoir and power steering reservoir, he went to work fabbing up some new pieces.

    Here's the almost finished PS Res.
    Copy of 20180913_232442.jpgCopy of 20180910_183756.jpg

    and a few pics of the coolant res. Having very little metal fab under my belt, I'm still blown away when a flat sheet of aluminum turns into something like this.
    Most of the welding done and starting to clean up. Filler neck is unfinished.
    Copy of VZM.IMG_20181003_175041.jpgCopy of VZM.IMG_20181003_174955.jpgCopy of 20180913_212708.jpg

  8. #8
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    '85 Bronzit 745i
    To get enough fuel to feed the hungry monster, we decided to use a more modern fuel rail and some big injectors. Fitment was...tight.
    Copy of VZM.IMG_20180830_180517.jpg

    Resolution? Cut it off and move it over!
    Copy of 20180907_151109.jpg

    In an effort to keep the interior clean and looking OEM+, Autometer Ultra-Lite II seemed like the only gauge that would work. Boost, A/F, Oil Pressure, and water temp will all be installed in the console. Currently working with a local lumber specialist to source a matching piece to mount these in.
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    Eventual mounting location once a panel is created.
    2ndinstr.jpg

  9. #9
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    '85 Bronzit 745i
    Wheels! With the intention of building a custom spec set of 3-piece Style 5's, I decided to save the budget for where it's needed more and picked up some of these
    20180929_163238.jpg20180929_163233.jpg
    Some meh Michelin in a 255 up front and a big 275 Conti Extreme Contact DW in the rear. Hopefully this will be enough tire to keep things tight for dyno tuning. The spacers are hubcentric 15mm units aimed to make all the parts play nice and not rub.


    Here's the next question for all you more versed in the BMW world than I. Do you have recommendations for a shifter? My initial thought is to just pick up an OEM or BMW Perfomance unit designed for the transmissions donor. E9x, or E60/61. But upon initial searching, folks want an arm and a leg, and I'll still have to source a knob that fits, which seems to cost as much as the shifter itself.

  10. #10
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    May 2013
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    '84 733i, 01 X5 00 750iL
    How is 15 psi going to give you 600 rwhp? I have a friend with an e28 turbo build of an M30 w/ ported head, forged 9:1 pistons and aftermarket turbo and at 16 psi that put down 420'ish rwhp
    Steve H.

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by BONDOSPECIAL View Post
    How is 15 psi going to give you 600 rwhp? I have a friend with an e28 turbo build of an M30 w/ ported head, forged 9:1 pistons and aftermarket turbo and at 16 psi that put down 420'ish rwhp
    Good question, and one I asked myself. We'll just have to see how things turn out. I'm convinced that we'll have to turn up the boost a fair amount to achieve that number, but we'll see.


    Crank is out!
    20180925_155558(1).jpg20180925_155609.jpg20180925_160217.jpg\

    Here are a couple initial exhaust options. One change that's coming for sure is a little more muffler to help keep volume reasonable.
    photo0(7).jpgphoto0(1).jpg

  12. #12
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    If you haven't already, check out the mye28.com turbo forum. There are a ton of M30 turbo builds on that site. I am learning a lot from them because this is my first turbo upgrade as well.
    Steve H.

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by BONDOSPECIAL View Post
    If you haven't already, check out the mye28.com turbo forum. There are a ton of M30 turbo builds on that site. I am learning a lot from them because this is my first turbo upgrade as well.
    I was sent that way when searching for a clutch to hold more than 500tq. I don't check it out often, but a few searches have addressed important questions/concerns. Personally, I'll be happy with 450whp, but the builder is insisting that a low boost 600whp is possible. While I'm trusting him, that trust will go as far as the dyno results. Unfortunately, you don't get much more than a stream of pictures, and phone calls when you're across the country from each other. Minnesota - Florida.

  14. #14
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    1983/84/85 745i

    Thumbs up

    A smaller 60-1 Garrett wheel in a K27 made 370rwhp/410rwtq around 17psi, that wheel is 57mm/76mm from memory.

    We all send our K27s to be built at Pure Turbos. They have done many now. When you do send it in, ask about a more modern turbine wheel please. I may pull mine and mod it again if something better fits.
    I make E23 parts.
    09/1983 745i (stolen spring '13 around Houston, TX Achatgruen on nutria buffalo. 8481080)
    10/1984 745i
    11/1984 745i
    11/1984 735i (10:1-265/6)
    Ford, MB, and GM round out the pack.



  15. #15
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    Sounds like a great project. 200mph in e23 sounds a little scary. If going for big hp probably look at “good-n-tight” tubular exhaust manifold and the appropriate sized turbo. U will probably reach 200mph may need to consider some aero front spoiler and rear flat spoiler to keep the car sucked to the ground at speed
    BMW’s
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  16. #16
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    84' 533i Turbo
    What's the specs on the new intercooler? Will this fit in the stock location?

  17. #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by gixxerboy View Post
    What's the specs on the new intercooler? Will this fit in the stock location?
    Massive. 4 1/2" wide, 3" in and out. Fit stock location with a little convincing.

  18. #18
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    Do you know what vehicle this intercooler came from?
    Steve H.

  19. #19
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    1984 bmw 745i
    Well a porsche 944 fpr is a 3.5 bar unit and works wonderfully on my cheapo set up keeping mine rich under boost. If you are wanting to change the location of the snail i was able to find a t3/t4 exhaust manifold from Alibaba that was 100% bolt on no real modification required other than the addition of shorter exhaust studs. My setup uses a t4 framed (gt45 clone) 68.9mm turbo. A lot is still in progress however shes running and not to horribly under factory setting utilizing all the car had originally come with.

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

  20. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by BONDOSPECIAL View Post
    Do you know what vehicle this intercooler came from?
    As for a specific application, I'm not sure. Currently digging around for that info lol. More complete specs though are 10.5x11x4" core. After looking a little more closely, some trimming and bracket work will be required to make it fit perfectly in the stock location, but I'll be documenting that thoroughly to pass on!

  21. #21
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    Quote Originally Posted by Younge23turbos View Post
    i was able to find a t3/t4 exhaust manifold from Alibaba that was 100% bolt on no real modification required other than the addition of shorter exhaust studs. My setup uses a t4 framed (gt45 clone) 68.9mm turbo.

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk
    Can you give us a link to the manifold you bought? I've been curious about the m106 fitment of several of the manifolds I have seen.

  22. #22
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    Quote Originally Posted by espoe View Post
    Can you give us a link to the manifold you bought? I've been curious about the m106 fitment of several of the manifolds I have seen.
    On Alibaba, type in m30 t4 manifold. Good fitment.

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

  23. #23
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    Quote Originally Posted by Younge23turbos View Post
    On Alibaba, type in m30 t4 manifold. Good fitment.

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk
    https://m.alibaba.com/product/605373...482&redirect=1

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk

  24. #24
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    Who is doing the build in Florida? 600 is a stretch but I am curious to see the results. What tuning software will you use? Mine made 272/350 at 8PSI on modified K27

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azF-9Rk5oB8
    Last edited by SicStang03; 10-16-2018 at 10:48 PM.

  25. #25
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    Quote Originally Posted by SicStang03 View Post
    Who is doing the build in Florida? 600 is a stretch but I am curious to see the results. What tuning software will you use? Mine made 272/350 at 8PSI on modified K27

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azF-9Rk5oB8

    I thought your signature looked familiar! PM sent.

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