Changes in Spec E36 final rules.

[S.Lang]

Final rules: http://www.bmwccaclubracing.com/stat...nal_061001.pdf

Interesting changes from the last draft of the rules:

* Stock air box must be retained. The last draft had intakes as being free.

* ECU software is still free (no change).

* No piston overbore allowed - previous draft allowed 0.020.

* They changed the wording on the camber plates as specified in the Spec E36 Components List. The draft said "non-adjustable camber plates" and the final rules have eliminated the "non adjustable" wording.

* No spherical bearings are allowed.

* The front control arms must be stock parts (the section allowing E36 M3 front LCA's has been eliminated altogether).

* Solid or spherical bearing rear upper shock mounts are now allowed.

* Minimum ride height is 5".

* Wheels are as before (16" x 7", min. weight 14 lbs.). No changes here, but anyone else think the 16" diameter creates choices that are too limited?

* Spacers increasing track up to 8mm are now allowed. Good idea as it could increase available wheel options.

* Diff ratio now 3.91 instead of 3.15 or 2.93. Great idea.

* Using E36 M3 3.15 diff no longer allowed by the rules (obviously).

* Section about converting automatic cars to manual has been added.

Overall I think the changes are good. I'm interested to see what the "trunk kit is" as far as shocks, springs, bars, tires, and camber plates. I'm thinking these cars will be capable of slower JP lap times (JP cars that aren't built to the limit of the rules).

[mlytle]

many scca e36 racers use 16x7 wheels. no problems what-so-ever finding wheels. highly recommend the team dynamics wheels bimmerworld sells. in fact, with e36's moving to itr class in scca next year where 17x8.5's are allowed, there may be some good used 16x7's on the market soon....

for the budget racer, 16x7 was a stock wheel size for e36's and z3's. lots of them around.

good call on the 3.91 diff. that will make the cars a lot more fun to drive.

this spece36 stuff is great! rules committee has done an outstanding job setting this up.

marshall

ex-its e36 with 8 16x7 td's...

[S.Lang]

Thanks on the wheel tip, mlytle. I hadn't done much research yet but from what I had done, it seemed the choices were limited. Good to see that may not be the case.

[krisko]

I think the final rules are absolutely perfect. Eliminating the overbore, ltw flywheel, and M3 parts will keep the cars competitive and spending under control. Exactly what a Spec series is about.

I'm still a little unclear on the 3.91 diff. What BMW did this come on and approx. how much does it cost? That will be the biggest difference maker on these cars...stock diff cars will be left in the dust if they don't upgrade.

[B.Watts]

The 3.91 came in automatic 325's...which, when looking for a new daily driver manual, seems to be a VERY popular car. Finding 3.91's seemed pretty easy back when I used one in my old ITS car.

[EvanUrS4]

The 3.91 came in automatic 325's...which, when looking for a new daily driver manual, seems to be a VERY popular car. Finding 3.91's seemed pretty easy back when I used one in my old ITS car.

Non LSD though - is there an easy way to make one LSD?

[LUTFY]

Non LSD though - is there an easy way to make one LSD?

Can you use a 3.91 with an LSD? I have one sitting in my garage if someone is interested

Ahmad

[B.Watts]

Some came with LSD. Otherwise, it's just a matter of swapping the 3.91 into an otherwise stock LSD diff or vice-versa.

[B.Watts]

Can you use a 3.91 with an LSD? I have one sitting in my garage if someone is interested

As long as it's a stock LSD and not a custom built diff.

[krisko]

As long as it's a stock LSD and not a custom built diff.

What is the market price for a 3.91? I was about to go back on the soapbox about limiting expenses in a spec series but it sounds like a pretty cheap yet significant upgrade.

[Rich V]

What is the market price for a 3.91? I was about to go back on the soapbox about limiting expenses in a spec series but it sounds like a pretty cheap yet significant upgrade.

Between $300-$400 is a reasonable price.

[m332is]

3.91 is pretty short for WGI... you'll be banging off the red line in the back straight. Is it bad any other tracks?

Vince

[B.Watts]

3.91 is pretty short for WGI... you'll be banging off the red line in the back straight. Is it bad any other tracks?

Chips are open, so you "could" set your redline to 7500 in 5th gear.

[EvanUrS4]

3.91 is pretty short for WGI... you'll be banging off the red line in the back straight. Is it bad any other tracks?

Vince

Everyone else will be hitting redline too... just means you might not get that extra 5 mph on a couple tracks, but it shouldn't cause a "problem". And the gearing will help these low powered cars get some oomph everywhere else.

[S.Lang]

I think the final rules are absolutely perfect. Eliminating the overbore, ltw flywheel, and M3 parts will keep the cars competitive and spending under control. Exactly what a Spec series is about.

I'm still a little unclear on the 3.91 diff. What BMW did this come on and approx. how much does it cost? That will be the biggest difference maker on these cars...stock diff cars will be left in the dust if they don't upgrade.

The way the rules are written, there is no upgrading. The 3.91 ratio is THE spec ratio that MUST be run. From the rules:

5.B. Ratio. The ratio of ring and pinion must be 3.91.

[txse46m3]

3.91 is pretty short for WGI... you'll be banging off the red line in the back straight. Is it bad any other tracks?

Vince

Gunna be tough at TWS, I think.

[avusm3]

Does anyone have any idea what is going to be in the 'trunk kit suspension'?

[S.Lang]

Trunk kit specs aren't out yet.

Spec-mandated items still to be resolved:

Camber plates
Springs
Shocks
Bars
Tires

There are posts eleswhere here where it's been stated that they are planning some testing of suspension pieces before finalising the trunk kit.

[Jim Bassett]

Gunna be tough at TWS, I think.

Maybe, maybe not. I ran my JP (then KP) car there in Nov '02 with the 3.91 (and cams) and don't recall having an issue. But then, I'd never been there before (or since ), so YMMV. But I would suspect an un-cammed M50 would not have an issue either.

And FWIW, it hasn't been an issue at any track I've been to so far, including the full-track at Miller Motorsports Park. But that may say more about the driver than the car

Cheers,
Jim

[avusm3]

Thanks for the update!

John

Trunk kit specs aren't out yet.

Spec-mandated items still to be resolved:

Camber plates
Springs
Shocks
Bars
Tires

There are posts eleswhere here where it's been stated that they are planning some testing of suspension pieces before finalising the trunk kit.

[DessicatorGC]

i think 3.91 is a shame

with 225/50/16's and 6500 redline your only going 123mph your top that out at Roda Atl and RRR for sure

and if you want to drive to the track on budjet racing your running over 5g down the highway

but im sure a 3.91 will help on track.... oh well....

[B.Watts]

with 225/50/16's and 6500 redline your only going 123mph your top that out at Roda Atl and RRR for sure

With open chips, why would you be running 6500 RPM anyway? You can run 7000 all day long. The 3.91 will go a LONG way to making the car "more racy" and more fun to drive instead of forcing folks to make the awkward 2nd gear downshift.

[krisko]

awkward 2nd gear downshift.

Which is often followed by the even more awkward 2nd to 1 money shift.

I think it's a good move. A $400 diff will shave probably 2 seconds off a Road ATL lap time.

[Fastfred92]

3.91 is the way to go! The ITS car never ran out of RPM execpt Daytona, At VIR with pretty long front and back it is still digging when you hit the brake zone and it pulls much better out of the slow stuff than a 3:15 would. just keeping the faith that the trunk kit and spec tire is something good...

[m332is]

I defer to the 3.73 guys in the IP cars... still have rpms left at WGI?

Vince