Graham's bmw 2002 race car.

[Graham]

Re: Grahams new old race car, bmw 2002 reborn

work has gone a bit quiet, so ive dug the 02 out and cut out the grot from the n/s chassis rail/floor/sill.
whilst i have no money to actually spend welding doesnt cost me anything so is time well spent.

not the neatest work ive ever done, but ive cut pretty deep so as to take out anything even remotely iffy. almost all the joints are butt welded, it takes longer to do, but is neater, lighter and saves creating moisture taps, everything is getting a healthy coat of worm poison.

folding up 18 gauge to make a chassis rail using nothing more than a hammer and an RSJ as an angvil was something else!

[Graham]

Re: Grahams new old race car, bmw 2002 reborn

although its probably years off im getting excited about the thought of driving this again, a well set up 02 chassis is sublime and makes far better use of power than the e30 chassis i replaced the 02 with first time round.

so ive been giving the engine some thought, i fancy another crack with an m10, i quite fancy a bonkers spec 2.0, however am considering something a little more sensible and wallet friendly. however time has moved on since i last used a 2.0 m10 and it may simply not be up to the task of running as a class front runner anymore, so IF i can find a bit of cash a 2.3 or 2.4 will be on the cards.

ultimately though i want to go back to s14 power, but in the shape of a 10,000 rpm 2.0, but thats megga bucks, 6K just for a base unit and probably another 8-10 to build it so thats deffo not happening any time soon

[Group4_Mark2]

Re: Grahams new old race car, bmw 2002 reborn

Good to see you back working on the car. Looks like nice solid work.

[mario r h santos]

Re: Grahams new old race car, bmw 2002 reborn

Congrats Graham!

I was beginning to think this project was almost forgotten due to the "Garage Challenge" that you've gotten yourself into.

Keep us posted!

Cheers,

Mário Santos.

[Graham]

Re: Grahams new old race car, bmw 2002 reborn

HA HA, i cant really forget it, it sits there looking at me with sad eyes every day i walk into work.

once ive done welding chassis and cage the next thing will be to try and find some cash to get a cage in it, which will be a whole load of work, because about the only people doing a weld in multipoint are custom cages and we all know how well they dont fit.

[Graham]

Re: Grahams new old race car, bmw 2002 reborn

a smidgen more progress, ive bought a multipoint T45 weld in rollcage, from custom cages because they were the only ones that made what i wanted, so it will no doubt be a pain to fit. not that anything will happen until ive finished daves sierra

[mario r h santos]

Re: Grahams new old race car, bmw 2002 reborn

Keep up the good work!

How's your business running if I may ask? No regrets?

Cheers mate,

Mário Santos.

[Graham]

Re: Grahams new old race car, bmw 2002 reborn

business is growing, i have enough work, just, im doing a lot of work for the trade, id say 90% trade 10% retail, so its keeping me busy which is good, but the trade work is labour only (no parts sales) and heavily discounted, so i wont really make anything money wise until the retail client base is much bigger, and i wont make any proper money until the workload has grown enough to take on staff, it will come.

no regrets, well almost none. im very happy in my work and growing the company, my only regret is i cant go racing or build cars for myself, i simply have neither the time or money, but im in it for the long haul, i will be racing again, just not anytime soon.

[alladdin]

Re: Grahams new old race car, bmw 2002 reborn

realistic outlook

[mario r h santos]

Re: Grahams new old race car, bmw 2002 reborn

Well, it seems to me you're on the right path so I'm glad for you.

About racing, you know not many of us get to do all we wanted but don't forget that you can always say you already did more than most have (with me deeply included in this category).

Cheers,

Mário Santos.

[Graham]

Re: Grahams new old race car, bmw 2002 reborn

not an update as such, but for the first time since last june, ive actually been able to get to the car. its been locked in a corner surrounded by other on going jobs, at the moment it has no suspension on it at all, so think im going to put some wheels on a pallet so i can at least wheel it around the workshop so i can get 5 mins working on it here and there.

i have now decided where im going with the engine though, i want to build another true 2.0 8v m10, not sure i can be really competitive with one though, its ten years since i last raced with a 200bhp 2.0, back then it was very competitive with an all up weight of 900kg, if i can get it down to 850kg and push the engine to 210-215bhp i may just be able to hang onto the generally heavier 16v motors in the class, but its going to be a tall order

[Group4_Mark2]

Re: Grahams new old race car, bmw 2002 reborn

Keep at it Graham,

It will be great to see you back racing soon.

[Toymex]

Re: Grahams new old race car, bmw 2002 reborn

I am sure it will be competitive with a nice clicky box in it !

[Graham]

Re: Grahams new old race car, bmw 2002 reborn

I am sure it will be competitive with a nice clicky box in it !

hmm, that had crossed my mind, not sure i can bring myself to spend more on a gearbox than the rest of the running gear though!

gearbox will certainly be an issue, the correct (for the car and needed if i ever do anything historic) factory close ratio dog leg 5 speed gearboxs are very rare, and i know other than for bearings spares are now almost unobtainable, ratios are an issue too, first is a waste of time for circuit use, and once you start pushing the revs to 8k the ratios get a bit gappy. later small six dogleg can be adapted, but ratios are no better, the E30 m3 dogleg is physically a lot bigger and heavier although unbreakable (i couldnt break one with 440lbft) and the ratios worse still for a high rev narrow powerband, so i may end up with a clicky box as its cheaper and better ratio wise than the alternatives.

even with a clicky box, it will be hard to be competitive, power wise my engine maxed out will only be the equivalent of a slightly warmed over 2.0 16valver, but to put it into perspective im more interested in getting the most i can out of the car than actually winning, if winning was the actual goal i'd pick another car

[john savage]

Re: Grahams new old race car, bmw 2002 reborn

Graham,

Don't try and build the car to win straight away, just build a car to get on track and then develop over time. Most important aspect is to get out on the black stuff again.