E30 Update - big one at that.

So it's been the weekend for my E30.
As pre-arranged Evan came up for a day pulling cars apart to help me move some big steps forwards...

As you'll know from a previous post, I needed to unlock my diff. Not a small job and the plan was to unbolt the rear subframe and move the lot over, solving a small issue of trashed hub on my car (two snapped bolts for the rear wheel, not good).

But, given the underside of the Ron looked a bit like this:

Unbolting all sorts and shifting across didn't seem such a smart move. What's more, without a solid beam rear axle there's quite a lot going on under there. So shuffle the diff it was.

And so we did: 

That there is a 4.45:1, Auto, open diff for an E30 circa 1989.

That there is something similar, on my 'good' car. Except somewhere in there it's welded.

And so we got to taking off the open one from the donor car.

Sit rep, T+2mins. I do not like oil on my hands...

The recipient, waiting patiently to be able to go around a corner.

We left the diff here for an hour in the hope that it would magically make it's way into place.

It most certainly did not.

Happy campers, job done.

And we got used to the oil. 

Overall a grand job for the day, removed two diffs and fitted one. Things we learnt?

• Fitting is much easier than removal.
• BMW diffs aren't too bad to remove, just the bolts holding them in place.
• It's a two person job for sure. No way I could have done this by myself.
• Sway bars are easy to remove (I 'found' one on the Ron).
• Sway bars should be fitted before the diff (now waiting on the floor of the garage, doh!).

Sunday..

No pics for today, but today I removed the hub from the Ron too. A complete nightmare to do really, not least as (and if you're in the know you'll know what I mean) the little retaining clip that you can't really get to and pulled out on the white car, wasn't the same on the Ron, so I spent an hour trying to pull a washer past a very tight nut indeed. Where's the BMW efficiency eh, eh...

What this does mean is that tomorrow I may well have a rolling car. Exciting times!

Final word.

And finally, a huge debt of thanks to Evan, fair to say that without him it would have been a. impossible and b. a lot less fun (as today was). So thanks mate, same time next week? There's plenty to do... ;o)

Racing tonight...

We'll have some league racing - promise! Last week of my holidays this week so I'll be back in a depressive work mood from next week, and looking for excuses to do other non-work related computery things. Like a season mix.

Here's some more racing of Mount Panorama, Brock in an M3...

Very nice footage I think you'll agree.

Tonight, you'll need an HRC460 and TC500 car - we'll do Bathurst for a bit too. Great track.

E30 News
Not much, this weekend Evan and I are playing at breaking cars. Hopefully transplanting an axle along the way...

And I've refitted the air filter, it runs better with this mass air sensor.

Update...

Late, sorry.
Tonight, or last night as you read this, we'll focus on the GT590-4 cars, so that's Japan made race cars including 4wd cars, at 590pp. Tyres are Racing Medium.

Something like these in fact.

But what's been consuming me? Euro old sports that's what, these sorts of things:

They keep my busy, and allow pics like these:

That's enough eye candy.

E30 update
Not much has happened. I've ordered a gear shift knob, the last one never arrived. And I'm thinking this will be my benchmark:

Season update

Errr, yes, watch this space. Umm, still doing research. Yeah, that's what it's called.

My new wish list...

1. Large areas covered in trees - Check.
2. A desire to drive like a loon - Check
3. Ability to do so - err wait.
4. Snow - haha, funny.
5. $$$$$$ - Oh well.

It was all going well until Trevor the squirrel ran across the road.

TC500 Race Prep Night Thursday

Hi Folks.
Race prep night on Thursday.
Specifically we'll be doing TC500 races on the night - we've all had time to rebuild our garage now.

Of the league - please do take the time to come and race, you've all got GT6 now, and it would be great to get some serious racing under way.

I've also updated the charter (linked on the right somewhere) to be in line with GT6, not much has changed, other than the preposition that we'll be doing some DTM racing at some point (Fatherland cars etc).

In terms of finding rooms, make sure you tick the 'Friends rooms only' then update the list. If it's past 8:30pm I'll have a room up and running.

Hope to see you online folks, I'm looking forward to the racing this season!

Cheers
Andrew

Welcome

Top HRC460 racing last night folks. And welcome to a couple of new racers that we may see about a bit going forwards - certainly it made for some excellent races, see below...


Anyway, I'm thinking we'll have a more open league for this next season, not least as we do seem to all be busy at the moment, we'll see how we go. Thoughts so far are:

• HRC460, TC500, GT590 and 650Open will remain as 'class cars' 
• I was worried that the new GT6 pp system would render them not so nice to drive, but with a few exceptions (Evan's RUF continued to be a challenge - stick in there chap) we're all good. And there's some nice new cars in there too - just not the Trans-Am mmmkay.
• I'll run mini 2-3 evening racing seasons for various classes.
• In this I'll also bring in DTM and other class cars as we get more in-game cash.
• Plan is to have drop in and race races rather than contend with a whole season.
• Points will add up to an overall champion though - if only so we can reuse my points system!

Overall, a great night and I'm inspired for a great season's racing going forwards.

E30 Sit Rep...

Sit Rep - well, we'll find out as I now have this:

Not overly exciting to most I wager. But this collection of cables etc is in fact the business end of a diagnostic kit for my car. With this I can at least check all sensors and make sure all is working.
But also, I can reset the service interval on the car (it has one that monitors engine hours, very clever), so my car will have a little green led telling me all is well too - the dirty liar!

Jobs upcoming include the back axle/sub assembly replacement - anyone know how to install outdoor air-conditioning as it's a tad warm at the moment....

End of the holiday...

Hi Folks.

Last night of the disorganised racing tonight - I'll get the season events etc sorted for next week and we'll start some points racing around mid to late January, basically a fortnight from now.

Of course, I've been remiss in my blog updates, I blame these two:

They do take up a lot of my time it seems! (err, yeah, and the kids, those two also used up a bit of my holiday I suppose).

We'll do some in class racing tonight, so that's the HRC460, TC500, GT590 and if we've got anything fast enough 650Open. Those forgetting, the league rules are linked down on the right hand side.

And on that note, expect a major update of those rules to bring them into line with GT6.

Finally, I'll run an open room tonight for a bit too - this to see if we can drum up business. And indeed last night I had some most excellent races with some Aussie chaps last night. I even managed a win at Motegi East. The rest of the racing I was sort of in the mix but generally outclassed... about usual then.

If you three get the friend request and visit this blog, welcome, we're an easy going bunch that just enjoys organised racing.

That's all folks, let's see if we can muster up some good racing tonight.

Cheers
Andrew