Brief:
To create a usable everyday car that will stand out from the rest of the modern boxes on the road but with the ability to provide an entertaining and involved drive when required whilst retaining an element of originality and period features of the classic shaped E21 sharknose.
What we did:
The car started life as a E21 320 automatic on a carburettor so was not a great drive and loved to drink the petrol without giving the return in performance! The engine was very strong and had been well looked after having received a full service just before its sale to the present owner. The engine was removed along with the auto box and work started on the engine bay. The battery tray was removed and the battery relocated to to the boot with a custom set up. 30 years of use had taken its toll under the bonnet so paintwork was cleaned, prepped and fresh paint applied to all the body coloured areas.
A low mileage 525e kindly donated its engine crank and a high compression 2.7 stroker was built using the crank, 2.0 litre con rods, high compression 2.5 litre pistons and a high compression engine block. The engine block was machined and relieved of 2.2mm of height to raise the compression ratio after loss of some compression with the use of 2.0litre con rods giving around 11.1 compression. (Super unleaded from now on!) New rings for the pistons, all new shells for the crank and con rods, new oil pump, block honed, new cam belt kit and all new gaskets.
The head was donated by an early 325i sport, pressure checked and received a light skim, new valves and springs, high lift long duration cam, retained original rockers as no signs of wear; all reassembled with new gaskets and fitted with a custom vernier pulley as everything now a little closer together.
Everything cleaned and painted for a fresh start in its new home.
Engine was fitted with a new 4kg lightweight flywheel - available from ourselves - and a new clutch, mated to a manual 5 speed E21 gearbox and fitted to the car with a manual propshaft with new centre bearing and front guibo, new high flow fuel pump fitted in tank.
E21 6 branch manifold fitted to the engine and mated for the time being to the standard exhaust until funds allow for custom 323 style exhaust to be made.
Wiring modification made to marry the 70's to the late 80's with later M20 engine management and an alpina 2.7 chip.
ECU mounted above the glovebox inside the car, custom length coil lead made and fitted to retain original position of coil and to avoid excess wiring under the bonnet.
Front GAZ valved bilstein Group 4 spec coilovers fitted with E21 323 hubs, discs and calipers, rear GAZ coilovers with custom rose jointed top mounts - all available from us - new handbrake shoes, wheel cylinders and cables fitted to bring the brakes more up to spec with the increased power.
More to come, watch this space!
