2002 BMW E46 M3 Racecar

[JClark]

It's going to have a turbo, so the displacement had to come down to stay in a competitive class. FI is a 1.5x multiplier on displacement in BMWCCA club racing.

[Steve J.]

Actually, I have no displacement limit, as I am running supermod

I chose an m52 2.8L because it works great with turbos. 350-380whp/wtrq will be super easy, very reliable, running very low boost, will be extremely driveable, and thats the main focus. Any more power and I'd probably be slower as I'd have to control the power. Conservatively, lets say its 2600lbs wet with driver, and ~425hp, thats about all I would want, anymore and I'd either need more rear tire, or TC.

I have had a lot of progress, unfortunately the car is still in hiatus as the garage nears completion.

Wing end plate supports are done, shifter project is well on its way, Ohlins are being built, money is disappearing fast

Also picked up a new helmet, had to wait 7 months b/c of a manufacturing plant relocation in europe, but it was worth the wait.

[mikecentola]

that's a sweet helmet!

You're garage is going to be sick too

[JClark]

Anything else to make it super mod?! You better take advantage of all those non-BMW race parts you can now use.

[BoxerSix]

Originally Posted by Steve J.

Rear suspension design is almost done, waiting for a couple more parts to come back from the CNC shop:

Nice work. What program are you using for your suspension design, and testing of the rear subframe? I use SusProg3D and SolidWorks 2006 for CNC work, along with Cosmos for stress analysis. Fun stuff!

This is a great project and right up my alley and line of work. I'll be watching this right down the line

Keep up the work, and the posts that follow

[Cavi Mike]

What ^^he said!

*edit* Doh! That only works when the post is above, not on the previous page.

[Steve J.]

Originally Posted by BoxerSix

Nice work. What program are you using for your suspension design, and testing of the rear subframe? I use SusProg3D and SolidWorks 2006 for CNC work, along with Cosmos for stress analysis. Fun stuff!

This is a great project and right up my alley and line of work. I'll be watching this right down the line

Keep up the work, and the posts that follow

Thanks.

I use a couple different programs, basically whatever i can get access to

Where do you work?

I'm carrying over a couple designs i've already implemented in some customer cars from a past race/engineering position, and also using some designs from BMW Motorsport. So combining designs I know that work, with data I have, and some analysis, its a simple and reliable setup.

As far as doing stuff for supermod, the components that are putting me over BM (b/c of the turbo) will be aero, cockpit adj swaybar, and who knows, maybe a racegearbox at some point

[BoxerSix]

I work for myself doing everyday basic installs to complete chassis builds. I also build motors for Porsche customers and the occasional local tuner here at Dave Hunt machine. PCA work tends to be the bread and butter with custom fab work as a bonus. Currently developing my own chassis, Porsche 962 based street/track car, possibly for production in a few years


This e46 project looks like a boatload of fun. Nothing gets my gears turning more than complete scratch designed custom shit.

Oh and sequential dog box all the way! I wish I could afford a Mendeola S4 gearbox.

Originally Posted by Steve J.

Thanks.

I use a couple different programs, basically whatever i can get access to

Where do you work?

I'm carrying over a couple designs i've already implemented in some customer cars from a past race/engineering position, and also using some designs from BMW Motorsport.

As far as doing stuff for supermod, the components that are putting me over BM (b/c of the turbo) will be aero, cockpit adj swaybar, and who knows, maybe a racegearbox at some point

[Steve J.]

Ah, so you're a tech, kind of. Any engineering background?

Are you affiliated/hired by any shop, or is this stuff more a side job for you?

We'll see on the seq box, its mostly a hastle, and does not help that much. The real benefit is to select gearing for each track, but i'm not rebuilding the gearbox for every race. I'll probably just stick with the 6spd drivetrain. With the shifter i designed, it should be just fine.

I'm just going into supermod so I don't have to worry about rules. I'm not going to be competing for national class win, as I won't have time to make it to nearly as many events as others do.

I'm hoping to weigh in at about 2600lbs, wet, with driver

Aero should be good. I have a 3D scan of my car I recently had done that will help with CFD work to optimize the two element end plate mounted rear wing I designed. Will be mostly flat bottpom (just some gaps for suspension and the side exhaust), diffuser, and integrated splitter/undertray thats part of the bumper (from Vorsteiner/Evosport). Vortex generators and dive planes are among the aero aids that will also be implemented.

With a tame 2.8L M52 turbo, making 350-380whp/wtrq, it should be fairly quick.

[BoxerSix]

Tech yes, engineering background no :/ I've worked in this industry most of my life however and have learned via hands on experience and experimental work. Racing lives in our family so to say, in experience myself and my sister, who currently races throughout the country in various classes and in Europe. You've probably seen her ad in Magazines like Grassroots and the like, SCCA ad with white FSR and RT in background(www.amandahennessy.com). I enjoy R&D, especially in the engine related field. Cars bounce around here, mostly Porsche's and Audis.

I used to run my own business, and used work at a resoration shop called KTA(Knight Time Autoworks) up in northern NY, but left on my own behalf. I'm now a stay at home dad/tech, doing the work on the side for the next couple years while enjoying my daughters' younger years

Are you planning on some actual wind tunnel testing on your chassis for the aero? Nobody can/will give me any hardcore aero data on the factory 956/962's of the past and will eventually need to do some sort of testing on my car. The body and rear wing are pre-fab and available, however components like the dive planes, ground effect side channels, and rear tray/diffuser I'll be making myself. The car is planned to come in 21-2200lbs sans occupants and geared/powered for at 200-210mph. Highly unlikely that I'll see that often(Texas Mile ) but safety is paramount and I'd like to keep the tires glued to the road. If I did a longtail Lemans version the aero is capable of over 260mph but that speed is useless here and would rather sacirfice speed for massive grip.


Clark tells me you graduated from RPI here?

[Steve J.]

Originally Posted by BoxerSix

Are you planning on some actual wind tunnel testing on your chassis for the aero?

Clark tells me you graduated from RPI here?

Wind tunnel is a possibility. I might team up with a pro race team or two, although I am working on getting wind tunnel data from a team in the UK...slim chance I might be able to use this 3d model with them for cfd work to correlate empirical data from their team to cfd data I'll get, and use it for an aerobytes article with Mcbeath in RCE. There is a 'cheap' wind tunnel in NC I can go to, spend the good part of the afternoon (or middle of the night depending on their schedule) for a couple grand.

Yep, class of '05. BSME.

[mikecentola]

Rpi Ftw!