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| | | Junior Member
 
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 9/3/2008 2:58:35 PM
Posts: 18, Visits: 30 |
| | Just purchased a 97 M3 with 70K of easy miles on it. I plan to track the car and use it for some daily driving. I've been speaking with the Turner shop and there are just too many options. I'd like to concentrate on the must do mods for the track and then the best bang for the buck performance enhancements. I was thinking along the lines of an adjustable suspension, possibly sway bars, track pads, racing brake fluid, and possibly steel brake lines, a safety harness (HRM), and wheels and tires. Your suggestions are very welcome Jeff |
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| | | Junior Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 9/4/2008 11:10:51 AM
Posts: 17, Visits: 11,770 |
| | I can help! Drop me a note and I'll help in any way I can. Steve 1998 M3Sedan with everything oni t! |
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| | | Supreme Being
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Yesterday @ 5:01:15 PM
Posts: 97, Visits: 592 |
| | Turner is an excellent shop. If you are near them, you are also near Schneller in Newbury (www.machschnell.com). Mike Morris is a racer, tuner, and general mechanic. His shop does lots track prep. You will always seem some track cars at his place. If you are new to the track, I suggest that you keep your "modifications" to basic maintenance and safety stuff. I'd have Mike (or Turner) do a thorough track inspection about a month before the first event. You should address suspension (e.g. control arms, swaybar mounts, tie rods, sway bar links, and shocks), hoses and belts, brake fluid (and any other fluids that need changing), fresh brake pads (street pads will be fine for now). The oil pump nut has been known to back off on your S52 motor, but personally I wouldn't open up the bottom end just to do that. You water pump should be changed if original as they are a common failure item. Same for radiator as the plastic neck is known to crack off. If you want to enhance your safety, I'd consider a bolt-in roll bar. You want to be sure that the bars are far behind your head (in case of an accident on the street) and that there is a seat brace for both the driver and passenger. Then I'd call HMS Motorsport in Danvers (www.hmsmotorsport.com) and get some harnesses. They also sell helmets if you need one. There is really no reason you can't run the car with the stock seat and 3-point belt, especially as a novice, but clearly better safety equipment is, well, better. Last, sign up for the Boston Chapter e-mail list so that you get informed about our events! |
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| | | Forum Newbie
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 2 days ago @ 6:52:17 PM
Posts: 9, Visits: 97 |
| | Hate to differ with Dan but the OPN (oil pump nut) is, in my opinion, a must do for any car tracked even once. It is much cheaper to secure that bugger pre-emptively than have a bottom end rebuild (ask me how I know). While the pan is off you can add an oil pan baffle as these engines are always somewhat oil starved and severe driving makes it worse. Other engine maintenance should be thermostat (how old is that thing on there anyway?) and water pump. Good clean oil, good clean brake fluid. Maybe good clean tranny fluid and rear diff fluid. In the words of Steve Fitzgerald (and I'm sure others), Make is stop, make it turn, THEN make it go. Upgraded brake PADS and stainless lines #1. Then all else follows in time. |
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