Rebody Pingu's Kit Car Project

Pingu

Pingu

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Dec 8, 2011
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Test drive showed up some problems...
  • Gear lever knob needs to be tightened. 30 seconds with an Allen key.
  • Scraping noise from rear brakes - after a lot of investigation and fettling I found that it was the caliper bolts pushing the backplate against the disc.
  • Rear anti-roll bar keeps popping off. I think that it's bent. I can't straighten it, as it's a spring. I'd need to heat it to red to straighten it (which I could do), then temper it to the correct colour (which I can't). I'll swap with the roadster, and get a new one for the roadster.
  • LH bonnet ram is empty. I'll take it back to SGC for a replacement or a regas.
  • Suspension is rock hard, so dampers need to be softened.
  • Engine and gearbox are as sweet as a nut.
  • Speedo needs to be calibrated.
 
jaguartvr

jaguartvr

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SGS just sent me a replacement pair when I phoned them to complain about the same problem. didn't need to bother returning the faulty units.
 
Pingu

Pingu

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jaguartvr said:
On yours, I always wonder how a coupe side window would look as it doesn't have the rounded tail edge.
Click to expand...
That is a really good call. Especially as the only part that is different is the glass itself. A bit pricey at £325 per side, but a lot cheaper than Greenbanks who wanted £3k.

You would also need to design a seal solution, which shouldn't be too difficult.
 
Pingu

Pingu

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I installed the anti-roll bar off my roadster (which I know to be straight) and the car had the same problem. This little supporting lug on the suspension arm was bent by about 1mm. It meant the other end of the anti-roll bar link was out of position by about 10mm.

I've straightened the lug, refitted everything, and now it's time for another test drive.

Straightened lug...

IMG_20230503_104021.jpg
 
Pingu

Pingu

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Test drive was a success. Everything works. Only minor stuff left to do...
  • tracking (camber / caster / tracking) - booked in for 05/05/2023
  • voltmeter to replace clock - should be ready by 16/05/2023, so may or may not be installed before the Lakes Run
  • bonnet rams - LH ram is U/S, but replacements should be ready by 10/05/2023
  • dampers need fine tuning
Speedo calibrated :)
 
deano1712

deano1712

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Location
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Model of Z
Z3M
Looks like a fun snagging journey you are on there pal. Car looks mint. Will have to arrange a meet to see it in action. My car is still off the road after the train run and incident!
 
jaguartvr

jaguartvr

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Looking good and to be honest only minor niggles to sort out.
I have had a search on eBay for about 5 years for a pair of Z3 coupe door windows, never come up or if they have they have always turned out to be roadster windows.
I don't think I could live with that boot access, I modified my rear panel so that I could slide a full sized wheel in with ease, I will get round to posting a picture.
It looks as if the original BMW wheel arch mud shields have been removed, I would reinstall them. I had a Z3 come in where all 4 mud shields were missing, the car in these areas was totally rotten, at the rear the mud had been thrown up on the ledge that sits under the rear wing, this area was solid mud and had rotted through and the car was basically scrap just because the mud shields had been removed.
I fitted similar mud shields that you have fitted but then reinstalled the originals on top. Refitting them is a pain!
The only thing that I really don't like are the tyres, far too low profile for the style of car, with the black wheel it looks as if it is running on a space saver. A 65 profile will give a much better appearance and they can be had with a high speed rating.
Interesting point on the clock, I am intending to go back to ETB instruments for the next build but will noe specify something other than a clock.
 
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Pingu

Pingu

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jaguartvr said:
Looking good and to be honest only minor niggles to sort out.
I don't think I could live with that boot access, I modified my rear panel so that I could slide a full sized wheel in with ease, I will get round to posting a picture.
The only thing that I really don't like are the tyres, far too low profile for the style of car, with the black wheel it looks as if it is running on a space saver. A 65 profile will give a much better appearance and they can be had with a high speed rating.
Click to expand...
I don't have a spare wheel, so that's not an issue to me, but I get your point. If I did have one, it would be a BIG issue.

I tried every wheel that I could think of, and I had to have 17", as even 16" don't fit over the calipers. The tyres are actually the standard tyres with the normal profile. Funnily enough, I like the black, but not the silver.
 
jaguartvr

jaguartvr

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The callipers on the 3.09 are slightly larger than all the otherZ3 brakes. with my 15"wires a small amount has to be ground off the 3.0 front calliper to get them to fit. I imagine the M version has even larger callipers so can imagine that would really limit the choices.
I do notice on mine that over bumps you can feel the GRP shell shake rattle and roll, because of this I wouldn't fit coil overs or poly bushes as I think it would make it worse. How is it with the M' I would imagine that it has stiffer suspension than a normal Z.
 
Pingu

Pingu

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jaguartvr said:
The callipers on the 3.09 are slightly larger than all the otherZ3 brakes. with my 15"wires a small amount has to be ground off the 3.0 front calliper to get them to fit. I imagine the M version has even larger callipers so can imagine that would really limit the choices.
I do notice on mine that over bumps you can feel the GRP shell shake rattle and roll, because of this I wouldn't fit coil overs or poly bushes as I think it would make it worse. How is it with the M' I would imagine that it has stiffer suspension than a normal Z.
Click to expand...
I've got coilovers with adjustable dampers, as the gaps between the body and the wheels looked awful on the standard suspension. The suspension is slowly getting sorted. The original damper settings were too hard, but it seems to get better each time I knock it back a click. Pot holes sound like the suspension is bottoming out. I'm getting the camber, caster and track checked this afternoon, so I'll confirm the springs are set correctly at the same time. If things at the rear can't be sorted, I will refit the standard rear springs and dampers. Rear height adjustment at the rear is easily altered by using different thickness rubber pads under the rear springs.

Being an M has made the build really "unique" ;) . The suspension is castered more positive than standard, the calipers are too big for period wheels (315mm) plus the caliper, the rear wheel track width (hub face to hub face) is shorter.
 
Pingu

Pingu

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Tracking done.

Just some very minor fettling left to do, but car is "good to go" if I need it.

The Lakes, here I come :racecar:

www.zroadster.org

Event - The Lakes & Dales Tour 2023 - 19 > 22nd May inc.

Right O folks, the entitled is now all systems go. It is your responsibility to keep up with this thread and watch for PMs. Please DO NOT contact the hotel directly, come through us as we are liable to any cost changes in the contract. Date: Friday 19th May to Monday 22nd May inc. Note...
www.zroadster.org www.zroadster.org

What could possibly go wrong?
 
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