The road to competition in my top mount turbo'd s14a

[dandadude]

So not car related but also made a few videos of my fireblade track bike, got my first bike track day booked for a few weekends time!

Feel free to watch, like, criticise etc. I actually made this walk around video before the s14 one but I'm currently doing quite a few jobs on the bike whilst waiting for drift days to start properly again, probably have my next vlog which involves refitting the fork seals this weekend so keep an eye out:

 

[dandadude]

Haven't updated for a while but looks like there will be just one round of RDC at Three Sisters this year and I've entered! Got a few small jobs to do including fitting another battery and adjusting the battery box to fit and then cars due a little service, hopefully a fresh alignment and a wash..... As you can see its been sat for a day or two in this pic!

Rdc prep by Daniel Collins, on Flickr

 

[dandadude]

Just in the middle of making a vlog of the RDC weekend, didn't do as well as I hoped but the video explains all, here's a few pics from the main man M.Hepper:

121332484_2716037305382937_1902688849397463926_o by Daniel Collins, on Flickr

121288326_2716983905288277_5719572726836313630_o by Daniel Collins, on Flickr

121478817_2716037678716233_2931894799519696211_o by Daniel Collins, on Flickr

 

[dandadude]

Here's the video log! Sorry if I seem a bit negative I was just annoyed at myself for not doing better! All comments welcome, as always if you give it a like and subscribe that helps a lot. Cheers

 

[dandadude]

Sooo managed to get 1 more drift day booked, a local one this weekend! Only thing I've done to the car is fit a thermostat controller for the rad fan (will test this at the weekend) and mess about with oil temp fittings which haven't quite gone how I've wanted so the gauge isn't reading correct. Will fix this for next year though!

The only other thing drifting related I've been doing is some virtual drifts on Assetto Corsa, got a bit carried away (addicted maybe?) and now have a triple screen set up and a decent wheel. It's great fun and hopefully half decent practice to at least keep my brain engaged in drifting when I've only done 1 event this year so far. Here's the video if anyone is interested. More than happy to help if someone wants something similar setting up and has questions or queries.

 

[dandadude]

Went to a local drift practice day this weekend, was really nice to just go to a chilled day, had a few bumps and crashes but was a brilliant laugh, tried to vlog it best I could so here's the outcome.

 

[dandadude]

Couple of pics to go with the video!

Me dragging my bumper aroumd....

130572993_10216772501364979_2920093258981185012_o by Daniel Collins, on Flickr

Then a little while later:

130678084_10216772512645261_7242635870704430393_o by Daniel Collins, on Flickr

 

[dandadude]

Made a bit of progress on the front end and started to v-log it as I was going along. Tell me what ya think. Cheers

 

[dandadude]

Few pics of me starting to tube the front in case you haven't watched my video, sorry pic quality wasn't best in the workshop:

Drift car repairs by Daniel Collins, on Flickr

Drift car repairs by Daniel Collins, on Flickr

Also got my sidelights mounted back in roughly:

Drift car repairs by Daniel Collins, on Flickr

 

[dandadude]

Bit of an update of what's going on with me for 2021, the box that I talk about in this video has now turned up so will be reviewing them in the very near future, keep an eye out

 

[dandadude]

My Maxpeedingrods coilovers turned up! Super quick postage to be honest, had agreed to try them and were in my hands within a few days!


Made an unboxing and first impressions video so please take a look and feel free to like and subscribe for more, will be fitting them on the car soon!

 

[dandadude]

Had chance to give the car a wash! Pulled the RDC banner off as it was starting to peel on the edges, painted the slam panel upright tubes white, need to do the same to the bumper bar! Also slightly out of shot but I finished the drivers side headlight blank and in the middle of making up something for the passenger side. Should be making the coilover video very soon but all depends on the weather!

S14a by Daniel Collins, on Flickr

Still waiting to see what event I'm going to next but very keen to get back out in the car!

 

[BMW_Guy2021]

Stripped it all out to put in mine as the shell had seen quite a lot of use. Then Spent the longest amount of time I have ever spent doing one job on my car, stripping the interior, welding in all the cage plates up to bdc spec, cutting and welding the door bars so they unbolt if I ever have to take the cage out again. Then finally painting and fitting it. I think it paid off though and other than cracking the windscreen and somehow stopped the rev counter from working when removing/re-fitting it is all good.

Here is the other shell/cage:

View attachment 281665IMG_20170524_185324 by Daniel Collins, on Flickr
View attachment 281666IMG_20170620_212949 by Daniel Collins, on Flickr

Knocking out the sound deadning from mine!

View attachment 281667IMG_20170624_133529 by Daniel Collins, on Flickr

Getting the cage in to check the fit, for probably the 5th or 6th time. Think by the end I could get it in and out in about half hour if everything was loose! Luckily a friend of mine said I could use his workshop and as I am pretty handy with the welder i could crack on and get all that done fairly quickly.

View attachment 281668IMG_20170624_181843 by Daniel Collins, on Flickr
View attachment 281669IMG_20170625_115933 by Daniel Collins, on Flickr
View attachment 281670IMG_20170626_133926 by Daniel Collins, on Flickr
View attachment 281671IMG_20170627_134025 by Daniel Collins, on Flickr
View attachment 281672IMG_20170701_145233 by Daniel Collins, on Flickr

Starting to tack the door bars in place:

View attachment 281673IMG_20170708_125338 by Daniel Collins, on Flickr
View attachment 281674IMG_20170708_132416 by Daniel Collins, on Flickr
View attachment 281675IMG_20170708_140912 by Daniel Collins, on Flickr

Painting it in my back garden!

View attachment 281676IMG_20170812_165202 by Daniel Collins, on Flickr

Post is too long too finish so will update over the next couple days with what I have been doing more recently!

Cheers for taking the time to read, any questions or comments welcome! Over the next few days I will update what i have been up to for the rest of 2017 and this year so far!

Cheers Dan

Have been busy over the past few weeks, bought myself another truck, a Toyota Landcruiser Amazon. Should be good for the long distance towing next year especially if I do a full season of driftcup which I am hoping for! Done my first bit of towing with it by delivering the spare shell I had to it's new owner. Truck pulls like a train so had no problems there.

View attachment 286263IMG_20181014_120633 by Daniel Collins, on Flickr

Decided I wanted to make a more substantial bumper bar so if I do take a hit it will bend the bar before doing too much damage to the body. Started off by cutting the bottom of the rear quarters off and tacking in new plates to keep the strength in the panel and give me a solid backing when I fit the over fenders in the future.

View attachment 286264IMG_20180823_174633 by Daniel Collins, on Flickr

View attachment 286265IMG_20180824_172453 by Daniel Collins, on Flickr

View attachment 286266IMG_20180824_174319 by Daniel Collins, on Flickr


View attachment 286267IMG_20180828_135732 by Daniel Collins, on Flickr

View attachment 286268IMG_20180928_120337 by Daniel Collins, on Flickr

View attachment 286269IMG_20180928_120610 by Daniel Collins, on Flickr

View attachment 286270IMG_20180928_131254 by Daniel Collins, on Flickr

All tacked in:

View attachment 286271IMG_20180928_152901 by Daniel Collins, on Flickr

View attachment 286272IMG_20180928_152922 by Daniel Collins, on Flickr

All sealed up:

View attachment 286273IMG_20180928_154938 by Daniel Collins, on Flickr

View attachment 286274IMG_20180929_110947 by Daniel Collins, on Flickr

View attachment 286275IMG_20180929_115856 by Daniel Collins, on Flickr

Next I will be starting to make and bend the new tube frame to support the bumper and hopefully save the rear end if I take a shunt.

oh wow! that is interesting.

Have been busy over the past few weeks, bought myself another truck, a Toyota Landcruiser Amazon. Should be good for the long distance towing next year especially if I do a full season of driftcup which I am hoping for! Done my first bit of towing with it by delivering the spare shell I had to it's new owner. Truck pulls like a train so had no problems there.

View attachment 286263IMG_20181014_120633 by Daniel Collins, on Flickr

Decided I wanted to make a more substantial bumper bar so if I do take a hit it will bend the bar before doing too much damage to the body. Started off by cutting the bottom of the rear quarters off and tacking in new plates to keep the strength in the panel and give me a solid backing when I fit the over fenders in the future.

View attachment 286264IMG_20180823_174633 by Daniel Collins, on Flickr

View attachment 286265IMG_20180824_172453 by Daniel Collins, on Flickr

View attachment 286266IMG_20180824_174319 by Daniel Collins, on Flickr


View attachment 286267IMG_20180828_135732 by Daniel Collins, on Flickr

View attachment 286268IMG_20180928_120337 by Daniel Collins, on Flickr

View attachment 286269IMG_20180928_120610 by Daniel Collins, on Flickr

View attachment 286270IMG_20180928_131254 by Daniel Collins, on Flickr

All tacked in:

View attachment 286271IMG_20180928_152901 by Daniel Collins, on Flickr

View attachment 286272IMG_20180928_152922 by Daniel Collins, on Flickr

All sealed up:

View attachment 286273IMG_20180928_154938 by Daniel Collins, on Flickr

View attachment 286274IMG_20180929_110947 by Daniel Collins, on Flickr

View attachment 286275IMG_20180929_115856 by Daniel Collins, on Flickr

Next I will be starting to make and bend the new tube frame to support the bumper and hopefully save the rear end if I take a shunt.

that is interesting.

 

[dandadude]

MaXpeedingRods coilover video is up, tell me your thoughts. Looking forward to putting these through some testing later this year!


Here is the link to the coilovers themselves:

https://www.maxpeedingrods.co.uk/pr...ver-suspension-kit-x4pcs.html?tracking=daniel

 

[dandadude]

For anyone into bikes I made it to my 3rd bike track day last Friday on the blade, went to Llandow, was really fun little track:

 

[dandadude]

Right so thought I would also show a quick step by step of the coilovers fitting and compare them to my BC's as people sometimes rather prefer to read and see picture then watch a video, so here goes, front first.
Obviously jack up, remove wheel and axle stand under the chassis:

MaXpeedingRods coilover fitting by Daniel Collins, on Flickr
Please ignore the dirt, the last time I drove the car was at a very muddy/wet event and hadn't had chance to wash under the arches since!
I like to then pull the brake hose clip off, I used mole grips, you can use a screwdriver or whatever ya fancy!

MaXpeedingRods coilover fitting by Daniel Collins, on Flickr

MaXpeedingRods coilover fitting by Daniel Collins, on Flickr

MaXpeedingRods coilover fitting by Daniel Collins, on Flickr
Next up undo the bolts holding on the caliper, in my case I have alloy z32's but same goes for stock cast items.

MaXpeedingRods coilover fitting by Daniel Collins, on Flickr

MaXpeedingRods coilover fitting by Daniel Collins, on Flickr
Next up if it's been a while since you have undone these, wire brush and lube the threads:

MaXpeedingRods coilover fitting by Daniel Collins, on Flickr
Undo these and your coilover should be free from the knuckle. Note if you have abs still you should unbolt the wireing for that first before splitting the knuckle from coilover...

MaXpeedingRods coilover fitting by Daniel Collins, on Flickr
Onto the top mount, unbolt these 3.... and that's the front off.

MaXpeedingRods coilover fitting by Daniel Collins, on Flickr
Here they are next to each other, now these are very similar coilovers on the front, similar length springs and thickness of damper and top mount etc however the shock length and probably shock travel is definitely noticeably shorter compared to the BC's. Now I do run mine fairly high compared to most s body slammed is the shiz kids and also I run extended arms so this problem is multiplied, if I was still running stock lower arms the body would not need to be wound down quite so much for sure.

MaXpeedingRods coilover fitting by Daniel Collins, on Flickr

MaXpeedingRods coilover fitting by Daniel Collins, on Flickr

MaXpeedingRods coilover fitting by Daniel Collins, on Flickr
So I then washed down the arch, befiore:

MaXpeedingRods coilover fitting by Daniel Collins, on Flickr
After, that's better:

MaXpeedingRods coilover fitting by Daniel Collins, on Flickr
Re-fitting is reverse or removal however, wanted to show the camber adjustment at the knuckle end which I set to minimum and then adjusted at the top mount (pic to come of that but you all know what I mean):

MaXpeedingRods coilover fitting by Daniel Collins, on Flickr
Had to lightly 'adjust' the brake hose mount to fit the hose but this was a 30 second job, then re-fitted the clip:

MaXpeedingRods coilover fitting by Daniel Collins, on Flickr

MaXpeedingRods coilover fitting by Daniel Collins, on Flickr

MaXpeedingRods coilover fitting by Daniel Collins, on Flickr
Front all done, re-fitted wheel and checked it doesn't touch or rub. Then dropped it down and it roughly sits where my car used to so not far off height wise, sure it will settle and have to re-adjust before I align it though. I will come back on tomorrow and show the rear's.

 

[dandadude]

Right so onto the rears, these are very quick and easy to fit, again excuse the mud and dirt:
Jack up and axle stand as before:

Rear MaXpeedingRods coilovers by Daniel Collins, on Flickr

Undo the lower shock bolt, don't slide it off yet though if not it will drop when you undo the tops.

Rear MaXpeedingRods coilovers by Daniel Collins, on Flickr

Now undo the top bolts...

Rear MaXpeedingRods coilovers by Daniel Collins, on Flickr

You will notice I have twin calipers so just have to cut the cable tie holding the extra brake line then lever the lower off with a bar as it will have some (not very much) force holding it. Then wiggle it out.

Rear MaXpeedingRods coilovers by Daniel Collins, on Flickr

Something I was quite surprised by was the thickness and length of the MaXpeedingRods shock and springs, this should allow more travel (more grip possibly) whereas on the front of the car I'm fairly sure I will have less travel due to the shorter body...

Rear MaXpeedingRods coilovers by Daniel Collins, on Flickr

Whilst the coilover was out I did a quick clean of the area, before:

Rear MaXpeedingRods coilovers by Daniel Collins, on Flickr

After:

Rear MaXpeedingRods coilovers by Daniel Collins, on Flickr

That's a bit more like it
And new one slotted back in:

Rear MaXpeedingRods coilovers by Daniel Collins, on Flickr

There we go, so I should be trying these out in exactly a month from today at a local car show in the southwest called BHP fuelfest, hoping to align the car again before that happens. Also have a drift day sharing a friends car next weekend so that keep me busy.

 

[dandadude]

Went to my local drift spot yesterday and did a day drifting my mates e36, took me a while to get used to it but managed one reasonable session.

 

[dandadude]

Had an awesome day at BHP fuelfest running the demo's there, crowd were great, lots of people coming up and talking to me about the car and drifting etc. Here's a 30 second clip of on board, this was part of a 5 car train!

 

[dandadude]

Some more clips chucked together from BHP. Loads of pics to come.