for those with engine swap: m50 manifold before and after dynos

[J!m]

If you want to get to speed quicker, you want torque. (you can get a lot changing gears, but you loose top speed) So, like me, you want a bit of gear and a six speed 'tranny so you don't lose the top end.

If you want to carry it longer, you want HP.

So, you want both it seems! Big surprise!

The reason I have not done this manifold mod is simply that I drive on the street more than the track. Therefore, I want my low-end torque as much as possible. I don't want to give up the low end, to get more at the high end, above cam phase RPM, where I almost never drive (ok, maybe I do drive up there a bit...)

[1996 328ti]

Originally Posted by J!m

So, you want both it seems! Big surprise!

Sounds like I want an S52.
OR start making the car lighter.

[J!m]

Correction Steve:

AND make the car lighter! I am thinking about similar changes...

Ditch A/C (I can't do it, but maybe you can?), Radio, speakers, antenna and amps (I have a P/N for the radio delete plate and a plug P/N for the antenna hole)

I don't remember if you have a sun roof, but if so, pull it apart and install the steel exterior plate permanently. Replace headliner with a non-sunroof one and don't forget to pull all that unused wiring!

M3 washer bottle is 1/2 the size (and weight when filled) but does not support the rear wiper (I have a new one if interested) If you delete the rear wiper (and wiring and hoses), this might be a good combination. Ditch power steering pump, reservoir and hoses.

Battery relocation (I think you did this already)

Air pump delete, fog light delete, spare delete, tool kit delete. Glove box (internals) delete- if you don't collect crap here, it stays light!

Pull sound deadening from under carpets and under headliner (you can pop the headliner back in so it doesn't look 'stripped'. You need to pull the carpet to run the DC cable for the trunk battery anyway... Pull door cards and scrape sound deadening from inside doors and rear seat area (no aluminum doors available for the ti body that I know of) Maybe get them acid dipped to shave a few ounces? Glass fenders, glass (or carbon) hood (MA Shaw).

strip to bare-metal and do a one-step re-paint (no clear coat) to save a few pounds over two-step paint. No one ever thinks about this weight, but this is exactly why they stopped painting the space shuttle fuel tanks white- in that case it added a coupe hundred pounds! Make sure there is no body filler in there anywhere either!

You can loose a couple hundred pounds max and still have the car appear 'stock' and not have any comfort issues when people ride with you.

Use the 95M3 offset CAB's with 96-up M3 LCA's to push the front wheels further forward, and making the balance better by moving COG rearward a bit. It also increases caster more than the stock M3 caster plates alone in the bargain so it has additional stability at speed. AND increases overall wheelbase a bit to also improve stability at speed.

Note the M3 LTW did not delete the rear seat as the rear of the car can get too light in the rear. Keep this in mind as you 'strip' the car- you want to take as much as possible from the front and not too much from the rear. But I think you already knew that.

Since you have a 328 motor (and OBD-II, but maybe it was converted to OBD-I?), swap the S52 and re-flash the DME for an M3. Easy swap for you!

[1996 328ti]

Travel time to the track is 4 1/2 hours.
This weekend is 9 1/2 hours.
I need some of the creature comforts.
I rarely use the AC but if it's raining I'll need it.
Hardly listen to the radio.

Rear seats and carpet are probably the first to go although I need to protect the wiring since I load up the car with tires and tools.

[mohaughn]

Time for a tow vehicle and trailer... You can easily get a Ti under 2200# without driver.. Well, maybe not easily as it starts to cost money to get down under 2250, but under 2200# is definitely doable.

[J!m]

Tow vehicle!?!

That goes against the "Run whatca brung" mantra. I don't think Guys like Steve or I would do it!

(much easier to build a closer track!)