new guy with empty e36 shell

[andypower]

Hey guys new to the site trying to find out what i can do with this empty e36 coupe shell that i took as payment from this guy that owed me money. Any suggestions?

[Chris]

Could be a fun autocross car, or you could do something crazy and drop an ls1 in it! It's been done before.

Chris

[E30stain]

think about what you want from it. You can turn the e36 into whatever sort of car you want. Ive even seen pics of one with (chevy blazer??) 4x4 gear underneath. Just say what you wanna do and there will be plenty of people here that could help you.

[Highboosted]

How empty?

[andypower]

well its not technicaly empty... i just mean its empty to me, it has an auto trany and a blown motor and a full interior that ill probably strip out too.

Basically i was thinking of swapping in a 2jz so i could reasonably make 450 to the wheels daily and turn up the boost and ad things as i go. but im not the type that likes to just go fast in a straight line so im kindof concerned with the chassis differences between the coupe and the actual m3, ive been hard pressed to find some actually information regarding that like i mean other than the obvious brakes and suspension are there any other important differences?

[andypower]

well its not technicaly empty... i just mean its empty to me, it has an auto trany and a blown motor and a full interior that ill probably strip out too.

Basically i was thinking of swapping in a 2jz so i could reasonably make 450 to the wheels daily and turn up the boost and ad things as i go. but im not the type that likes to just go fast in a straight line so im kind of concerned with the chassis differences between the coupe and the actual m3, ive been hard pressed to find some actuall information regarding that other than the obvious brakes and suspension are there any other important differences?

[bmwe36addiction]

i would like to purchace that shell

[nondescript]

Not really... Mostly minor changes to the suspension geometry - offset bushing on a control arm here; different strut mounting plate there... changed rear trailing arms here; reinforced sub-frame mount point there... different swaybar endlinks here; larger brakes there... Nothing major.

Nothing that after market parts for the regular e36 can't get you anyway. In other words; just upgrade the car - don't worry about swapping "M" stuff onto it.

But if you plan on driving the snot out of it; do take the gas tank out and reinforce the subframe mounts with the factory weld in parts...

[andypower]

lol i forgot i was even a member here when i got the email i was like wtf... i still have the shell but im going to keep it, the only reason its not up and running is i actually sold the 2jz a few weeks after starting this thread now im looking for another motor to stuff in there but im not sure if to go with a 2j or a big v8... btw thanks for the info on the chassis differences has ne1 done a write up about strengthening the subframe mounts?

[nondescript]

The rear is the only really common failure:
Turner Motorsport - Item# 4111225649 - E36 Rear Subframe/Chassis Reinforcement Kit - E36

Looks like they have front kits now available too, though I don't know too many people who would have this type of problem:
Turner Motorsport - Item# TDR3675301 - E36 Front Subframe Reinforcement Kit - E36 Z3

And of course the rear swaybar mounting, which you shouldn't need if you pick a proper spring weight and don't put a solid oak tree in for a swaybar:
Turner Motorsport - Item# TSU3675001 - E36 Rear Sway Bar Reinforcement Kit - E36

[TheTunerSource]

Good luck! Try finding other E36 parts, but I say go for CA18DET for cheap thrills. Iron Block and Aluminum Head.