new thread CSI and CSA restoration UK

[paul corcoran]

sorry but my last restoration thread was really confusing so ill let that slip down the charts if thats ok and start this one and try to make a bit more sense!!

so the restoration of both cars UK RHD

75 CSI to original
72 CSA to modified 3.5 m30 (+extras!!)

at this point both cars are stripped and dipped and will both be on rotisseries soon with the CSA going for welding locally and the CSI staying at my workshop for bodywork to begin.

i have not been able to decide which to work on first so going to do both, i am reproducing some parts (information listed seperately) so will have some bits for sale along the way (thanks for the interest so far) we are surrounded by pallet boxes of parts!!

starting pics below

and a frosty video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dk9-c9niKAU

 

[paul corcoran]

m30 3.5 for CSA conversion

i looked into the pros cons of the conversion options for the CSA shell i have whether to go for the m30 engine or the s38

here is where i pretend to know what im on about!! any advice appreciated and please point out any school boy errors

in the end i found this one a m30b35 3.5L already from a conversion (pulled from an E30) with a few modifications (a more agressive Schrick 284/280 cam, and lsd medium case diff 3.64:1) and extra bits for sale here in the UK so i went for it, its now on a stand, i spent yesterday cleaning and shotblasting (the covers) the grime just kept coming off the block any tips on the cleaning? just been using lots of muc-off and wire brushes. The plan is to get it almost there then re-gasket and put the covers tape/plate all openings and then give it a light once over with the shot blaster. i am considering an interesting paint scheme for the engine which i will live to regret

i also have the throttle bodies from an s38 and the conversion plate to fit to the m30 body and a carbon air box (which may/may not fit once the engine is in..)

the engine came with "a 5 speed gearbox" from the seller which unfortunately turned out to be a 260 not my fingers crossed 265 but another e9 forum user has kindly offered me a OD 265 for sale

i have a readout from the seller of 208bhp with the standard manifold but i guess that will go up with the s38 throttles?

also ill be looking into the exhaust and fuel options soon,, particularly interested as always in the rb1971 conversion for ideas,,, i am keen on any turbo exhaust manifold recomendations, and also just how much can be crammed into the engine E9 bay? is a twin turbo possible

thanks paul

 

[paul corcoran]

big brake question?

the 2 E9's i am restoring are coming along well, ill post some updated pics soon

recently we have been shot blasting everything in sight and working on the engines

1 engine is a 3.5 m30b35 with a 284/280 schrick camshaft and ported and polished head with s38 throttle bodies and ready to paint soon

2 engine is from the CSI which ill be keeping original but we have dismantled the engine and its been skimmed polished re-built

i am planning to stick with the original callipers on the CSI but i would like a bigger set on the 3.5 car, if needed!!??

so my question is which car should i borrow some callipers from bearing in mind that this one will be a non-original monster....

thanks in advance paul

 

[E911]

Love that saw- very jealous!

 

[paul corcoran]

shell

my second shell 75 CSI is due back from dipping here in UK at SPL next week from a mobile pic it looks much better than the CSA i have had dipped already.

oh!! and yes the saw is the ultimate toy..its altendorf elmo 4

and shotblasting (a sealed up) m30b35 in my booth, become addicted to shotblasting literally cleaning everything in sight....

 

[sprintevo]

Can you tell me more about your m30 conversion plate for s38 injection please

 

[paul corcoran]

plate

Can you tell me more about your m30 conversion plate for s38 injection please

hi yes the throttle bodies came with a conversion plate from the seller i bought them from ebay uk recently.

the plate is aluminium and we are cnc machining a new plate as the one supplied was bespoke but not perfect yet great as a guide/template to work from.

i am probably going to make a few extra for sale if anyone is interested as its the only way to mate the s38 bodies to the m30 engine... I THINK!!???

my thinking with all this was to make use of the robust and cheaper m30 parts but have the add-on of the bodies,,, but i am no expert and i am not sure what power difference these bodies will make to the engine, but i do have a dyno run report from the m30 engine before i bought it as it has the uprated cam and a chipped ECU so once its all done ill have something to compare to.

this is just going to be a street car but i am becoming more interested in building a race car but don't yet have the knowledge for that!!

 

[paul corcoran]

scrapyard find

stumbled upon this the other day at a north london scrapyard after a tip-off

the shell had been seen by a bulgarian sprayer i know but it was moved recently and we found it at the back of an insurance scrap-yard late last week

first thing i spotted was the obvious lack of roof but then there were the un-rusted i.e. aluminium doors and a CSL badge literally in a pool of muddy water, thought id hit the jackpot but alas its a CSA shell with CSL doors! no roof skin no boot or bonnet but underneath it all a really good shell just bashed in here and there, so hand in pocket and got it out of there today and back to my workshop

 

[paul corcoran]

scrapyard find

unloaded, ish,,, at my yard

 

[paul corcoran]

blasting and priming

so gone blasting mad recently and decided to prime a load of pieces today, still have to disassemble some bits but just a light epoxy primer to seal everything.

shell we found with CSL doors is off to be dipped at SPL with 2 fuel tanks, and will bring the CSI shell back on the same trip

planning to sell the red CSL doors on ebay uk so look out for that if interested...

m30b35 engine is nearly sorted for one of the cars...with the head and block from the CSI coming back tomorrow cut and polished new gasket set and ready to paint

the found shell will get a GRP roof skin from zap racing and probably a front air dam

 

[Sven]

So you are now restoring THREE coupes at once? That is impressive (and some might think a bit crazy). Looking forward to seeing more photos, especially of what the shells look like after coming out of the stripping baths and after primer dipping.

 

[The Don]

Wow Paul,

Looks like the furniture business is now taking a back seat to your main business of coupe restoration! :smile:

Keep up the great work

 

[paul corcoran]

hi sven,

well I'm thinking that we will just do 2 for now the first CSA was a bit of a schoolboy error but it did have a good running engine and all the trim/interior parts, boot bonnet and doors were also very good also the front end and fenders are new on that shell (we think it was in a crash) so i am actually thinking of chopping it for parts but ill prime it and stick it in the corner.

the CSI 75 is a very good shell and thats going to be original to the core 4 speed included but we have dismantled the engine and every last piece will be sprayed so going for an as new look with that one.

then the scrapyard shell will be a street car, the shell is amazing, its bashed in here and there but no weld patches on it we could see and i was wondering if that is factory primer on it (pic below) so plan with that is GRP parts and a carbon fibre boot bonnet (we are making these now) and the m30b35 with 5 speed conversion and probably triple webers or the m88 throttle bodies i have (though i may save them for a possible left hand race car, once i gain some knowledge) have some non-original out there plans for the interior and colour scheme planning a black House of Kolor shell (blackest of blacks) and a grey leather interior we have already veneered a interior set and one of my new dashboards in a dyed grey maple burr which looks nuts, smoked chrome trim and background plans to paint the m30 in white with the mpower stripes as it came out of an e12 m535i....but lets see its all talk at the moment...

oh and i would highly recommend GAZ shocks here in essex uk so helpful i bought a set of coil overs and camber plates for £900 made in house really good quality

 

[rb1971]

That's great, to get a shell that is in such good shape. Looks like a great set of projects.

 

[paul corcoran]

furniture

hi don... ha well its taking over my space anyway! we are fitting out this ad agency office in holborn at the moment but had to get back to workshop this evening to pull the CSI shell off the van (back from SPL, sent the scrapyard one up this morning, satisfying to get one straight back!) looks good but kind of blocking the doors a bit!!

thanks RB still pouring over your build for inspiration! yes super lucky to find that shell shame its not a CSL but still that would have been a bit silly if it was but when i saw the doors and george my mechanic pointed to the CSL badge next to a can of sprite inside i nearly wet myself, but alas vin starts 433 so its a RHD CSIA.... also... found out today that until last week had an aluminium boot and bonnet on it as well but they were stolen!

sorry about the mobile photos

 

[Daniel]

Paul Burke

Paul Burke does make conversion M30 to s38 ITB

 

[paul corcoran]

paul burke

hi, yes i have been looking at some of paul burke's work recently but he doesn't seem to have a website. guess he doesn't need to!!! i presume its all made to order parts.

 

[paul corcoran]

priming

primed the CSI shell today and 2 sets of door/bonnet/boot, its been so wet recently and my workshop is prone to condensation so even though it needs a fair bit of welding work (to be done locally in a few weeks) i thought it best to epoxy prime and then cut out the parts that need work/new panels, these all came back from being dipped here in UK on thursday and i think ill probably stick with priming myself as the e-coating is very expensive, and it wasn't as tricky as i thought to get in and around...

 

[The Don]

hi Paul,

On your travels, have you come across anyone producing new wiring harnesses?

Seems a shame to be putting 40 year old wiring back into these restorations.

 

[Christopher]

Paul / Don

These guys do a new wiring harness (including the injection harness)

http://www.autosparks.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=2263

Nice work Paul - looking forward to catching up soon