It's alive! Just barely..

Some of you already know that I just bought my second M3 to build into a dedicated track car. It's a 2002 E46 M3 Coupe. Bone stock. Soon to be bone "stock".

I will document the transformation in this thread, as I know some are interested in following this.

Why call it "Project Fast Bastard"? Because www.fastbastard.com is the only domain I own. That's why. No website up yet, that will be later sometime.

Edit: BTW, this is not a DIY guide by any means. I need skilled mechanics to do much if not most of the work. I only do simple things like brakes, rip out interiors etc myself. But I also try to learn as much as possible along the way and will get involved with the suspension and what not down the road. Hope someone else benefits from this as well.

Stay tuned for the first batch of pics..

It's not a beauty, it's not a beast:





Know issues when I bought it:

1. It doesn't run, so I can't test drive it.
2. It's a rebuild title, once declared a total loss.
3. Clutch not engaging. Unknown if it works at all.
4. Oil pan is epoxied. Cracked or worse.
5. Fan assembly smashed up.
6. Engine mounts bad.
7. Brake disks bad.
8. Front bumper broken during towing.

Edit, and:
9. A dead battery.
10. Very very dark (like Darth Vader black) window tint that attracts cops as it turns out...see below.
12. Cracked rear sub-frame mount

The good news:
1. This car was CHEAP.
2. Car is structurally sound. Had several independent people look at it.
3. Everything else seems fine.

Fixing the clutch.

Turns out I was not the luckiest man alive. Replacing the clutch master and slave cylinder was not enough. So the tranny has to come off to inspect the clutch and figure out what was wrong.



The clutch was shot, this was actually the good part:



Note the yellow epoxy "repair" on the oil pan to the left in the picture.

Although I could have repaired the stock clutch at under $500 in parts, this would have left me with a stock clutch in questionalbe condition. I decided to replace the whole thing since the cost of labor (I cannot do this myself) is significant to take everything off, if or when something breaks again. This way I get the real deal that will last me, hopefully.

I decided to go with a Spec Stage 3 clutch, like this, with a JB Racing light weight flywheel. (Thanks David at TLM for pro advice.)

Here is another repair fail by the previous owner (who wasn't actually the owner, he just unlawfully took the car from his ex and beat it up).

Zip ties FTW!

Installing the Spec clutch (cont.):

Tranny has to come off:


Also in this picture: Solid tranny mounts, a thirst buster and a Viper (but that one's extra).


Lightweight Flywheel in (10lbs):



Whole clutch is in:



Ricky is using his best kung fu moves to put the transmission back.

Since the tranny had to come off, it was a good time to do some other fixes in the front of the car (actually before the clutch went in):

1. The front subframe was reinforced with the new engine mounts in mind.
2. Replaced the oil pan. This one hurt! A new one is $800 but I did not want to risk running it on the track the way it was "repaired". The cheapest used one I found was like $750 lol.
3. Installed solid engine and tranny mounts.

Who needs ride comfort? Very solid. (Spot the shiny new part.)

So...late Friday afternoon I finally got to see the car move out of the garage, no one pushing it, actually using the engine!

Took it for a spin around the neighborhood: I love it already, the new clutch and solid mounts makes the drive pretty brutal. Feels like you have the power more instantly available. Plus it obviously vibrates and shakes and rattles a lot more. Not recommended for your daily driver really..

We had to call it a day. I did not push the car full out yet. Will take it on a highway cruise monday to make sure everything checks out, plus some other minor fixes. The car had not been driven for a long time until now, so need to break it in gently, as tempting as it may be not too. The beast is awake but it's not out of the hospital bed just yet

Too be continued, the next chapter will be suspension. Stay tuned!

JJ, Sound like you have a plan. How many beamers do you have? One day we need to have lunch and talk shop. I would like to pick your brain about the area and autox.

JJ, Sound like you have a plan. How many beamers do you have? One day we need to have lunch and talk shop. I would like to pick your brain about the area and autox.

Sure, let's do that, send me an email. I now have two e46 M3's, beside this one I have my red '05 convertible that will I retire for street use only. Guess I need a truck next..

Awesome thread JJ! Thanks for keeping us posted on the rebirth of this beast. Looking forward to seeing the finished product... in the flesh and on the track.