Hello... and Making a 2.8 a Match for an M Roadster.

Zcootz · Post by **Zcootz** » Wed 29 Feb, 2012 16:22

Morning all.

Brand spanking new to the website, but not new to the Zed-scene.

Bought a 1.9 Z3 shortly after they first came out and kept it until a Lotus Elise caught my eye! Then had a 3.0 Z4 when they were first introduced and kept it until a Lotus Exige S2 caught my eye. Can you see a pattern developing here!?

Anyway… I’ve been looking for a roadster project to play around with for a couple of weeks and saw a 1999 2.8 Z3 for sale at a very sensible price. Cat D, but panel damage only, so essentially just ‘bolt-on’ repairs.

The plan is to gut the car to get it as light as possible and then see if I can modify it so that it goes, stops and turns as well as a similarly aged M Roadster.

So, this is where you good folks of Zroadster-ville come in! Knowledge is power!

I want to stiffen up the 2.8’s shell. Can anyone point me in the direction of any information on how it differs to the M one?

I plan to swap the engine over for an S54... are the 2.8's gearbox and diff man enough for the job?

Are there any brake components or wheels off of more recent M-cars that are bolt-on replacements for the Z’s?

… and any other pearls of wisdom!

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Cheers

Scotty

Jamezee · Post by **Jamezee** » Wed 29 Feb, 2012 17:34

Welcome to the forum Zcootz, the knowledge database is a great source of information. Enjoy

swamper · Post by **swamper** » Wed 29 Feb, 2012 17:54

i think the M has a strengthened chassis so you could go down the route of using strut brace front and rear....there also one for underneath as well.
should improve it quite a bit.
they sell them at the advert at the top of the page
http://www.strongstrut.com/

Zcootz · Post by **Zcootz** » Wed 29 Feb, 2012 18:46

Thanks fellas.

I'll certainly be running a strut at the front, so will check out the 'Strong Strut'.

I'm not averse to welding in strengthening gussets, but would prefer to know know where the manufacturer put them first on any uprated models.

swamper · Post by **swamper** » Wed 29 Feb, 2012 18:59

sorry mate....i cant help you with where it was strengthened but im sure iv read that it is.............it certainly feels much stronger

Zcootz · Post by **Zcootz** » Wed 29 Feb, 2012 19:03

No probs.

Zcootz · Post by **Zcootz** » Wed 29 Feb, 2012 19:48

RealOEM show the boxes being the same on the 2.8 and 3.2... not sure how reliable that info is though!?

whiteminks · Post by **whiteminks** » Wed 29 Feb, 2012 19:54

Stu on here has gone down the supercharger route and boy can that thang shift( and the car)

Zcootz · Post by **Zcootz** » Wed 29 Feb, 2012 19:58

I had thought about keeping the 2.8 and adding a Turbo or SC, but I guess the cost of doing so would be comparable (possibly higher) than just buying an S54.

stu · Post by **stu** » Wed 29 Feb, 2012 22:18

whiteminks wrote:Stu on here has gone down the supercharger route and boy can that thang shift( and the car)

More potential with FI. Start with the 3 strong strut braces, m3 tca bushes then do the boot floor & diff mount.

Someone was doing a cf bonnet, but not seen a real one yet and junking seats will also remove weight, as will an aftermarket exhaust.

That'll keep you going for a while.

Zcootz · Post by **Zcootz** » Thu 01 Mar, 2012 08:58

Cheers Stu.

Can you point me in the direction of any boot / diff mod info please?

stu · Post by **stu** » Fri 02 Mar, 2012 09:54

Do a search you lazy git

Plenty of info on here and a few different ways to address it, but if you're talking serious power, speak to Deano, who has an LS3 V8 in his MZ3 and is an Aerospace Engineer, so knows his onions from his ailerons.

Zcootz · Post by **Zcootz** » Fri 02 Mar, 2012 10:50

stu wrote:Do a search you lazy git

Spoon feed me!

zroadster.net

Hello... and Making a 2.8 a Match for an M Roadster.

Hello... and Making a 2.8 a Match for an M Roadster.

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