[tcw]

Well I had originally planned on installing the kit two weekends ago. Unfortunately, it arrived sans an intercooler pipe, so the install was pushed into this past weekend. I will let the pictures do most of the talking, but if you have any questions let me know. As it stands now I am just waiting on my DME, a couple feet of the small meth tubing, and a few wiring odds & ends for the meth kit to start her up. Hoping for Thursday.

Also I am not installing the Spec 2+ clutch, Steel FW, Quafie, DSS axles, and diff. lockdown kit until March.

The order of the pictures got jumbled during upload...

Here are some torque specs I compiled that may be of use to some people. I have it in word if anyone is interested, the forum didn't like the tables. +90* means turn an addition 90 degrees.

Torque Specs
Single Turbo Install / Waterpump
Part NM / lbft
Subframe Brace 56 / 41 +90*
Steering Shaft to Steering Rack 21 / 16
Motor Mount to Subframe 2 small bottom E12: 18 lbft
Nut on top 16mm: 35 lbft
Bracket to Cylinder Head 9 / 6.6
Engine Mount to Engine Bracket M10 10.9: 56 / 41
E92 M10: 38 / 28
Subframe to Chassis M12: 108 / 80
M10: 56 / 41 +90*
Strut Brace to Chassis M12: 100 / 74 +100*
Strut Brace to Strut Tower M10 40 / 30 +60*
DP Bracket to Engine/Trans. Bolt M10x85: 20 / 15 +90*
M10x30: 20 / 15 +180*
M12: 25 / 18 +130*
M8: 72 / 53
Oil Feed Line to Engine 20/15
Coolant Feed Line to Engine 8 / 6
Oil Feed Line to Turbo 8 / 6
Coolant Return to Engine & Turbo 8 / 6
Coolant Supply to SupplyLine (to turbo?) 8 / 6
Oil Return to Engine & Turbo 8 / 6
Exhaust Manifold 20 /14.8
Control Arm Pivot Bolt M12 8.8: 68 / 50 +90*
M12 10.9: 100 / 74 +90*
Sway Bar End Links M8: 21 / 16
M10: 60 / 44
Lug Nuts 120 / 89
Sway Bar Bushing Mount 16 lbft
Water pump 10 / 7.4


Clutch / Quafie (Diff. built by VAC) / DEFIV Lockdown Kit / DSS Axles
Part NM / lbft
Flywheel to Engine 120 / 89
Pressure Plate to Flywheel 15 / 11 +90*
Bell Housing M10x85: 20 / 15 +90*
M10x30: 20 / 15 +180*
M12: 25 / 18 +130*
M8: 72 / 53
Differential Fill Plug 60 / 44
Axles 70 / 52
Hub Nut 310 lbft
Differential Flex Disc M10x10.9: 20 / 15 +90*
M12x10.9: 55 / 41 +90*
Driveshaft center bearing sup. to body 21 / 15
Driveshaft to Differential Flange Nut 75 / 77
Bracket on differential
(4) M10x40mm: 55 / 41 - Blue loctite
Front Diff Bushings 100 / 74
Left Rear Diff Bushing 165 / 122
Defiv Rod nuts/bolts 100 / 74
Lug Nuts 120 / 89


Updated Pictures:













Original Pictures

[Jeremy]

Dude that looks awesome and well done on doing the swap yourself.

[sammy_0559]

Good job! might want to install SMFW while ur at it! but why u no wait for vargas stage 3 :/

[tmo335tt]

Welcome to the club...you should do yourself a favor and install the clutch and flywheel, it will save you a lot of frustration and headache.

[flyin_low]

Nice pics, welcome to the club.

[tcw]

Originally Posted by sammy_0559

Good job! might want to install SMFW while ur at it! but why u no wait for vargas stage 3 :/

Originally Posted by tmo335tt

Welcome to the club...you should do yourself a favor and install the clutch and flywheel, it will save you a lot of frustration and headache.

I fully intend on installing it. Just don't have the time now. There is no real crossover or reduction in work between the two. While the quafie/diff lockdown/axles/clutch all have crossover.

Also added torque specs to the first post.

[Tony@vargasturbotech]

Jesus, looks how much room is in there. Makes my hands jealous after installing this stage 3 kit. Its only the prototype but man is it tight. That looks like a breeze to install. Great looking kit too, very well made.

[MrTerryliu]

talk about diy.. haha nice!

[tcw]

Originally Posted by Vargasturbotech

Jesus, looks how much room is in there. Makes my hands jealous after installing this stage 3 kit. Its only the prototype but man is it tight. That looks like a breeze to install. Great looking kit too, very well made.

Haha, it wasn't exactly a breeze. But the biggest PITA were:
1) A stud stuck in the head half in and half out (top back of engine)... ended up shearing the head of the stud (small torx socket) but not the threaded area. After trying to get it off with a couple of nuts, heat, and & PB blaster; I just decided to leave it on and let the new manifold nut tighten it all the way down. Which it did nicely.
2) Reaching one of the shortened manifold nuts under the pipe going to the turbo.
3) Getting all the v-band clamps to seat without dislodging one another
4) Getting the downpipe to midpipe bolts in. Took a couple hours of prying and loosening all the v-band clamps so everything could rotate. Keep in mind this is after raising the subframe and removing the engine support beam.

[SIKH335]

Welcome to the ST family!!!

[trbolexis]

WOW!! Kudos to you sir!!

[Fully_Bolted]

Welcome to the club!

[BoostedE90]

That's some serious work to take on in your garage. Congrats!

And you're pretty brave to get under the car no stops behind those back wheels.

[135Pats]

Pretty brave doing that in the garage w/out a lift. FFTEC makes beautiful stuff..

[Be Awesome 335i]

Congrats on the work & Job well done! This inspires me to do more of my own work in my garage..

[Jeff@TopGearSolutions]

Wow! Good work!

Can't wait to see some vids!

Any reason your not installing the clutch?

[Mahhvinn]

Congrats on the kit and you're a boss for DIY'ing it!

[tcw]

Originally Posted by Jeff@TopGearSolutions

Wow! Good work!

Can't wait to see some vids!

Any reason your not installing the clutch?

I am doing the clutch/diff/axles/lockdown all at the same time since they involve some of the same work. And I don't have the time to do them now since this is my daily driver.

[Tiago@VRSF]

Great job documenting everything! That's a great looking kit.

[335okc]

mad props for diy-ing it in your garage on a daily driver lol.

[Dave W.]

Wow, nice pics.
Is the kit completely installed? How long did it take, and what's your skill level?

[Ch3ss]

i would say he has BOSS like skill level for doing it.