[hipvspec]

Updates? Took me an hour to comb through this post and I love it!

[jzx_andy]

Originally Posted by jaffles

What colour your thinking Andy? Full respray or blend?

Also get your opinion on lowered springs, recommended mm for front and back? Need to make it through the KFC drive through haha.

Any feeling on spring brands?

Hey man, I am thinking of Audi Suzuka Grey. BMW did offer it as an individual option during late E chassis production, and F series production. I think I will get the exterior, door jambs and underside of the bonnet all done. Maybe also the inside of the fuel filler cap and fuel filler area, and the entire doors as well, but it depends on how much additional time/cost that will add to the build.

Hopefully the factory Alpine White engine bay won't clash too hard against Suzuka Grey.

With lowering springs I think preferred height does vary wildly depending on overall rolling diameter, wheel sizes/widths/offsets, personal taste, whether any substantial weight reduction has been carried out to the car and your own willingness to deal with a lowered car. I think height adjustable coilovers are the best long term investment as tastes/styles, and consequently, ride heights, may change.

Despite all that I believe H&R springs and Koni Yellow shocks are a goated combo if you do not want coilovers.

Originally Posted by hipvspec

Updates? Took me an hour to comb through this post and I love it!

Hey man, thanks a lot! No major updates as of yet. I have pulled the car apart once again to do the crank hub, Hydra HPFP overdrive sprocket/chain, and to sort out a minor turbo vband flange leak that I discovered while pulling everything apart! Front subframe is out and the sump will be coming out again. Hopefully all the mechanicals will be done on this thing soon and a machine shop can sort out the leaky flange because it is very minor and I'd rather not have the manifold reflanged! Haha

[hipvspec]

Originally Posted by jzx_andy

Hey man, thanks a lot! No major updates as of yet. I have pulled the car apart once again to do the crank hub, Hydra HPFP overdrive sprocket/chain, and to sort out a minor turbo vband flange leak that I discovered while pulling everything apart! Front subframe is out and the sump will be coming out again. Hopefully all the mechanicals will be done on this thing soon and a machine shop can sort out the leaky flange because it is very minor and I'd rather not have the manifold reflanged! Haha

I see! Seeing you are doing HPFP overdrive, is there a reason why you are not going the Nexsys DI-delete or Maxx ECU DI-delete route? It seems like port-injection-only on N54 is doable on a lot of N54tech group cars. Or maybe port-injection-only is more suited to the knock-resistant e85 fuel?

[jzx_andy]

Originally Posted by hipvspec

I see! Seeing you are doing HPFP overdrive, is there a reason why you are not going the Nexsys DI-delete or Maxx ECU DI-delete route? It seems like port-injection-only on N54 is doable on a lot of N54tech group cars. Or maybe port-injection-only is more suited to the knock-resistant e85 fuel?

Main reasons are I have a healthy DI system (touch wood) and I don't have a built engine.

I believe the DI system is critical to helping an unopened N54 hold together at 500-700hp. This is based on my understanding that these engines come with extremely tight ring gaps from the factory, and the DI system is a fair bit better at keeping cylinder temps down than any PI system is.

If I am up for a new hpfp or injectors I'd likely consider the Nexsys DI delete.

On standalones - I think the factory DME is capable of doing everything that most street-driven N54 applications require. Maybe if you are shooting for 800+hp, the Nexsys DI delete has real issues or you want some form of aftermarket transmission or traction control (which I understand is much better than what these cars came with), there is some real value in going down the standalone rabbit hole.

I have a manual transmission, fairly modest power goals and a general desire to build this car to a relatively OEM standard, so I don't think I'd benefit much out of a standalone in any substantive sense. And if I had one fitted, I'd probably have to spend hundreds of hours figuring every minute detail out just I can get it working with every factory creature comfort; essentially I'd be embarking upon a pursuit to replicate everything that the stock DME and other modules once did.