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Engine:
1996 M3 3.2 Litre
Transmission:
1996 M3 ZF 5 Speed
Exhaust:
SuperSprint
Suspension:
Sachs E36 Adjustable Coil Over
Differential:
2.93 Limited Slip w/
Large Fin Cover
Brakes:
E36 325i Front E36 318ti Rear
Interior:
E30 M3 Black Leather
"Faster than a speeding bullet.
More powerful than a locomotive. Able to straighten "s" curves with a single
pass" Even the Man of Steel would have to admire this car.
In September of 1998, Zionsville
Autosport completed the Alpha Twin Cam Project. Along with numerous other innovations,
this encompassed retrofitting a 1995 3.0 Litre E36 M3 drivetrain into a 1988 E30 M3. The
thrill of driving an M3 with serious horsepower can't be exaggerated. However, it was to
be improved upon.
Alpha evolved. The "332is" is the Beta Twin Cam Project
which incorporated more horsepower and improved driving stability. The 3.2 Litre engine,
with Zionsville Autosport's exclusive "OBD I" conversion, dynos 239 Hp and 230
ft/lb at the rear wheels. This translates to about 286 Hp at the flywheel. Other
drivetrain improvements, such as a lighter flywheel and clutch assembly, were also
implemented. The transmission is a stock M3 unit that utilizes a UUC short shift kit with
minor modifications. Of course, Redline lubrication is used in all drivetrain components.
The final drive is a 2.93 limited slip. If you're wondering, "Why so low?", that
ratio is equivalent to a stock E36 M3 with a 3.15 final drive.
When considering the exhaust system, the design team decided that
factory engineering is superior. Accordingly, a stock E36 M3 catalyst and muffler was
installed .
Chassis layout is similar to the M Coupe. Parts from various E36
cars were employed to obtain similar results. The steering is standard E36. The front
control arms are 1997 M3. The front brakes are E36 325i. Later model suspension offers a
two fold advantage: a greater number of wheels from which to choose, and E36 M3/E46 328i
brakes are direct "bolt on" upgrades. The rear suspension is 1996 318ti. This
was chosen to obtain the correct bolt pattern and wheel offset. E36 Sachs coil over kit
was installed to make use of it's ride height and weight distribution adjustments. Also,
the spring rate is slightly higher relative to the chassis weight of an E30.
So, what's the point? Teddy Roosevelt is quoted, "Speak
softly, and carry a big stick." We concur.
