Atlanta shop recommendations

#1

I’m in this rediculous situation where I have two motors and neither are running well. And I’ll be goddamned if I’m going to piss away half of the season with a crappy motor.

The problem is that I have no power between 4-5k rpm. It might also be a problem below 4k rpm…I’m not dead sure on that yet.

The other day I did a compression test and it ranged from 122 to 145psi. Which was not good news considering this is a 102k mi motor and should be in it’s prime. But maybe my gauge reads low. But given all the blue smoke at CMP, that might be optimistic.

All the plugs had too much gap so we (me and Al Kritter) regapped them from .4 to .3

I’ve cleaned the AFM and confirmed that the door moves freely. I’m going to take the car out on the highway tonight and see if I still have the flat spot. If I do, I’ll try to test the WOT throttle switch and I’ll swap out the AFM.

But if that test and swap doesn’t result in success, then I need professional help. I’m not going to screw around for months trying out various theories and replacing random parts.

One suggestion I heard is to take it back to Strictly German. Apparently they have a shop there. And it’s their motor, let them get it running well, I figure.

Another option is Harrison Motorsports.

I want a shop that has easy access to used parts and is close enough to Balance Performance that the car can get dyno’d. I’m tired of guessing, I need to KNOW that the motor is healthy.

Suggestions? Comments on Strictly German and Harrison Motorsports? Maybe the R. Patton home for sick SpecE30’s?

#2

Here is something to consider. How many of those shops or really any Atlanta shops have put cars on the podium? Harrison with Skeen? I think that was mostly a parts deal, Mike can tell us how much wrenching they did on his car? Either way the motor was BRE.

MMS? Went down that path. Strictly German, Bobby knows a bunch about wrecked race cars, don’t know how much they know about ones that run.

How about RWL / Brendan Digel. Craig just won and finished 2nd with his motor that Brendan built. After Dave and I won the 3 hour enduro. How about my car that took 2nd in an 8 hour enduro with no mechanical problems that he prepped? He also races and is at most NASA events either supporting us or racing his own car with his own motor he built that is even older than ours!

You can look at other shops, you can look at cost, or you can look at results.

My two cents.

#3

First off, don’t give up on the motor in the car. In 2007, when I blew a motor and swapped in an unknown junkyard motor, it smoked like crazy and eventually just fixed itself. Ask anyone that was asphyxiated in the Rockingham garage.

Harrison has not worked on my car (because it lives in NC), but they do consistently put out cars that see lots of track time reliably. Brendan would be a good resource as well.

You’ve learned a fair bit about these cars, why not at least take apart your built/non-running motor to see what the deal is. Doesn’t take much expertise for that.

#4

RWL have easy access to take-off parts?

I will rebuild the motor we removed, but the current plan is to try to figure out what is up with the current motor. Both in terms of the flat sport and it’s peak hp/torque.

Of course the low compresion numbers could be a red herring. I ran out and bought a compression tester. The gauge could read low.

The challenge, for someone relatively inexperienced, is to know when a test or a symptom is conclusive.

I was told that Strictly German had a mechanic on site that did great work. No?

To make things more fun, I can’t screw around with too much testing because I’m about to lose my starter. We didn’t fasten it’s top bolt and the assymetrical torque on it cracked it’s case. It’s barely hanging in there.

So…
Attempt to figure out flatspot this week. Get new motor dynoed before Road Atlanta. But I still want to hear more about Atlanta area shops.

Dumb decisions are really expensive. I’m due for some good decisions.

#5

Scott,

As I mentioned to you over on BF.c. Bobby at Strictly German is a very good resource. Henry whose bay is right next to the body shop is a very competent mechanic especially with race cars, and has worked on many professional race teams. Last time my car was there, it was just before a RA event, I told him I needed the car done by Friday afternoon, and it was done when I got there. It has not been back to a shop since.

Because it is a Strictly German motor I would assume they would help you get it right without a huge bill. I would suggest you tell Bobby you want Henry to work on your car.

Worth a call
706-654-9103

#6

Like Indy Jim said i’ll let my results speak for them selfs

2008
Craig giegers motor I built put down some of the highest HP #'s in the Se ,completely legal
also ended up 6 or 7th in se pionts,

Jim Robinson several poduim finishes, including 2ed in the 8 hr enduro 4th in spec se pionts and 2 ed in the enduro seris

B-Digel/j mascow 79 535
08 B-mod nation camp (my name made it in GRM haha)
several 1st place finishes in GTS 3 with several drivers

and in 09 Criag’s car won the enduro in e2, took both poles?? and won one sprint and second in the other

, I specialize in chasis setup,diff rebuild, engines, wiring ,etc

BD

#7

Brendan, Well…I specialize in problems. Sounds like a perfect marriage.

I left the car tonight at my local shop. I’m going to have them swap in my spare starter and do a leak down. Based on the results of the leakdown and maybe what happens this weekend at CMP, I’ll be figuring out what to do next.

Thanks for chiming in Brendan. I’ll be in touch.

#8

Its real hard to diagnoise problems without having the car but it sounds like your having a fuel issue, now wether it is electric or a pressure problem?? Two things you should do before CMP , get a fuel pressure guage on the car so that you can see what the pressure is when the problem occurs, (that is vital ifo to have) I would also try a different afm

#9

Ranger -

Brendan’s a great resource. Not only does he have great endorsements from Geiger and IndyJim, but he is buddies with a bunch of non-racer-bmw-fanatic-track-day guys I know – that’s where I first met him. He builds a heck of a good LEGAL 3.73 diff, too. :slight_smile: VERY knowlegable bmw dude.

I would also include OPM in your list (if for no other reason than they were the ones who carted the new engine to you at Kershaw). They built my car and got it under the Roebling track record at the January test (Fowler and Lamb driving).

Either of those shops can help you identify mechanical problems. And for final dyno tuning/electronic parts swapping, Patton organizes a helluva party!

Steve D.

#10

Scott,
I had a minor, good experience with Harrison. I took my ‘non-starting’ car to them one Friday and they diagnosed/solved the issue quickly at a fair price.

#11

bdigel wrote:

Brenden,

I am very curious about the fuel pressure gauge? Do tell more. Is this an in line thing used when Dyno testing?

I am also chasing a flat spot with AFM swapping. Wouldn’t a fuel pressure issue show up at other RPM as well?

FYI - My diff seems to have cured itself…While I know that does not happen. It just hasn’t been an issue at Sebring, my home track.

Don

#12

Don a fuel pressure guage messures the fuel pressure on the feed side of the system, and depending on the type can be used when ever, It provides usefuel info to help diagnoise running issues,