BMW 3.0 CSE

It's been almost a year since the last post. Bad blogging. Here's why: I've been working on finishing the other BMW CSE. And now it is done!  (Well, is a project like this ever really done?)

 The rear suspension on a BMW 3.0 CS is supported by a rear crossmember that spans the width of the car, with the trailing arms mounted to clevises and the ends bolted to the car via rubber bushings. As mentioned previously in the Brace up Boys post, the crossmember is normally triangulated by the differential, which is mounted to the floor of the unibody, but I cut the diff mount off of the crossmember since it is in the way of where the Tesla drive unit needs to sit.  I then fabricated a new forward-facing member to triangulate the crossmember securing the the car.  Seemed good.

In order to accurately test battery fitment, I had to mount the front suspension cross member so that I could install the steering gearbox.  The batteries will need to clear that.   I had spent months rebuilding all the brakes and suspension for the car, prior to deciding to go electric.  Fortunately, all those parts should work fine with the EV conversion. 

As mentioned previously, with the differential mount cut off the rear suspension I needed a new way to properly locate and secure the rear suspension member.  Tyler fabricated a long arm that welds to the front side of the member and travels forward into the old driveshaft tunnel.  Of course, I no longer have a driveshaft so that room is up for grabs now.  Using a motor mount from a Chevrolet Suburban, we welded a mount to the tunnel and bolted the new arm to the body via the rubber mount.  This is solid fore/aft but allows a bit of up/down swing if necessary.