I bought a 323 E46 late last year for £350. The previous owner had a front end 'altercation' with a bus. There were no insurance claims made and so far as I am aware the car is not cat C/D. At the moment it's on a friends drive and I have finally managed to get the front end off (not fun working on cars in winter). The car drives, engine starts etc and I want to get it road legal so I can get it to track. In short, the front N/S chassis leg is bent to hell - from the pictures below, is it worth getting this straightened up? Here are some pictures (night time shots). [
yo can pick up cheap e46 s all over, id get a cheapo 318 and chuck the gutts from that 323 into the new one... atleast that way you would have spares too
I think for the cost of getting it straightened so it all goes back together properly you'd be just as well buying an e46 with a blown engine and swapping the blocks.
I did think of an engine and transmission swap as one of my options - I have a 316 auto e46 (dont laugh!) but I have asked my insurance company and they wouldnt insure an engine swap from 1.8l to the 323 engine. I have the auto up for sale and was going to use some of the cash to get the 323 track ready. I could just give up on the idea of getting this one road legal and just trailering it to track (buxton is 30/40 minute drive from me) In that case - could I just get a metal bar in the chassis leg or use a jack/ratchet strap and bend it back enough to get a bumper on...I've seen cars in worse shape at buxton! The 323 seems to be in really good condition (aside from the crash) seems a shame to waste it image uploading
If it isn't going to go back on the road all you need to worry about is whether it drives straight, if you've got a trailer that might be the best answer
Go read buxtons latest post, no more shit looking bangers. Jeek said it a while ago about driftland and it's a good idea, if you want to drive a heap take up stockies.
I think he means he'll bend the legs back as best as possible so the body goes back together, and tbh if it's only going on a drift track as long as it's tidy and drives in a straight line it's fine
Yep I also agree with Buxton drift's policy and if it were to get to buxton it would have a bumper and lights! Not saying it would 100% leave there with the bumper and lights
