Can Adam LZ’s One-Week E36 Rebuild Make It To FD Seattle?

After a devastating crash, can LZMFG rebuild a 1,000HP E36 in just one week? Follow the intense journey as they race against the Formula DRIFT deadline.

Adam LZ’s Formula DRIFT journey took a dramatic turn last round in St. Louis when a huge crash totaled his BMW E36, which seemingly, at the time, prematurely ended his 2024 FD season.

The crash happened during LZ’s chase run against 14-year-old Japanese drifting prodigy Hiroya Minowa. LZ’s aggressive entry saw him make contact with Minowa’s rear wheel, unexpectedly sending his much-loved “blue E36” flying into the wall before railsliding across the top of the safety barrier and then smashing back down onto the track.

Given that the violent impact caused significant damage to the chassis, with Adam declared it “totaled” on the spot.

Despite the initial belief that the crash had ended his season, Adam and his team opted to take some time after the incident to reassess the situation with a clearer mind. This decision was prompted by the overwhelming support from fans and an eager team who were desperate to see him continue his FD ambitions.

Join us as we dive into each video to highlight the challenges and breakthroughs that have left the team battling against the clock to make it to the next round at Evergreen Speedway in Seattle, Washington, on August 9-10. Can LZ defy the odds and make it to the start line? Let’s find out!

Part 1 – Assessing The Damage & Planning The Rebuild

 

Checking Out The True Extent Of The Damage

The team thoroughly inspected the wrecked BMW E36 in the workshop to determine the extent of the damage. It’s immediately clear that the strut tower is severely mangled and likely beyond repair, with the frame rail pushed in and touching the wastegate.

Significant chassis twisting is also evident, along with cracks in the roof and pillars. The rear is also likely to be twisted, affecting alignment.

However, the positive is that the chassis took the brunt of the impact, with the engine seemingly unaffected by the incident. Another bonus was that most of the drivetrain also seemed salvageable after the initial inspection.

Exploring The Options

After discussing with the team, they conclude three potential paths forward:

1. Attempting to repair the current chassis, but this is time-consuming and likely unsafe due to the extensive damage.
2. Build another E36 from scratch.
3. Transfer the E36 drivetrain to the S15 chassis.

An Unexpected Opportunity

While searching for solutions, Adam discovers a partially built E36 M3 chassis owned by Joel, another E36 enthusiast who also wanted to build a pro drift car but was struggling to find the time since his car, unfortunately, burned to the ground.

The chassis is already caged and stripped down, potentially saving weeks of build time compared to starting from scratch. This opens up a new and convenient potential path forward.

The Ambitious Target Begins

With the new chassis in the workshop, LZ accepts a challenge and sets an ambitious goal to rebuild the car for the next FD round in Seattle, which (at the time) was just two weeks away.

Part 2 – Engine Swap & Custom Fabrication

The team begins the intensive rebuild process, focusing on installing the previous Toyota 2JZ engine into the new chassis. Custom fabrication work includes a new transmission tunnel and reinforced chassis components. Wiring and electronics are overhauled to accommodate the engine swap.

The Seemingly Impossible One-Week Rebuild Gets Underway

The team worked tirelessly to rebuild the E36 in just one week, hoping to make it to the next FD round in Seattle. Adam thanks the fans for their support by buying t-shirts and breaks down the crazy costs of competitive drifting, which he states is typically an eye-watering $28,000-35,000 per round.

Custom Fabrication & Improvements

Alongside some structural welding improvements, Johan fabricates a new, removable transmission tunnel to provide more clearance and easier access.

He also reinforces areas of the chassis prone to cracking, applying lessons learned from previous builds. Meanwhile, Adam creates a custom aluminum rear firewall piece with bead-rolled designs for a personalized touch

Fiberglass Roof Decisions

The team debates the best approach to integrating the fiberglass roof, either riveting it on top or molding it more flush. The latter option requires more bodywork but could result in a cleaner, more seamless appearance.

All Hands On Deck For The Team, As LZ Heads To Riga

As Adam, Johan, and Owen head to Europe for the Drift Masters round in Riga, Latvia, the rest of the team, including Sean, will swap everything over to the new chassis while they’re gone to speed things up.

Part 3 – Bodywork, Paint & Engine Checks/Fixes

With the mechanical aspects progressing, the team turns to bodywork and paint, with the return of its iconic blue livery. Meanwhile, they conduct thorough checks of all systems, including fuel, cooling, and electronics, to ensure everything functions correctly.

Bodywork & Paint

The team focused on completing 90% of the necessary bodywork and paint on the car, allowing them to jump into assembly on Monday morning.

The fiberglass roof was molded to the car for a flush appearance, which required additional bodywork and sanding.

Meanwhile, the engine bay and interior were coated with a sprayable “Steel-It” metal coating, popular in the off-road and drift world for its durability and ease of touch-up.

Engine Inspection & Maintenance

Thankfully, the engine didn’t suffer any direct damage in the crash, but it is inspected thoroughly to address any potential issues. In the end, they replaced a worn cam lobe and bucket that were causing metal debris in the oil.

They also checked rod bolt stretch and replaced rod bearings, which were showing normal wear for such a high-horsepower engine. To avoid using the entire spare engine, parts were pulled from a spare destined for Adam’s future MK4 Supra build.

Chassis Assembly Begins

With the paint and bodywork nearing completion, they begin assembling the chassis and test-fitting the subframe to ensure the pickup points are not tweaked. They also reassemble the rear suspension with new dual caliper brackets, trailing arms, and bushings.

The dual caliper brackets are welded for added strength and reliability during competition. The team reused the salvageable body panels from the crashed car, maintaining the iconic blue livery.

Despite the tight deadline, they remain optimistic about their chances of success as Adam heads off to Europe for the “It’s Riga, Baby” Drift Masters round.

Part 4 – Dyno Testing & Final Adjustments

The rebuilt E36 undergoes dyno testing to verify its performance and ensure everything’s running smoothly. The team addresses minor issues that arise, such as fuel pressure problems, and makes final adjustments to various systems, preparing the car for its first test drive.

Interior Overhaul

The focus is on the car’s interior, including installing block-off plates on the firewall and working on the fire suppression system.

The wiring and brakes are also tackled, while the windshield, rear window, and other glass components are installed. The goal is to complete as much of the interior as possible before proceeding to the next steps.

Powertrain Installation

With the subframes installed previously, the engine and transmission are now placed. The motor mounts are tightened, and the transmission is positioned, allowing for the fabrication of the transmission crossmember. Experience with building 2JZ-powered BMWs proves invaluable in making swift progress.

Custom Fabrication

Various challenges are encountered along the way, requiring creative problem-solving and custom fabrication.

Firstly, a custom coolant feed line is created for the turbo, as the original was damaged in the crash. Then, small bash bars are fabbed using a jig to absorb rear impacts and protect the chassis, and then quick-release tabs are made for the side window to provide easy access to the cool box and nitrous bottles.

Safety Enhancements

The roll cage is completed and now meets Formula Drift safety requirements. The drive shaft loop is welded in place, a crucial safety feature that prevents the drive shaft from damaging the chassis or injuring the driver in case of failure.

Cooling System Layout

Significant headway is made with the intercooler piping while the optimal placement of the radiator is discussed. Factors such as belt changes, heat management, and ease of maintenance are considered when deciding on the final position.

At this point, impressive progress has been made, with the interior nearly complete and the front-end components installed. Understandably, this further boosts the team’s optimism of making it to Seattle.

Part 5 – First Drive & Last-Minute Fixes

The team takes the rebuilt E36 for its maiden voyage, showcasing how far the build has come in such a short space of time and revealing some minor issues. They work on resolving these final problems, including power steering concerns, as they race against the clock to prepare the car for the upcoming FD event, which is getting ever closer.

Final Assembly & Systems Check

The chassis harness is installed, and all electronics are set up. The titanium exhaust system is fabricated, addressing previous damage and incorporating flexibility to prevent future issues. The nitrous system is checked and confirmed operational.

Dyno Testing & Tuning

The rebuilt E36 undergoes dyno testing to ensure all systems are functioning correctly. Minor fuel pressure issues are addressed, and the nitrous system is tested at full throttle. The car performs well, meeting power expectations.

New Paint & Bodywork

The car is prepped, sealed, and painted in Porsche Maritime Blue. This process continues late into the night, ensuring the E36 is ready for its debut.

The Maiden Voyage

During the initial test drive, the team discovers that there’s certainly no lack of power, but a power steering issue arises. The fluid boils over, indicating a need for further refinement. Despite this, the overall performance is promising, and they’re not scared to let her rip.

Chelsea DeNofa surprises everyone by turning up to buy some parts while the team pushes the E36 mid-shred in the yard. He offers some advice (and jokes) while explaining that he, too, made a last-minute build before Seattle “around ten years ago,” which he states was the best car he ever had. He wishes the same for the team this time around

Ongoing Improvements

After the test drive, the team immediately began addressing the power steering issue. They installed an electric pump, rerouted belts, and made other adjustments to improve reliability. After that, it seemed that the final aesthetic touches were all that were needed for the new beast to light up the track!

Against All Odds – The E36 Is Ready For The Seattle FD Grid!

In just one week, Adam LZ and his team have accomplished the incredible feat of rebuilding a competitive Formula Drift car from the ground up, all while also traveling to the other side of the world to compete in the European Drift Masters series.

Adam declared his FD season over in St. Louis, but the team wasn’t ready to give up that easily despite facing numerous challenges along the way. The journey from a totaled chassis to a track-ready beast in such a short timeframe is nothing short of remarkable.

The rebuilt E36, now sporting a fresh Porsche Martini Blue paint job and boasting 1,000 horsepower, is ready to rip. It showcases what a hard-working and dedicated team can achieve in such a short amount of time.

All eyes now turn to Evergreen Speedway in Seattle this weekend, where Adam LZ will immediately put this newly rebuilt E36 to the ultimate test.

Will this rapid rebuild translate into success on the track? Or will more gremlins surface? Only time will tell. However, one thing is certain – this comeback story is already one for the books, and we’ve sure enjoyed covering it!

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