HorsepowerFreaks E46 M3 Underbrace Pics

[HPF Chris]

Many of you may already have a similar issue getting parts to clear the factory aluminum underbrace of various BMW's when you go FI. We could have cut a hole in the factory underpan for the intercooler piping, but this would have left it structurally useless. Instead we decided to design a thick aluminum underbrace to replace the underpan and tie several (not all) of the mounting points back together to help improve the geometry of the car. It is very lightweight and does help to improve the rigidity that was lost when the factory underbrace was removed.

As some customers will want to turbocharge their E46 M3 without this underbrace to save money, we are offering it for sale separately. Here are some pictures of the HPF underbrace in it's rough aluminum form, in powdercoated black, and mounted on the vehicle.

http://www.horsepowerfreaks.com/miscellaneous/m3turbokit/underbrace/UnderbraceBlack2.jpg

http://www.horsepowerfreaks.com/miscellaneous/m3turbokit/underbrace/UnderbraceBlack.jpg

Here's a picture of the brace in it's aluminum form. We will offer a polished finish as well.

http://www.horsepowerfreaks.com/miscellaneous/m3turbokit/underbrace/UnderbraceOnCar1.jpg

Here's a picture of the brace in powdercoated black on an M3 with our polished HPF750 turbo kit

http://www.horsepowerfreaks.com/miscellaneous/m3turbokit/underbrace/UnderbraceOnCar2.jpg

http://www.horsepowerfreaks.com/miscellaneous/m3turbokit/underbrace/UnderbraceOnCar3.jpg

[tankm3]

Me Want!! :drool:

[hi its me alec]

Wow, you guys do some amazing work.. :drool:

[6ick6ix6peed]

How much does it weigh, or should I say how much weight does it save? I'm all about saving weight. Especially up front.:thumbsup:

[turboaddiction]

Stop wasting time on this stuff! You have an e39 m5 to turbo and an s54 built for MASSIVE POWA! :hi:

[Evil Twin Rob]

I'll be getting mine this spring when I bring 'er down for stage 2.

[M3_Jaydee]

Nice look :)

[jstaylor]

If you guys keep coming out with new things for me to buy for the car while its there I'm gonna go broke!!

[GJGM3]

Go for it Josh! It's trick and goes with the machine.

You guys do great work and I must say I'm doubting my decision already. :(

[jstaylor]

Gerard, already gave the go ahead on Fri. Getting the polished version to match the rest of the turbo.

[GJGM3]

Excellent. The pieces add a really nice touch and complete kit.

[HPF Chris]

Here are some new pictures of our "polished" underbraces....

Take care,
Chris.

http://www.horsepowerfreaks.com/miscellaneous/m3turbokit/underbrace/PolishedUnderbrace.jpg

http://www.horsepowerfreaks.com/miscellaneous/m3turbokit/underbrace/PolishedUnderbrace2.jpg

[jstaylor]

Looks good. I sure hope that's mine you took pics of!!

[GJGM3]

Hey Josh wonder what it'll by like to have 3 of us running around? Room enough in the TC? LOL. Possible. Starting to rethink this again and perhaps the third go-around with my car on mods. Got the build sheet from Protomotive as well as Turbo Kraft and I wasn't too happy with the investment. I hope once it warms up perhaps you and/or Raj will be convincing. It won't take much to go that route if I decide.

[GJGM3]

How is the undertray going to hold up given road debris?

[HPF Chris]

Looks good. I sure hope that's mine you took pics of!!

It sure is!! Pretty bling, huh?


Hey Josh wonder what it'll by like to have 3 of us running around? Room enough in the TC? LOL. Possible. Starting to rethink this again and perhaps the third go-around with my car on mods. Got the build sheet from Protomotive as well as Turbo Kraft and I wasn't too happy with the investment. I hope once it warms up perhaps you and/or Raj will be convincing. It won't take much to go that route if I decide.


We'd love to have 3 of you guys set up over there. Definitely go for a ride in Raj or Josh's turbo'd M3s before you make the decision (especially if they're running race fuel). Our methanol tanks should be done soon, and those will make a huge difference in power on pump. Also consider talking to tankm3 if you haven't already.... He just raced a Protomotive 996TT (not on video tape unfortunately). They're going to run again pretty soon and hopefully get some footage.


How is the undertray going to hold up given road debris?


It's solid aluminum in either a powdercoated finish or polished. Either way it will probably get some scratches that can later be polished out or re-coated if desired.

Take care,
Chris.

[ctsvkilla]

Me Want!! :drool:

:hi:

[jstaylor]

Nice!! I figured that was mine.

Gerard, deep down you already know you're going to get the HPF kit. Don't be ashamed. Just admit you made a mistake parting out your car. We'll all forgive you. I don't think you need to even be behind the wheel of either mine or Raj's to make up your mind, but once you do take one for a spin, you'll be lost to the dark side forever!!!! :excited:

[jstaylor]

Chris, nice to hear that the meth tanks will be done soon. When you posted that the NY manufacturer couldn't do the proper thickness and you had to switch to a Canadian manufacturer, I was afraid the delay was going to be long. Will the new SMG reservoir be done at the same time?

[HPF Chris]

Chris, nice to hear that the meth tanks will be done soon. When you posted that the NY manufacturer couldn't do the proper thickness and you had to switch to a Canadian manufacturer, I was afraid the delay was going to be long. Will the new SMG reservoir be done at the same time?

Yes. We're trying to get first articles right now. Hopefully they'll come in very soon so we can approve them and place a large order and get them out to everyone.


Nice!! I figured that was mine.

Gerard, deep down you already know you're going to get the HPF kit. Don't be ashamed. Just admit you made a mistake parting out your car. We'll all forgive you. I don't think you need to even be behind the wheel of either mine or Raj's to make up your mind, but once you do take one for a spin, you'll be lost to the dark side forever!!!!


Oh yea...

Take care,
Chris.

[tankm3]

:hi:
Whass up. lol
Go for it Josh! It's trick and goes with the machine.

You guys do great work and I must say I'm doubting my decision already. :(
Do we need to talk again? lol

[GJGM3]

Nice!! I figured that was mine.

Gerard, deep down you already know you're going to get the HPF kit. Don't be ashamed. Just admit you made a mistake parting out your car. We'll all forgive you. I don't think you need to even be behind the wheel of either mine or Raj's to make up your mind, but once you do take one for a spin, you'll be lost to the dark side forever!!!! :excited:


Ha-ha, yeah I know but believe it or not I really wanted to change the look of the car anyway - RIGHT AFTER I FINISHED IT. I loved the CSL look and race hood made for me but they're getting quite common and several CSL verts on the general scene. While on the one hand I loved the carbon fiber, getting knicks on it bothered me and no less with the hood and bumper. Also, late last year someone ran a red light and knicked the left rear bumper and slightly damaged the CSL diffuser so I knew I'd have to replace that. The wheels (which by the way I loved), made it a PIA with the BBK and trying to clean the calipers. I also knew I'd probably want to clear coat or powder coat the wheels. So if I keep the car or mod it again I'll have someone that's willing to custom make a 5-spoke setup. While looking a mods for the 911 I found a BBK setup that's even more unique than what I had. So this is what you call justification! LOL.

The body setup I'd like to have would be bigger flares front and rear and a front lip to compliment the ACS trunk lip I've had on the original hood since before the CSL trunk. The interior trim I'd like to match the exterior of the car.

After getting my build sheet from Turbo Kraft it really got me thinking I'd be no where near the HP and value of HPF. So we'll see. I found a 993tt and factored the investment of the car (high miles) with the engine build and whoa BIG BUCKS! Then there was the issue of AWD and converting that to RWD on top of the rest of the mods (wheels, suspension, seats, interior) and it's totally cost prohibitive for me given I need a new garage, but may just get another house if we end up staying in Minnesota.

Dave/HPF has been really nice to keep in touch with me but you're right, I really won't need much convincing. I'll know by Spring whether I'll be staying in Minnesota (full-time) or commuting from another state until my youngest finishes high school in 2009. That's really the only thing holding me up. Either way 2008 will be fun especially since my oldest graduates from college! $$$$

[GJGM3]

Whass up. lol

Do we need to talk again? lol


You never know primo! Lots going on for me -- could even be neighbors.