First off, where does the name Windy come from for my BMW E30? It goes back to all those times I’d be out driving with my daughters or my girlfriend, and they would complain about the wind. “My hair! Put the top up, it’s too windy!” After hearing it enough times, the name Windy was born.
I’ve always been passionate about cars. I was 13 in 2001, when The Fast and the Furious and Gone in 60 Seconds were released. Those movies left a huge mark on me and shaped who I am today.
In my mid-twenties, I had an incredible Nissan 240SX (S14) that I loved so much. But I had to sell it to pay off my credit card debt, which had built up because of my alcohol addiction.
At 34, I decided to leave all that behind, get sober, and go back to the roots of my passion. I knew this project would help me meet new people and clear my mind. My friend Craig was really motivated and wanted to be part of it. We wanted to prove to the people who said “It’ll never work” that we were capable.
My original plan was to run a stock-block M20 with a small turbo, aiming for a humble 300hp, but it escalated. Here in North America, the M52B28 features an iron block, making it a good candidate. The new goal was 700whp and a 10-second quarter mile.
This was my first large-scale build, and I wanted to be involved from start to finish, learning as I went. Craig and I both have young kids, and I promised myself I wouldn’t let this project take time away from my daughters. I didn’t always have the motivation, but those small two-to-three-hour sessions each night paid off.
I documented the entire build in stories on my Instagram and showcased my full mod list. I wasn’t afraid to show both the successes and the failures; it’s always good to see both sides. After six months, Windy fired up.
The fuel system was completely revised to run flex fuel, utilizing a Walbro 525lph in-tank pump and Injector Dynamics ID1700X injectors. I wanted the engine to be functional but also clean; it had to look good under the hood. The exhaust is a 4-inch oval to maximize ground clearance.
The wiring was done by my friend Craig, and the ECU is a Link G4X. Running a Precision Next Gen 6266 turbocharger, the engine made 760whp at 30psi on ethanol, and 530whp on 94 octane on a hub dyno at Ace Tuning in Mirabel, Quebec. There’s still some room left, but I decided to stop there.
For the differential, the stock 180mm LSD was replaced with a Ford Super 8.8 from an S550 Mustang. I chose this setup for availability, strength, and aftermarket support.
In the end, Windy was built to help me learn new things, meet new people, share my project, and clear my mind. All of those goals were achieved, so I see the build as a success. Now all that’s left is to chase that 10-second pass this summer.
The next build has already quietly started, back to a Nissan…
Dude, congrats on becoming sober ! I’m glad you went back to cars after that too, what a machine, I bet it’s a lot of fun to drive around top down, but also scary with that much power