'91 318iS minor resto.. ;-)

Wed Jul 22, 2015 9:06 pm

Of course Iz gots vinyl seats - thats why they look so good!!

Not much to update honestly - I am very busy at work and days off are few and far between in the summer. The M3 needed some love too: intake gaskets needed replacing, new euro lights installed, crank and tranny leaks were fixed. To my shame I brought it to the M3 specialist and had him do the work as I was just too busy... He did a great job and it didn't cost TOO much...

As for the iS, my plan is to finish off the body work in August and have her off for paint in September. I will also start the engine rebuild in September with the aim of having the engine and tranny back in the newly painted car by early October. Donations to help me pay for all this are very welcome!

In the meantime though, I also have to swap out the e36 M3 rack in my 318iS parts car and swap out the mint dashboard as well for my original cracked one - I want to keep it as a spare. Then I will most likely sell her in September.

So nothing exciting to post for some time...

Sun Aug 16, 2015 6:21 pm

.............

Sat Aug 29, 2015 7:30 am

...........

Sat Aug 29, 2015 8:16 pm

Engine rebuild started...

Sanding to start in a week...

Vacation starting sept 7..off till oct 15th...

Staying home to work on the car...

Sun Aug 30, 2015 7:05 am

Wed Sep 16, 2015 4:08 pm

Well its been a looong time but finally an update for the very few who remember this thread!

As some will remember I got sidetracked when I bought number 3 back in April:

It took about 3 weeks of laying on my back rebuilding the bottom of the car (fuel system, brake system suspension etc) and Ive since been driving it well as an M3 should be driven.. and lets just say, Im amazed I haven't lost my license yet....

As amazing as the M3 is however, I still have my awesome 318iS, without a doubt the best e30 after the M3, to get back to work on!

When I had welded in the new LH side floor panel a million years ago, I had not noticed that there is a metal riser on which the accelerator pivots - I hadnt noticed because mine had long since rusted away and all I had was a gaping hole... So my first order of business was to create a new one and do my LAST bit of welding to get her in place...

The welding is not pretty but it was a very awkward place to weld...

POR 15d of course!

With that I returned the welder to the neighbour Id stole..I mean borrowed it from 27 years ago...

Yippee! More space in the garage!!

Wed Sep 16, 2015 4:20 pm

I also decided to do a wee bit of recycling..

Rebuilding the M3's suspension Id put in some lowered eibach springs... The M3's springs were in great shape and Ive decided to keep them and use them on the iS... I had originally planned on lowering the iS about 3cm but Ive decided to keep it to a 1cm drop which I will accomplish with new front end cups Ive ordered.. It is a good compromise between handling and the shite roads we have here... Should they be too soft I will swap them out..no harm in trying them out though...

Out with the grinder!

And fresh paint...

Ive also had to order a new sunroof for the iS because I had to steal its new sunroof to replace the M3s rusted out one...

The iS' clean sunroof...

Annoyingly the M3s panel itself was rust free - it was the attachment points which had completely rusted out...

Want to know how much? 700cdn...

And btw, there is now only 1 left in Germany!!

Wed Sep 16, 2015 4:46 pm

I also bowed to the inevitable and removed the rear window as Im now preparing for paint....

It was actually very easy to remove...

With that out I started all out on the sanding... mind you its my first crack at this so apologies if its not pretty!

When Id welded in the new apron I had the 2 corners which need a lot of attention..

Almost there..

There rear boot corners were also very ugly after I had welded in the complete rear panel..

It was a lot of work to get them to this point... Not quite finished but close..

Im also still working on the RH lower rocker panel.. It wont even show at all as Im putting OEM skirts on her but I want it nice regardless...

The area was all dented and wavy.. and that rear arch will be a PITA to get right...

Pounded out some of the dents but need bondo...

Many passes later.. Im getting there...

That's it for now... back to garage for more sanding fun!!

Thu Sep 17, 2015 10:01 am

Thu Sep 24, 2015 1:56 am

Man o man sanding is FUN!!!!

What is fun however is making progress!!

Still working on that lower sill... and LOOK!! Someone parked an e30 M3 in my entrance!! Yipee!!!

Sanded the roof - it had only 2 small dents..everything else looks good... it was TOO easy with the rotisserie..

Primered (two coats) Primer sealer to go...

At this point I decided to give the shell a rest and start working on the odds and ends..

Front bumper cover is looking pretty crappy... lots of damage...

Initial sanding 320 grit...

A couple of passes later...

Coated with high build primer...

Holes still showing.. more patching up to do!!

Set aside as I start on the rear bumper cover which was in great shape... Guess the POs didnt spend too much time drive backwards...

That damn guy with that M3 is parking in my garage!! The nerve!

The devil is in the details.. These steel nut covers will show once painted...So...

More sanding and filling then a coat of thinner primer on the rear cover ...

Final sanding on the crappy front bumper and it looks much improved...Primer sealer applied!

Riveting stuff aint it???

Sun Sep 27, 2015 2:58 pm

Still sanding!!

Nope this next pic isnt of a skating rink...

Its the replacement boot I sourced for 50$... About the only bargain of the whole project!!

Used diesel to clean up this sticky residue of its previous nomenclature..

First pass...

You can see a couple of low spots..This is the advantage of using the sanding block..

Filled those low spots and sprayed a high build coat of primer..

Hung it up and sprayed the back.. There was a bit of cleaning to do and I removed all the bits too...

I then sanded it with 400 grit and applied a coat of lighter primer... That looked good so I sanded it with 800 grit and applied the final coat of primer sealer... no more low spots!

Next up was the rear spoiler I stole from my parts car... It was in pretty sad shape.. Im not even sure I will use it but its about 140$USD so Im keeping it regardless!

Quick sand...

Prime...putty..its my life these days!!

Three or four coats of primer later...

Done..

BORING I KNOW!!!

SORRY!!

Sun Sep 27, 2015 5:02 pm

Not Boring - Great Reading

Sun Sep 27, 2015 9:03 pm

That is pure dedication just read this .spot on top job

Mon Sep 28, 2015 8:13 pm

Thanks Gents!

Next up was something I had been a wee bit fearful of tackling...

Not sure why but its the bonnet so it HAS to be perfect...So here we go...

It was too big for my crappy table so I had to do all the initial sanding on the floor..on my knees..like a good catholic...

A couple of low spots and some damage below the roundel but no major issues though..thankfully!

Got her strung up and Im sure my neighbours had a good laugh watching me struggling with it!!
Low spots filled..

Oh wait..a few more problem areas...

Fill, sand... spray..repeat..oh and remember to take a pic once in a while for the millions faithfully following the build...

High build primer, sanding with 600 grit... then painted with fine primer (forgot that pic!) and sanded with 800 grit...
Then primer sealer applied...

Closeup of the primer sealer final layer... (EXCITING STUFF!!)

Took a pic of all this crap 'cause I'll forget how it goes together later and Im prepping the rear too...

The foam insulation was brand new and oddly I've chosen to keep it.. makes no sense to rip it out...so it gets all taped up...
Sanded once again and then cleaned with thinner and primered...

Final primer coat...

I feathered the edges with primer sealer and set the bonnet aside...

Good day done!

Mon Sep 28, 2015 11:49 pm

I'm an avid reader of your updates! You should release a book.. great read!

Tue Sep 29, 2015 1:25 pm

your photos arnt loading for me ? these have on this page:/

Tue Sep 29, 2015 1:27 pm

they start loading from page 12 so i dont know if you changed storage then as there not showing up until then?

Tue Sep 29, 2015 4:17 pm

yeti,
Looks like the website I had used for the pic hosting is currently down.. Hopefully it is back up and running later today..

Kinda ruins the thread I know but please check back later...

I will rehost all the pics on my new site but that will require DAYS of work to do so it will have to wait till I break a leg or something..

mitchen

You are no slouch yourself sir! Beautiful and tasteful work on your gorgeous 320... I can only hope my iS turns out half as nice!!

Write a book - hmmm... Perhaps the title could be " The e30-Lovers Cure for Insomnia!"

Zone Gold would be nice but that's pie in the sky!!!

Tue Sep 29, 2015 5:29 pm

ok least you found the problem as i thought i was reading the first page then nothing ........ lol was a good read until then keep up the good work from page 1 of what ive seen lol

good title for a book

Wed Sep 30, 2015 2:18 pm

yeti,

Looks like the website is up and running but they've erased my profile..

I will have to repost all the pics and remember which go where..

That is a monumental task

Which Ive already started...

Page 1 done...took 3hrs...aaarrgg

Wed Sep 30, 2015 10:22 pm

Pages 2,3,4,5 done..this sucks...

Thu Oct 01, 2015 1:54 pm

oh thats crap did wonder why its stopped at page 3 lol thought it was fixed keep it up though looks great work

Thu Oct 01, 2015 4:23 pm

Alrighty..still working on rebuilding the first 12 pages of this thread...

But lots been done in the garage too...

Open the door...Dont ask about the sun shade!!....

Who wouldnt want to spend all day in there??

Alright back on track..

With the bonnet complete I decided I would have to tackle the doors..

Id already removed the locks (I had to swap them with my parts car..) so I set about removing the side mirror.. a couple of screws..too easy...

You can see the door is in good nic.. They are the reason I bought the 2nd iS - it was worth it just for the doors..

Block sanded..

Im not removing the clips..they seem fragile and paint won't hurt them...

One little problem area on the corner...

Thu Oct 01, 2015 4:33 pm

I then primered a few times and sanded it in between coats but chose to leave it without the final primer sealer.. The reason being that in order to fit the front wings I will need to fit the doors and the bonnet once the car is back on wheels..but fitting the bonnet at this stage may do more harm than good so I will try to get away without doing that...

One down... the other one...later...

Thu Oct 01, 2015 4:44 pm

Excellent work

I think you should remove the clips - they are only pennies from the stealer and a layer of paint on them will make it difficult to get the rubbing strips back on

Thu Oct 01, 2015 8:39 pm

Excellent idea..thanks henna...I had already ordered a whole bunch so they are ready and waiting!!

Sat Oct 03, 2015 3:35 pm

Things are advancing quite nicely considering the cold has arrived...

I received my sunroof from BM..must say its flawless... it wont need any real prep..

No pic of the top

I also sanded down the engine bay and applied a coat of high build primer, sanded again and applied a coat of fine primer...

First light pass..

Some final sanding around the fuse box and then primer sealer to go...

Sat Oct 03, 2015 3:47 pm

Also managed to find some extras that need painting - Im certain I will forget something but that's the way things go...

This is the bonnet bracket and arm in case you didnt know..

All cleaned up (last summer!!) but recleaned with thinner just because... Primered...

Now..do I install it or paint it separately???

Sat Oct 03, 2015 6:52 pm

Also got back to work on the top...

By the way, if you are doing something similar, a piece of advice.. BUY YOUR PRIMER BY THE BOX!! Because I must have gone thru atleast 30 cans by now and made 3-4 unnecessary trips to the store for not buying enough the first time around...

Id already put a few coats of high build primer.. This was sanded down at 600 grit.. Cleaned with thinner..

a Couple of coats of thin primer...

Bacon is on sale too!! Yes!!

That coat was sanded down with 800 and primer sealed..
Apron was done too...

Sat Oct 03, 2015 10:53 pm

Of course.. what else could I use? Air compressor? Too complicated for me...

They are really quite good with the new tips on them they spray really nicely... Im also pretty good at it..

Sun Oct 04, 2015 11:14 pm

I actually have a compressor and good quality spray gun somewhere (my dads).. Since Ive never even used that type of setup it never really occurred to me to even try..

All said and done it will be about 300$ in cans.. cdn... thats 150 in your funny money...

I think you can see from the pics the cans are doing a great job...