E30 Zone

Hi All,
bit of a long timer on here with my 316.
Its been in multiple garages over the last 10 years slowly rusting and waiting for some much needed attention. I'm finally at a point in life where I can do my dream build so its full send from here on in!
I started this summer thinking I'd just get her running after rebuilding the DHLA 40 carbs and rewiring the engine. After finding some rust on the sils I decided instead to fully send it.

The car has been fully stripped down and is going to be dipped, metal worked, dipped again, e-coated, Then a full respray in Zinnobar red. I cannot wait to start rebuilding again. I've been gathering parts for a looong time.

Currently trying to figure out how to modify an m3 exhaust manifold to work with the m10 and RHD.

Heres some recent updates of what ive been upto.

Carbs rebuild with bigger chokes and jets sized to suit and hopefully make some power and get up onto the 292 cam! Engine rewired with all new wires and pins. Wiring includes megajolt EDIS-4 based ignition and wiring for additional VDO guages (quite proud of this)

Alpina style ABS boot spoiler and mtech2 style side skirts

The current head scratcher. Ports line up nicely and think getting the new flange on there will be the easy bit. getting around the steering column may be fun!

And heres the reason I've decided its time to fully restore. The cills looked abit crusty so i did some investigation with a wire wheel.

Well I got word that the E30 had come back from its date with an acid bath!
Went down to have a look and very plesently surprised at how solid the old girl is. The main bulk of the work seems to be sorting some issues on the firewall, Drivers side inner arch (shock tower side), the rear vallance, front core support and making good all the previous welding ive had done over the years!

Excellent

Any close ups of the shell?

Alright Dan!
I've got a couple. really surprised with how good it is. The main problems are fixing the dodgy repairs to the factory chassis mounts and a dodgy wheel arch welded on the passenger side.
The lower rear vallance is toast and the battery tray has seen better days but the scuttle is solid.

Doesn’t look too bad that! Seen a few nightmares come back from acid dip in the past (mostly old jap stuff though I might add)
I love a full strip back project! Looking forward to more updates on this one.

Si316 wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 20, 2023 5:13 pm

Well I got word that the E30 had come back from its date with an acid bath!

Looks good, where did you get it done?

One thing I have been told it make sure it is really well pressure washed off after as the dipping stuff has a habit of creeping out of joints after painting.

One place I am thinking of using for paint won't touch it if I have it dipped. I was tempted to get it e-coated then leave it for a while and get on with other stuff and let it sit before painting

The restorers use Enviro strip for the dipping and e-coat. I've heard some horror stories too but ive heard about horrors with blasting too.
The restorer is really confident in the acid dipping process and hes the one whos putting his name to it and painting it so im happy if hes happy.

Si316 wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 22, 2023 12:34 pm

The restorers use Enviro strip for the dipping and e-coat. I've heard some horror stories too but ive heard about horrors with blasting too.
The restorer is really confident in the acid dipping process and hes the one whos putting his name to it and painting it so im happy if hes happy.

Yeah there is no ideal answer, blasting can warp panels. I have looked at envirostrip and SPL, going to pay both a visit in the new year before I commit.

Had word that the car is now in bodywork primer and ready for metal work. Were going to be ordering repair pannels and putting together the action plan for metal work.

Afew more pics fro mthe restorer of it going into bodywork primer.

Did you not go for the e-coat ?

It’s having all the metal work done then going back for another dip and e-coat then final paint.

Looks amazing!
Who is doing this work and roughly how much is this costing if you don't mind me asking?

The restorers are called Focus Five Autoworks in Cheshire and doing an absolutelly fab job!

Some progress on the front and rear chassis rails:

Great work so far dude

What lurks between seams gives me nightmares!

DanThe wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 04, 2024 1:15 pm

What lurks between seams gives me nightmares!

Haha, me too! so glad hes having a good look at everything on it. Looked pretty clean but still hiding some horrors. Makes you wonder watching some of the patch work restorations what there not seeing/sorting!

Managed to get hold of some dream bits. So happy to have some Gaz gold coilovers and WMS brakes!