1991 316 auto to 328

Thu Apr 26, 2018 10:38 pm

Topblag wrote:Dude, as previous, there's a 20 ton press at Gordon’s and it's free for you to use.

Equally if you can persuade it out, you can persuade it back

Once it's bent out - to bend back would likely render it less structurally sound! I think it's probably now scrap.

Fri Apr 27, 2018 9:29 am

...i would be a bit mindful of using them also...life is short enough

Mon Jul 23, 2018 3:04 pm

As has been the case with a lot of the build, learning as I go, I ended up stripping back and reassembling.

With different trailing arms I eventually got it all together and put it aside to focus on the diff.

The diff is in good shape but needed a new coat of protection from the elements!

Typical wire brush action followed by a few coats of Jotun.

Bolts were all left to dissolve the rust in the detox gel. then all bolted up, liberal use of thread lock bolted up, coated the bolt heads in some hamerite and stuck it into the car.

Fired the handbrake cables in at the same time and left the drive shafts for another day!

Mon Jul 23, 2018 3:27 pm

Hopefully some of you can shed some light on a problem I had this weekend.

I put the drive shafts on, pushed the splines end into the hub - then bolted up at the diff. Both sides. Then through tapping the hub and jacking up the trailing arm coaxed the threaded end of the drive shaft through the hub . . . on one side only!!

Mon Sep 10, 2018 12:50 pm

Got one of the nuts on and tightish using this method - I will get it up to correct ftlbs when wheel on and off the stand

Mon Sep 10, 2018 12:54 pm

I went to assemble the rear suspension and realised I was missing some bits - so I got an order into Cotswolds!

This is all I had,

Took ages to find the top washers . . . . #safeplace

Top mounts are from a e46 cabby and I have top mount strengthening kit on there as well.

Mon Sep 10, 2018 12:57 pm

When I was ordering the suspension parts I got replacements for these as well.

Mon Sep 10, 2018 7:05 pm

Great build Ronan . Going to be cracking when your finished.

Mon Sep 10, 2018 8:14 pm

Just might take forever!! Looking forward to seeing yours.

Sun Sep 16, 2018 10:16 am

So I had some time in the garage yesterday afternoon. I was still not sure how to get he hub nut on the near side. So I jacked up the drive shaft so it was horizontal with the diff output flange - the shortest distance between the hub and the diff.

I could turn the drive shaft freely. Was still baffled at that stage how I was going to get it in properly.

My car is up against the garage wall - so its hard to see where the hub bolt is. I decided to hit the hub from the outside - knocking it towards the diff. This tapping with the constant turning of the drive shaft eventually brought the shaft towards the outside. PROGRESS!!!!

I kept that up until I eventually had enough to get the hub nut on - same bit of wood to tighten up the hub nut. Delighted with that.

Next - I went to put the shock on - but the threads for the bolt were not clean enough and the bolt would not go in.

Without a tap that size I decided to make one of my own. - Luckly I found a bolt which fitted and then with a whizz from the cutting disc - I had my own tap.

This with loads of PTFE spray I cleaned out the threads - took ages of in and out and extra groves in the bolt got it nice and clean. Then I bolted the shock on and ended up with it looking like this.

Sun Sep 16, 2018 10:18 am

Thats all 4 wheels on - almost ready to go and have the rust in the rear towing eye, offside rear arch and the battery tray fixed.

Just need to get someone to do it!!

Sun Sep 16, 2018 10:20 am

Tedswagon wrote:Now the rusty bits!! My plan is to get this rolling again so I can get a couple of rotten bits sorted out.

Pesky battery tray,

IMG-20180101-WA0010

Rear valance - battery tray!

IMG-20180101-WA0008

IMAG4655

IMAG4653

There is a wee bit in the of the inner arch

IMAG4476

IMAG4475

IMAG4478

IMAG4482

IMAG4479

Ouch not nice . . .

Sun Sep 16, 2018 2:03 pm

Tedswagon wrote:Thats all 4 wheels on - almost ready to go and have the rust in the rear towing eye, offside rear arch and the battery tray fixed.

Just need to get someone to do it!!

I can recommend the guy who worked on my Alpina.

Sun Sep 16, 2018 5:25 pm

Topblag wrote:
Tedswagon wrote:Thats all 4 wheels on - almost ready to go and have the rust in the rear towing eye, offside rear arch and the battery tray fixed.

Just need to get someone to do it!!
I can recommend the guy who worked on my Alpina.

Billy is brilliant but also busy till 2020!!! I'd like to get it on the road at some stage.

Mon Sep 24, 2018 8:23 pm

Just to prove the wheels are on, I pushed it out of the garage - first time its been out in 2 years! Need to get this finished this century!

I also tightened up the pedal box bolts and adjusted the brake pedal - so all sits properly now.

Tue Sep 25, 2018 6:39 pm

Enjoying the updates. Should be the home stretch after the body work?

Tue Sep 25, 2018 9:13 pm

Many thanks, I really hhope so!

Thu Nov 15, 2018 8:56 am

This is amazing

Sat Dec 22, 2018 10:56 pm

senna wrote: ↑
Thu Nov 15, 2018 8:56 am
This is amazing

Thanks for your comment. Problem for me is I'm juggling a lot of work and being dad - car time is limited. Need to get it finished this year..... New year resolution

Fri Mar 08, 2024 11:19 am

I now have a running and driving e30.

Sorry my updates have been a bit slow!!

I'll get some photos uploaded soon as I can get back into my photos hosting account!!

Fri Mar 08, 2024 12:37 pm

Tedswagon wrote: ↑
Wed Feb 28, 2018 10:06 am
When is the Scottish car show? If it's late summer / autumn, then maybe! That's my target.

You didn't quite make that , then! No matter, there's always another one.
I know from experience that these things always take many times longer than expected, especially if doing it properly, so congratulations on saving another one and getting it roadworthy. What's left to do?

Thu Jun 20, 2024 6:35 pm

Brianmoooore wrote: ↑
Fri Mar 08, 2024 12:37 pm

Tedswagon wrote: ↑
Wed Feb 28, 2018 10:06 am
When is the Scottish car show? If it's late summer / autumn, then maybe! That's my target.
You didn't quite make that , then! No matter, there's always another one.
I know from experience that these things always take many times longer than expected, especially if doing it properly, so congratulations on saving another one and getting it roadworthy. What's left to do?

No, didn't make that one unfortunately but there is one coming up in July which I'll go to I think!

What's left to do, well there is a small amount of rust appearing along the cill areas and bottoms off wings, this car is totally original so there's no suprise there which I will get to, but it's not an "urgent over summer months" job.

I drove the car to Aberdeen and back at the weekend which was just over 300 miles and it was great, no issues with the engine. Areas to investigate;

Wipers are a bit slow in lowest gear, fine in full speed

The front brakes are not confidence inspiring, almost feels like there is no bite when engaged. (WMS 4 pot calipers) = Think another bleed might help. Will also check pad brake surface.

The clutch feel is variable, sometimes bite is a bit low in the pedal other times higher = another bleed exercise.

The electric windows don't work with the doors closed, but do with the doors open!! = Will hand this to an auto electrician who is local to me, after I check the wires in the door shut.

There is a vibration through the steering at motorway speeds = wheels 15"bbs are newly refurbished and new tyres all balanced, but will swap fronts for rears and see if that helps. Then will look to local tracking alignment specialist.

The steering wheel is slightly off straight when car is driving straight, (no obvious pulling away from dead straight when driving hands of the wheel) this one confuses me. It wasn't like that when I drove it last.
I topped up the PAS fluid as I noticed a small amount of PAS fluid on the pipes below the rack. = Think these are linked. Find the leak and see if that straightens everything.

There is a strong smell of petrol sometimes at slower speeds with the sunroof open. Can't see any leaks from engine bay, will look about pipes from the tank. All are brand new from BMW so maybe just need to tighten a clip somewhere!

The 6 button OBC does whatever it wants, except tell the time date or anything useful/what is supposed to!! = No idea what to do with this one! Any ideas??

Front drivers side SE skirt section was lost a few weeks ago somewhere in the borders - lost forever to a ditch I expect. = New one received from Cotswolds BMW this afternoon, will replace this weekend. Might add some tiger seal behind it!!!

Think that's it but fully expect more to surface

I am going to take it and my children for a mini road trip about Ireland circa 1000 miles in July so I'd like to get these all fixed before then!!