Jim's Chromie Thread - Hail Storm Aftermath

[Jim320i]

There may be hope...I dont bloody know


I want there to be hope...


Both arches have seen some action...Driver side one looks a bit more involved. Seeing as it looks like a new panel/lining in there, but just not treated right so might be sortable?






Make it look shiny...




Other side of patch work





Now, what would it take to sort, I wouldnt need it show room finish. If it could be cut out and patched back over and sorted, I'd do it, but at what cost?

My other option is to look for another chromie,spend how ever much the going rate is for a solid 2 door shell,i'm guessing £1500+ and then find I still need to sort the next one...Now thats £1500 I could spend sorting this one. I just dont know...

I know if I decided to scrap it I would regret it forever as I love this rusty turd,so its either spend the cash or run away


I hope your loving the rusty pictures though. I always find it satisfying when I see others...Not so cool when its mine

[Duke137]

I'd guess a grand in the two arches alone done properly.

What's it like under the headlining?

[capri_rob]

Drivers side one doesnt look too bad am I missing something ?

Passenger side one looks like standard issue chrome turd

Have you had the pedal box out yet ?

[kitch]

As said by Rob, the driver's side doesn't look too bad. Maybe a clean up and properly sealed could see it ok. For the passenger side you'd need a new inner arch, circa £100 for the inner arch from BMW, circa £25 for a pattern outer arch panel. Then the work on top obviously. I'd say circa £200 for the welding and then £150 for filler and paint. But if you're mate is doing the welding it could be alot cheaper obviously. In my opinion I'd save it, you like the car and as you said you could spend £1500 on a shell to find it's the same as this one.

[Jim320i]

Drivers side one doesnt look too bad am I missing something ?

Passenger side one looks like standard issue chrome turd

Have you had the pedal box out yet ?

I've been out and looked again and the driver side isnt that bad and could probably be sorted,

The passenger side needs cutting out and welding...I dont think to the extreme of the rear quarter panel off and replace the whole lot as its only this area thats bad... But someone who does welding for a living would be better advising me.


I think im still gonna crack on and get it sorted.

Like I said before, im not bothered if it doesnt look factory finish so dont need to spend loads getting the best welds,aslong as it cut out and welded, then treated so itdoesnt return it can look a mess forallI care as no one sits behind the door cards

As for the pedal box,not yet...Really didnt want to go this far in but its the point of no return so i'm gonna get the front section out tomorrow, i.e pedals, brake bit and heater matrix.

Fooking cars stress me out.

[Kedge]

Jim, why did you decide to go rust hunting on Friday 13th!?!?!?!?

It is saveable but as Ferg has already said, you won't have it back on the road this year. It's a double edged sword really, keep going or buy another.............i'd say stick at it as the chances are you'll end up in a similar position in a few months time with another car.

[Alex]

What if you spend £1500 on a supposidly solid chromie, then find out its just the same.

Chances are you may get that problem.

Get it fixed jim

Prefacelifts are *** SUPER RARE****

[Duke137]

Lol Alex

[Jim320i]

This one will be SUPER MINT too if I do the work.

I've had a word with my old man, I need to get it stripped, chopped up and he'll get it welded within a day or so... The bits that need welding dont need doing to anyone elses standard in terms of looking nice and flush. They just need to be welded so thats whats gonna be done.

I'll be stripping it back and cutting it all out hopefully soon. Then get it welded, then back together. Respray will have to wait so it will look like a out of shape turd this year, just hopefully with less rust.

There is hope yet... I think.

[capri_rob]

Its a nice car Jim - get it done

So do you have any working E30's at the moment or just a collection of fraggers ?

[Jim320i]

Just a collection of rusty scrap

Ricky's 323 is on the road but thats more hanging than my chromie

It shouldnt take long to get sorted so gonna get cracking.

I sorted the Stainless Manifold out now too so that will be fitted when I get to that stage Should look good in the engine bay

[Dezzy]

If your not going to do it right Jim , don't do it at all!

[Jim320i]

If your not going to do it right Jim , don't do it at all!

Cutting out and welding up and treating so it doesnt come back isnt right? Or does it need to look like it come out of the factory again under the dashboard?

[Jim320i]

Talking to Kedge and when I say the word 'Patch' it sounds like 'bodge'...

So changing the word to 'Plate' over anything cut out...

[Rav335uk]

Jim, mine look goooooood.


Here it looks like a bit of rust, but it's not




Back all done.

[Jim320i]

You c0ck


I've just pop back in... Since the loom is all pretty much detached inside the car if gave me enough slack to pull the fuse box forward and out the way to inspect

Suprising, not all that bad! Scabby where one of the threads for the foam cover is attached and a little bit in the corner but of the outer wing but other than that ''''ITS GOOD''''

I will need to get a replacement foam bulkhead bit for behind the fusebox though as that was fell to peices as I was pulling it out...

[Rav335uk]

I'm doing mine later

[Jim320i]

Good man, i'd come and help if my car was MINT...

[Kedge]

You wouldn't love it so much if it was mint!!

[Jim320i]

No, I would have fragged it already

[Kedge]

I'm still in shock you've not fragged this one!

[e30topless]

No, I would have fragged it already

give it time

[Jim320i]

Havent managed to get anything done to the turd for a while... Did get a bit more grinded grinded off inside the car to reveal the previous welds. Need to tackle the driver side still as that looks very suspect

But not gonna have time to do it for a while as so will be back on it in a few weeks time. My old man came and had a look today and said find the rest of the rust, then when it goes to him, it will be cut out then rather than doing it now and having holes (Bigger holes) in my car. Should be able to get it all done within a day too

I also need to strip down my front seats to restitch the centre sections as they have come undone slightly on the passenger base and driver back. Straight forward repair though as its along the stitch line and the leather hasnt split

But might wait until I source some heating elements for them and run them in at the same time

Decided to keep the comforts too and get the 'repair/refurb kit' for them from gliptone or furniture clinic or who ever does then. If a breaker turns up with Sport leather then its a bonus, but im not all that bothered, I like the comforts and no one else really keeps them in so a minty set of them will be cooler than most peoples hanging Sports

Also picked up a map light mirror for her too so will run that in before it goes back together, just need to wire it up to the loom as it was just cut out by the looks of it.

Also made some progress with my unit Managed to get some free work surface from Gumtree... Which has been cut down and placed round the outside wall of my unit freeing up loads of space Gonna look at sorting the roof and concreting the floor in a few months time so its water tight for next winter so El Turdio can live in there instead of outside.

Thats about it, wont be updating for a while as having got time to play on her now. Few weeks and i'll be all over it as want it back on the road

Need a full set of matching tyres too as gonna refurb the wheels for when shes back on the road and dont want mix and match tyres no more

[Rav335uk]

Are your seats comfort Jim?

[Jim320i]

Yes mate, been in it since they came out the factory. I thought about the old highbacks, but ever gay on here is doing them to death (No offense...) And sport seats are extremely pricey for what they are. If some come up in a breaker i'd pop them in, but I quite like the idea of refurbing the comforts to minty condition and rocking them to be a little different


Its not like its gonna be poverty spec by the time ive put it back together so the boge standard seats should level it back out. Unless you have some Sport leathers knocking about? Any colour, i'll be redying/refurbing them...

[capri_rob]

Minty mint cloth is where its at Jim

[Rich320I]

Nice car dude, and others have said the reason we like these old cars is the character , unfortunately along with the character comes a bit of rust. Thats definitely doable from what can be seen in the pictures dude, I cant understand why some of these cars are fragged for pretty easily sort able rust go for it bud at least youl know its been done than rather than buying another one.

[Duke137]

Nice car dude, and others have said the reason we like these old cars is the character , unfortunately along with the character comes a bit of rust. Thats definitely doable from what can be seen in the pictures dude, I cant understand why some of these cars are fragged for pretty easily sort able rust go for it bud at least youl know its been done than rather than buying another one.

All comes down to money, that's why they get fragged.

[Rich320I]

Yeah I understand that dude, just seems to be some decent cars broken for relatively minor rust issues, to be fair where rust is concerned though I may wear rose tinted glasses Iv spent more hours than I can remember endlessly welding old fords and they like to rust aswell.lol

anyways hope you get the car sorted jim black chromies look very

[kitch]

Any updates on this?

[Jim320i]

Currently it sitting doing nothing. I got back from Holiday last Thursday and spoke tomy old man about welding it. We debated on doing it that weekend but decided not to, he then called and said we'll get it over to him for this coming weekend. He then called back and cancelled as its his stag do

But he has that week off so we should be getting it over there next week

Need to get all the measurements etc for the welds so my mate Ricky can cut them out at work and ready to take to my dads so all he has to do is weld it. Gonna leave it with him a few days too so he can get it done without rushing

Picked up some heated seat switches and looms, just need to get some elements now too and then when I sort my seats out, I can add these parts in.

Also need to get the Cruise Control fitted before it goes back together, I was going to order the bracket that sits in the engine bay side wall but it needs welding in and to be honest, its 3 bolts that hold it in place so its doing to be fitted without the oem bracket 3 holes with 3 nuts & bolts, which I might get in and ready at some point before it goes off to my fathers.

I have been a little busy since getting back trying to sort out all my'stock'and make sure everything is accounted for as so far, I have found about 400 items that I havent even tried to sell Little bits that get thrown aside but trying to organise it all properly so to speak

[kitch]

Sounds good. Couldn't you get the cruise control bracket welded on when all the other welding is being done? Or could you not get one in time? Or just not bothered? I'm looking forward to the outcome

[Jim320i]

Well you cant actually see it when its fitted and for the hassle of ordering one, then going to pick it up, then welding it and then painting it. I have one thats on a breaker if I wanted one but I dont thing im gonna bother.

The finished car is a very long way off unfortunately, once its welded, im gonna get it back altogether and get it back on the road. Respray is gonna wait for a while now, gonna live with crap paint work for now

[Jim320i]

Bit of an update...

Finally managed to get it off down my dads for a bit of welding. They're not to the zone standard as the queen wasnt present like with others cars when having work, but we managed alright

The welds themself arent all that great to look at, but they're in places you can see any way so I can live with it, if anyone thinks different, I do not mind you paying for this to be done

On the day of welding, I forgot to get lots of pictures

We chopped out what needed chopping and plated over it, then coated it in seam sealer, didnt look great but its done the trick so wont be getting any worse.
The 2 inner rear arches, we grinded back but they didnt need touching so I treated them with the rust stuff, then coated then in seam sealer. They look terrible, but they're solid, which is all I was concerned about.

Anyway, some pictures...

Ready to go



Getting stuck in...







These are the only ones I got while we were down there







The view from my tea biitch station



Now for the uglys

Bulk head... I didnt use metal with the threads on for the loom as this is what rusted last time so I'm gonna figure that part out when I get to it, but im sure it will be ok where it sits once it goes back together



Behind the driver seat



Patch on the floor



Rattle canned up





Caked with seam sealer...




Cruise control bracket welded in too, need to paint it in still





Outer part we chopped and welded, which was the only one we 'seam' welded



This was the inner part of the arch, which is a fairly big plate that had to go in



Started undersealing the arches too and gonna get the underside done in the next few days











Spotted that the brake pads where a little low



But had some brand new mintex ones in the box that came in a breaker so popped them on


Cleaned the sump a bit too







I wire brushed up the insides of both wings and coated the lip in underseal as well just for safe keeping and the bases where caked too.

Still need to finish the driver side rear arch as started wire brushing it up a bit more revelled even more scabs which I missed the first time And I want to change the filler next and the cover thing that sits in there too so got some spares I need to paint up etc before hand.


Also took a good look at the sills too and I think im gonna have to have the driver side replaced completely as its not the best But it can wait for now, once it comes off the road next, I shall think about getting some quotes for that.

So, need to finish the rear arch and then get underneath her and underseal her up a bit more, just to make it nice and presentable, as well as start putting everything back in, and retro fit the cruise control.

[Kedge]

Good work Jim!!!!

I wouldn't worry about the weld not being perfect, so long as the rust has been chopped out that's all that matters, it's not like this is a rare car or a garage queen and like you say, the repairs are in areas that won't be seen.