E30 Zone

A few people have asked ne to put this on here so here is a bit of a catch up with where im up to. sorry there is so much and ive copied and pasted a lot of it for ease.
En joy
As it was when I picked it up prior to the trip back last feb. one owner 29000 miles etc etc








Its had 1 owner and done 29000 miles. the exhaust has been bodged and needs fixing the brakes are binding and the bodywork needs the slightest of attention but other than that its honest and solid and drives very very well. I got it up on the ramps when I got back and its leaking a little oil but absolutely solid and rot free underneath. Im was a happy bunny
i wasnt exactly sure why I was buying the car and wasnt sure if I was going to mod it or not. after seeing and buying it I was kind of glad itswas not completly mint and original as it has made my mind up to mod it.
1st set of wheels I bought I test fitted whilst on std suspension but went off them so they were the 1st set for the axe.











next up was a van load of expensive scrap (e21 stuff is foookin expensive)


bought a New jack to make life a lot easier. Love i!.

2 hrs later and not one seized bolt


collecteda donor car and The mrswent absolutely ape shit


Tanks off next it was bloody mint underneath, jet wash and underseal next while all the other bits are being powder coated. Than add the return fuel line.



Factory fresh e_surprised



all rear suspension parts and tanks powder coated and poly bushed (strongflex)


then stripped the m52 downof all the unnecessary parts, replaced all the gaskets and seal, fitted a M50 inlet and a lowered sumpand pick up


then gave the underside a couple of coats of rust bullet


then a coat of colour all ready to start re assembly


pulled the heart out next. No going back now





pulled out the servo,pipes, wires and sound proofing then gave it a quick jetwash. i was tempted to leave the engine bay and get the lump in but I knew I would always be kicking myself if I did, Ill give it a propper clean next prep it all and give it some fresh paint before re build. not much corrosion considering its age and what is there is only surface rust.







New back plate and paddle clutch not very road friendly


cut off a few bits out of bay and atacked the service rust with wire wheel, rust treatmeant then rust bullet. then I fitted the return fuel tank, re fitted the rear tanks and started re assembling the rear beam.








finnished paintig today the underside and engine bay at least. and ordered new sound deadening from bmw for the bulkhead.










Pulled all the engine bay wiring back through into the glovebox so I can mount it in the cabin. I was to look into having a more modern fuse set up. in the end I decided agains but more on that later.
Also put the new sound deadening in the bay and started putting everything back.


picked up some banded steels cheap 8 and 8.5 x 15 needed some more subtle paint and some sort of bmw centre/hub caps. I had high hopes for them but it turned out they were made by a clown and they wouldnt hold air or balance


builing up rear end


then fitted it to the car





then fitted the new rear coilovers

lastly painted the callipers ready for rebuiling with new pistons, seals and fittings.

I was pleased with the way it was going but by this point almost everything gerts some sort of painting or polishing before it goes on the car.... so so gay

spot the difference



Engines in day and progress is being made but still lots to do Rear end all back together and all I sandblasted , rebuilt, replaced pistons and seals then painted all the calipers please don't do it by the time you've got the bits you could have got some willwoods lol. Any way more pics.










latest aquasition still not sure but they are pretty sexy


I got all the brakes and clutch done and bled up. I was going to move it to my unit over the festive period and give it a final push and finnish it (never happened




Back on all fours for first time in nine months. It's low probably be coming up a bit




AND BREATH! this is as it stands today but over the coming days ill be fitting a new sexy (well I think so) that Danthe has made for me that will enable me to hide a lot of the wiring and hopefully get the fecker started

Cracking project its going to be some motor when finished.
It's a pity about the banded steelies they would have looked sweet imo.

Good f**king work. Going to be a great example of a sleeper. I agree with shedrool83, a set of banded steels would look excellent, nice and subtle.

I've often thought about getting that sort of ramp for my cars. But was worried they didn't span along the length of the car enough and that the chassis might flex a bit to much. But it seems you're happy with it?

Looking forward to updates

Quality Quality Build.

This how they should be done.

Body colour paint for the underside!



Can you give us some details on the ramp that you are using?

excellent work, subscribed , love it.

Love the work so far mate.

cheers all I agree about the steels and have thought about banding the std wheels but am also searching for some 7x15 alpinas or reps to keep it subtle. the ramp is fecking awesome and I would have given up long since without it. You can get the car up really high if you pivot it. I had to take the engine out again today (dont ask Grrr) but with the ramp and an old impact gun engine and box are out (from underneath) in an hour. best £320 I ever spent. they are from a place in Rochdale that have loads of great toys?tools

that tool looks bloody great, as does the car. Alot of effort going in there.

I guess the wiring to get this to run isn't too bad a drama?

Simon13 wrote:that tool looks bloody great, as does the car. Alot of effort going in there.

I guess the wiring to get this to run isn't too bad a drama?

Easy peazy if you get a loom off Danthe. Plug and play

u keeping all the original bits?

Proper job that is, well done

Awesome project and great attention to detail! Me like!

Nice project

Simon13 wrote:u keeping all the original bits?

Nope they all got sold and scrapped it's all fully reversible but I don't want a pole of scrap kno king about.
Original loom



Dans loom. Doesn't look much but it's awesome and can be hidden out of sight.



Today's two steps back . Flywheel catching block so all had to come out)

Gutted! Have you got a replacement fly? If you want it lightning give me a shout

Also, I strongly recommend you ditch that clutch plate!

Looks great!

DanThe wrote:Also, I strongly recommend you ditch that clutch plate!

With what it cost I'm going to at least try the fecker. But I also have my doubts.
Got a proper e21 flywheel coming tomorrow. This one was meant to be but I think it's from an e30 it o ly catches by a few mm the grinder would sort it out in secs but I just can't do it.

Ah, factory light fly

I have a sprung paddle clutch on my track car and its a coont, great at 50mph+ but a coont at anything less

Great project, that flywheel issue is common and why most use an M20 E30 fly lightened up to 5.5Kg. Some folk used to grind the E34 sump as that is where it usually catches.

I strongly recommend whatever Dan strongly recommends as gospel LOL

Duke137 wrote:
I strongly recommend whatever Dan strongly recommends as gospel LOL

clued up on the clued up...

Awesome build!

Good work. This'll be epic!

Great job!

Very, very envious! Well done, great work so far

Cracking job, she'll be a handful

This is looking awesome mate

Great work! Looking forward to seeing more pis.

not sure about seeing more pis , pics maybe

Great work! Looking forward to seeing more PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEE.

WOW

awesome build - also - whats that car lift like to work with?

Fair play to you mate that's a cracking project, keep the updates coming.

Quaser wrote:awesome build - also - whats that car lift like to work with?

the car lift is awesome I dont have a single complaint about it. I couldnt have done the project without it. had engine in and out and flywheel changed last weekend in about 3 hours on my own using a pallet truck, impact gun and sockets, the lift and spare wheel.
thanks for comments I was hoping to have it running this weekend but our new baby arrived a few weeks early so progress over the next few months will undoubtably be slow.

looks awesome