E30 Zone

Some of you enthusiasts are going to hate me for various reasons. Firstly,
I have a brand new 2 door shell that I bought around 20 years ago along with a wide body kit. At the same time I also bought a 316 donor car (1800 carb model) seemed like a good idea at the time. Over the next few years I fitted the body kit and stripped the 316. I have stripped and rebuilt the engine. All the usual stuff , bearings, pump, rings etc. Lightened, balanced and gas flowed it as well. Seats door cards recovered in black with red trim in leather or to be honest stuff that looks as like leather as make no difference to me. I have gathered up approximately £2000 of other new parts over the years and another donor car. I had to as I am afraid I have forgot how it all goes together again. This one is staying complete until im ready to assemble.
Reason 2,
I am on holidays for two weeks and have decided to paint it at long last and heres to bit that will get me hate mail. In Ford apple green. I already have the paint so no point in trying to talk me out of it.
I have completed an experimental change that I would like your opinion on. Got a rear end from a disc brakes model some time ago and have widened it by about 30mm. To do this I pushed a round rod through the two rear radius arm mounts and tacked it on at each end. I then cut the mounting brackets off, moved them both out by 15mm along to bar so that they are still on the same plane and rewelded. Spring btm mount removed from radius arm and moved over to align with the top one again. 15mm spacers machined for drive shaft and longer bolts acquired. Bit mad I know but the wide arched dictated something drastic had to happen. Will still need spacers even so.
I have done some other unforgiveable things to the shell that I am to afraid to tell you about at this early stage on the forum.
Davy

Get some pics up asap fella!!!

This should be interesting, we need pic's

Leave the kit off, and build it to an OEM spec car.
YOu'll see a nice return on your money

Some pictures
Have another 316 I worth of parts as well so should be able to complete. Hope to get the paint on this week.
Black one was the original donor. most of the parts have been removed and stored. Red one has 200,000 miles and still going.

Davymc wrote:I have done some other unforgiveable things to the shell that I am to afraid to tell you about at this early stage on the forum.
Davy

Spill the beans and get more pictures up when it's painted.

shell, doors and bonnet got some green today. 4 coats base and three 2k clear. Bumpers, boot, spoiler, sunroof and some bits and bobs to do. No more holidays left however so may be a week or so before I can get a chance. Anyone else like the colour.

Yes !

I love it great to see someone doing want they want to do and enjoying it

Front wheels are a bit small...

Rears look larger, maybe a funnycar project

Agreed with what Steve said mate.

Yer so lucky to have a fresh shell to work with so it can be treated with modern preservative materials etc from the off

already under sealed with black wax ( the one you have to heat) until I was fed up spraying it. Inside chassis legs and anywhere else I could get it on got clear wax as its a bit thinner and runs into the corners better. I have an m tech rear spoiler but as the arches are wide I thought it was a bit low so I have added 25mm to the height. It will be on the next spray though so wont be able to get any opinions yet.
Davy

Interesting project. I agree, its the way to do it. Its basically a custom build from the floor up. I think we would all like to have a go but its having the premises and the time to dedicate to it thats the stumbling block for the majority of us.
Keep the foto s coming. I d like to watch this happening.
The new shell makes the difference though. Its not a mosaic of bits of old and new steel .
Nice.

Sneaked out on Sunday and fitted a door and couldn't resist setting the bonnet on. Hope to get all the other bits and bobs painted this weekend. Wife may have other ideas.

that paint looks super smooth! well done mate will be watching this one closely

Love it, wicked colour

I think you guys may be right about the wheels. I was happy enough until you brought them to my attention. Think I may have found some suitable ones but there on the wife's car.


Got some more green on and a few bits set in place. The boot spoiler has had 25mm added to the height (any thoughts)




Som
some other angles

Have started to made an effort on some or the small bits. Mirrors were is poor condition but seem fairly original so stripped the alloy parts keyed and primed the whole lot and have the satin black on. Just need to sort the green but have just found the bonnet front hinge bar thing so will do it at the same time.



On top of that I have made a discovery that I need to share.


This stuff actually seems to work. Not in the 24hours that it states however but after about a week. Had a motorbike tank that had been a long time new so I filled it up and one week later it was like a new on the inside. I have some e30 parts in it at the minute since Tuesday and about 60% of the rust is gone.

Mirrors finished. Well happy with black and green instead of all green.


Spent the whole day today cutting and splicing front splash guards to fit the wide arches. Still need finished off and painted
but got them shaped. Was lucky that I had two sets to play with.

Rear was another thing though, no plastic guards to cut just a 30mm space. Filled with expanding foam years ago but never got around to shaping and closing. Got it done today and layed up with fiberglass. Quick sand and some stone chip will hide the strands.

Almost ready to start some serious assembly

Have been on the site lots but didn't get around to posting any info lately. Will try to update this week. Lots more done.
Am in need of a weber carb conversion kit if anyone has one for sale. Was keeping an eye on e-bay for side drafts but are crazy money new and I don't know enough about them to buy second hand.
Davy

So where did this brand new shell come from? Special sale at BMW when the e36 came out?

I found it at a breakers yard about 15 years ago. Someone had bought it but didn't get around to doing anything with it. Not sure why it went to a breaker but 15 years ago they were not such a prized item I guess.

Davymc... Your not in NI by any chance? Just seen the NI reg.

Yep outside Maghera