Project imposter

[Hoobs]

I have been thinking of converting my track 325 to LHD and when a cheap whole car came up, for less than the LHD parts list, it made sense to grab it.

The car in question is a pre facelift 320 and it seems to be in pretty solid condition. In fact, it's just screaming out to be built into a proper sprint & hillclimb car, with the added bonus of meaning I can continue having fun in the 325 while building it. I've always put my own stamp on cars built by others, but this time I can start from scratch.

Here it is.





I intend doing as much as I can myself (unless is compromises safety), and learning as I go. I have a basic understanding of what a spanner does but am under no illusion of what a big task this is. I just plan to be methodical, ask lots of questions and take my time.

So, when it gets delivered tomorrow the stripping will commence. I plan to get it down to a bare shell and remove all the sound deadening, do any localised repairs etc in readiness for a custom welded cage.

Any advice re cage design would be much appreciated.

[Brian28]

Nicely done Mark (That one was on my watch list too )

[Hoobs]

Well the left hooker turned up today and I was pleasantly surprised.



Depite not having been on the road for a fair while first inspection showed it to be in nice solid condition. The scuttle has no rot and obvious spots, like under the fuse box, are all really solid.

Are there any other places that might not be so obvious?







I'm looking forward to getting stuck in and getting back to a bare shell.

[rix313]

Tidy, what's tha plan then fit the left hooker parts to the orange car?

[Hoobs]

Originally, yes but the grey car has such a solid shell (and I have an M3 arch kit) I've decided to build it into an M3 replica race car, running an S50 & 5 stud conversion using E36 M3 Evo front end and Compact rear. Meanwhile, I can keep having fun in the 325 and sell once the grey car is finished.

[Mikey_Boy]

Ooooooo - that looks a goodie!!

A lot less messing around when it comes to exhaust manifolds and what not and you might be able to get a Z3 steering rack easier in LHD from ebay.de as well...

Good luck with the build - will be watching with interest!!

[Hoobs]

Well it probably took an hour to get the whole interior out.





The carpets were soaked and absolutely stank. I started worrying because if the water had time to make the carpets stick, chances are rust will have started.

Well it could have been far worse.





I made a start on chipping away at the sound deadening stuff but I had to stop after a while as I can't stay bent over for too long. I broke my neck & back in 4 places so am lucky to even be walking.

Are there any tips for getting this crap off?

I also had a call from a well known company who dip shells. Because of the fund raising I do, they kindly offered a slight reduction on cost. It's still £745 plus VAT though.

[Brian28]

DIY electric heat gun and paint scraper, sound deadening lifts off in slabs

[Topblag]

Liking the Jimmy Hill chin. Looks like a keeper.

[Demlotcrew]

I think you're mad, you already have an E30 M3. The replica with the cheap five stud will handle very badly.

I would put the money in to an E46 M3 instead, must more power and quicker build.

Andrew

[Hoobs]

If I'm honest, I simply couldn't afford an E46 (buying or running) although I take your point.

I'm not entirely sure what final spec this car will be but am just speculating really. It's also something to keep me busy and to learn as I go. There's just more to it than simply wanting an M3 rep track car.

[Hoobs]

Spent a couple of hours with a scraper and heat gun removing sound deadening. Still a way to go.

Such a tedious job!

[Hoobs]

I spent another couple of hours on the LHD car today - or project imposter.

I took all the glass out, along with winder mechanisms, trim and head lining.





It seems as though water had been getting past the screen and I think they had forgotten to remove the backing plastic from the bonding. The good news is there was absolutely no rust whatsover in the windscreen surround.



Even the rear panel, another e30 weak spot, is pretty much rock solid wit just a few little scabs here and there. Bumpers will be replaced with fiberglass M3 items.



I need to get the engine out soon and then it'll be time to jet wash / steam clean prior to using polycarbonate pads on the grinder to get it looking like this.

[Rallyprep_UK]

DIY electric heat gun and paint scraper, sound deadening lifts off in slabs

absolutely ! Makes it v easy...

[Rallyprep_UK]

what about just getting it dipped, it will save you a few million years if you feel the need to bare metal it ?

[Hoobs]

what about just getting it dipped, it will save you a few million years if you feel the need to bare metal it ?

I'd rather spend £20 on some poly carbide discs and save the other £900 for other stuff.

It's only the engine bay, inner wings, chassis rails & front panel though anyway.

[Demlotcrew]

And save the car from rusting from the inside out!

[Rallyprep_UK]

rust is lighter anyway haha

[DanThe]

And save the car from rusting from the inside out!

My thoughts exactly.
If you want to remove the rubber sealant from the underside it comes off very easily with a blowtorch and scraper/wirebrush

[Hoobs]

I think that's the likely plan, once the shell is on a spit. Either that, or on its side on a couple of old mattress or tyres.

If all goes to plan, the chaps at Quest Motorsport will be fitting a multi point cage to the same design as the early works M3's. Initially it's all about just getting all the crud off and repairing the 2 small rust spots in the floorpan.

[milescook]

You DO love a project don't you mate!

Looks great will follow with interest

[Hoobs]

You DO love a project don't you mate!

I do, yes. I know this is going to sound a bit corny but bear with me. About 6 years ago I was in a near fatal car crash in Cornwall and smashed myself to pieces. I was in a coma for weeks and spent months unable to move anything but my arms and my eyes. I used to spend hours daydreaming about what I could have, should have and would have done were I to get another crack at things. I left hospital in a wheelchair and have used my obsession with all things e numbered, to focus on anything else but the fact I'm pinned and plated back into one piece. We really do only get one crack at life and it makes sense to try and cram as much stuff in as possible. It's also why I try and raise a few quid for the Cornwall Air Ambulance whenever I can.

[redcar]

Looks good! What engine is going in this?

My brother's car had this backing plastic from the bonding on the front windscreen on it as well.

[milescook]

Looks like you've swallowed too many cable ties!

Outstanding effort though obviously, like you say one crack etc. Crack on Sir...

[Hoobs]

Looks good! What engine is going in this?

My brother's car had this backing plastic from the bonding on the front windscreen on it as well.

Probably M52/2.8 till I save enough for s54.

Odd about the plastic. Maybe they just didn't think it needed removing?

Cheers milescook.

[DanThe]

Im sure the plastic is to stop the sealer gluing to the windscreen seal

[Hoobs]

Im sure the plastic is to stop the sealer gluing to the windscreen seal

You could be right.

Spent an hour with the good chaps over at Quest this morning and have arranged for the e30 to go over next week.

They're just in the process of installing a rolling road so are quite busy but, having had a nose around the e28 they're currently working on, I was really taken by the quality of their work.

They're also in the process of building another replica. A Ford RS200 with turbo'd YB.

Anyway, my e30 goes over next week and the M3 panels are on route from the suppliers.

Plan on going for a cage inspired by the Group A designs from Matter.

Excuse crappy phone pics.

www.questmotorsport.co.uk

[Mikey_Boy]

Hmmmmm - RS200....

[Hoobs]

Hmmmmm - RS200....

My thoughts exactly.

[Hoobs]

I've found some stuff about cages that I figured might be of interest. Some of this stuff is quite technical but interesting, even for a numpty like me.

http://www.e30m3project.com/e30m3perfor ... stalls.htm

http://www.e30m3project.com/e30m3perfor ... _cages.htm

Loving these Group A type control arms and plan to ask Quest about fabrication.

http://www.e30m3project.com/e30m3perfor ... /index.htm

[HairyScreech]

Very easy to do those, i made a set for the turbo ka project a while back.

[Mikey_Boy]

^^^^

Sweet...........!

[MarkT]

The difficulty with doing this with the E30 is at the hub end. What are you going to use for the ball joint?

[Demlotcrew]

By using one of these bolts through a rose joint



Andrew

[Barx325i]

very nice is that Andrew