New project M3 -Some Paint!

[goosiegander]

I have read that feature before.

Any more updates?

Yes its very interesting, the sunroof tray should be out now and the interior roof skin cleaned of the surface crap, new pannel ready to be put back in,

Wheels are being sent for repainting in the next week or so and i'm going to try and pin down Jhonno and Penton to have a look over the s50,

Speaking of the s50, have sump pick-up arp's and a soldering iron so it'd be good to start inspecting wear on no6 and if everything checks out get the arp's in the big end.

I need to take and put up some more pictures i guess

[goosiegander]

About 6 months to a year back there was a Lotech for sale somewhere (PH maybe?) Wasn't very expensive as it had "something" wrong with it. Think the turbo was shagged, but I stand to be corrected

It says the bottom end suffered oil starvation in that article, perhaps its the same car,

I'd love to know more about the history of mine prior to all that buisness i know it was imported in 2000 but thats about it, the reports of it being an S3 2.5 are not substantiated,

I have to say i appreciate you continuing to comment on this thread Rich, i didn't mean to seem to dismiss your input before and it was very touch and go regarding if it was to be taken on, and I was being quite headstrong,

Thus far no traumas have presented,

I've decided on a standard e36 rack as it closest to the m3 ratio without the ratio retarder of the e36 m3 or quicker ratio,

One of Dans Coupling bars will soon be placed into service,

Still hoping to be done by sumer

[Jhonno]

I have read that feature before.

Any more updates?

Yes its very interesting, the sunroof tray should be out now and the interior roof skin cleaned of the surface crap, new pannel ready to be put back in,

Wheels are being sent for repainting in the next week or so and i'm going to try and pin down Jhonno and Penton to have a look over the s50,

Speaking of the s50, have sump pick-up arp's and a soldering iron so it'd be good to start inspecting wear on no6 and if everything checks out get the arp's in the big end.

I need to take and put up some more pictures i guess

Is that what the tinkle was about earlier?

[beardymat]

id just get some shells and put em in, makes sense whilst you have it apart and you will know youre rolling on fresh ones so plenty of miles of worry free hooning. Dont forget they do seem to be a weak spot on S50`s and since you will be running a single pickup it can only make the problem worse. Wish id baffled my sump when it was off now too.

by the way the birds car you asked about on kierans thread, they just did the bare minimum to get the bits in for right hand drive like just cutting off the bracket for the accelerator pedal flush with the floor and not paying attention to protecting the bare metal or stuffing M8 bolts through the bulkhead to fasten the glovebox to with a blob of seam sealer over them and tacking plates over unwanted holes mot patch stylee. I havnt even seen it with the dash out yet.

[Dezzy]

I need to take and put up some more pictures i guess

Errr Yeh!!!

Sorry but been waiting for progress/updates for ages!

I can talk I know.

[Rich_W]

I have to say i appreciate you continuing to comment on this thread Rich, i didn't mean to seem to dismiss your input before and it was very touch and go regarding if it was to be taken on, and I was being quite headstrong,

Don't worry about it. No harm, no foul.

[blitz877]

cant beleive ive not seen this on here! good work and keep it up

[euan]

amazing find and well done with work so far

[Ant]

Nice one Chris

[goosiegander]

[Dan320is]

I've just read all nine pages, I wish I had the room for this type of project.

[tonybtonyb]

I think this fella likes to work hard there's loads to do on this shell good luck

[goosiegander]

Evening All!

Put my hand up to start some prepping, Brad set me to work on the rear spoiler, its the light-weight fibreglass copy of the sport evolution item...









Its not very x-works but its a bit straighter then it was (didnt take any more pictures due to the dust) and should be getting a coat of primer shortly

[e30topless]

the very same spoiler is going on the M3 resto i am doing, beware ! the boot opens quite fast with one of these fitted !

[Jhonno]

the very same spoiler is going on the M3 resto i am doing, beware ! the boot opens quite fast with one of these fitted !

They open even faster without one on.. Jesus, nearly chinned by my own car..

[E30BeemerLad]

POW! right in the kisser

[goosiegander]

Small update with pictures to follow shortly,

Wiring loom came out of the box last week to be unspooled and checked, as with many examples this one had been 'graced' with the loving attention of 'mr clifford the alarm fitter'.

Loving isn't quite the term i'm certain many of you understand but it's all good, an aircon loom is what i was after and making good the bodges will not take an inordinate amount of time with the loom spread over the floor in mission control. Certainly better than doing it in the car.

The rear subframe and trailing arms/calipers are away for blasting/powercoating/re-anodising.

Work is apparently starting again at the paint shop folloing a recent location and i'm off for a look some time after next week.

Slow and seady progress if nothing else...

Looking at replacing the big end shells and possibly stripping the engine for rings etc... as its a genuine 88k i dont really want to get too serious at this point and possibly look at a full rebuild in a few years time, that could be a bodgers attitude but unless there are any major nasties i don't want to prolong what has already been an almost 2 year long project

[Jhonno]

ARPs and shells. Jobbed.

[goosiegander]

Just big end dude?

[Jhonno]

Yeah.. Not expensive, and you'll have it apart anyway.

[Eddie25]

Epic! Looking back at what you started with I can't believe how its coming along.

Loving the mounting collection of tasty morscels too.

Well done that man.

[Finto_316]

great work man

[goosiegander]

Thanks guys!

Pictures soon

[MIKAM3]

I like your work , good luck !

[Felix79]

Thanks guys!

Pictures soon

Good man Goosie !

Always enjoy the updates dude!

[goosiegander]

Thanks guys!

Pictures soon

Good man Goosie !

Always enjoy the updates dude!

Thanks Felix and everyone else for the moral support!

Update then:



Powdercoated rear beam and arms,

A box of stuff?


Containing freshly treated calipers ready for building up!

[Jhonno]

No issues with the powder coating this time? Calipers look the nuts..

[goosiegander]

If it's not too late regarding your swap to RHD,door looms are specific to DRIVER'S door and PASSENGER door,not LHD/RHD,so any driver's door loom will suit.
I would re-wire with a complete RHD loom,this will sort all the issues I had getting the door looms to work properly!

Other issue I found difficult was mounting the glove box,the bulkhead is differently shaped on LHD...

Both doors will be stripped and re-loomed,

Interesting regarding the glovebox problem, i'll take a good look before the interior is painted and hopefully anyhting thats going to foul it can be reshaped/adjusted

This is your problem....
My solution was to leave out the glovebox liner and cut the back of the 'box to fit,not ideal,but almost two years on I have still to find a better answer!
Glovebox hinge mount(RHD only,BMW's solution)is packed out from the toe board by a quarter inch to achieve this 'fit'...
I thought that the plastic mount for the dash loom plug and accessories socket was a different shape for RHD,but sadly it is'nt.
Good news is that you have to open the glovebox to see the problem.
I would love to learn how Bird's overcame this issue.
My other problem was the wiper motor mount,work from dimensions from a RHD car for all three mounting studs,the single LHD one is in the wrong place for any of the RHD items!
The steady bracket at the driver's side is simple fabrication.
Remember that E30 started as LHD,and the factory converted the design to RHD.
Steering column is almost marked by the plastic paint drain plug in the R/H footwell,but it's not the centre....
RHD pedal box includes the pivots for the throttle pedal and there should be two 'dimples' in the R/H corner of the battery tray to give you a guide to locate it.
If I were daft enough to take on another LHD/RHD conversion I would use a RHD loom instead of modifying the dash part/door socket part of a LHD loom.
Best of luck,please keep the photo's coming!

Revisiting this now as bracketry needs to be fabbed prior to the interior being painted,

If i have correctly understood the above the plastic loom support bracket needs to be moved toward the centre line of the vehicle in order to properly fit with the position of the glovebox -yes?

Am going to BBB armed with a flappy wheel and metal bits for cordless drill, well that and a shiny new angle grinder,

So checklist for RHD:


Glovebox lower mounts - two threaded sections, one is bracket mounted?

Loom bracket mounting tabs to shift along a few inches - two of?

Transmission tunnel servo bracket/linkage to mount - one of?

Only other thing i can think of is the throttle stop and or clutch stop one is a spot welded bracket and the other a section of thread welded to the bulkhead?

Appreciate any input,

Once again have to praise up BBB invaluable all the way through this

[goosiegander]

Another small update,

Visited Jhonno on the weekend and picked up these,



Big brakes, married to the standard E30 M3 rears i'm hoping to be able to stop well enough,

Could someone kindly recommend a Master cylinder suitable for the above combination? GeoffBob if you are reading? x

Servo (clio m2) will be relocated approx 30-40mm to improve plenum clearance, also toying with the idea of dry mounting the engine to fabricate a bracket for the standard airbox

Started doing some more bits with the rear axle though i'm waiting on an order from bmw to start hammering bits back together so nothing too exciting to show there,




Some preventative measures being taken against our friend corrosion, will also be giving the new discs a coat as has been said before -no one likes a crusty perimiter lol!

Oh and another shot of the epic pina-ness, will be going to these people http://www.aerocoat.net/ some flat spots to tap out but should be ok, they have very good press and at £40 per wheel who can complain...

[Dan320is]

Lookin' good me ol' fruit.

[goosiegander]

Sunroof tray came out today,


Scabby in appearance but after blasting, treating and zinc priming it'll be brand new!

[Jhonno]

Blimey.. Some actual progress. Next thing you know mine'll have progressed..

[d6dph]

Progress is going well then mate? Are you refitting the sunroof or having a new roof skin fitted?

[goosiegander]

Indeed Dan -when did you say you were going over there?

Progress is going well then mate? Are you refitting the sunroof or having a new roof skin fitted?

Yes thanks Dave, New sunroof cassette was delivered ready for this in retrospect though i think i'd rather have had a non sunroof skin but hey-ho the current skin should clean up easilly enough

[goosiegander]

Another small but important update,



Shiney and rebuilt!