Started working on my crashed E30 (swap model)

Post Wed Dec 16, 2015 1:38 pm

So, I was in crash accident a few months back (blacked out during driving) and went in coma for a few days. I've turned over the edge and went through a small cliff (at least thats what they said to me).

Now that I'm alive and back on my feet, I started working on my baby that got destroyed that night.

A little about my car:
- Bought it from local cop who've taken care of it pretty good
- Was doing minor changes to it while back
- No rust, coupe model, '84 320i
- Swap engine, '87 324d
- Really rear model (the first owner was from Arabia and he was some sort of sheikh or something and he kept it inside the house as a collection car)

This is me with the box around five days since I bought it. There was a lot of things to get repainted.

The beast from the garage.

This is her at the summer, two cats.

Unfortunately as I said, I had a really bad experience around three and a half months ago. The picture of car doesn't look like it was that deadly but thats not what I've felt.

These are the pictures of the car pulled out from drop, taken by my friend who rushed to the scene. Also, I crashed around 4:30AM, no one found me till 8:00AM afaik. It's pretty isolated place above the town.

I turned over and finished sideways. I can't remember much of the details but I'm grateful no glass shattered inside my head.

Now, to the job. I bought a glass first, didn't want my car to get wet inside (tho' it did a little bit).

The dealer sent me mid 88 > newer model glass instead of 87 and lower.

Started removing unfixable parts and set a new window that fits. Fixable? Yes. Worth it? Not really, no. But I'm still going to do it

My friend who works with me is electrician. The beast is half alive, he is waking up!

These next days, I'll update the thread with oil pan replacement process and hopefully hearing an engine.

Cheers.

Bonus, this is image of me happy to be alive http://i.imgur.com/yyslikZ.jpg

Post Wed Dec 16, 2015 2:01 pm

wow, you are lucky. It looks pretty bad, is it worth trying to fix?

Post Wed Dec 16, 2015 2:21 pm

a little bit of body filler and polish and that will be fine. Look forward to the updates. Welcome to the zone and glad to read you're okay!

Post Wed Dec 16, 2015 7:03 pm

Thank you both for concern

I don't think it's worth fixing but I'm still going to do it. Just to learn more about the car itself.

Thanks for warm welcome once again, Gert.

Post Wed Dec 16, 2015 7:08 pm

More than welcome!! Plenty of information here - and in the wiki section. Good luck!

Post Wed Dec 16, 2015 9:51 pm

Welcome to the zone mate!

Its a shame what happened to your car man!

Glad to see your looking to restore it..most would get rid but that doesn't make for a good story does it

Can i ask why you blacked out? Is there a risk of it happening in the future if you did get it back up and running?

I look forward to updates

Post Sat Dec 19, 2015 1:57 pm

Hey Cypriotgeeza, thanks for your concerns.

I blacked out due to unknown reason, I'm still going to the hospital for testing and determine what make me cause blacking out. It's starting to get boring so I'll probably not continue to do so in next year.

The Christmas is coming so I'm busy and can't continue working on the car right now. Once it's over, I'll post some updates.

Also, man, I love your car. I saw your project on several different forums that I browse without user account and I fell in love at the first sight. Keep it up pal, looks clean.

Post Sat Dec 19, 2015 2:34 pm

ck3k wrote:Hey Cypriotgeeza, thanks for your concerns.

I blacked out due to unknown reason, I'm still going to the hospital for testing and determine what make me cause blacking out. It's starting to get boring so I'll probably not continue to do so in next year.

The Christmas is coming so I'm busy and can't continue working on the car right now. Once it's over, I'll post some updates.

Also, man, I love your car. I saw your project on several different forums that I browse without user account and I fell in love at the first sight. Keep it up pal, looks clean.

Thanks man it means alot

I wish you health and luck in the new year mate

Post Sat Dec 19, 2015 3:46 pm

Sorry to see your baby smashed up.but dont lose hope! Two of my three e30 started out pigs ,but god have i learnt a lot,and the zone just constantly wets my appertite to plow on,three years on my 320i two door,finished been driver her for just over a year and 18 months welding my £200 320i convertable back together, now engine bay painted and engine back in (and cleaned up)its tough but just keep going.as the years go by there getting rarer.and its such a joy to say thats my car and i put it back together!when its sits there bruised and battered(like your self)remember what she drove like .hope that inspired you,the zone is allways a great place to look at other peoples achievements and get your ass out there and finish it (after christmas off cause.bank account willing).
Hope ya get better and good luck,andy

Post Sun Dec 20, 2015 8:09 pm

Was really sorry to read this, and just hope you are ok and 2016 is a happier healthier year for you and your E30

Kind Regards

Mr-Lachs

Post Wed Dec 23, 2015 3:56 am

Thank you both for your kind words. Also @andysheep that is hell of a motivational text. I'm hoping to get it at least driveable around mid of January.

Post Sun Jan 24, 2016 6:18 pm

Hey guys, I can't work on a car right now, the weather is really cold and my box is out and not in a garage.

I have a question tho': since I want to repair cracked oil pan, are there any things I should think about first? As you can see in my sig, the engine I currently have inside is 2.4d (M21D24) from '87.

What oil pans does fit me? I think both E34 and E30 2.4d (any) will work out. Does 2.4td also fits the 2.4d engine? I also heard I have to lift engine if I want to replace oil pan, is it true? I'm not sure how would I do that outside.

I'm also thinking about welding the oil pan, as it seems I can't find any 2.4d oil pan in my country. What material is it made from? Will post a picture of cracked oil pan asap.

Thanks in advance and kind regards.

Post Sun Jan 24, 2016 8:39 pm

Most oil pans (sumps) on cars like E30s are made of aluminium alloy. It can be (TIG) welded, but it is quite tricky to get an oil-tight seal unless the welder is competent.

Post Mon Jan 25, 2016 3:43 pm

Thanks! What exactly is oil-tight seal and what problems it can cause me?

Post Mon Jan 25, 2016 4:19 pm

Well, if the welding isn't a perfect seam-weld, i.e., a bit 'pigeon sh*tty', there will be small holes through which oil, particularly when hot and under pressure such as when the engine is running, will escape through.

This will manifest itself as oil leaks on your driveway or wherever you park, oil sprayed underneath the car as you drive along (not necessarily a bad thing, as long as it doesn't affect delicate parts), and of course, a steady drain from the sump so you'll need to top up with engine oil more often.

Post Mon Jan 25, 2016 4:47 pm

good luck

Post Mon Jan 25, 2016 5:07 pm

Nice to see ya back,was thinking of hassling you,wondering what was happening

good luck your moving in the right direction,keep posting

Post Mon Jan 25, 2016 5:10 pm

Hard part about welding anything that has had oil in and that is made of alu is getting around the oil contamination of the surfaces, no matter how clean you make it you still have oil in the surface of the metal.
Hence the porosity issues alluded to above.

Can be welded, you just need a good welder to do it.
If a sump is really THAT hard to get hold of where you are then perhaps a local craftsman could make a steel one up?
The flange can be traced from a gasket and then it's the same as making any other sump.

I think the stock sump is LM25 cast aluminium. Anyone know for sure?

Post Mon Jan 25, 2016 6:27 pm

@Speedtouch that make sense. I don't think filling oil more regularly will make any difference, the 2.4d already eats too much oil and I have that experience already. Becomes another hobby with time :p

Also thanks magpy; andy: How it's going? I'm alive, just a bit busy and the weather is so cold

HairyScreech: Great input, thank you for that. The welding is not that expensive so I'll try up with that solution first. If not, either I'll get a whole new engine, or try to look for a craftsman who could do that, yet I doubt I'll find any who will do that but who knows.

cheers

edit: btw so yea, about replacing oil pan. How much does the engine have to be lift in height to be able to remove cracked oil pan?

Post Tue Jan 26, 2016 10:34 am

How bad is the sump?

Any pictures?

Post Tue Feb 09, 2016 9:14 pm

Info: I'm pretty close to removing the sump. Only have to remove bolts from engine mount and lift the engine itself to remove the pan.

Will post image of the sump tomorrow, hopefully if I remove it from the car. Pretty bad actually from the look of it, but not unfixable I guess.

Post Fri Apr 01, 2016 11:20 pm

Howdy everyone? I missed you <3 and sorry for late info. I'm not good financially right now (trying to save up for E34) so I started working with what I already have. The oil pan is still not fixed but good news: the weather started to be really good. It's sunny so I can work outside which I prefer then in my garage (which already hold my fathers Golf mk2 1.6 diesel)

As you can see from pics in the 1st post, the hood was in sh*t state and I was going crazy when I see it everytime I uncover the car.

So here are some new pics..

My buddy and I removed the hood first, and fixed all bent metal around headlights.

The hood was fixed and replaced by two of us alone with a help of my father who is 1960 but man that guy have some knowledge..

Also, that view tho'.. Loveable, right?

This was a couple of days ago so we worked on a valance today.. I was reading the wiki and though about replacing it with euro model, but hell no. Want to keep it in original state as when I got it, so we gathered the tools and removed the valance. Started working on straighten the metal. I had some experience with it before so that helped us.

Before (really bad shape when I removed it):

Start (#Fix 1):

You can see the difference if you look closer at the middle. We removed the paint from left side and leave it on the right so we can see the difference.

One more:

And one more (not linked for a reason): http://i.imgur.com/7RSehnA.jpg

Middle of the progress (#Fix 2):

We removed the whole paint from the valance and was left with:

Final (#Fix 3):

You can't even see it was fixed, just like original. The day passed and we were tired so we didn't have energy to continue working on it today and will do it tomorrow I hope so.

The only thing that is left regarding the valance is to use a sandpaper as a final touch and of course colour it.

Any tips on paint and painting the valance? Kindly appreciated.

Thank you E30Zone for making this to happen. You've all been such a great motivation and I'm really hyped things are going well. I also ordered some parts that comes in Sunday but I'll let that be a surprise.

Cheers everyone

Post Sat Apr 02, 2016 10:31 am

Nice to see ya back mate ,and working hard i see.straightning a front valance is not an easy job i tryed a couple of months a go and the rot got the better of me and i bought another one,not a choice everyone has

nice to see you push on.bit by bit,keep posting pics.and is your dad realy 1960?

Post Sat Apr 02, 2016 12:48 pm

Good for you, i think its motivation alone when someone says "it aint worth it" well, yeah it is!
(andysheep cracked me up?)

Post Sat Apr 02, 2016 11:44 pm

andysheep: not an easy job but doable, and it was three of us so it was a big advantage, three hands do much more then just one

thank you, here are some new pics of valance

andye30: Totally agree, and thank you.

The valance is better then new if you ask me, look up the pics bellow, I personally love it. It has a dark mat colour over it and it's much better in real life. More pics coming soon, stay tuned

WIP pics:

Final result (was not dry enough but still looks good):

Post Sat Apr 02, 2016 11:44 pm

andysheep: not an easy job but doable, and it was three of us so it was a big advantage, three hands do much more then just one

thank you, here are some new pics of valance

andye30: Totally agree, and thank you.

The valance is better then new if you ask me, look up the pics bellow, I personally love it. It has a dark mat colour over it and it's much better in real life. More pics coming soon, stay tuned

WIP pics:

Final result (was not dry enough but still looks good):

Post Sun Apr 03, 2016 5:12 pm

Hard work has payed off thats looking great.i would be proud,even with three peolpe ,your showing true comitment,as andy saiddo it any way,and great standard.by the way how your health?

Post Sun Apr 03, 2016 6:15 pm

@andysheep: Totally man. So happy to see it and looks so clean, I may put it today on a car just for a little show off and to see how it fits. Regarding my health, I'm feeling great tho' the doctors haven't been able to determine what happened to me at the time of the crash

I hope it won't happen again, and test results were all great.

Three bad news:
* My car stopped giving a contact when key is turned on. I hope it's up to battery, probably have to recharge it.
* The hood protection should come today but I got a call and the guy is coming to my town tomorrow, not a big deal.
* The window is still not fixed and whole interior and roof upholstery is fu**ed up (marks on it, will post pics later), probably fixable but more work.

Regarding the window, I'm unable to make it work. I can attach it but it only goes halfway and leave 20% open, the glass starts to go towards the driver. Can't see a reason why that happens, I removed all shattered glass, and it's driving me crazy. I already bought two windows and I'm afraid I'll have to buy a new door. Maybe the drivers door is bent or It's up to me and I don't know how to attach it.

Post Sun Apr 03, 2016 6:38 pm

Sounds like a problem with the runners on your door problem.sorry to hear docs dont know what the problem was, hope it doesnt happen again

tackle one problem at a time and you will figuer it out,your a smart bloke,dont let it overrun you.keep posting,i window dress too ,put bit on to see how its going

Andy

Post Tue Apr 05, 2016 4:46 pm

Doors and oil pan coming soon hopefully.

New t-shirt came today:

First try:

Didn't like it without badge, had to do something with it.

I think it fits great BLACK / SILVER combination.

Post Tue Apr 05, 2016 4:56 pm

Its a car bra not a t shirt.lol

Post Tue Apr 05, 2016 5:19 pm

haha andysheep, never knew.. we call it "zaÅ¡tita za haubu" here which literally translates as "protection for hood"

good to know tho' hehe

Post Wed Apr 13, 2016 12:45 pm

Just trying to be active ..

Found and bought the oil pan, came yesterday, yay

might see this car running in a week ..

Also bought drivers wing mirror

Won't attach it, needs to recolor it.

Also of course..

Can't wait to hear the engine

That room tho'

Post Wed Apr 13, 2016 1:46 pm

Fixed the door yet?,iv beat ya and started my engine on my project the night before last,feel sick today ,bloody flu,and im working,but going to try and do some more after work.

keep it up your end