S38B36 Laguna Touring

[martauto]

Great progress mate, just think, all this done in winter as well ????

Happy days

Mart.

[lellis]

Great progress mate, just think, all this done in winter as well ????

Happy days

Mart.

I’m amazed at how good the winter weather has been recently, didn’t expect so many dry days!!

[lellis]

Some more pics of the current progress





Started on the next section, some serious corrosion in this area. A lot to be removed..



Should have this painted up by the end of the week

[lellis]

Final clean up of this section, super tricky to get all the sealant out, spent way too long putting in the effort.



A bit of rust convertor on, not much really salvageable in this area



And then the bit that makes it all worth it.





Not much epoxy primer in this area, a lot of work to be done here!

[onthames]

I was following your purple tag resto video and I can't get that fucking ring seal out. Mine seems to have a bit of white plastic in there too?

Am I hitting on it from the right side?

[lellis]

I was following your purple tag resto video and I can't get that fucking ring seal out. Mine seems to have a bit of white plastic in there too?

Am I hitting on it from the right side?

Just replied to you on Insta my man.

[lellis]

Bit of a break due to weather issues..

but carrying on when i get chance







Moving onto the wheel wells

[Dlb26]

How do you get away with all that grinding with the neighbours?
I'm always conscious just how loud an angle grinder is away from a workshop environment, especially on thin steel.

[lellis]

How do you get away with all that grinding with the neighbours?
I'm always conscious just how loud an angle grinder is away from a workshop environment, especially on thin steel.

Communication and consideration! My nearest neighbours have known my car work for a while now, I’m always in contact with them regarding what I’m doing etc. I then make sure to be very considerate to others, i usually only work on it 1500-1700 as that’s when I’m back from work but my neighbours aren’t. Then other times I make sure they’re not in the garden etc.
I’ve not had any noise complaints as of yet!

[lellis]

A lot of good metal in the wheel wells that is a serious relief. Some scabby bits to deal with mind





onto the other side

[lellis]

Started on something else yesterday, the rear subframe restoration.


My friend has borrowed my impact gun and 30mm, so the shafts had to stay on until they're back.,


I have no plans in trying to save this, will have to acquire a replacement. If there is anyone near to Nottingham with a spare subframe, please speak up!

[rix313]

I have a spare one down near Silverstone mate if that’s of any use. For the rear hub nuts a decent breaker bar and a pry bar to lock off the hub with some wheel nuts will also do the trick.

[lellis]

I have a spare one down near Silverstone mate if that’s of any use. For the rear hub nuts a decent breaker bar and a pry bar to lock off the hub with some wheel nuts will also do the trick.

I'll message you on insta dude, thanks

[martauto]

Hell thats bad !!!!
Has it lived near the coast ??

Mart.

[aimlessrock]

thats likely the worst sub frame ive ever seen...was it underwater at some point in its life ?

[lellis]

thats likely the worst sub frame ive ever seen...was it underwater at some point in its life ?

Insane right??

Not that I know of, the rest of the car is nothing like as bad as it.

[lellis]

Getting bits ready for the restoration




This press kit has been indispensable to a lot of the work carried out throughout this project






Got myself a replacement subframe and driveshafts


Time to get these stripped down and inspected, then off to the sandblasters

[AlexD911]

I've got one of those press kits and its literally invaluable. Great progress by the way you've done a lot of work. I did a lot of my underside in Dinitrol RC900, its an epoxy primer with rust converter in it. Its pretty expensive but its been really helpful in treating and sealing awkward spots all over the car.

[lellis]

I've got one of those press kits and its literally invaluable. Great progress by the way you've done a lot of work. I did a lot of my underside in Dinitrol RC900, its an epoxy primer with rust converter in it. Its pretty expensive but its been really helpful in treating and sealing awkward spots all over the car.

Thanks! I am using MIPA EP 2k epoxy primer, maybe an all in one would’ve come in handy! The rust convertor in itself isn’t cheap either, your way may of been the way to go! Nearly there now though.
Do you use it as a brush on application?

[AlexD911]

I've got one of those press kits and its literally invaluable. Great progress by the way you've done a lot of work. I did a lot of my underside in Dinitrol RC900, its an epoxy primer with rust converter in it. Its pretty expensive but its been really helpful in treating and sealing awkward spots all over the car.

Thanks! I am using MIPA EP 2k epoxy primer, maybe an all in one would’ve come in handy! The rust convertor in itself isn’t cheap either, your way may of been the way to go! Nearly there now though.
Do you use it as a brush on application?

No it comes in an Aerosol, ~£35 a can, one can does pretty much half the underbody nicely, i did two coats so in terms of paint it costs a lot but you can tell it penetrates any rust deep and as its epoxy as im sure you already know its less likely to re-absorb moisture Theres some pics on my build thread.

[lellis]

I've got one of those press kits and its literally invaluable. Great progress by the way you've done a lot of work. I did a lot of my underside in Dinitrol RC900, its an epoxy primer with rust converter in it. Its pretty expensive but its been really helpful in treating and sealing awkward spots all over the car.

Thanks! I am using MIPA EP 2k epoxy primer, maybe an all in one would’ve come in handy! The rust convertor in itself isn’t cheap either, your way may of been the way to go! Nearly there now though.
Do you use it as a brush on application?

No it comes in an Aerosol, ~£35 a can, one can does pretty much half the underbody nicely, i did two coats so in terms of paint it costs a lot but you can tell it penetrates any rust deep and as its epoxy as im sure you already know its less likely to re-absorb moisture Theres some pics on my build thread.

Nice work, i use mine as brush on so it helps get into the really tricky areas. I’ll check out your thread

[lellis]

So the replacement 'big CV' driveshafts are absolutely goosed, so back to the original ones I go..




Size difference is shown here, top two original, bottom two 'big CV'. Nevermind.


I really couldn't find much solid information of if the hub end of the DS was removable without destroying, so I decided to have a go myself.




These will just need new gators, rest to be painted/plated

[martauto]

Where were the "Big Ones" made ??

Mart.

[lellis]

Where were the "Big Ones" made ??

Mart.

He said they were from an e36 compact, can’t verify that. Unless my 316i ones are just smaller than usual, I really don’t know!

[martauto]

Sorry, I ment do you think they are OEM ?

Mart.

[lellis]

Sorry, I ment do you think they are OEM ?

Mart.

Unfortunately I don't know, was just told they were from a e36! Will try find out

[lellis]

A big step acheived at the weekend!
The final piece to the puzzle




The underseal is removed!










For anyone interested in what I used to do it/fancy a watch, here is my youtube video of the whole process

[lellis]

Straight into some side tasks,
I got these parts stripped down ready for blasting

[AlexD911]

Nice work mate, i've been watching your YouTube videos, wish i knew that tip about the multi tool and scraper blade when i stripped mine haha!

How did you pull the subframe mounts out? I set mine alight at the weekend whilst doing some other bits but have not attempted to pull out the shells yet.

Will you buying the Reinforcement kits for the arms & subframes? I think i got them for like ~100 Delivered from Poland, i welded them up at the weekend, my front subframe was already slightly bent where the engine mounts bolt to, i managed to get it back where it should be just hoping its ok when it comes time to fit - crazy how they can bend just even on a big standard 320i.

Also how much was your wilwood setup? Really like the look of that.

Thanks

Alex

[lellis]

Nice work mate, i've been watching your YouTube videos, wish i knew that tip about the multi tool and scraper blade when i stripped mine haha!

How did you pull the subframe mounts out? I set mine alight at the weekend whilst doing some other bits but have not attempted to pull out the shells yet.

Will you buying the Reinforcement kits for the arms & subframes? I think i got them for like ~100 Delivered from Poland, i welded them up at the weekend, my front subframe was already slightly bent where the engine mounts bolt to, i managed to get it back where it should be just hoping its ok when it comes time to fit - crazy how they can bend just even on a big standard 320i.

Also how much was your wilwood setup? Really like the look of that.

Thanks

Alex

The multi tool had to be the my favourite tool for the job!

If you mean the rear subframe bushes, I left these in as I got a replacement subframe because mine was ruined. I've done it before though, drill out the rubber, work round it then the inner should come out, then recip saw the outer shell at 180 degrees and it should just fall out.

I have bought reinforcement kits yes (and camber+toe adjustment kit), from born2drift.com
https://www.born2drift.co.uk/shop/suspe ... 6-compact/
https://www.born2drift.co.uk/shop/suspe ... 6-compact/
https://www.born2drift.co.uk/shop/suspe ... it-milled/

The willwood kit was around £600, purchased from @vrdclassic on insta or rix313 on here

[AlexD911]

Nice thanks for that i will give him a message soon!

[lellis]

Bits back from blasting straight into the workshop


This is getting the poly bushes, camber/toe adjuster plates and diff mounting reinforcements.




As I showed before, I didn't plan on restoring the original, so here are a couple before and afters.




Here is a quick video for anyone interested

[lellis]

Rear arms getting a similar treatment




The R/H brace requires this notch due to interference with the fuel filler pipe (which seems to be not documented often)






Time to put everything on

[martauto]

This is looking soooooooooooo coooooooooooooool
Hurray up,

Mart.

[lellis]

This is looking soooooooooooo coooooooooooooool
Hurray up,

Mart.

I'm currently moving as fast as I dare!

First start on the patchwork, a very daunting task. But had to start it one day, this is 6 hours of work, 7 small patches done.
Not to the highest standard, but I am working on the underside first whilst I tune in my skills so I am up to standard once I get to the engine bay!

(pic before epoxy primer)






Big patches to do next, but my friend will help me with those..