Nocd

[Elysian]

Originally Posted by Lazy8s

What do you use for a welder? I've been pricing tigs with the idea of doing my own body work, but man, it's been so long I don't even recognize the gear any more.

Post up some photos of your repair work, would you?

I just have a Hobart 220v MIG, nothing fancy. Would love to learn TIG but the cost of entry is so much higher.

MIG is fine for panel work IMO. I wouldn't want to TIG a ton of body work. This is my MIG:

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/pr...welder-1021027

[Lazy8s]

Originally Posted by Elysian

I just have a Hobart 220v MIG, nothing fancy. Would love to learn TIG but the cost of entry is so much higher.

MIG is fine for panel work IMO. I wouldn't want to TIG a ton of body work. This is my MIG:

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/pr...welder-1021027

TIG's crazy expensive to get rolling. MIG is fine, and that's a nice unit, but I don't think it's going to happen with my truck. I went to another shop this morning and the rust and rot are far more advanced than I thought. Won't derail your thread with details though.

I do like that Hobart...I just need to justify it now lol.

[Elysian]

Had a dream I finally got to drive this thing, was great, but now I can't stop thinking about it and how much work I have left to do

I also had to fix lighting issues in my dream, go figure.

[Elysian]

The wheel centers are back from powdercoating. The only mounting surface they did tape off was to the hub, so I'm going to wind up having to sand some coating off on each wheel center, as well as drill out each hole... Still, they look great. Can't wait to get my wheels together.

[acroig]

Wow, gold rims.

[Nunz]

The powder coat looks fantastic. Great color choice

[Elysian]

Dropped the wheel centers off at a machine shop yesterday to get the powdercoat taken off in places that were supposed to be masked off.

[Elysian]

Sold the motor I pulled from the red BMW this weekend, the guys picked it up today. Only asked $500 for it, but sold it to someone who has built an E30 race car already and needed a spare motor, so it went to a good home. Could have gotten more for it, it's a pretty desirable motor, even with a blown head gasket, but I'd rather help out some good people.

[Lazy8s]

Must feel a little funny letting go of some of your toys.

[Elysian]

Freed up a ton of space, I actually have a walkway from the inside door to the outside now, so well worth it from that perspective.

[Elysian]

Been working on the car a bit lately, friend of mine helped me bolt the suspension back up a few days ago.

Today I finished up the radiator hoses, then ran the brake lines for the drivers side.






Need to find the clip that holds the brake line on the bracket in the wheel well, but pretty happy with how everything is lining up so far. Still need to run a line to connect to the rear brake lines, and a line to connect the passenger side front brake caliper.

[Nunz]

Looks like one of those 90 degree bends has the radiator hose kinked pretty good. Not worried about any detriment that may have to flow?

Actually, that looks like an old hose, not the new line you ran!

[Elysian]

Originally Posted by Nunz

Looks like one of those 90 degree bends has the radiator hose kinked pretty good. Not worried about any detriment that may have to flow?

Actually, that looks like an old hose, not the new line you ran!

I think it's just the angle, none of the hoses are kinked. I had some hoses on hand from previous cars that worked for the top hoses, I put those together yesterday as well. The single Gates hose on the bottom cost me $45, so I wasn't really stoked about buying 4 hoses to cannibalize for this.

[Elysian]

Didn't take pics of everything I did today but got a lot done.



Power steering lines are made, and you can also see I trimmed back the bracket that holds the power steering pump on.

Lines at the steering rack:



And where I think the power steering reservoir will live. Need to build a bracket and modify the line, but it's got just enough room there, even if the motor shifts when driving.



I also finished the front brake lines and the clutch slave line, but didn't take any pictures. I still have two more small hard lines to make for the rear brakes, but that won't take too long to do.

[Lazy8s]

Looking really good Elysian You think it’ll be ready for a test run before winter?

[Elysian]

Originally Posted by Lazy8s

Looking really good Elysian You think it’ll be ready for a test run before winter?

It has to be, I need to get it inspected and registered here in Texas before we move

[Lazy8s]

Originally Posted by Elysian

It has to be, I need to get it inspected and registered here in Texas before we move

Keep those wrenches turning!

[Elysian]

So I talked to a friend earlier, he told me to get it registered as an antique vehicle, then it wouldn't require inspection. Gonna do that this week.

[Nunz]

What year is it? I thought there was a minimum age to qualify as antique.

[Elysian]

Originally Posted by Nunz

What year is it? I thought there was a minimum age to qualify as antique.

25 years in Texas, it's an 88.

I think I didn't go that route originally because I was planning on driving it more... Now I'm planning on moving

[Elysian]

Need to put the E30 in storage temporarily so we can show the house, so today I got it on the ground. However, the VERY cheap wheels I bought were for an E38 7 series, so they are much larger than normal E30 wheels. They're only 16" rims but the tires are very large. The 17s I'll be running have a similar outer diameter, so I used the opportunity to properly fit them. That involved some minor sledge hammering on the front and cutting the rear out for the widebody over fenders.







The front drivers side tire does rub slightly at full lock to the left, but otherwise has free range of motion. I also raised the ride height as much as possible, and have basically confirmed I need different springs.

[Elysian]

Today was all about the front end. I probably did things backwards, but I don't care I got a ton done. Started with the Aerocatch hood latches, wow I love them.





While the primer was drying on the hood I moved to the fenders. Major interferience, was a similar story with the 17s when I had them on there.



Chopped them out for the wide body overfender, but didn't take it as far as I probably could because I'm not ready to mount the wide body kit yet, so just roughed it in with enough room to steer




After both fenders were attached I put in the headlights and the headlight trim, as well as the lower panel for the bumper.





That's where I left off, but I feel extremely accomplished today. Next steps are install the rear differential and driveshaft, install the e-brake handle, and make sure the e-brake works. I only need the car to be able to stop via e-brake to get it out of the garage.

[acroig]

Looks bad ass!

[huskylord]

Looks great.

[Elysian]

Installed the diff, bolted the driveshaft and axles up, got the e-brake working, and bolted the fuel cell back in the trunk. Also finished the rear brake lines (not pictured when I took this shot). Big progress today.

[Lazy8s]

Man Elysian…nice work bud. You’re at that “I can see it now” stage. Very nice

[Elysian]

My garage is as clean as its ever been, and I also took a moment to fill the motor with oil and prime the oil system, check for leaks in the oil pan I modified. Can report back, several hours after I filled it, zero oil spots. Oil pan is completely sealed and I'm extremely happy about that.

[Elysian]

My other E30 is now ready to be taken away. I'm giving it to my buddy, who will no doubt turn it into a drift missile. Can't wait to see what he does.

[Elysian]

And I finally transferred both titles on the E30s. I was really worried I'd have issues with both of them and not be able to transfer, but a friend of mine recommended a title service to me, went there and got it knocked out, paid some minor penalties for taking too long to transfer, and that's it.

So my red E30 no longer will have to be track only, I'll be able to register it, and for that I am extremely stoked.

My friend who is getting the blue one will also be able to street drive that one, and that is a huge win. I never thought the blue one would see the road again, but here we are!

[Elysian]

The car that started this thread is now gone, my buddy hauled it off a bit ago. Glad it's going to a new owner who will have the time and will to work on it. I bet it'll be on the road again this year.