88' 325 Supereta Track Day Bro - M60 TIME!

[dasmanschaft012]

This is my second e30 I've owned, the previous being an 89 325i that I had to sell.
Just bought this 88 325 auto for $1850 here in SoCal. My plan is to make it a nice track/street car, starting with a supereta head build and manual swap. Maybe turbo but we will see.
Pictures as bought:


Nice interior, needs headliner.

Needs both driver side doors.






Follow for a really generic build thread! I will try to update frequently.
-J

[dasmanschaft012]

First purchase is tune up and fluids. This baby failed the 15mph test for California, so its getting a once over and a bunch of miles to get all the crap out of the system. The CSB also rumbles like a mother, so thats getting replaced and crossing my fingers the flex disk is still in good shape.

Engine oil 20w50 w/ filter & drain plug
spark plugs & wires
CSB
fuel filter
Diff oil
Auto transmission fluid
brake flush
coolant flush w/ water and wetter.
air filter
fuel system cleaner

Stuff should be delivered and I can start getting it working tomorrow.
-J

[dasmanschaft012]

Today's achievements:
Wash to see what im working with...
Plastidip'd stuff black
inspected underbody rear
Seafoamed
Debadged
Got maintenance parts for tomorrow

Not really too many pictures, but results of tomorrow's work will be posted. Hopefully I can get this heap running smoother and pass smog.
One issue i found is the passenger quarter panel has a little bit of rust right by the headlight. I was going to dremel the rust a bit to see how deep it goes, then primer it to prevent any more rust. Suggestions?

[TheTacoMan]

Started with a Seta as well, good luck!

[dasmanschaft012]

So after working almost all day and getting very sunburned yesterday, the car is looking a little better.
Started the day out by having some help rebuilding all the window/sunroof switches.

When I got to the car, replaced plugs and wires. Rotor and dist cap looked fine.
Old plug(looks good):

Also finished cleaning the front wheels. Im pretty sure they haven't been cleaned since they were made.
Before:

After:

Not perfect, but these bottlecaps are just temporary anyways until I get my track set up.

Also cleaned the ICV, but in the process, I think I messed up the grime-seal on one of the hoses, so i need to add a little RTV.
Before:

After:


Sanded down the rust spot on the rear quarter, just surface rust. Cleaned it up and shot a little paint on it so the rust doesn't come back. I may just register it as non-op, as I am planning to pull the engine very soon for a refresh and manual swap. Waiting on a couple other parts, but I won't be able to work Friday, because I am graduating college finally!
-J

[dasmanschaft012]

Small work today, changed air filter to a K&N, cleaned AFM and throttle body. Also managed to rip the intake boot, so I'm gonna need a new one of those. Also, found the source of the MASSIVE oil leak:

Seems to be from the power steering container hoses on the bottom. That's the highest point i can track it down to.
Junk yard run tomorrow after graduation, and then CSB and smog hopefully Saturday.
-J

[dasmanschaft012]

Got some stuff for $10 at the junk yard:

Not a bad haul, that OBC is in PERFECT visual condition, so I hope it works, or at the very least i can replace the plastic on mine.

[dasmanschaft012]

Ended up chopping off the exaust at the bottom of the downpipe, as i just couldn't get to the upper nuts and studs. Its going in the trash anyways. Friend got this cool picture of me working.


My junkyard coolant level sensor worked as well! I now have NO OBC lights! Did a compression test as well today to feel out the condition of the bottom end, and it looks good with all numbers in the 130s and 140s. So a new head a all new seals should be good enough for now.
Engine is coming out probably next week... hopefully lots of pictures.
I also need to start looking for someone selling a 5speed swap and a later model i head and ECU.
Into the unknown I go!
-J

[dasmanschaft012]

Just picked up a good amount of stuff from a r3v user parting out a car:
Getrag tranny
173 ecu
stock injectors
intake mani
throttlebody
ICV
trunk trim
trunk gasket
kidneys in better shape than mine
pedal box
oil return tube
that one PS hose that caused a giant leak

Got a good deal on it, will be posting some pictures tomorrow.

[dasmanschaft012]

Boom also got drive shaft and flywheel

[dasmanschaft012]

I've been doing minor work lately, buying materials and tools mostly.
Started taking the front end off as well.

Hood off:


Grill, bumper, lights etc off:


Wrapped up for the night:


Today, took apart my 'i' intake for the SETA build. Need to get a couple new seals:


Taking fuel rail off:


The injectors look pretty nasty. Going to get them rebuilt.


Also got the radiator and shroud out today, as well as the airbox. Hopefully getting it up on ramps tonight and start taking apart the drive line.

[dasmanschaft012]

If anyone was wondering what a bad CSB looks like:
https://youtu.be/lLAQKOyQUcM

[dasmanschaft012]

No one reads this, and I haven't had the motivation to update at all during my progress.
But all of a sudden I do, so here some updates for record keeping.

Stock m20b27 pulling


And pulling


Old slushbox dropped (and traded for an IS spoiler and sweet stickers)


And motor pulled! My first motor pull ever. super easy.

[dasmanschaft012]

Addressed some cosmetic issues as well.
Trunk trim and gasket were all melted from a PO probably shorting some jumper wires. I had to replace the passenger side light as well, and sometime the bumper trim.


I've always liked black interiors more (hides dirt and wear), so picked up a really nice set of rear seats. These may have to go when the car eventually gets a bolt in roll cage.


Also replaced the front drivers door, which was smashed.
And picked up a really nice set of black door cards.

[dasmanschaft012]

Back to mechanical items,
Here is the motor after pulling it. Nasty. There was some major leakage from everywhere.


After about an hour cleaning


Intake valves look nice at least.


Head comes off, start cleaning the pistons and block surface.


Crosshatching looks good. This motor had also had a HG done at some point recently, due to the shape of the old HG.


They had a sale...


And I got to work prepping for the new head, which was stripped and honed.




ARP studs in. Not planning on boosting, but they were cheap.



And head is on! Checked toque a couple times over a week. Seemed good. I decided against getting the valve cover and intake mani powder coated because of money, but gave it a quick paint of this nice grey VHT. Turned out decent. Will go back with a scotchbrite and block sand the raised lettering later.


New stuff on, as well as all the front seals.


Pretty picture. And yes, I did go back and replace the stamped idler gear with the solid one.


Threw my new Sachs clutch kit on, cleaned up the tranny, and bolted it on. Wrapped up. Sorry, no progress pics.