A while back I posted some pics of me fixing a fender and hood in preparation for the next phase of the project. Well that phase is now here. I've finished the body work and primer and will be shooting color this weekend, but i'll give ya'll a recap of what i've been up to these past few weeks.
The biggest part of this job has been replaceing the quarter panel. heres what i had to work with:
it was pretty bad, i contemplated just selling the car and getting a new one, but after a few months of searching i was unable to find a 89+ 3 series, in any condition. So I had to deal with what i have. To start off the project i went to a junkyard and cut out a donor panel from another e30.
the unsuspecting victim about to go under the knife.
the first step was to mark off the damaged area.
then make a cut inboard of the line, so that i can fit the panel better
next i drilled out the spot welds along the fender lip. although most of these welds were already ripped apart from the accident.
after that I removed the damaged metal
heres the piece i removed
this is the welder i used to install the panel. its a hobart 135 which is basically the same machine as a miller. it is very nice, i've had it for about 3 years.
here the panel had been fit and i have started the process of making about a thousand tack welds all along the border of the panel. this minimizes heat and prevents warpage.
as with doing any work on your BMW a clean and well organized work space is a must
next dynalite palstic filler is used to smooth every thing out. you can also see that the entire car has been scuffed using a 40 grit disc on a DA sander.
now that that part has been completed there are several other things that need to be fixed. namely the hood, front fender, and numerous door dings. sorry about the blury picture.
here the hood and fender have been installed and I have started the proccess of stripping the car fo all its bumpers, plastic, mirrors, windows, and trim.
This is the final coat of primer. i shot it today. i'll give ya'll more detail on the spray gun equiptment and process when i update with the base and clear coat.
thats it for now, i'll update this post next week with the rest of the story.
The biggest part of this job has been replaceing the quarter panel. heres what i had to work with:
it was pretty bad, i contemplated just selling the car and getting a new one, but after a few months of searching i was unable to find a 89+ 3 series, in any condition. So I had to deal with what i have. To start off the project i went to a junkyard and cut out a donor panel from another e30.
the unsuspecting victim about to go under the knife.
the first step was to mark off the damaged area.
then make a cut inboard of the line, so that i can fit the panel better
next i drilled out the spot welds along the fender lip. although most of these welds were already ripped apart from the accident.
after that I removed the damaged metal
heres the piece i removed
this is the welder i used to install the panel. its a hobart 135 which is basically the same machine as a miller. it is very nice, i've had it for about 3 years.
here the panel had been fit and i have started the process of making about a thousand tack welds all along the border of the panel. this minimizes heat and prevents warpage.
as with doing any work on your BMW a clean and well organized work space is a must
next dynalite palstic filler is used to smooth every thing out. you can also see that the entire car has been scuffed using a 40 grit disc on a DA sander.
now that that part has been completed there are several other things that need to be fixed. namely the hood, front fender, and numerous door dings. sorry about the blury picture.
here the hood and fender have been installed and I have started the proccess of stripping the car fo all its bumpers, plastic, mirrors, windows, and trim.
This is the final coat of primer. i shot it today. i'll give ya'll more detail on the spray gun equiptment and process when i update with the base and clear coat.
thats it for now, i'll update this post next week with the rest of the story.
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