'91 318is transplant into '84 325e shell

[ck_taft325is]

Well guys, I'll need some guidance on this one. I recognize it's not a usual swap, but after some investigating on some rust I found out I had (after I bought the vehicle) it turns out that the PO was a complete douche nozzle and instead of fixing a problem, fiberglassed over it. From about midway through the driver's side door on the frame rail to the front of the rear tire is rotted through. As in a hole. Not a quater size hole. A baseball sized hole. The car is essentially unsafe and not really fixable from what I can see. The easiest solution to me is to take my '84 325e shell that's been in my garage for a long while now and put everything from the '91 318is on it. Interior, gauge cluster, engine, drive line, suspension, etc etc...

Any suggestions, hints, tips, advice? All of which would be deeply appreciated. It's a hard blow realizing a small issue is a catastrophic issue. By the way, if anyone knows Brydon Willard, let him know I'd like to talk to him.

Thanks in advance, r3v.

[FJ40]

Sorry I'm not of any more help, but I'm curious about this too, my 85 eta is simply too clean to get rid of, but I want a different drivetrain and have considered an M42 car as a swap.

[KenC]

Go coil-over-plug to avoid having to fab a mount for the stock coils.

[ck_taft325is]

I wouldn't out right aim for an M42 swap, but mine is immaculate, runs reliably and strong. The main idea is that I'm bent out of shape about this not being disclosed and purposefully covered up cheaply, poorly and ultimately ridiculously un safe. I paid $3,000 for it and at that price I at least expected to get told, "Oh hey, don't get into an accident or put your wife and (at the time) new born kid as it'll fold like a tin can and kill everyone inside!"

If you've got an M42, I'd say go for it. I'm not sure on the particulars though. I'll be diving into this (have to finish it in roughly a week) solo and inexperienced. So, hopefully it's do-able with fairly little hiccup/headache. Most importantly right now, with little cash put out to do it right.

The shell is pristine. Before I realized I didn't have a Title for it anymore (lost in a move or something) I spent a good 120 hours fixing every door ding and mild dent. The "donor" car has pristine fenders, plastic bumpers, nearly perfect valance, smileys, HIDS (fogs and lows), euro grills, perfect hood and trunklid. The '84 shell is down to primer and will recieve a re-spray as I've already had the $400.00 for a Maaco special set aside for some time.

Just really gets me about this rust. I'll go snap some pictures to show what I found.

[FredK]

Ugh. That is a terrible discovery.

The firewall connector will have to be changed. The 84e has a rectangular C101, 91iS has a circular C101.

Center support bearing will need to be swapped as the late model cars have a different distance between mounting holes.

You'll need to shim the radiator mounts, as the late style mounts are different than the early style.

It's definitely do-able solo, within fairly short order. r3vlimited will help you!

[ck_taft325is]

Here's the hack "fix" the PO decided to do. Probably so he could sell it...


Right at the rear of the door frame area:


Here's right in front of the rear tire:



Keep in mind this was all covered up by Taurus side skirts and fiberglassed/bondo'd. I had no idea until a small hole appeared on the top side when the fiberglass cracked. Decided to investigate further today and this is what I've found. There's probably more, but I still have to drive this car until I can get the new 4 door up and running reliably. My wife is, to say the least, pissed and because she's the sweetest girl ever, sad that someone would do this to someone else.

[ck_taft325is]

Ugh. That is a terrible discovery.

The firewall connector will have to be changed. The 84e has a rectangular C101, 91iS has a circular C101.

Center support bearing will need to be swapped as the late model cars have a different distance between mounting holes.

You'll need to shim the radiator mounts, as the late style mounts are different than the early style.

It's definitely do-able solo, within fairly short order. r3vlimited will help you!

Any links to a diagram for the C101 connector adaption? I've yet to do this and will be honest, a bit hesitant.

I've actually got a fresh CSB for the '84 in a box somewhere. I'll get a-hunting.



Thanks a bunch, Fred. I appreciate the input!

After talking with the wife a bit, I'm going to start this process within the week. I'm going to throw a feeler out there to a few local friends and not so local friends to come down and lend a hand. Hopefully, aside from the wiring we can get the motor, trans and most if not all the suspension swapped in a day or so. Big dreams, I know...

[ck_taft325is]

Same day bump for anything else I might need to know before I pull apart a currently running car with a busted ass frame rail, yo.

[StereoInstaller1]

Chris, call me in the AM.

Lets talk about this.

I am gonna go grocery shopping now.

[ck_taft325is]

I've got a little girls funeral to go to. I'm carrying the casket.

How's Sunday? I'm going to try and clean up my shell a bit and finish up a few areas I held off on considering 1 month ago I was scraping the shell, heh.


What'cha buyin'?

[StereoInstaller1]

Chorizo, breakfast cereal, coffee

Go read. You need a laugh.

I cannot imagine the layers of hell you are going through right now. FWIW, the prayers of a Pagan go out to you and all your family.

Luke

[ck_taft325is]

Pagan prayers are appreciated more, bud ;)

[ck_taft325is]

Bumping this to see if anyone knows who, where or if "brydon" on r3v (Brydon Willard or Williams) is still in the Oregon area or WA area. If anyone can get in contact with him, let him know I want to get ahold of him. We have some talking to do.