My first e30, finally. Latest Update: The Restoration Begins

[jaywood]

Those cracked tips on the injectors are called the pintle caps. Mine were cracked when I pulled them out too. I just put on new caps with new o-rings and cleaned them out ;) They worked perfectly.

That last shot is pretty cool! Good progress.

[Click]

So I got tired of silver bottlecaps. Shit was always dirty and even when I cleaned them they didn't look good, the finish was starting to come off.







So I took them off and popped the centercaps out...



Cleaned them good.











Then spent an absurd amount of time with some 400 and 600 grit sandpaper to rough them up.



Taped them up





Gave it a quick light wipe with some acetone to get any skin oils off



Then one last wipe with a tack cloth before paint.



Primed



I did 2 coats of primer and 3 of satin black. I would have liked to put another coat on or two but I ran out of daylight. I need to take pic of the final product. I like the look of the black wheels, it no longer looks like an 80s executive car. I did take one last pic before the night was over...

[bmwstudent]

Very nice, i also just bought my first e30. Thanks to my brother. After i drove his i had to have one. Currently doing a trans repair. Resealing and replacing selector rod stuff. Good luck with yours.

[Click]

Sup

[VinniE30]

Then realize WAIT A MINUTE, DID I HIT THAT DAMN MYSTERY TOGGLE SWITCH THATS UNDER THE DASH? Flick switch, fuel pump turns on. Crisis averted.

Could you show me where "under the dash", this switch is? Thanks.

[DatUtahGuy]

very good man, I like how you are starting at the beginning and doing it properly. This car def got lucky with you.

[Click]

Yeah it needs a lip real bad, I gotta fix the valence first though, its bent where the oil cooler is. I'll leave it go for this winter for additional snow clearance lol.

Today I replaced this



With this



And its so awesome to know what time it is and the temp. You don't realize how often you look at the time until you don't have a clock.

These came in the mail, some period correct gauges except the last one, part of an upcoming project....



As well as these.



Are the little broken fins a big deal? Will they get replaced when I send them out to get cleaned/rebuilt/flowtested?

[CrusherCurtis]

aaaaaaaahh! Front wheel gap
Chrome grills, is lip and lower Awesome car.

[SocalianSD]

Looking nice!
The worst breakdowns are those that happen after you dump money into your car. Glad you got it fixed.

Soo much troof in this post.

Back on topic-

The car is coming along nicely! Keep at it.

[N2MYE30]

Chrome "kids" and an i lip. Nice job. :up:

[Erik]

Ughhhh black kidneys... :( I'm glad you can still buy them new from BavAuto...

But it looks like you're doing everything else perfectly! Keep it up!

[cbouchez]

Very nice job man! It's looking really good.

[Click]

^ May need a front fender once I start working on the paint bubblage at the bottom, lord knows how bad it is under there.

Did the clutch stop mod, just got a nut and bolt and extended the stock one. The good ol 1 dollar mod.



Shift boot was ripped







So I got a Matt B boot.





This worked pretty well


El gato helped out





Creepin



And in





No matter what I did, I couldn't get this little knot out. Hole was too big.



^^ All that stuff was done like a month or two ago, I've been slacking at updating this thread.

Fast forward to a couple weeks ago and I broke the drive door lock cylinder.



Ordered a new one from Faulkner BMW and got it like two weeks later, kinda tricky locking the new one in. Didn't take any pictures. Was working in the apt parking lot now that I'm back at school where we're not supposed to be working on cars...

Saw this on my AC line. The exterior part of the cap broke off a couple months ago and I never bothered to get the inside portion out. I assume engine vibrations caused it to somehow screw in further and push against the little pin that opens the valve. I carefully removed it. AC still works.



Cleaned out my trunk real good and found a few nasties.







Ordered a set of winters as well. Will get these mounted prolly in december.



As she sits...

[russhixmo]

Sub frame bushings, possibly control arm bushings depending on the condition, invest in some rust stop and a fresh fluid change is in order. Before you even think about a turbo or anything get the basics out of the way trust me, I've made that mistake myself before. Check the gwebo and center line drive bearing as they tend to go. The car looks like a great starter for someone as enthusiastic as you and I wish you the best of luck. I work at a euro tuner shop and I'm always coming accrost cars like yours and have a ton of parts if your interested. I have the same shell as you at the shop if your looking for panels or extras. I'm from CT so it's not to far of a drive or To mail parts if you need them. I'm always interested in helping the new guys to the e30 world. Good luck.

[Click]

Cleaned and painted this nasty biotch up.







After some considerable wire wheel time...







And better.



Also flushed the PS fluid, but didn't think it was worth taking pictures of.