The not-so-dirty DIRTY30

[kevine30]

Awesome car! I'm about an hour and half away from Greenville in Charlotte. Hit me up if your ever in the area! You ever get the new wheels?

[Klug]

Awesome car! I'm about an hour and half away from Greenville in Charlotte. Hit me up if your ever in the area! You ever get the new wheels?

Nice! Actually, the deal fell through- the seller wouldn't budge on price and finding out how much a proper fill-n-drill costs I decided against it.

I'm currently spending all my available car time with a new project. '81 MK1 Diesel Caddy, it's beginning to come a long way. So the e30 really hasn't had any updates since this past spring (Did re-do my rear suspension however- New sway links, Koni Adjustables <3, GC Strut mounts)

Going to probably get ESM 002R's and then swap them between the e30 and the rabbit when needed.

[kevine30]

Looks pretty clean.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Klug]

Figured I'd do a few updates since I last updated this thread. Over the winter the e30 has basically been put on hiatus for a bit while I spent most of my time on my MK1 Rabbit (Pics below of that pile) However, the past few weeks I took the rabbit out of the garage and pulled the e30 in.

It was time to do the fun subframe bushings! As you can tell, the subframe bushings and TAB's were pretty shot. I was getting an awful squeaking in the rear and it was driving me up the wall. I figured it was the subframe bushings since they were not replaced when doing my TAB's (Note, I used AKG black polly TAB's on the one side and not the other since I originally put them in backwards and had to break them to get out- therefore I only had two good ones at the time- so for two years I had polly TAB's on the passenger side and not the drivers side) Eventually found out that I apparently didn't grease the bushings well enough and that was the source of my squeaking. Anyway, it is all getting replaced by rubber- TAB's subframe bushings and diff bushings. Also replacing all bolts and nuts with all new hardware and a black paint job to clean it all up.




Diff looks horrible on the outside, but great on the inside! Replaced the cover gasket and used 85-90 synthetic to refill.



Took out my POS JOM struts in the rear and replaced the strut mounts with GC polly and Knoi adjustables (Firm makes my CD player skip ;) )




I was getting misfire issues a few months ago and replaced my O2 sensor with a comparable Bosch Ford V8 O2 sensor and it cleared everything up. Also it was due time for a new fuel filter- never changed its entire life.


I had a cheap car cover on it over the summer and it left water stains all over the hood and roof. Therefore I had to do a full detail using synthetic polymer wax (so much better than Carnauba)




Found an IS lip at the yard, painted that and threw it on. Mixed feelings- I used adhesive, not the mounting studs so it can be removed down the road.



'81 Diesel Caddy

I've learned more about diesels over the past year than ever before. This thing is so dead simple to work on but can cause much stress. I'd like to make a build thread since I am documenting a TON on this car- but I hate vortex and VW kids irritate me.

Now 100% rust free, rear axle flip, raceland coils in the front, new motor mounts, cleaned the diesel tank inside and out and all new fittings and filters up to the pump. New timing belt, water pump, glow plugs, all new hoses and threw some bottle caps on it. Paint job this spring.







As far as the e30 goes- I'll be finishing up my subframe over the next few weeks, also rebuilding my rear calipers and upgrading to SS brake lines. "While I'm in there"

Once that is wrapped up then its off to the front end. Need to do a TB job since the PO (only 15k ago) replaced the TB and water pump but not the tensioner. Over the past year or so anything over 4k RPM's I hear a squeal. Tested the fan clutch, its not that. I'll feel more comfortable with the M20 once I do the TB job myself and know its done correctly. Got a new TB, tensioner, water pump and related seals.


Stay tuned....

[JoshF]

wow clean ride

[Peterkaczynski]

but those quads tho

[Klug]

Finished up the rear subframe. Used all rubber bushings with the exception of the Condor Diff Bushing being polly (Had a rubber one, bent it trying to get it pressed- said screw it and got an easy to install polly)

Overall, not a bad job. Getting it to drop was difficult- that 1/4 inch of corrosion on the mounts really holds everything good. Tried threading a bolt into the bushing and hammering down- wouldn't budge. Left it alone for a few days and I notice it dropped on its own, then upon inspection the aluminum shaft snapped in half in the bushing. Anyway- I was lucky and didn't have to remove the driveshaft, it was a little more difficult installing it with the drive shaft still in but eventually everything worked out. I would advise anyone doing this to order everything they need before hand- since you don't ever want to drop this again. Midway through I decided to replace the rubber brake lines with SS- its a bitch with the subframe still intact. So the subframe job turned into a full brake job- also rebuilt the calipers, parking brake shoes and new spring set with new rotors.

UP NEXT! Timing belt job complete with all new hoses (deleting the recalled heater temp valve) and rebuilding the front brakes.

[dirty30]

nice e30 and caddy, I approve

[3MPowered]

Excellent build thread, you're putting a lot of work into this. I love your caddy too, I would trade my MkII Golf for one in an instant.

[Klug]

Excellent build thread, you're putting a lot of work into this. I love your caddy too, I would trade my MkII Golf for one in an instant.

Much appreciated!

Yeah I plan on keeping the e30 for as long as I possibly can (hopefully forever) so I mind as well keep it in tip-top-shape. I mean, the chassis is solid as I only have a little rust by the battery tray (but who doesn't). The 175k M20 runs like the day it rolled off the line- I really have no issue with it whatsoever and it has a lot of life left on it, so an engine swap isn't in the immediate future.

If things work out- I'd love to get a 2002, rebuild this M20 drop it in and then put an S52 in this e30. One day.....

And the Caddy- if it wasn't for being a diesel and a pickup- I would have stayed far away from any MK1. But its dead simple to work on, parts are cheap, get 55mpg, its just different and fun.

[Klug]

More updates- Been spending a ton of work on this over the past few months.
What started as a timing belt job, turned into a front wheel bearing job, A/C delete and full blow radiator replacement.



-Timing belt done with Geba WP, Conti belt, OEM tensioner, spring, new O-rings, seals etc. etc. etc.
-Rebuilt entire shifter assembly with new parts.
-Filled the tranny with RedLine MTL
-Replaced alternator with rebuilt Bosch- now pulls 14.4v!

Replaced the radiator with a Z3M radiator (direct fit and three pass- also cheaper than a new stock e30 rad) and Spal 16'' puller fan. Wired it to the high-speed Aux fan with an 80c switch. Turned out to be a VERY tight fit but works great!





Replaced the oil pan gasket....again. Used Permatex 2 this time, defiantly holding up better than silicone (hey I was young and stupid 4 years ago)



New Guibo, motor and tranny mounts. The tranny mounts were SOAKED in oil.




Replaced front sway drop-links and bushings




Stupid shift seal leaking since the 90's



Replaced the clutch master and clutch salve



Used Aluminum gutter flashing (Aluminum on one side/sticky on the other. It is basically a thinner dynamat and is $25 for 20ft from Lowes. Probably doesn't do too much for noise but should help with heat.)



Replaced all fuel lines from tank to fuel rail, something that should be done on every 20+ year old car. Can't stress this enough.



New front bearings. They were not bad yet....but soon they would have went!




New brake master cylinder and rebuilt the calipers. It really needed it!



Repainted the valve cover and intake...again. The hood sound/heat deadening rubs against the intake and smudges the paint over time. I've never seen this issue with other people before...not sure if my hood is misaligned or what.



SSSquid 17lbs 91 Octane Chip. I was having some issues with rough starts, sometimes it would take a few pumps of the gas to get running, sounded like it was getting flooded. Never had this issue until after installing the 17lbs M50 green tops (refurbed by MMPEG) I was also seeing some pretty crappy gas mileage. This chip totally solved my issues, along with a big improvement in the 4-7k range, very happy with it and the whole transaction with SSSquid! (Also was shocked when I opened up my DME to find this ACSchnitzer chip installed from the P/O. Turns out that it was just an ebay knock off)



Laminx'd the fogs and highs. I'm honestly not sure what I feel about it, it definitely changes it up a bit- but I might be removing it soon. I think I like it better non-tinted.

[Klug]

Actually very happy with everything with the thing now, took a few years but finally got here!

Finally settled on some 16x8 ESM 002r, wrapped them in Nitto NeoGen 205/45/16's, very happy with the price and quality. Just need to ignore the hate of the 'Real BBS crowd'

Finally got around to buffing, polishing and waxing the bitch yesterday.

[shameson]

Your car looks great! It has come a long way, good job. I know the feeling of it finally getting to where you like it, my car was basically stock and it's taken 2 years to get it to where I'm at

[Klug]

Your car looks great! It has come a long way, good job. I know the feeling of it finally getting to where you like it, my car was basically stock and it's taken 2 years to get it to where I'm at

Thanks man- it sure has been a wild ride. This was really the first car I bought that I actually did all the work and taught myself what to do- I've learned so much. Gotta appreciate the simplicity of the e30. They are like grown-up legos.

[Klug]

Took the girl to Sowo in Helen, GA this past weekend. Too many idiots yelling, screaming and touching the car telling you to "Do a burn out" when your driving around- no thanks. So it sat in it's spot all day. Going to Vintage this weekend, hopefully get some sweet pics.