89 325i LS Swap (Rust Repair & Respray Underway)

[Pootis]

Since I'm in quarantine I decided to do some maintenance items I have been putting off. First I rebuilt the driver's side door lock so it is functional (sorry no pics of that). I also took on replacing my odometer gears. This is a much easier job than I made it out on my head to be.

So I have been dealing with coolant hose issues with the ls and things just not working correctly so I decided to give the cx racing hard pipe kit a go and let me tell you this thing is a piece of garbage. I had to cut 1" off of one side to get it to fit. The nipple for the steam port vent is on the wrong side and to top it off the cap that comes with it does not seal. Overall do not buy this. Additionally while I was moving my electric fans I popped a hole in my radiator so had to pic up a new radiator as well (haven't installed it yet)


Last big thing was I decided to replace all four wheel bearings and upgrade to koni struts. The wheel bearings are the last suspension item that hasn't been replaced on this car so I figured it was time. I had bilstein sports on the car but I am told Koni's are a huge improvement so I went for it. Hopefully getting the car out this weekend to see how big of a difference they make.

[zwill23]

Interested to hear about the Konis! I'm running the same bilsteins and I can't help but wonder if the Koni's will make the ride around town nicer.

Quarantine time is the perfect time to chip away the pent up projects, I've been going through the same thing.

[Pootis]

Yeah hoping to have it out this weekend for a test drive

[Pootis]

Large Update Time:

So I got the new suspension on car was finally running exactly as it should. No more weird vibration, way smoother on the Koni's compared to the bilsteins, finally cooling properly, sooooooooo of course I have to take it all apart. I decided with a kid due in July that it would be hard to justify the biggest expense that I have always wanted to do. Send it off to paint and have all of the rust repaired. The car is not too rusty but has your typical spot the front factory moving pads and the rear battery box along with misc other little areas. I also always knew that the car had been in an accident with the previous owner. Very obvious body work on the passenger rear quarter panel. When I purchased the car the rear fender lip had rust on it which I had a cheaper shop repair and I specifically said I wanted a metal repair (more to come on that in a bit). When I made the decision to send it off to paint I decided I wanted to do this once and only once so it meant a full tear down (engine out, glass out, all trim off, interior out) only thing left were some wires and the dash.

The car will be painted zinnoberot again but opting for base coat clear coat over single stage. The painter is going to do 5 layers of clear and then wet sand it after it has hardened. I am beyond excited and fear the day it gets its first ding. BTW the painter counted 43 dents total that had to be fixed on the car.....woof hope you guys enjoy the pics of the tear down process. I will keep the thread updated as I go (or I will try to)

Last pic before disassembly

Fenders off and engine on its way out









Exterior and Interior Parts removed






Previous owner hit a dumpster so that will be getting fixed



Now it was ready to go

[Pootis]

Got the car loaded up and dropped off at the shop



Dropped it off on Friday and get a call Saturday from my buddy who is doing all of the work. He said that he had to know what was behind the passenger quarter panel and well.....the pics were shocking




He tells me to start sourcing a passenger side rear quarter because this panel is f'd. He said that there isn't a straight piece to be found and the worst part is he found the original paint under the body filler. He said the filler was over a 1/2" thick in certain spots. Now most of the horrible repair was done under the previous owners care but I am annoyed the shop I took it to didn't mention anything and just cut out the rust and put more filler on. Lucky for me some higher power was shining down on me because a seller on ebay had the exact piece I needed for $130.

That is it for the update. The new panel should be here by this weekend and I am hoping to have the car back in August. Baby is due July 23rd so hopefully I find some time to put the thing back together. Anxious to see the final product!

[Pootis]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiCtFOLr_Ug

Video of the damage

[mike.bmw]

A few things:
- congrats on the baby! Your first?
- it has to feel good knowing that once all the body work is done there won't be any surprises lurking underneath. It'll all be perfect.
- great progress tearing it all down and getting it ready for paint!

[TeXJ]

dream build!

[2mAn]

This is exactly the fear I had with repairing the damage that was on the Datsun.

Congrats on taking the leap and congrats on the July baby. My birthday is in July too!

[Pootis]

Thanks Everyone! Yep first baby due July 23rd! Don't know what we are having either so it will be a good surprise among all the shitty surprises 2020 has brought us

[TeXJ]

having a baby will turn your world upside down...but in the best way possible!

[Pootis]

I've also decided to replace the headliner while I have the glass out. I am going to give the JF Customs headliner on ebay a try. I will keep you all posted on how it is

[Oddjob]

Great looking car.

[iansane]

Amazing looking car. Congrats on the kid. I can't wait to see the car out of paint.

So I have been dealing with coolant hose issues with the ls and things just not working correctly so I decided to give the cx racing hard pipe kit a go and let me tell you this thing is a piece of garbage. I had to cut 1" off of one side to get it to fit. The nipple for the steam port vent is on the wrong side and to top it off the cap that comes with it does not seal. Overall do not buy this. Additionally while I was moving my electric fans I popped a hole in my radiator so had to pic up a new radiator as well (haven't installed it yet)

I don't think that's for the steam port. I think it's for an overflow tank?

[Pootis]

Amazing looking car. Congrats on the kid. I can't wait to see the car out of paint.



I don't think that's for the steam port. I think it's for an overflow tank?

Lol yeah I found that one out the hard way. Went for a test drive and steamed my engine bay with coolant.