Always enjoyed reading other peoples build and car progression threads, so I thought I'd do one of my own. This is not nearly as detailed or intense as others, but whatever. Anyways...
This is my second e30 and my first vert. Traded my 600rr for it near the end of last summer knowing I wouldn't ride it all winter anyways.
Turned into this. First day I brought it home.
A pretty clean vert, the previous owner had had it for awhile and did alot to it. It was originally an auto with metal bumpers and got a 5 speed swap and plastic bumpers. Also got some lotus white interior from an mtech 2 vert. As well it had gotten a respray to DS from schwartz about 2 years prior.
Of course the first thing that, at least I do when i get a new car, is to clean the crap outta it.
Started tearing the interior apart to get in every nook and cranny.
Had my trunk monkey nephew help me out. Start 'em young.
I love the white on black, but its a pain the ass the keep clean...It shows everything. But when its clean, its worth it.
Like all older cars though, it wasn't perfect. Pretty good tear in the soft top that was just covered with some black duct tape, the windows didn't fit flush against the top, none the doors would lock, it had a battery drain somewhere and wouldn't start most of the time, no air ducts or fogs, big dent on the truck deck and lots of other little things. But i was looking for a little project during the winter, so all this was just fine with me.
Started out by just going and getting some weather proof tape that was black. Not the prettiest thing, but it actually prevents water from getting in , unlike the duct tape. Followed that by trying to get the windows to seat with the soft top. Took the door panel off and messed around with the window motor and the part that stops the window from going up to far (pretty sure that's the technical term for that thing).
After a couple times adjusting, rolling up the window, adjusting, rolling up the window, i got it pretty perfectly flush with the top. Boom done.
Next was trying to figure out the power drain issue, Started out by getting a newer battery and a new starter cable, the old one was toast.
Once those where both hooked up, i let the car sit for a day or two to see if the drain had gone away. It hadn't.... The previous owner had stated that he believed it was the cd player he had hooked up might be causing the drain. So i thought what the hell, lets try it. Whata know, that was it!
With the car now starting all the time and the leaks figured out, i spent the next little bit just driving the car around. After getting tired of having no music i thought about getting a new cd player. Around the same time my rear brakes where squealing like no other, so i bought some goodies for it.
Spent that day putting everything on the car.
While i was working on the car i went ahead and painted the trim around the windshield, it was some super weird redish rusty color.
Not long after i had replaced the rear brakes, i started hearing another noise from the rear...wheel bearing. Dammit. I knew what a pain these things are to do and was not wanting to do it at all. Went out and got a wheel bearing removal kit to try and make the job a little easier, even though it was SUPER EXPENSIVE..Thought i may do it again so might as well have it. Only picture i took of the process..
What a mess. It was such a pita. Took me like 45 min straight of nonstop slide hammering to get that hub off. The bearing removal and install was the easiest part thanks to that tool. Whatever though, on the road again!
Here's where it starts to go down hill.. My coupe, which i normally DD, had its trans take a dump on me, so i had to start DD'ing the vert. Around this time the weather also took a turn for the worse and it got reallllyyyy cold. All the roads where frozen.
Long story short, i put the vert in a ditch due to ice. I was so mad at myself. It broke the front valance, lip, bumper trim, grill and bent the radiator support. It could have been a lot worse and thankfully no one was hurt nor where any other cars involved. This got my ass in gear to fix the coupe and get it back on the road so i didn't have to drive the vert. I put the vert away for some time while i decided its fate.
This is the only pic i took with the damage. Hard to see, but you can totally tell the valance is all crunched.
Once the weather got a little better and i got the energy to tackle the vert, i started taking the front apart.
At this point i just wanted to sell it and not have to deal with it. I even posted an ad. After some thought i decided not to be a little bitch and fix it. I had big plans for it and didn't want something like this to stop me.
Some pics while she was front endless
I started searching the forums for parts and found a local guy with a black front valance in decent shape for a great price. Also bought some unpainted air ducts around the same time. Took a little time and painted them.
Getting the valance really put my ass in gear and i went out an ordered new fogs, grill, bumper trim, IS lip and new clips. Also went out and bought an e28 IS trunk spoiler froma buddy of mine to try and cover the dent on the trunk.
You can kinda see the dent on the left side on the trunk
Took the trunk off, made a template for the holes and started drilling! Turned out pretty good i think.
Jump ahead to putting everything back together and its looking like a car again!
Now that the car is back and in even better shape then before, i wanted to start doing what i had planned from the beginning. Lowering it.
From the moment i got the car, i despised the wheels. Sorry to all the Beyern fans out there, they just aren't for me. I'm not a big fan of 17's of e30s anyways and the width of the wheels is not nearly enough for what i wanted the car to have. So i sold them as soon as i got the chance. Borrowed a set of dirty ass weaves from a friend just to roll around on till i get new wheels and in my opinion, it already started looking wayyyy better.
In the picture above the car just has H&R lowering springs with stock struts.
With those gone and some extra cash in my pocket, i looked into suspension. Found a member on here selling a set of GC's already welded on shortened strut housings with some bilstein struts for the rear. I wanted the car to be able to go real low if i wish it to, so this was perfect and the hard part was already done for me.
Comparison of stock and shortened housings. Oh yea, thats low enough.
Popped those bad boys in with the quickness.
Borrowed my dads garage so had to take a pic of the old and new vert.
What it looks like on the ground with the weaves ;D
If you think it would rub in the front, your 100% right. Rubs like a sonabitch. Time for a roll.
Well so far, that's what i got. Still have a bunch of stuff i need/want to do so i will keep updating. Already have my wheels/tires ordered so just waiting for them to show up....
Until then!
This is my second e30 and my first vert. Traded my 600rr for it near the end of last summer knowing I wouldn't ride it all winter anyways.
Turned into this. First day I brought it home.
A pretty clean vert, the previous owner had had it for awhile and did alot to it. It was originally an auto with metal bumpers and got a 5 speed swap and plastic bumpers. Also got some lotus white interior from an mtech 2 vert. As well it had gotten a respray to DS from schwartz about 2 years prior.
Of course the first thing that, at least I do when i get a new car, is to clean the crap outta it.
Started tearing the interior apart to get in every nook and cranny.
Had my trunk monkey nephew help me out. Start 'em young.
I love the white on black, but its a pain the ass the keep clean...It shows everything. But when its clean, its worth it.
Like all older cars though, it wasn't perfect. Pretty good tear in the soft top that was just covered with some black duct tape, the windows didn't fit flush against the top, none the doors would lock, it had a battery drain somewhere and wouldn't start most of the time, no air ducts or fogs, big dent on the truck deck and lots of other little things. But i was looking for a little project during the winter, so all this was just fine with me.
Started out by just going and getting some weather proof tape that was black. Not the prettiest thing, but it actually prevents water from getting in , unlike the duct tape. Followed that by trying to get the windows to seat with the soft top. Took the door panel off and messed around with the window motor and the part that stops the window from going up to far (pretty sure that's the technical term for that thing).
After a couple times adjusting, rolling up the window, adjusting, rolling up the window, i got it pretty perfectly flush with the top. Boom done.
Next was trying to figure out the power drain issue, Started out by getting a newer battery and a new starter cable, the old one was toast.
Once those where both hooked up, i let the car sit for a day or two to see if the drain had gone away. It hadn't.... The previous owner had stated that he believed it was the cd player he had hooked up might be causing the drain. So i thought what the hell, lets try it. Whata know, that was it!
With the car now starting all the time and the leaks figured out, i spent the next little bit just driving the car around. After getting tired of having no music i thought about getting a new cd player. Around the same time my rear brakes where squealing like no other, so i bought some goodies for it.
Spent that day putting everything on the car.
While i was working on the car i went ahead and painted the trim around the windshield, it was some super weird redish rusty color.
Not long after i had replaced the rear brakes, i started hearing another noise from the rear...wheel bearing. Dammit. I knew what a pain these things are to do and was not wanting to do it at all. Went out and got a wheel bearing removal kit to try and make the job a little easier, even though it was SUPER EXPENSIVE..Thought i may do it again so might as well have it. Only picture i took of the process..
What a mess. It was such a pita. Took me like 45 min straight of nonstop slide hammering to get that hub off. The bearing removal and install was the easiest part thanks to that tool. Whatever though, on the road again!
Here's where it starts to go down hill.. My coupe, which i normally DD, had its trans take a dump on me, so i had to start DD'ing the vert. Around this time the weather also took a turn for the worse and it got reallllyyyy cold. All the roads where frozen.
Long story short, i put the vert in a ditch due to ice. I was so mad at myself. It broke the front valance, lip, bumper trim, grill and bent the radiator support. It could have been a lot worse and thankfully no one was hurt nor where any other cars involved. This got my ass in gear to fix the coupe and get it back on the road so i didn't have to drive the vert. I put the vert away for some time while i decided its fate.
This is the only pic i took with the damage. Hard to see, but you can totally tell the valance is all crunched.
Once the weather got a little better and i got the energy to tackle the vert, i started taking the front apart.
At this point i just wanted to sell it and not have to deal with it. I even posted an ad. After some thought i decided not to be a little bitch and fix it. I had big plans for it and didn't want something like this to stop me.
Some pics while she was front endless
I started searching the forums for parts and found a local guy with a black front valance in decent shape for a great price. Also bought some unpainted air ducts around the same time. Took a little time and painted them.
Getting the valance really put my ass in gear and i went out an ordered new fogs, grill, bumper trim, IS lip and new clips. Also went out and bought an e28 IS trunk spoiler froma buddy of mine to try and cover the dent on the trunk.
You can kinda see the dent on the left side on the trunk
Took the trunk off, made a template for the holes and started drilling! Turned out pretty good i think.
Jump ahead to putting everything back together and its looking like a car again!
Now that the car is back and in even better shape then before, i wanted to start doing what i had planned from the beginning. Lowering it.
From the moment i got the car, i despised the wheels. Sorry to all the Beyern fans out there, they just aren't for me. I'm not a big fan of 17's of e30s anyways and the width of the wheels is not nearly enough for what i wanted the car to have. So i sold them as soon as i got the chance. Borrowed a set of dirty ass weaves from a friend just to roll around on till i get new wheels and in my opinion, it already started looking wayyyy better.
In the picture above the car just has H&R lowering springs with stock struts.
With those gone and some extra cash in my pocket, i looked into suspension. Found a member on here selling a set of GC's already welded on shortened strut housings with some bilstein struts for the rear. I wanted the car to be able to go real low if i wish it to, so this was perfect and the hard part was already done for me.
Comparison of stock and shortened housings. Oh yea, thats low enough.
Popped those bad boys in with the quickness.
Borrowed my dads garage so had to take a pic of the old and new vert.
What it looks like on the ground with the weaves ;D
If you think it would rub in the front, your 100% right. Rubs like a sonabitch. Time for a roll.
Well so far, that's what i got. Still have a bunch of stuff i need/want to do so i will keep updating. Already have my wheels/tires ordered so just waiting for them to show up....
Until then!
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