My 1988 e30 325ix - Garage'd

[jeenyus]

Speaking of under the car. Progress is being made slowly. I only need to weld in the flanges and o2 sensor and it's done and off to ceramic coating. I realized I have to wait till it's all assembled before I could send it off.

[2mAn]

Mmmm. New shiny parts.

I am loving the updates. The exhaust is going to be awesome. Keep it up!

x2 What a wonderful feeling to throw that rusty POS in the trash and replace it with something shiny... even if its under the car

[mike.bmw]

Mmmm. New shiny parts.

I am loving the updates. The exhaust is going to be awesome. Keep it up!

[jeenyus]

Old vs new. Worth it.

[jeenyus]

Yeah the spatter is what eventually screwed up the threads. I just wrap the clamp in a layer or two of masking tape.
There's probably a better way to cover it, but I don't have any anti-spatter spray.

i think using the clamp while welding is an awesome idea. I am def doing that.

[Northern]

Yeah the spatter is what eventually screwed up the threads. I just wrap the clamp in a layer or two of masking tape.
There's probably a better way to cover it, but I don't have any anti-spatter spray.

[jeenyus]

I've had issues with vbands warping when welded, so now I clamp them together in the orientation they'll be on the car and they seem to warp a little less and at least warp together so they still seal. I think your flanges are thicker than mine, so maybe that'll help too. I also learned the hard way to cover the clamp threads when welding this way - I stripped one of the t-bolts because the nut carried some slag up the thread.

Thanks for the advice! I have heard a lot about the warping and I am nervous about it. I've also heard to wrap the v section of the flange to avoid spatter getting on it.

[Northern]

I've had issues with vbands warping when welded, so now I clamp them together in the orientation they'll be on the car and they seem to warp a little less and at least warp together so they still seal. I think your flanges are thicker than mine, so maybe that'll help too.

I also learned the hard way to cover the clamp threads when welding this way - I stripped one of the t-bolts because the nut carried some slag up the thread.

[jeenyus]

Everything seems to be lining up well. Just gotta weld it together now. I even checked out how it fits with the vbands to weld together.

[jeenyus]

A little more work on exhaust today. I got one of the elbows welded into the exhaust. Slow because I'm a noob at welding also attaching and removing the exhaust is a little slow by myself. Getting there!!

[jeenyus]

I got to cutting and liked things up pretty well. Just gotta tack it all together. Also a picture of my cat and it's condition.

[jeenyus]

The two 45s I ordered showed up. I think I have a fairly good idea how this is going to work. I will have to trim the black y collector as well as the old exhaust. That way I can get the two 45s to line up just right. My concern is the accuracy of mocking it up and getting it just right. If anyone as some advice how to make sure fitment is great I'd appreciate the advice.

[D.Martijn]

I think the color is technically called "burnt bronze". I've been trying to decide and still can't come to a decision, because right now I'm leaning toward the "burnt bronze" color they offer.

Edit: if you google "cerakote burnt bronze exhaust" you'll see some good examples.

Oh yeah, that could look good.
The color reminds me of hard anodization of aluminum

[jeenyus]

I'm thinking the black ad gold would look kinda tacky

I think the color is technically called "burnt bronze". I've been trying to decide and still can't come to a decision, because right now I'm leaning toward the "burnt bronze" color they offer.

Edit: if you google "cerakote burnt bronze exhaust" you'll see some good examples.

[D.Martijn]

I went with an anthracite grey (paint) on my manifold, I think they look pretty good


I'm thinking the black ad gold would look kinda tacky