Thor's totally uninformed build thread! (TUBT)
Hey guys, I figured I would post up here and outline what I have planned for the beautiful pair of E30's I just bought!
I've been searching for a platform for a project car for 2-3 years and for an E30 for a solid year. Iv'e been a car enthusiast for almost a decade but I've never actually done something crazy. It all started when my son was born about a year ago. I never really had my father around while I was growing up. I had no one to teach me how to be a man, or do manly things. I've taught myself everything over the years (thank you internet) but I don't want my son to have to learn the hard way. I want him to have mechanical work and house work to be second nature, if he's mechanically inclined like I am... he shall be a force to be reckoned with. These cars will teach me more than I could ever imagine about how to do and work with almost everything car related.
Anyways enough with the ramble. I bought a 86 325e and a 87 325 sedans both. 86 runs great but has rust. 87 has the most immaculate body I've ever seen (looking through builds for a year.) But no engine, used to be an M20. So for now the plan is use 86' as a fun car and complete 87'. Then switch project cars. My wife will probably end up driving the 86, I constantly talk about cars and she usually glazes over. I told her I wasn't feeling well and she should drive the runner home. She gets out and says some of the most amazing things to me " Wouldn't it be awesome if we had matching E30's?" and "I really like this car! It feels so good and handles better than SiSi!" (2009 civic si) So this may have just turned my wife into a car girl *prays* Anyways, there's a 95 540i on CL for $350 no title. I would buy the 540, strip it in a weekend. Throw the motor where ever I could, junk chassis, and begin selling off parts to recoupe my costs. I think I could make money on it!
Now what I'm worried about is cost because it most defiantly is a factor. I bought one of these cars to be cheap and most bang for my buck. My Integra was too cheap feeling and this seemed like the best option for me. I would honestly be happy with 200 RWHP, as it would be more than anything I've owned. I'm not trying to break the internet, or impress anyone. But the only thing that has me skeptical is the MPG. I'm building this car simply to enjoy driving. Maybe attempt to slide it at a drift event once a year, and do another autox. But I'm mostly building it to be a cruiser and canyon carver.
Good lord I talk a lot, if you've made it this far thank you for your patience. I'm looking at the 540 tomorrow, should have it towed and then begins the tear down and inventory of pieces. I'm going to outline costs pretty much to a T in this build, simply because I'm constantly hearing "that's going to be way more money than you expect!" If it is, you'll learn through this thread.
Mjolnir: This thing has such a good finish, the paint has rock chip damage, but there's almost no rust anywhere on the car. The blue interior is hideous though, and it has been neglected as well (Intense UV in Colorado). I can't wait to buy her donor car!!!
Eve: I should have washed her and taken pictures before attacking the plastidip. But I did not want to wait around for the rust to get worse, or become complacent with her finish even though horrors could be underneath. She's on some lowering springs, but everything about her has been severely neglected. Luckily she came with a bunch of replacement parts (motor) in a box in the trunk.
Thank you all, Thor
I've been searching for a platform for a project car for 2-3 years and for an E30 for a solid year. Iv'e been a car enthusiast for almost a decade but I've never actually done something crazy. It all started when my son was born about a year ago. I never really had my father around while I was growing up. I had no one to teach me how to be a man, or do manly things. I've taught myself everything over the years (thank you internet) but I don't want my son to have to learn the hard way. I want him to have mechanical work and house work to be second nature, if he's mechanically inclined like I am... he shall be a force to be reckoned with. These cars will teach me more than I could ever imagine about how to do and work with almost everything car related.
Anyways enough with the ramble. I bought a 86 325e and a 87 325 sedans both. 86 runs great but has rust. 87 has the most immaculate body I've ever seen (looking through builds for a year.) But no engine, used to be an M20. So for now the plan is use 86' as a fun car and complete 87'. Then switch project cars. My wife will probably end up driving the 86, I constantly talk about cars and she usually glazes over. I told her I wasn't feeling well and she should drive the runner home. She gets out and says some of the most amazing things to me " Wouldn't it be awesome if we had matching E30's?" and "I really like this car! It feels so good and handles better than SiSi!" (2009 civic si) So this may have just turned my wife into a car girl *prays* Anyways, there's a 95 540i on CL for $350 no title. I would buy the 540, strip it in a weekend. Throw the motor where ever I could, junk chassis, and begin selling off parts to recoupe my costs. I think I could make money on it!
Now what I'm worried about is cost because it most defiantly is a factor. I bought one of these cars to be cheap and most bang for my buck. My Integra was too cheap feeling and this seemed like the best option for me. I would honestly be happy with 200 RWHP, as it would be more than anything I've owned. I'm not trying to break the internet, or impress anyone. But the only thing that has me skeptical is the MPG. I'm building this car simply to enjoy driving. Maybe attempt to slide it at a drift event once a year, and do another autox. But I'm mostly building it to be a cruiser and canyon carver.
Good lord I talk a lot, if you've made it this far thank you for your patience. I'm looking at the 540 tomorrow, should have it towed and then begins the tear down and inventory of pieces. I'm going to outline costs pretty much to a T in this build, simply because I'm constantly hearing "that's going to be way more money than you expect!" If it is, you'll learn through this thread.
Mjolnir: This thing has such a good finish, the paint has rock chip damage, but there's almost no rust anywhere on the car. The blue interior is hideous though, and it has been neglected as well (Intense UV in Colorado). I can't wait to buy her donor car!!!
Eve: I should have washed her and taken pictures before attacking the plastidip. But I did not want to wait around for the rust to get worse, or become complacent with her finish even though horrors could be underneath. She's on some lowering springs, but everything about her has been severely neglected. Luckily she came with a bunch of replacement parts (motor) in a box in the trunk.
Thank you all, Thor
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