And so it begins...UPDATE: 9/13

[Bimmerfanatik]

Scott, you lady boy, that top is not that heavy! I installed it myself without any issues!!! (IIRC, when I shipped the old one, it weighed about 55-60 lbs on the frame.):p

Keep up the good work.

Maybe it isn't THAT heavy, but it was awkward getting it down with the car up off the ground and no good way to hold it. If it were on the ground, it'd be easier.

I need to get new fabric or at least the new rear window sewn in. Annoying the hell out of me.

[Dave]

Not sure about the color - torn between Avus, Mauritius, and Royalblau (current color).

Not AVUS!!!!

One other thing - did you ever notice the DS fender? I'm almost certain it's a coupe fender, not a cabby. It doesn't come all the way down to the bottom of the rocker, and it's just off enough to make me wonder. It's not bad, but if I get up close I notice. May replace it, probably not until later in the winter.

Yeah - I knew that much of the left side had been sprayed (the door poorly) in its past.

And the fender - I told you it was a non-cabrio fender!!! Are we getting alzheimers? Or maybe getting exposed to too many fumes? :p



Keep up the good work on it.

And as for the top, I did my swap with the car on the ground. It would be harder with it up in the air.

[Bimmerfanatik]

Not AVUS!!!!



Yeah - I knew that much of the left side had been sprayed (the door poorly) in its past.

And the fender - I told you it was a non-cabrio fender!!! Are we getting alzheimers? Or maybe getting exposed to too many fumes? :p



Keep up the good work on it.

And as for the top, I did my swap with the car on the ground. It would be harder with it up in the air.

You diiiiid? I'm balding - the alzheimers must be following close behind.

I may try to source a new fender - that's going to be a challenge though. Have to see if the WC kids have any - no rust.

I may leave it in primer and slap the trunk and tails on for the show, instead of trying to rush to get it done in time. We'll see how things go - I just really want to bring it along.

[Dave]

You diiiiid? I'm balding - the alzheimers must be following close behind.

Oh Geez!

My hair is going too, but the grey matter is still working!

Yeah, we even discussed via pm some fenders that I found that were available to replace it a couple times!

Which door are you using on the DS? The blue one or that black one? The black one had the (fixable) dent, but otherwise it was a LOT more solid IIRC.

[parkerbink]

Scott call A&J (in Texas) they had several cabbies last year when I was there.

[Lair]

I'm digging the Royalblau.

[Bimmerfanatik]

Sorry for the delay kids. Busy weekend at the Depot.

Anyways. Royalblau is a heavy contender - it's the original color, and it's a nice color. But, there's already a really nice royalblau vert on here, and I like to be different. I've never seen an avus vert, hence why I'm leaning on it. I also REALLY like avus. Another color that came to mind was monaco blue metallic from the new z4 - another nice choice. There's still mauritius blue, as well.

It's going to be blue, and I'd prefer a darker blue, and it HAS to be a BMW color. This is happening in the next week or two, so please help me out with any suggestions. I also need to find the paint and get it mixed!

No worries on the fender Dave - I had completely forgotten about it. Now's a perfect time to replace it, as the car is completely apart. More pics tomorrow in daylight - it's really come a long way, and I'm psyched.

Doors - Ray (Ma88325is) traded me a parts cabby for the nogaro weaves that once were on the car. The best part of the car was the doors - damn near perfect, even the paint. These are going to be the new doors for the vert, once I strip them and prep them. I'm painting two trunk lids - one with spoiler holes, one without. Can't decide which I prefer just yet - so I'll have my choice. Hood was a bit messy - lots of holes, divuts, etc - we used Aircraft Stripper on it and it's coming along nicely. Lots of work to do on the windshield frame - got to replace the gasket and lockstrip too.

All in all the unibody was real clean - not a whole lot of work to do aside from in the lower trunk area and a spot near the antenna (pictured.) Almost ready for primer and more prep.

We'll be doing at least 3 or 4 coats of primer, sanding the hell out of it, and putting at least the same amount of paint coats on too. Lastly, a handful of clear coats to finish it off.

Still on the fence over trim - black or body color? I really like Widebody's trim in matching Avus, but the classic look of black is nice too.

What do you guys think?

[Bimmerfanatik]

More work continues. Car is completely stripped and mostly primed - few more coats and lots of sanding and we'll be ready for paint.

Also picked up my rear suspension components from the sandblasters - see below for a peek :)

Off with the fenders, bumper, and valance!


Sick jackstand! (Best way to keep the car level while keeping the four jackstands where they are... :))


Lots of rust under the windshield gasket. Did a nice job covering the dash - wrapping it in fresh vinyl over the winter anyways, but better safe than sorry.


Who wants to read the paper? :) This was annoying, though could have been worse.


Working on that windshield frame - the man behind the DA. Couldn't have done any of this without him.


Primer! Far from the last coat or ready for paint, but it's starting to take shape. Remember - we just started this, and we're only working on it after work, days off, etc. Probably have around 20 hours in it right now.


This is just how close a coupe/sedan fender compares to a cabrio fender. Just about an inch longer, and recessed for the rocker trim on the cabrio instead of raised on the coupe/sedan.



A sneak peek - got all the stuff back from the sandblasters - they epoxy primed them, I started spraying. A little different, but I love it.


Another day at the garage, here's how she stands. Still need to do the doors, valance (which is already smooth, btw) and bumpers. Will paint the fenders, valance, hood, trunk, and boot lid cover ON the car, but prep and prime is off the car.

[KillerCalypso]

Goooooooooo Scottty Go GOoooo

[Bimmerfanatik]

Goooooooooo Scottty Go GOoooo

We'll see. I may show up in a primer'ed vert with no doors :)

You leaving soon? Or back already?

[MikeE30325i]

damn, great job. have fun. and yes, keep us posted

[M42Technik]

Your project will be done before my interior is done.

[Bimmerfanatik]

damn, great job. have fun. and yes, keep us posted

Dunno about the fun - this is a lot of work, but I'll tell you, it's a lot cheaper than a professional job, and you also get to do every little thing that you want, whereas someone else may skip over some things. We'll see.

Body work was the only thing I shyed away from, but now that I'm learning, it's not so bad. Once you scuff the quarter of the car, the hard part is over - that hard part being scarring your car ;)

[Bimmerfanatik]

Your project will be done before my interior is done.

Oh, I hope not. What else is left?

[RCWells]

Can't wait to see the finished product. Good stuff Scott. More pics!