e30mclow's e30 #14 - Now 1.5jz + 6 Speed

[e30mclow]

Some updates.

It is now all back together and on the road.





12K Front & 14K Rear






With those in I reset the rear alignment and finally managed to achieve -0.3 to -0.5 degrees of camber, which should help tire wear and grip.

I also replaced the now very tired Garagistic front sway links with far more robust Volvo C30 rears. This was a nice little discovery.
The Moog items have grease fittings and are beefy as hell.







With that, a little bit of testing was required with the 180TW tires that ultimately caused the rear end destruction last season.
2nd & 3rd gear clutch kicks are no longer an issue


Other than that, I'm now down to two cars from four, with the two e30s winning.
I sold the Pajero Evo and 750i to make the big move easier, but there's no way I'm parting ways with these e30s!

[Mkcustoms88]

I also live in Halifax , Nova Scotia and your right, you can drive into a pot hole and walk out lol

[DEV0 E30]

I'm absolutely loving this thread.

You have excellent taste in wheels too.

[Northern]

Watch the potholes in NS on the way through lol.
Hit one and you'll find yourself in the plot of Journey to the Center of the Earth.

I saw those spacers as well but I also don't think there's an issue. I think I read somewhere that it was for a specific axle combo, but I could be full of shit.

[s14brent]

that's pretty cool, never knew they had axle spacers like that available. I ordered a pair of spacers and bolts to throw in mine (cheap insurance).

[e30mclow]

That's a rad trip, I've always wanted to go to Targa Newfoundland.

I know, the Targa would be amazing. For now I'll settle for Autocross on Bell Island. The thought of having to get a ferry to an island to rip at autocross all day is just brilliant.

I didn't know stretched axle boots were a problem?

Re the boots: It is a theory that only exists in my head.
I've bought e30s with good, albeit old boots, only for them to fail shortly after I slam the car. It has happened every time.

Seemingly with a low car, you're at the end of the splines, so when you add additional squat under power, I assume things are stretched moderately beyond their intended position.

[moatilliatta]

That's a rad trip, I've always wanted to go to Targa Newfoundland.

I didn't know stretched axle boots were a problem?

[e30mclow]

it is time to fix my torn backside.







After some measuring, I found that the 2" square tube that I bought socketed perfectly into the original diff support beam pockets.







I then decided to use these as a guide, before heavily reinforcing them.



Using an e36 medium case diff cover that I bought off of RockAuto, I started mocking things up.
Have never actually welded before using a real MIG, it was a wonderful step up from the $90 Amazon Flux Core that I'd been wasting time with for years.











Once I was happy with the alignment/position, I started strengthening it and adding new rear anti roll bar bracket locations.









With everything double checked, I pulled it out and painted it. It would be too difficult to do a good job once it was welded in.






I then dropped it into place for the last time and welded it home.
For the OEM perches shown earlier, I added strengthening place to the bottom to spread any forces.

Running out of time, I decided to make a barbaric panel to close things up.

I roughed in some 1.5mm sheet and then went to town beating "bead rolls" into it with a 1/2" extension and rubber mallet.




That added a tremendous amount of strength, which will help.
I then gave the underside many coats of rubberized under coat for good measure.


Since I was doing so well, I decided to treat the car to new axles. The ones that were in it had torn boots and I didn't trust them now that everything else was going to be so strong.
To help avoid stretch of the boots, as well as the CVs being extended to the ends of the splines with how low the car is, I also bought some axle spacers from Seems Legit Garage.





That should all make for a pretty robust rear end ahead of what will be an awesome road trip this coming May!

[It's Soda Not Pop]

Man you have one hell of a stable.

[e30mclow]

did you just hammer in the lips on the fenders? white car looks incredible on that setup

To fit the 225/45r16s with the Pontiac wheels? Yes, I had to roll/massage the lip as flat as possible then add an extra pair of spring pads in the rear to raise it more, since the adjustable spring perches were maxed out.

I find the big rubber mallet to work well once the lip is partially rolled already

[e30mclow]

I just read your whole thread. What a great project. love the DIY attitude, especially on paint. Must be a riot to drive.

Thanks. Yeah, the thing is fantastic. The handling, the power, it all just works so well as a package.

[s-thetikz]

did you just hammer in the lips on the fenders? white car looks incredible on that setup

[e30davie]

I just read your whole thread. What a great project. love the DIY attitude, especially on paint. Must be a riot to drive.

[QuiqueUy]

damn , that ripped for real !

grey is looking amazing!

[Northern]

Damn that's some carnage