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

[JasonWilson48]

Just went back through your whole build thread as I am relatively new around here. Every post you make gives me more confidence I can tackle larger jobs. Like I'm putting off dropping the diff to reseal it properly, and you're out here fabricating EVERYTHING, and repeatedly dropping all of the running gear. I just am afraid once I start pulling everything apart, the car will sit, and I won't have a running car for months on end as life gets in the way.

Oh well, stuff has to get done. This winter has some projects in store for myself.

Awesome, build. This also makes me want to do a turbo build in the future in some car in a future project. Not exclusively in an E30. Your videos are great.

[e30mclow]

Lots going on, but not a lot to show for it.

I spent a lot of time cleaning up the engine bay and redoing the removable core support. I previously did it in such a way that the front fenders needed to be removed in order to remove the core support.
There was also some ancient damage that I finally got around to fixing. All brackets removed and things are looking smooth.

Before:


After (in primer):


The engine bay was pretty grim after having the engine in and out dozens of times. It took forever, but I stripped it all down and redid the chassis rails/tunnel with truck bed liner.












I then lost a bunch of time as the paint I had ordered ended up nothing like what I actually wanted. It was a mile off (in my opinion).







I shot a side by side of the actual color ordered, versus what it ended up being. Suffice to say I'm not redoing the bat and have a gallon of wasted money sitting on the shelf.
Desired shade on the left, received on the right.



Things came out way too "military" looking, so I've driven an hour away to a more reputable supplier to try and ensure a correct match. Being a total respray it wouldn't be too much of a deal if it were slightly off, but to me it is a different color completely.

At the rear, I've roughed in a number or repairs ahead of my final bodywork phase.
Someone else's sins..










I've also got the rear battery tray 90% complete and in primer ahead of final fettling and shultz-ing
Before:


After:


The last remaining larger operation is building a seriously strong trunk floor around where my previously modified diff mount lives.
(Old photo as a reminder)


The floor was starting to flex slightly again, so I'm going to be plating and reinstalling the floor with some strengthening to the rear shock towers. Just started that yesterday but I hope to have it finished by next weekend.

The holes are reliefs for some spot welding to the existing. I'll also be plating the underside.

[peteb3]

996 C4s and E30s oh my, they do go well together, and an e34 M5 or two....keep up the great work and updates, its coming together, again

[s14brent]

solid update!

[2mAn]

Amazing update!

Simple_Smith this is why I'm constantly bugging people to update their threads

[Simple_Smith]

It is criminal that I haven't spent enough time looking at other people's builds. This thing is awesome and the roof swap is great to see since I'd never even consider doing one myself. Excellent chunk of progress, keep it up! The blue dash with Packard grey exterior should pop nicely

[e30mclow]

Some updates as of late..

What I had hoped was going to be a clean(er) shell to swap everything into, turned out to be hiding secrets. I suspect it may have been a salt water flood car at some point, as everything under the underseal was crusty. Everything from the bottoms of the doors up was immaculate.

Rats had also made a home in the heater box, which rusted out the rain tray under the dash, as well as down into the driver side chassis leg.

In the end, I decided it best to chop it up to be used as a donor for the rust issues of my current car.


The main issue being that my roof was very rusty, so a simple plan was launched.








I drilled out all spot welds from the 6 pillars to achieve as much of a lapped joint as possible at all points. I also added additional metal 4" above and below the interior laps.
It look a lot of measuring, but ended up mm perfect.





It was then a case of making the ~300+ spot welds and the 6 butt welds.
While at that, I also addressed some minor rust in one corner of the scuttle.



Having cut anything needed from the donor, off she went to become bean tins.


The roof is now 100% on and I've been picking away at minor rust issues here and there.




In the last week I've purchased a new air compressor and will begin fitting out the garage so that I can paint it at home.
The plan is to paint it once the weather and humidity calms down.

Having played with some test panels, I've decided on a 1950s Packard color, which you can see here..






The interior is going blue


I'll go dark carper, then blue door cards and seats. I'm becoming brave enough to try a blue dashboard too..









Lots and lots of planning while slowly executing, but we'll get there.

[econti]

The 12V and 24V BMWs could sound like that too if anyone put equal length turbo manifolds on them, but they're already a nut access nightmare as is with the odd runner shapes that the lean forces people to adopt.

Buddy with M54 turbo E36 drift car has equal length stainless, it sounds good but VVTI 1JZ just has that special something about it. Specifically the VVTI ones sound the best despite being a tad worse for power

[varg]

It's frankly not fair how good 1jzs sound

The 12V and 24V BMWs could sound like that too if anyone put equal length turbo manifolds on them, but they're already a nut access nightmare as is with the odd runner shapes that the lean forces people to adopt.

[econti]

It's frankly not fair how good 1jzs sound

[onesecond]

What's the plan for the colour?

[e30mclow]

Updates

Got some wheels:




Got the iBooster setup finished:
Tiiiiight


Installed the 1000cc injectors and retuned it:

Tried playing with left foot braking and the iBooster:
Binned it lol






I had a spare trailing arm so it was back together the following morning. I then discovered the hub itself was also bent, so I put a new one in last night. Now I think the rotor and/or brake caliper bracket are also bent.
It was quite the hit. The iBooster is far too instantaneous for an uncalibrated left foot. While sideways and intending to gently apply the brake to control rear wheel speed, all four locked in a flash and I hit things that don't move.

Next up will be MK60 ABS, which I'm actually going to hold off on until I commence the next phase of this build, which is completely scrapping it lol

I found a shell with an immaculate roof, whereas mine is beyond fixing. I'm going on 8 years now with this car, which was just a poor but running $1,200 shell, so I'm very much way too far into it for what it is. The running gear deserves better.


I'll be starting a full nut and bolt of this new one soon, along with a full color change, which is exciting!

[OSAH racing]

Caymans dont count

I know your 996 is awesome and we are talking different levels of awesome. IMO until you get the GT3, 911 the Caymans the better drivers car.

[2mAn]

996s are the modern E30..

Caymans dont count

[moatilliatta]

Porsche's are the modern E30..

Nice do see you're keeping the E30 going, Gearbox been good since the repair?