Strict budget, slow restoration. *Now with moar budget*

[Wh33lhop]

Sooo

I decided to remove the front diving board (guts hanging out)
I kind of like how it looks with the fogs on the bumper shocks :p



I got pulled over for no front plate (I had no bumper and no turn signals, but apparently no front plate was more of a safety hazard) so I ziptied it on
Then I painted the bumper trim



Looks good though (I know the metal is still shitty, I just wanted to get it back on the car)

Compare to the rear one

[Wh33lhop]

Alright, enough with that waffleswaffleswaffleswaffleswaffles make-it-pretty shit.

Oh herro



Front installation was easier than rear

I noticed one of the endlinks had slipped off the stock rear bar which explains some understeery behavior that I'd been experiencing... but on with pics



A HA, finally got it over the diff..


I didn't get a good pic of the bolt-on trailing arm reinforcements, but they're... interesting. My druthers would be for some weld-ins. But regardless, the sways handle great, even with stock suspension. Body roll is seriously cut down.

[Wh33lhop]

You may have noticed my rear brakes are... a little overdue for a replacement... but I was still trying to figure out a diplomatic way to deal with the rotor set screw

I found it:

Took about 5 seconds, worked like a charm. I love you, $25 impact driver.


Bunch of filings showing the magnetic field from the wheel speed sensor, probably came mostly from the excessive metal-to-metal contact on that particular brake


All done


And some (but not all) of the other stuff I have to look forward to installing when the time is right. :D I've got a few more plans for this car before it will start to look any prettier.

[Wh33lhop]

Anyway, as of now it's in good company, however dirty it may be.

[Wishno87]

Cool thread. I admire your willingness to do work out on the street. Im quite particular about my work environments.

[///m3]

Great work, seems to be coming along nicely.

[Wh33lhop]

Cool thread. I admire your willingness to do work out on the street. Im quite particular about my work environments.

Honestly, I've got nowhere else to do it. I live in an apartment in a college town, you'll notice in some of those pics I'm actually parked on a red curb, but I've noticed people just think I'm broken down, so I can usually get away with it. :p

[Wishno87]

Honestly, I've got nowhere else to do it. I live in an apartment in a college town, you'll notice in some of those pics I'm actually parked on a red curb, but I've noticed people just think I'm broken down, so I can usually get away with it. :p

Thats dedication right there.:) I think you should get a plate filler. It would give the back end some nice contrast.

[Wh33lhop]

Trying my hand at some quick teaser style pictures (since I can't put 'em on yet)




DOF can make anything look cool.

[constructor]

Looking great so far. I envy your ability to work under less than ideal conditions.

I have a question, though. If you are shadowlining, why did you choose to leave the side molding accent chrome?

[ZM Blue Devil]

this is awesome, night work by flashlight, piece by piece. Great work.

[jahnaboi]

Sounds like high school... Hard work and dedication! +). I await your progress. Keep it up. Definitely in good hands.

[JMil86]

Lol wheel hop. Looks like the entire rear of your car left the ground.

[Wh33lhop]

Lol wheel hop. Looks like the entire rear of your car left the ground.

Yeah, that's what 5-10 year old (if not more) struts, rear strut mounts, trailing arm, diff and subframe bushings get you :p

There was some kid on a bike like 50ft behind me when I did that brakestand and took off. I could see him cheering through all the tire smoke. :D

[Wh33lhop]

Thanks for the comments and the interest! I've still got plenty more plans.

Today was a bit of a letdown.



I had planned to install all of this shit:



I separated the spindle ball joint (tore the fuck out of the boot) but couldn't get to the BITCH nuts (subframe) even with a swiveling socket wrench. I'm not sure how you get to them without raising the motor, which didn't work for me.

So I just wound up replacing the seized caliper with a Kragen rebuilt one. Didn't get a pic since I was pissed that I didn't get shit done besides rip a ball joint boot, figure out one of my tie rods is bent (from PO) and replace the brake. Still got a lot of shit on the to do list.

Then later I unloaded all my tools and shit from the car and cleaned it out, then for fun played with my friend's E46 325i auto. He's stock except for a dinan intake and chip, I've got a mark d clone and 19lb injectors, plus a blown head gasket. I left him once (in a bunch of white smoke :p), but the E30 is such a brick that it doesn't really stand a chance after you reach any real speed. I think I'd still pull out ahead for awhile if we went from a stop.