The complete repair, rebuild, repaint, and v8 swap of my early model sedan

[JGood]

:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

Words can't describe my excitement.

And the video doesn't describe the sound.

Thank you to everyone who got me to this point. Walt, Garey, Chris, Tony, Jared, all of r3v for the support, everyone. This isn't just another e30 with an engine swap. It's the culmination of nearly a years worth of blood, sweat, and tears for a car that I love, for reasons most people wouldn't understand, and the friends that made it possible. Thank you all.

[george graves]

wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooot! Awesome dude! I really need to go back and re-read this thread now. This might be worth upgrading the m30 for.....I think....

[JTapper]

After a year and a half of following this thread, I didn't think you'd beat the reveal of the paint job....until I saw the video.

Great job!

[drumad]

awesome possom

[chondamx]

So freaking sweet :up:! Chrome trim would look killer with that paint--do it!

[330i ZHP]

this is an incredible build - glad I found the thread

[MR 325]

[bmwmech1]

Congrats man! It's a Good feeling, cheesy pun intended, lol! Glad to see all of us are up and running now... just have to get them done!

Garey

[SlamedIAm]

I want to be like you when I grow up.

[LittleBimmer]

I want to be like you when I grow up.

This^

[JGood]

Thanks guys.

I honestly thought I could have it drivable today or tomorrow. Well, the past 2 days have been a real reality check. I still have a lot of stuff to work out.

The remote dual oil filter housing is cracked apparently, as it spews oil with the engine running. My VDO oil pressure gauge isn't working, which gave me a big scare as it read 0 PSI, lol. But I watched the resistance off of the the sender with a multimeter, it's a 10-150 ohms range (for a 0-100 PSI gauge). Read 9 ohms with engine off and 90 ohms at idle, which should be good.

So I hooked up the coolant system and filled it with water to pressure test it. As I'm filling it, I hear water dumping on the floor. It's coming from the front of the engine. WTF? Looking closer, it's coming from behind the water pump. I instantly begin shitting bricks, and am thinking the worst (cracked block?) as I start tearing the front end of the car and engine apart.

Turns out the gasket folded up inside the pump, and wasn't sealing the surface around the bottom bolt. Thank you to the manufacturer for the ridiculous packaging method when you buy a new pump, they throw the gasket in the box with the pump and it ALWAYS gets folded up. On the m60 when you have to deal with the coolant manifold pipes and the crank pulley in the way of the bottom bolt, it's a major issue.

I had a hell of a time getting my heater core hoses hooked up, and I'm still not sure if it will work. There is zero space behind the head at the firewall.


Here's some pics as she sits now. Looks WAY more complete and ready to drive then it actually is, haha.

[slammin.e28]

Oh my jeebus. That is awesome!

I don't generally say this, but leave the window trims chrome. It'll compliment the whole color and the wheels very nicely.

[MR 325]

^ Agreed.

That V8 looks so good in that bay.

[dirty30]

I don't generally say this, but leave the window trims chrome. It'll compliment the whole color and the wheels very nicely.

I second this. I usually hate the chrome with a passion but that color is begging for it!

[JGood]

Haha, as I said, there is no chrome trim to 'leave chrome'... all I have is black. I'm already over budget... I'm not going to spend money I don't have, on chrome trim that I don't want, Lol.


Anyway, my pedal bracket mods were a failure, the clutch master cylinder was flexing so much that it was binding up and preventing me from being able to push the clutch pedal in. Pulled it out and added about 2 lbs worth of metal: strategically placed gusseting, layered up the brackets with 16 gauge metal, and added a few 1/4" rods to strengthen things. Put it back in, still flexing a bit. But it's not enough to cause any immediate problems. I'll need to figure out a new solution eventually though.

I'll be putting the driveshaft in tonight, at which point the car is technically drivable...

Mandrel bent exhaust builders kit is on the way, along with a new oil filter housing.

My buddy who sprayed the car is in the process of wet sanding and buffing, and the paint looks AMAZING on the panels that are finished.