1991 318is M52 / Shaved bay / Wire tuck / Air Ride / NOW PAINTED!!

[mtlbloodshot]

Saturday, November 17, 2012 --

I ordered a OEM outer wheel well from BMW West Island in Montreal. I was told that it would take 2-3 business to arrive but some how got it the next day. This part is usually changed once the quarter panel is removed so we had to make it work somehow. Decided to take the part and cut it into sections to make it fit. It's a shame to take a brand new part and chop it into pieces to make it work but hey, it saves time and makes every ones job easier. Next up, is the battery tray in the trunk.
Wheel Well

Passenger Side Cut



Drive Side Repaired


Passenger Side Repaired

[mtlbloodshot]

Monday, November 19, 2012 --

After excessive reading and questioning, I found out clearly that I'll need 6 cylinder differential output flanges for my Z3M DIFF. Luckily a good friend of mine has a parts car with a medium case off. Went to see the car yesterday, differential was sitting there inside the car. Removed the flanges and took them with me. Got to the shop this afternoon and started removing all the crap that was on them. First picture shows the difference between clean and dirty. Once they were cleaned, I sprayed them with high heat flat black paint.

[mtlbloodshot]

WTF is that

[mtlbloodshot]

Tuesday, November 20, 2012 --

Got the new half shafts I ordered Monday afternoon. I painted them just incase they try to rust. Next thing to be done is drop down the gas tank. It might have to be sent out to clean up and make sure there isn't any rust inside or cracks. Have to bring it down before I reinstall the rear subframe. Planning on ordering my rear wheel bearings and the front control arms soon.

[Roysneon]

Where did you get the axles from?

[mtlbloodshot]

Where did you get the axles from?

Got the axles from WORLDPAC.. I got a good price too :D

[Roysneon]

Oh shit like...new ones, not rebuilds? I can get parts from WORLDPAC through work at cost+10%.

[mtlbloodshot]

I got brand new. Drop in your model on WORLDPAC and you'll see they aren't expensive

[MT325is]

wow this is one crazy build! i love it! good job!

[mtlbloodshot]

wow this is one crazy build! i love it! good job!

^ Thanks. After all the work, time and obviously money. I'd guess that the build is at 40%. A lot of work left to do.

[CubbyChowder]

those axles are pretty.

[mtlbloodshot]

Thursday, November 22, 2012 --

Planning on starting the rebuild of the rear subframe so I had to clean the wheel hubs. Pretty simple. Degrease, wire brush,cleaning pad and paint. Routine. Also reinforced the front crossmember sway bar tabs but sadly I didn't take any pics of this. I couldn't find something solid laying around the shop so I just grabbed two full metal rods, welded them together and then welded to the trailing arms to make the "A" style reinforcement like the Z3Ms. I'll have more updates later tonight as the trailing arms, subframe and crossmember are currently drying from paint.

[mtlbloodshot]

Friday, November 23, 2012 --

A lot of updates coming today! Lets start with these

[mtlbloodshot]

Friday, November 23, 2012 -- Continued

Picked up a perfect furniture dolly from a friend to rebuild the subframe. Since the parts were dried, I choose to put my AKG trailing arms and subframe bushings in. Everything went well. I couldn't figure out if the "collar" on the bushings had to go towards the outside or the inside. Looked for a few DIY and some pics, finally just put them towards the outside. Hopefully its the right way. The subframe bushings were marked UP on the bag so the collar had no choice to go on top. Next up, probably Monday, is to put the half shafts with the wheel bearings. Also got a Stainless Steel Clutch Line from UUC. It came out to be crazy expensive. 45$ with shipping plus another 25$ for UPS brokerage. I could of had it custom made.

[Jurt]

^ The EXACT Same thing happened to me with my uuc clutch line, UPS brokerage fees are a joke! Im loving your project, im putting an m52 in to my e30 as well, your just getting alot more done then i am haha! Keep it up!