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

[mtlbloodshot]

Saturday, October 27, 2012 --

Yesterday afternoon I got the rad support I ordered from BMW. It took 2 weeks to arrive because it was brought it from Germany. The car was hit in the front a while back and the rad support was crooked and rusted. Opted to change for a brand new to not have problems. Mad expensive. 330$.




Test fitted my wheels in the back just to see if the fender needed to be pulled, rolled or cut the inner lip.
Since the car is going on air ride, I removed the spring and compressed the shock as much I could before the tire touched the fender. With a roll, it should be perfect according to my measurements.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6RLqdg9jr4&feature=plcp

[CubbyChowder]

I must have missed when you said this was going to be on air. What setup are you going to run?

[mtlbloodshot]

Im getting everything from BAG RIDERS.
For the rear bags, Air House 2
For the front, Air Lift Universal struts #75561
With Autopilot V2 management with the digital analog controller.

My buddy that owns the garage where my car is being built, is the authorized dealer for Bag Riders in Montreal and has installed bags on over 20 cars this last spring/summer. Getting a good price :)

[JGood]

Are you making that rad support bolt-in or are you welding it back in?

[mtlbloodshot]

Are you making that rad support bolt-in or are you welding it back in?

I honestly thought about making it bolt in but I rather have it welded back to keep the chassis stiff. If I ever decide to drop in a V8 like you, Ill probably remove the rad support again and then set it up as a bolt on.

[mtlbloodshot]

Sunday, October 28, 2012 --

Before going for breakfast this morning, I passed by the shop to see what was done on my bay. Good news. The plates are tacked and the rad support is clamped in place ready to get tacked.

What a difference a new rad support makes. Better than looking at rust.

[acolella76]

While you were installing a new rad. support, you should have looked into making it removable for the future. That would save you a whole lot of time when installing the engine for sure :)

Great looking build so far, keep up the good work!

[mtlbloodshot]

While you were installing a new rad. support, you should have looked into making it removable for the future. That would save you a whole lot of time when installing the engine for sure :)

Great looking build so far, keep up the good work!

Yah I know, I hear you but I was told that with it welded, it stiffens up the chassis blah blah blah. Any way, I might drop the car onto my engine from the bottom.

[mtlbloodshot]

Monday, October 29, 2012 --

It's a while I've been hoping that when this day would come, everything would go nice and smoothly. Thankfully it did. My rear subframe dropped without any problems. I took it down as a whole. I placed a transmission lifter to hold it up as I backed the big bolts that come down from under the rear seats. As I started to remove the nuts, I felt that the subframe was coming down on her own. Dropped the car down and placed two jack stands on each side and a car jack under the diff. Maybe pouring Rost Off down into the holes for a week helped.




Moved on to removing the front crossmember and steering rack etc;




Block off plate for the blower motor in the engine bay was cleaned, sanded and painted with a wrinkle high heat. It's the same paint I used to paint my Valve Cover. Came out great.

[mtlbloodshot]

Wednesday, October 31, 2012 --

Yesterday I cut off the rivets on the steering joints. Dumped them in degreaser, scotch bright and degrease again. Left those to sit over night.
Arrived at the shop, gave them a quick rinse and a dry. Got started on assembly of the AKG E30 - E36 Steering Rack Conversion Kit with the Poly Urethane Flex Shaft Coupling. Everything went well and looks good too.





Having the right tools to do something is the greatest thing someone can ask for. I removed all the bushings that were stuck in the subframe and the trailing arms in roughly an hour. Since I'll be using a Z3M diff, I had to remove the output flanges from my stock diff. Very easy.



Good news, My rear bags were ordered today that I way modify the trailing arms before I sent them to sandblast/powder coat.

[craiggroves91]

How is air ride supposed to handle?

[mtlbloodshot]

How is air ride supposed to handle?

\

Well everyone that I know that is on air ride say that they'll never go back to coilovers. Having the ability to lower and raise your car for me in Montreal is the greatest thing someone can have. Handling in corners is comparable to coils and also at normal ride height as well. They have bags with dampening.

[oliver.r]

you sir have another subscriber

[mitchlevy7]

wow. just read your whole build thread, progress is great.. reminds me of mine, except you refreshed everything so much more. I wish I had the time/money/patience to do that.

may i ask why you chose 75561? some say the bellow bag is too big. I did 75564, while white325is write up used 755563, which seems to be the same as 64, but with more travel, longer shock. I also just got autopilot v2 for mine, with obd1 m52 with s52 cams in the bay.

[mtlbloodshot]

wow. just read your whole build thread, progress is great.. reminds me of mine, except you refreshed everything so much more. I wish I had the time/money/patience to do that.

may i ask why you chose 75561? some say the bellow bag is too big. I did 75564, while white325is write up used 755563, which seems to be the same as 64, but with more travel, longer shock. I also just got autopilot v2 for mine, with obd1 m52 with s52 cams in the bay.

Thanks a lot, I'm lucky that one of my best friend owns the shop that every thing is getting done at and he gives me the chance to use his space, tools and deals. He is I believe the only authorized Bag Riders dealer in Montreal and has installed bagged on almost every volks you can imagine. I haven't ordered the front struts yet but for the rear, I got the Air House 2. I was reading the thread that white325 made for his setup and I'm gonna get the struts that is recommended on that thread. Also with the V2 Autopilot.

How does the engine feel with the S52 cams in there? Does it sound crazy?