6/83 grey market 323i.. mtech I S50 5-lug

[kronus]

I did more things!

the subframe is apart and powerwashed, the bushings are pushed out, and I've been working on making some reinforcement plates for the diff mount:









these should more than double the metal thickness in this area.

I'm waiting on our shop welder to be less fucked up, then these will get MIG'd on.

I've also been attempting to decide if it makes more sense to put in adjusters, riser subframe bushings, or both. Leaning toward both, but would love some advice.

[Bimmerman325i]

This is progressing WAY too fast now.

[kronus]

it might even be on the ground before the new year

[kronus]

in this update: a whole bunch of welding!

these dudes got welded on





reinforcement welds got cleaned up and primed with self-etching primer



.. and painted



trailing arm sway bar mount reinforcements got lined up with bolts (use your imagination for the other side)



and welded!



then it took me a few hours of whining and hurting myself to get all these fuckers onto the subframe:









anyway, glad that's over with, because fuck that whole thing. a digital level like this one helps a lot.

I might put it in now.

[2mAn]

shit... I need to go smog my car again one of these days... Id rather take it to the Streets of Willow though so who knows

[kronus]

a friend showed up and helped me steer this guy back home.





brakes went on..



and whee

[efficient]

I think you put in your subframe bushings upside down.

[kronus]

nah, that's the way those get installed. they raise the subframe relative to the car body, which keeps the rear geometry closer to stock.

[ak-]

The difference in rear tire wear is insaneeeeeeee after 0'ing toe.

[Bimmerman325i]

I refuse to believe this car is on the ground.


(nice work!)

[CorvallisBMW]

Oooh that's lookin' nice

[spiDmang]

bad ass

[kronus]

thanks guys! it's been a journey.

The difference in rear tire wear is insaneeeeeeee after 0'ing toe.

I hope so!

I refuse to believe this car is on the ground

the car is having trouble believing it also

[MR 325]

I like the reinforcement plates for the diff mounting bolts. Gonna steal this idea for mine!

[kronus]

I like the reinforcement plates for the diff mounting bolts. Gonna steal this idea for mine!

sweet

tip: the left and right forward mounts are not symmetrical, so don't just cut two of the same pattern.


also, good news! I bought pistons. I dropped them off at the machine shop about 15 minutes after I bought them, so didn't get a chance for a photo. However, the block should be back soon, and now I have everything to put it together.

ended up with Mahle first oversize pistons, the block is getting custom bored for them. using a S52 crank and the original rods from the S50.

the machine shop had to pull the oil sprayers to do the bore work.. should I get new ones, or are the original ones good to clean up and put back in?