Project Lessmeister: 91 318iS Restomod w/ MTech2 and modern drivetrain

[Mlarsen]

Builds like this make me all warm and fuzzy inside. We need more builds like this.

Congrats she's a beaut!

[Schnitzer318is]

That question has been addressed at least once before. Yes I intend to cover the hose in OE like heat shield loom. I left it on during the zinc plating process (you can't remove it intact) and the electrolyte solution the parts are bathed in attacked the aluminum blackening it... so I removed it.

Sorry, must have missed it or forgot it. It is a long thread you know. ;)

At any rate, keep powering through. Turning out extremely nice.

[iXguido]

BUmpski!

[Jordan]

Sorry I don't have much to offer by way of updates. Most of the week my evenings had other matters that needed attention, and this weekend was a big garage reorganization time.

I sold my old 42" toolbox, and bought a huge 72" box. I'm also *trying* to buy the matching 56" box to set on the right side of it for one mammoth 128" (10.6ft) box. I went to 3 stores, the first two were sold out and the last one whined that it was too near closing time and wouldn't forklift it onto the truck for me....






After I get both boxes and everything situated I'm going to pull the casters off and lower them about 6" onto a steel frame I''ll fabricate.

The two-tone gray cabinet got moved over to the left side of the door where the old tool box was, and the 56" will just fit on the right side of the 72" box before it hits that 45 degree corner.

[LJ851]

Nice, what brand are the boxes?

[Jordan]

They are distributed by Harbor Freight, made in China, but very very well made for the money. A few companies in China likely build most of the private label boxes on the market. A number of other major retailers sell the same box in different colors/badging for two or three times the money. Sears and Northern Tool.

So far I'm super impressed with the box for $1099 w/ coupon. The 56" will be 699 w/ coupon

[crash n' burn]

Those boxes are actually pretty damn impressive. I know garage journal has had quite a few members pick up the stuff and have had really good experiences with them.

[flyboyx]

i have one too. mine is smaller. 44". i think i paid about 4 hondo for mine with a coupon. for a guy that doesn't wrench for a living or isn't worried about getting ridiculed by coworkers because it doesn't say snap on, these boxes can't be beat for their quality/price point ratio.

the ball bearings are great. the metal is heavy. they are built to last perhaps for a lifetime.

one of these days, i am going to get the top box for mine too.

[JGood]

i have one too. mine is smaller. 44". i think i paid about 4 hondo for mine with a coupon. for a guy that doesn't wrench for a living or isn't worried about getting ridiculed by coworkers because it doesn't say snap on, these boxes can't be beat for their quality/price point ratio.

the ball bearings are great. the metal is heavy. they are built to last perhaps for a lifetime.

one of these days, i am going to get the top box for mine too.

Yep, I've had the upper and lower 44" for years. Not a single issue with any part of the box. I use mine a lot more then the average car guy. Really can't be beat for ~$600.

[Jordan]

I picked up the 56" version of the box last night. Same quality as the 72" big brother, but a little easier to move.

Both the 72" and 56" boxes themselves are identical in height, the uprated casters on the 72" set it off the floor higher. The 72" is 9" off the floor and the 56" is 7.5" off the floor.

I plan to take them both off the casters and set them on a frame to lower them to the same height, about 3" off the floor and allow them to fit snugly side by side. The larger casters on the 72" prevent them being being butted against one another at the moment.

Total width 128", 10ft 6" !!

[bradnic]

damn man. that's about as perfect as the E30 I'd say - just needs stickers all over it lol. and the price makes it accessible to just about all of us.

[Gertech]

I have the smaller of those two boxes. I'm a tech at an independent BMW shop and use it all day, every day. I've had it for about a year and a half and it's been trouble free. Great box for the money! I figured it would be wiser to spend the money on real tools to put in the box, instead of the other way around like some guys I've seen.

Back on topic, this car is so killer! Your attention to detail is superb. Great job!

[Mouse]

I have the smaller of those two boxes. I'm a tech at an independent BMW shop and use it all day, every day. I've had it for about a year and a half and it's been trouble free. Great box for the money! I figured it would be wiser to spend the money on real tools to put in the box, instead of the other way around like some guys I've seen.

How true that is.

Just about have my Z06 sold....waiting to see if/when this will be for sale.

Sorry I have't stopped by Jordan, your a little farther away from me than before. lol

[george graves]

Don't get me wrong, love this epic build, but is it just me(?) or is the car not sitting quite right? Tires look over sized, and a bit too much rear end squat. It could totally be just me, but it seems to be missing something. I can't put my finger on it!

There is a red Mt2 with K1's that seems to have a much more aggressive stance to it, with the same height - I can't find the pics, but I'll look for it for reference.

[Mouse]

I think it's because a lot of E30's(and smaller tuner cars) run tires with a smaller aspect ratio tire than is needed. Maybe? Of course everyone will have their own opinion of what a properly lowered e30 should look like. Little rake, lots of rake, no rake. 18's, 17's, 16, 15's. Camber. Tire size options affects that too.

The rear would "look" lower if there was zero rake on late models due to the lower arches.

Would like to see the MT2 that George was referencing to for comparison tho.