Half-Life | '91 DS 318iS Slicktop | Track & Weekend Warrior

[squidmaster]

Looking good! What is the material you are using for the door cards?

[Digitalwave]

Very nice build!

Thank you, and likewise! I am subscribed to your thread and will be looking forward to new updates, as it does seem like we are in similar places with our cars right now.



Right now just a small update. I've been working on final prep of the interior before it gets dropped off tomorrow to have the roll bar (half cage) done. I probably won't have the car for 2-3 weeks as the shop is still finishing up other projects as well.

Removed the rear glass (side and rear window). This was to make for easier access when welded the roll bar, and to remove the last of the headliner since it wraps under the windows.






There was soooo much nasty adhesive gunk on the c-pillars. It took way too long to clean it up, and it's still not perfect.




Door panels were popped off so I can start drilling the holes for the Condor door panel deletes. I am using rivet nuts so I can easily remove the panels at a later time. A shop vac got rid of the dried up loose foam on the door plastic. That stuff goes everywhere.





Rear cards mocked up and then drilled and rivnutted.






Installed weatherpack connectors for my rear ABS sensors since they were completely disintegrated.




State of the interior until it gets back from the fabricator. Until next time!

[Sh3rpak!ng]

Very nice build! Love the attention to detail and the thoroughness. Very satisfying. Also a great story. Glad to see there are still some people who stick to their roots and pursue a project rather than just moving on and up ("up" as in e36, e46, e90 newer models etc = boring)

Subbed for updates! I have been working on a few similar projects you've got going on so I look forward to your solutions.

Edit: cool to see the bbs rks, they are my favorite wheel on the e36!

[Jb325is]

I think I used the 3m adhesive remover... works great but make sure you're working in a well ventilated area

[Digitalwave]

Just a quick update. I was able to remove all the sound deadening from the floor pans pretty easily. Just ran the heat gun over them for a couple of minutes and they peeled up in big chunks pretty easily. This car being a 318iS did not have the trunk tar, so that saved me a lot of time. I think I am going to leave the patch of deadening over the gas tank, as it's only 3-4lbs worth and it will help with diff noise considering the entire rear end has solid bushings.

The hardest part was by the pedals. There is a section of seam sealer there that the sound deadening runs over, and that spot alone probably took as long as the entire passenger's side.

I welded one small spot of rust by the gas pedal. You can see where I painted over it in the last photo. There are 2 more larger spots on the passenger floor pan, and one on the passenger tranny tunnel that still need to be addressed.

Any suggestions on a solvent to clean up the rest of the sticky residue before I paint the floor pans?

[Digitalwave]

Awesome thread man! Glad to see you back in a BMW.

Amazing stuff, TJ. Really thorough, and top quality stuff. Genuinely glad to see you back in an E30 like all those years ago.

Seeing a build like this reaffirms why I got into e30's. Seriously, I don't know of any other car I want besides a well sorted e30. Top notch build, congrats on all your hard work.

Very much appreciated fellas :grin:

[Mlarsen]

Seeing a build like this reaffirms why I got into e30's. Seriously, I don't know of any other car I want besides a well sorted e30. Top notch build, congrats on all your hard work.

[SpasticDwarf]

Amazing stuff, TJ. Really thorough, and top quality stuff. Genuinely glad to see you back in an E30 like all those years ago.

[JZM3]

Awesome thread man! Glad to see you back in a BMW.

[iwantspeed]

Is that an AKG shifter?
If so, how do you like it?

An akg stage 2 shifter review i put together with pictures. I really like it.

It's not so bad for street driving.
I really like it. One of my favorite mods for sure too

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=378785

[Digitalwave]

Is that an AKG shifter?
If so, how do you like it?

Sure is. I absolutely love it for what I use the car for. It's incredibly precise and the throws are insanely short. It's one of my favorite things on that car.

That said, I don't think I'd want it on a street car! Too much effort.

[mr.]

Is that an AKG shifter?
If so, how do you like it?

[Digitalwave]

I got a little bit of work done on the car last night. Along with the lowered steering column bracket, I am using a 2.5" thick NRG quick release to help bring the steering wheel farther out. I have long legs, so without it I was finding that my knees had to be too bent to have a good grip on the steering wheel.

I think my seat fitment is about 95% there now. It's hard to tell without the harnesses installed and without driving it on the track. It's close enough to install the roll bar now and I think the very fine adjustments will have to come after I drive it on the track and see what it feels like.

The wiring of the horn button on the quick release took me an embarrassingly long time to figure out. The horn was working fine before with just the one wire, but it's because the E30 steering column (and Momo hub) are grounded. I foolishly thought the quick release would stay grounded as well, but it doesn't. I had to introduce a second wire by grounding it to one of the hub bolts, and then soldered a ground wire to the ground loop inside the Momo horn button.

After all that trial and error, the horn was working again. I did the mod to both horn buttons I have (yellow Momo and Alpina). I don't know if I like the yellow Momo, I might put the Alpina button back in.

[Digitalwave]

Nice documentation TJ, and your photog skills are still great!
Enjoy the new chassis, you've built a cool little toy!!!

Thanks Uncle! Just lucky iPhone cameras have gotten so good because I barely ever bring out a DSLR any more!

Nice Post
Pretty jealous of that garage
The early model with the style 3s on it looked smick
Funny how we all have fallen back in love with m20s

No kidding. I still have the Style 3's. I might put some fresh tires on them and keep them around. They are awesome.

Nice work and writeup! Enjoy!

Great thread TJ, and great job! Love the car.

Beautiful car man! Now I want to build a e30 track car.

Thanks for the kind words everyone.

[stonea]

Beautiful car man! Now I want to build a e30 track car.