*!Build of the year candidate!* Strange PNW Build: E30+Volvo

[rzerob]

I’d be happy to make patterns, but the way I’m making my kit isn’t how an E30 carpet works, plus there’s companies who make molded E30 carpet kits. My want A) for loop carpet, B) for Amazon style carpet and C) my twisted reasoning for always considering it “cheaper” to make stuff myself is the only reason I didn’t buy a kit.

The companies who make those molded carpets are pretty much not worth it. Obviously I haven't tried all of them but of the aftermarket ones I have tried none of them fit properly and they were thin and cheaply made.

The carpet kit you are making looks like a properly molded kit with thick carpet. Hence my statement. My plans now are to just to bite the bullet and buy a new carpet from BMW.

[adam.nonis]

If you made a template of the carpet I am sure you could sell them. Hell I would be in for a black one if you ever did it.

I’d be happy to make patterns, but the way I’m making my kit isn’t how an E30 carpet works, plus there’s companies who make molded E30 carpet kits. My want A) for loop carpet, B) for Amazon style carpet and C) my twisted reasoning for always considering it “cheaper” to make stuff myself is the only reason I didn’t buy a kit.

[rzerob]

If you made a template of the carpet I am sure you could sell them. Hell I would be in for a black one if you ever did it.

[adam.nonis]

*!Build of the year candidate!* Strange PNW Build: E30+Volvo

So, one unfortunate part of building a car over time instead of all at once is that even when things look good, you might need to take a step backwards to take a step forwards. In this case, it’s the carpet. I had to pull out all the freshly wrapped/painted parts.



The factory carpet has thick foam to “level” the floor glued to the back. To get it off in one piece I took an old blade for my vibe saw and ground the teeth off so it was basically a putty knife.



A) I want to use loop carpet



and B) I want to make the carpet kit similar to how the stock Amazon’s is. In separate pieces. Since my machine can’t bind carpet, I’ll be cutting/layout a few pieces at a time and taking them to my buddy to get the needed edges bound. The rear piece needs no binding so it’s the first to go in. Next is the trans tunnel which only gets bound around the back of the trans tunnel then basically two long floor mats that are bound around three sides (the fourth tucks under the sill plates).

I started with the rear and tunnel pieces first. I’ll get the tunnel darted and bound then trim the floor pieces.



Before anything goes in for the final time, I’ll do a bleach water wipe down of the floor, wire brush any surface rust and put on some converter, then bleach, steam and extract the foams to kill any germs.

[rzerob]

Has anyone done them on an E30? I know this’ll sound crazy to you guys, but pulling the needles off the gauges scares me a bit. Back in the day I did a fair amount of indiglo gauge faces and like 30% of the time when you pulled needles off they didn’t line up right again. I like this cluster and would like to keep it.

Bavarian restorations is on here and I think he is gregsM. He has been tearing these clusters apart to restore or customize for a while now. And I am sure he could give you some tips to ease your worries.

As for me I just use an interior pry tool with a bend in it and gently pry up after marking with tape where the bottom of the needle rested and a piece where the top of the needle rested.

[rzerob]

har har

Wow, I didn't even notice that. It wasn't my intentions but it worked out that way.

[adam.nonis]

Has anyone done them on an E30? I know this’ll sound crazy to you guys, but pulling the needles off the gauges scares me a bit. Back in the day I did a fair amount of indiglo gauge faces and like 30% of the time when you pulled needles off they didn’t line up right again. I like this cluster and would like to keep it.

[jeenyus]

I know I have seen LED needle kits out there before. Why not go with something like that instead? This is a bad example but maybe point you in the right direction.


https://visual-performance.co.uk/das...kits-202-c.asp

This is nice. I wish the middle didn't glow though

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

[LateFan]

...point you in the right direction.

har har

[rzerob]

I know I have seen LED needle kits out there before. Why not go with something like that instead? This is a bad example but maybe point you in the right direction.

https://visual-performance.co.uk/dash--speedo-led-needle-kits-202-c.asp

[adam.nonis]

Build note: you BMW regulars probably already knew this, but only the gauge numbers are backlit. The needles use the front lighting that comes from about the row of idiot lights. I relocated my idiot lights to the center stack since I needed to shave back the cluster depth. I had turned the lights on to make sure I could see the illumination, but I hadn’t driven it in the dark before yesterday morning. I’m on the way to work and look at the gauges to realize I can see all the numbers, but not what speed I’m going or how much gas I’ve got or anything. Hahahahahaaaaa! I’m in the process of making a new bezel to clean up the cut edges, so I’ll try and integrate some lighting there. I just need it to not be SUPER bright. Maybe red LEDs shining through tinted acrylic or something.

[adam.nonis]

*!Build of the year candidate!* Strange PNW Build: E30+Volvo

Adam -



This project for a "guillotine" intake on an Alfa 1750 GTAm monosleeve block reminded me of some of the intake development work you did. It's essentially a sliding plate throttle.

That’s pretty bad ass. I always wanted to design a rotating “camera shutter” (aperture) style opening throttle body. That would flow pretty well I’d think.

[LateFan]

Adam -

This project for a "guillotine" intake on an Alfa 1750 GTAm monosleeve block reminded me of some of the intake development work you did. It's essentially a sliding plate throttle.

https://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/gta-1965-1975/674832-reproduction-gtam-guillotine.html

[adam.nonis]

Yeah, I bought a Nexus7 to use as a head unit once. The developer stuff that’s out there is pretty awesome.

[jeenyus]

I went back and forth a few times early on in the smartphone development and my Apple stuff just always worked. I had Android phones that would freeze and crash. Maybe the iPhones didn’t have all the bells and whistles, but they just worked. This is the only thing I’ve come across that was really any sort of bother. I know plenty of people have Android phones and swear by them. Since we decided to switch to Apple exclusively everything at the house is Apple and all works together. Four phones, three watches, WiFi and streaming. This is a minor thing really.

I switched from iPhone 7s to a Google Pixel. There are pros and cons to each really. I agree iPhone and apple generally work without issue. I only said Android because you could literally program what you need it for.

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk