Shedcar - an Early Model M20 Build + Other Stuff

[KI4UJO]

It was 62deg today!

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Getting the subframe and trailing arms painted was a large step forward. It needs to cure for a few days before I can reassemble it, but I'm excited nonetheless!

I've decided to merge all of my other stuff into this thread as well.... updating one seems easier. With that in mind, we shift our attention to the m54 e30. With power comes great responsibility.... and the need to stop and have traction. As most of us are aware, 4x100 leaves a lot to be desired in both of those departments. While there are big brake kits out there as well as different wheel options, I'd like to be able to share wheels between the ti and e30. A 5 lug swap seems to be in order.

I went ahead and overhauled the calipers from the last post

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

These area all from an e36 328. I'm intending to use the SRS concept rear kit with Z4 hubs and brake caliper adapters as well as hub sleeves up front with e36 bearings.

SRS stuff

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CV Axles still upcoming....

[808ETA]

Not really much of an update, but I did get the trailer moved into position and will be doing disassembly tomorrow. A few photos....

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

I had to employ the power pole in in order to begin cutting the core support out.... goal is to cut the right front shock tower off completely.

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

I did get the bumper off as well though it was dark by then..... aiming to get the driveline out tomorrow and assess from there.

It looks you still have a crack free dash

[KI4UJO]

It looks you still have a crack free dash

It does, though I've yet to try removing and straightening it. I don't expect it to be salvageable, but I'll still try.

[KI4UJO]

We have an update for the "other stuff" mentioned in the title - the m54 e30 has successfully undergone a 5-lug swap!

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Next up for it is a e32 master cylinder - I would like a more positive/firm pedal.... stock e36 master cylinder size is 23.4mm, stock e30 is 22.2mm vs 25mm of the e32. Early non-abs cars utilize a different master cylinder than a normal abs e30, but I don't remember the specifications off hand (the rear utilizes a smaller bore, front is normal). I have a set of style 3s in the works as well.

Back to our regularly scheduled saphirblau programming - with the subframe refinished, I'm nearly there as far as being able to reassemble the rear suspension. I would like to install the fuel tank first. Painting the suspension components has created a bit of a problem as they now look significantly better than everything else. Queue shipwrights disease effect....

Tank before. It isn't particularly bad and would be acceptable had everything else not been painted... but I worked with moatilliatta for a couple of years and his methods have rubbed off.

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

During. Oven cleaner will remove cosmoline if given enough time, scrubbing, and power washing action. I recommend a temperature warmer than 35deg.

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

After! (at least the bottom. I didn't take any of the top)

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Currently waiting on oetiker clamps, fuel line, filter, etc to reinstall the tank. Theoretically I should have them next week.

Onto a side project I undertook last week - attempting to straighten the dash from the donor. Considering the going rate for an uncracked dash an attempt seems worthwhile. As you will recall, it started out in this condition:

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

After a couple of weeks of manipulation and rest time

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

It still needs more work, though I generally give it some time to acclimate to each adjustment. Being a steel-backed piece of foam, it should theoretically be possible to return it to something near the original shape.

Lastly, a bonus shot of a mini valvebody I replaced this week.

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

[WestCoastEta]

That's actually incredible, I never would have imagined that dash was salvageable

[KI4UJO]

That's actually incredible, I never would have imagined that dash was salvageable

I really didn't expect it to be either.

Its been a minute since the last update.... but I am continuing forward (albeit slowly). The fuel tank was assembled and installed

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A last look at the area above the tank

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and a random shot from during the transmission reseal. Next up is installing the transmission as well as a driveshaft (which I need to obtain), along with the subframe.

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

[KI4UJO]

As of yesterday, I've had shedcar for three years!

There isn't really a ton to report since the last update, the rear subframe and tank are in as well as the clutch/flywheel. A note regarding those: the m20 donor always had a rather unusual clutch pedal in that it never disengaged the clutch until the pedal was nearly bottomed out. It was running a single mass eta flywheel with a g260. However, unbeknownst to me, there are two depths of g260 bellhousing - a shallower variant for single mass flywheels and deeper version for dual mass equipped cars. The donor had a deeper version, identical to what is going into this. I'm going to run a 323i throwout bearing to attempt to make up the difference (it should based off of the measurements I have taken), if that does not work an adjustable slave cylinder piston will be in order.

In other news, I am getting into Youtube content! Realistically, I'm going to work on this stuff anyway... why not film it? 1st upload is a 750 master/944 booster upgrade on the m54 e30.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6YRfTMn3K8 (embed tool seems to be out of order.....)

m54 e30 with style 3s! Vintage is around a month away......

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

[KI4UJO]

Vintage!

I had a few minor outstanding items on the m54 e30. Once those were taken care of, I was off!

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

After leaving middle TN, I headed up to Corbin, KY, to meet the rest of group in route to Asheville. From there we headed for US 129....

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

It was at this stop on the Dragon when one of our members encountered an issue... specifically, a turbo m20 that decided to delete a ringland on piston # 6. He headed back to Lexington.. to swap piston # 6 in the car and make the trip to Asheville on Thursday!

At the hotel Thursday morning.

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

We were greeted by this e24 in route to our common destination

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Fuel stop

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Blue Ridge Parkway

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

A local car to me....

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Encountering a fellow r3ver

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Friday morning, we headed down to Spartanburg to visit the BMWCCA Foundation Museum.

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Peak DTM

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

More CSL

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We also visited the Zentrum while there

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The Clarion Parking lot

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Saturday!

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

This, unfortunately, looked fresh

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

More of the excellence crafted by moatilliatta

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr\

e12! This is a road that I would (very foolishly) like to go down at some point

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

More Turbo

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

On Sunday morning, I was greeted with this when leaving the hotel. Definitely not a common sight

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Vintage, as always, was excellent. If you've never been, you'll need to change that. As a bonus, my sister graduated from nursing school on the Sunday afterwards as well! Following this stellar weekend, I headed home.... then promptly made a very questionable purchase considering the current cost of fuel

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Nothing says $4.70/gal like a V12! Unfortunately, it'll take me a while to experience the pain of filling it up as it lacks a few things. Mainly, it is lacking an exhaust or any ability to actually move forward. Reverse, however, is somewhat accounted for.

I am actually getting back to the title of this thread. Admittedly, it has been a side project for a while, but I really want to see it run/drive this year.

[BUDNUNTA]

looks like a decent one

[moatilliatta]

Looking back, that E12 was pretty sweet!

[KI4UJO]

Updates!

In order for it to actually have a chance at making it to Vintage '23, body/paint is going to need to happen. The chassis was mostly rust free, minus some stuff in the trunk. It had a lot of surface stuff in there from being in the humid shed for 20yrs. In addition to the treatable surface rust, I also had to deal with some steel which was in need of replacement.

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Queue some cutting....

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

and welding, and grinding, and POR-15, and seam sealer

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Trunk/Doors off

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Sealer

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Jambs

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

...and done! (at least this part)

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Worth contributing for anyone else out there doing body/paint - if you would like to avoid pulling the glass, remove the (probably in need of replacement) lockstrip and shove some rope underneath the weatherstrip. No more tape line! No, it isn't the most "correct" way to go, but installing glass is a pain.... especially as it's just me 95% of the time.

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Aiming to have the rest of the car painted this week. I'm quite excited to finally be able to assemble it!

[KI4UJO]

Took a bit longer than expected, but that's not surprising.

Laid some primer down for final blocking

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Base applied in my extremely high tech booth

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...and done! Saphirblau is a wonderful color, a shame that it did not have a higher take rate.

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Reassembly will take a bit. While the driveline is in, I still have a lot ahead of me - mainly interior and a complete overhaul of the climate control box, plus front suspension.

[KI4UJO]

More assembly... opted to go with shadowline trim (or, in this case, regular trim with added single stage satin black)

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Untitled by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr