Going to gut my E30

[kendogg]

Sorry, I tried a half dozen different search terms, but I couldn't find much. Planning on gutting my E30 in the next month or so. Looking for some idea's on what I can look for to remove from the car. The following list is what I've come up with so far:

trunk tar
carpet
rear sears
rear parcel shelf
A/B/C pillar trim
headliner
door panels
center console


What else is there?? Is there any sound deadener inside the doors I can get out?? Not sure if I feel like taking out the dash, but if I do, I'll pull the A/C condenser as well. All the front A/C stuff is already gone.

Can I remove the rear window regulators and somehow keep the rear windows up without worrying about them falling somehow?? Neither work anyways, and somebody was nice enough to silicone one shut before I bough the car anyways. I'd hate to do that to the other one, but it is a possibility. How much weight total do you think I can get out of the car and still have no issues driving it on the street (I'm not going to entertain idea's like cutting open the doors, etc., the car isn't caged). Thanks guys!!!

[nando]

parts car?

[kendogg]

parts car?

Huh?

[Mike B.]

Glove box
Heater core
Exterior sound deadening in the transmission tunnel
Sunroof componants
1-piece racing seats

I think you could get 200-250lbs out of the car from the items that have been listed so far.

Next comes lexan windows, FG bumpers and FG hood/decklid for another drop in weight.

These car's aren't real heavy to start with, so getting them down low is pretty tough. If you can knock out 300lbs you are doing a great job.

[nando]

Huh?

I'm just wondering, because if you are planning on racing the car, you can't just start removing stuff - some classes have restrictions on what can be removed, and minimum weight limits as well.

Otherwise you're basically turning your street machine into a rolling parts car..

[jlevie]

I presume this would be to turn the car into a track rat... While you could strip the car and keep it street legal, driving it in that condition on a regular basis will be a very visceral experience (loud and noisy).

If it is to be a track car... Even if you aren't planning on racing the car it would be a really good idea to pick a racing class and prepare the car with those rules in mind. The car will have greater value later to someone wanting to compete in that class if you decide to get rid of it.

As to weights, my Spec E30 wound up at 2540lb (w/o driver and with a 1/4 tank of gas) after stripping to extent allowed by the rules and installation of two racing seats, roll cage, cool shirt system, and fire suppression system. It took 60lb of ballast to get the car up to minimum weight and by placing that weight right behind the passenger's seat I have nearly perfect cross-weights. I removed:

Headliner
Entire sunroof (used the sunroof panel to fill the hole)
Carpet
Glovebox
Door panels and other trim (replaced front panels with AL sheet (protection from flying glass))
Cruise control, module, and wiring
Radio, speakers, amp, and associated wiring
AC compressor, condenser, aux fan, dryer & lines
PS pump
Replaced engine driven fan with 16" 2500cfm electric fan
Trunk lining and tool kit
Spare
All sound deadening in the cabin and trunk
Underhood lining

I've retained an operational heater and windshield washer as they are a handy things to have. I also retained the console as it made routing of the fire system pull cables much cleaner and that part weights very little.

[Scott///M]

Adhesive and goo.

gutting a car seems to always be done in the winter (for obvious reasons), but all the sound deadening and adhesive comes up a lot easier when it's warm.

Ask santa for a heat gun.

[jlevie]

I find it a lot easier to get the sound deadening off in the cold. When cold enough judicious use of an air chisel will strip the car in no time. It only took about 2 hours to remove all of that tar in 30'ish weather.

[kendogg]

The car is my track rat, and will occasionally be driven on the street. Please don't give me the generic 'pick a racing class' jargon, as I don't care. I'll do what I please with the car. It's worked well enough so far.

I'm going to retain the heater, for obvious reasons. As I stated, if I decide to pull the dash, it'll be only to remove the A/C condenser. I'm not caging the car. I'm not looking into seats at the moment, unless somebody offers a fantastic deal on a used set (like, less than a couple hundred). Also retaining the sunroof. it's a cable version, so it an't be all that heavy, and I like it.

Mike B - Thanks, I didn't know there was sound deadening on the underside of the trans tunnel too.

The car never had cruise, but the ABS doesn't work, and I'm going to remove all sensors, wiring, etc. for that. I need to retain the glovebox as well, mainly for paperwork storage (insurance cards, etc.), but also piece of mind for the DME (I really need to figure out a way to secure that damn thing better - it's currently only hld in place by 2 bolts).


Toolkit is non-existent, so all of that will go, I had forgotten about that, thanks. Anybody have any idea's abou the rear window regulators as I had mentioned??

[rThor432]

Ha air hammer. I remember my dad coming out of the shop to tell me "You are wasting your time with that hammer and chisel, use power tools!" I said no, because the hammer and chisel worked just fine on a car that had been parked outside baking on a 100 degree day.

So he gets the bright idea to grab an air hammer while I am taking a drink break and puts a hole in the trunk of my car. "Oh, I thought the trunk was just a flat panel under that tar..."

Be careful with the air hammer. My dad was an idiot that day.

[Mastrcruse]

Not trying to seem harsh but it doesn't feel like your really know what you want.

You want to have a "mostly" race directed car but want to keep options of a streetable car? You are going to strip a car, remove things that make it a nice DD but you aren't installing things that are going to make it a competition car? What does that make it? A DD that has no interior and no competition things.

[asubimmer]

you are gonna need a cage if you plan on tracking the car...

[rwh11385]

you are gonna need a cage if you plan on tracking the car...

false.

and: how would you know?

[nando]

What does that make it?

a parts car..

[asubimmer]

false.

and: how would you know?

because that is what I am building my car for and I have the rule sheets. You don't have to have a cage to do a driving school though...

I guess if your car is pink they let you race w/out a cage?