Southerner 146 Report post Posted December 11, 2019 (edited) Hey team, Heres my recently acquired E30 coupe in red. Had a pfl E30 325 coupe nearly 8 years ago and recently started looking for another one to build up. Was after a non sunroof coupe and overall tidy as such. Went slightly north and picked this up As you can tell its pretty rough on the paint side of things and was also told it has no rust, before I took it away found rust in the boot, will be getting tidied up and full paint when it's all done Anyway, got it home and put a polishing machine over it, come up alright for the meantime Next on the agenda was the overheating at traffic lights , but fine on open road, was also told fluids had just been done...water was horrible Thermostat was dry Figured it hadnt been bleed so changed thermostat and new coolant, full bleed and bingo no over heating Next issue, drivers window wasnt working, told it was regulator and given 2 with car. Pulled off door card and was unplugged, plugged in and was noisier than an outboard motor tilting on a stabicraft Pulled off regulator and put new one one and wouldnt quite fit up, turned out the splines were different. So pulled apart the noisy one and found the ball at the bottom had worn out so swapped the shaft into a good body, and the existing cap (this is important to ensure window goes up on up button, at first I didnt do this and window was doing opposite) Window all done, will lower it next and daily it for a few months. Have a m52 sitting in the shed for it, and will do a zf box. 5 stud it aswell to open up wheel choices. Slowly building up parts but keeping it on road until everything is ready Edited December 11, 2019 by Southerner 4 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
qube 3570 Report post Posted December 11, 2019 Make sure to do a thorough check for rust all around. Would be a pity to discover new old rust after all the work done Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Olaf 3341 Report post Posted December 11, 2019 Followed! I saw this one advertised, thought it looked like good bones with potential ?? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Southerner 146 Report post Posted April 8, 2020 Havent done much on the car as recent, even on lockdown the most attention it has had is a wash in the driveway. Wof is coming up to expire so either need to decide if i keep dailying it for another 6 months or hook into the swap, have a large portion of the swap sitting in the shed, -M52b28 -Manual pedal box -Brought some stuff of Weitz, quite knowledgeable and had what i was after ZF320 box c/w driveshaft half Lighter single mass flywheel and heavy duty clutch 5 stud rear end E36 M3 evo front knuckles- ill order new Lower control arms Had some revshift motor mounts Also have a LSD clutch center sitting in CHCH ready for when freight opens, 3.46 ratio and ill put into a medium e30 case Pretty boring update sorry, want to get most of the parts here before i stop so i dont run out of work as such, hopefully more exciting update in the coming couple of months, will paint up subframe and diff etc Looking for suspension next and the lower control arms, that should be 90% of what i need sorted! 4 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Southerner 146 Report post Posted May 13, 2020 More to the collection this week 17x8 and 17x9 style 32s, wanted these wheels and waited a while, coincidentally found some in the north island with tyres LSD arrived, 3.46 ratio on it, also have a 3.64 medium case for it to go into so will swap the ratios as I think the .64 be too high Will be coming off the road in a couple months to start the swap. Have a detent tool kit coming from member modz, and will get a kit from FCP to do that while its out 4 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Southerner 146 Report post Posted June 23, 2020 Its begun E30 in shed last night, rear lights bumper trim etc off for rust inspections. Not as bad as thought. Motor wiring disconnected, will drain fluids and disconnect exhaust and driveshaft tomorrow night. Motor out by weekend. Purchased these a couple weeks back, also have the rear seat to unstitch for cloth repairs Rolling chassis by next week, better start doing the detent refresh on the ZF and get the rust repaired. 4 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sammo 2550 Report post Posted June 23, 2020 This is shaping up to be a lovely car! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Southerner 146 Report post Posted June 26, 2020 Well it's out. Will purchase some simple green tomorrow to clean it up. Then off to get rust sorted before I put up on jack stands and underseal it. Will then remove rear end, steering and suspension along with brake booster 4 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
leichtbau 525 Report post Posted June 26, 2020 Grab some wax and grease remover and some de-solv-it while you’re there Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zero 1162 Report post Posted June 28, 2020 Good progress, Are you going to upgrade the steering rack to a purple tag or similar? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Southerner 146 Report post Posted June 28, 2020 9 hours ago, zero said: Good progress, Are you going to upgrade the steering rack to a purple tag or similar? Was originally going to use a e36 rack as I have one here spare but going to grab a purple tag instead after reading more into it should be abit nicer 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Southerner 146 Report post Posted July 24, 2020 These arrived in the post today, seat adapters Quickly bolted one up to see how it would look Doesnt look too out of place Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
modz 149 Report post Posted July 24, 2020 6 minutes ago, Southerner said: These arrived in the post today, seat adapters Quickly bolted one up to see how it would look Doesnt look too out of place Nice! Chuck a seat cover over it and it will match the rest 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Southerner 146 Report post Posted August 25, 2020 Sorry guys, no real assembly progress as of yet, waiting on panel beater to have some free time to swap the rear panel, was rusty behind the towbar so going to unstitch and stitch a replacement Have started to strip the rear end and will 2k coat it black Couple of other goodies have been purchased, M3 evo brakes and new rotors, brakes have been rebuilt and hawk pads which ill keep aside for work outs and put in good day to day pads for weekend driving Along with these to go on the motor eventually Hopefully the next update is either a new panel on the back or the rear end assembled and the new wheels mocked up! 4 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
M3AN 4016 Report post Posted August 25, 2020 I missed this, looks like a fun project! I wonder if these Recaro inserts would fit... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
modz 149 Report post Posted August 25, 2020 That rear panel doesn't look bad mate. A patch would suffice I'd say vs replacing the whole panel. Unless there's other damage? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Southerner 146 Report post Posted September 1, 2020 Bit of progress this week! Rear end painted up Car off to panelbeaters tomorrow, was very rusty along boot seal lip so new panel will sort it all Done the dentent shift pin rebuild in the weekend, what a fun job that is..... Have an online order on its way with front and rear seals etc for the motor to swap in and hopefully get the sump and gearbox on in next few weeks 4 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
modz 149 Report post Posted September 1, 2020 Nice progress! While I remember have someone remove and press in a new gearbox seal. It’s a PiTA job. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Southerner 146 Report post Posted September 9, 2020 Its back And 5 stud swapped tonight Have some old eibach springs in there and original shocks bolted in to hold all together. Will work on getting medium case tidied up and lsd in. Steering rack on its way so will swap that over and finally start bolting the main parts in 6 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
M3AN 4016 Report post Posted September 9, 2020 Looks so good. ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Southerner 146 Report post Posted September 22, 2020 Motors been sump swapped, oil nut tacked, front and rear seals done Z3 steering rack which ill hopefully install this week Have a pair of M3 evo LCAs on their way, will look at suspension options in next month and swap the front over, along with motor etc in 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Southerner 146 Report post Posted February 1, 2021 Long time no update, all the way on page 2! Had some issues with steering knuckles, got it sorted and ordered some from UK, assembled with new bearings etc Steering link swapped over to a barina type and Z3 rack installed Have some new nuts coming for ball joints and tie rods, once they arrive will bolt in the suspension and motor and box will go in. Have a m50 manifold and tune to install on motor, will keep the ITBs for a rainy day as such ....more updates soon 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Southerner 146 Report post Posted February 11, 2021 (edited) Nuts arrived yesterday Existing setup All bolted up well E36 EVO 96+ LCA, brakes, solid discs, knuckles, powerflex offset bushes Edited February 11, 2021 by Southerner 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Southerner 146 Report post Posted March 8, 2021 (edited) Might have a motor in this week LSD ready to go in. Had it in last night but had a minute crack on rear housing so had to swap it over, went for a 3.25 ratio. Was going for a 3.46 but car will be more of a road car now E30 325 axles getting regreased, what a fun job trying to get all the ball bearings back in is Edited March 8, 2021 by Southerner 4 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Southerner 146 Report post Posted April 21, 2021 Owell yet again I have been slacking on the updates Motors in, having a couple of wiring issues which will hopefully get sorted. So far the starter motor isn't working at all so need to see what's going on there Rolled it out for a photo. The front wheel is slightly turned hence the slightly off center position, plus needs an alignment aswell. Rear wheels aren't here to stay Picked up another set of wheels this week for it. 16x7.5 style 15s, will be good for the almost factory bottle cap look 4 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
