Bullet Ride's 6 Days of Hell

[Bullet Ride]

Goal: In 6 days (April 26th to April 31th) I would like to...
-Replace all the bushings (CAB, RTAB, sub frame) with poly bushings
-Install Ground Control coilover kit
-Install new(ish) control arms and tie rods
-Rebuild shifter
-Get new rims installed (not really relevant)

This is my first time working on any of these systems of the car so it should be interesting and a great learning experience.

Day 1: start around 1pm - finish around 10pm

-Got the car set up, since I'm going to be pulling the back end out I needed to support the car somewhere. I ended up supporting the back end of the car on the back seat floor pans using cement blocks . Not ideal, but I don't really know what other way I'd be able to do it. Luckily my floors are solid. Also the load is distributed over the whole surface of the block. Set the car down carefully and everything seems to be ok.



-dropped exhaust in one piece from manifold back. The only difficult part here was unbolting the exhaust from the manifold. It required working from the underside of the car using 2 6" extensions, a u-joint, and a good amount of force



-proceeded to drop the drive shaft out of the car and remove the vibration damper since it would interfere with the DSSR once I install the Z3 1.9 shifter.



-Took apart the shifter. Went to test fit the AKG DSSR on the stock shift lever and it was overly tight, checked the fitment on the shift rod coupler on the transmission and it was overly tight as well. Oh well, better overly tight than overly loose. I just ground a few thou off of both sides of the shift lever and filed a few thou off of the DSSR for the side where the coupler goes and everything fit nicely. Installed the new shift lever with a new ball cup and the DSSR. Let's just say the shifter feels AMAZING now. It's very tight, there's no play, and the Z3 1.9 lever gives a nice throw reduction.




And that brings me to today. Hopefully I'll be able to drop the back end out of the car today without too much trouble.

[Michel]

nice work man! keep it up!

[craz azn]

Haha, I have a similar project with my car going on right now, except it involves more rust repair than replacement/maintenance parts I hope to have this thing ready by this weekend for Mosport!

I love that shift linkage you got man. Gorgeous piece. What springs rates did you get with the GCs? You should bring it out to an AutoX when its done, its gonna rock!

[Bullet Ride]

Originally Posted by Michel

nice work man! keep it up!

Thanks

Originally Posted by craz azn

Haha, I have a similar project with my car going on right now, except it involves more rust repair than replacement/maintenance parts I hope to have this thing ready by this weekend for Mosport!

I love that shift linkage you got man. Gorgeous piece. What springs rates did you get with the GCs? You should bring it out to an AutoX when its done, its gonna rock!

There is some rust repair that I should be doing as well but I don't have time to do that right now, it'll have to wait until another time. The rates that I got were 500f/700r.

[T.Dot_E30]

Looks like a good start!

Is that your output seal on your transmission leaking? The rear of the transmission looks pretty oily, could be rust proofing I guess?

If it's the seal, now is the best time to do it. If you haven't already planned to.

[DR.ZED]

Broh while you're in there and have the DS down I suggest doing the seal for the transmission shift rod. It will be a hella pain if you have to do it later. Oh yah.. .buy two.

Also I have the AKG tool to do the LCA bushings pushing them in and out if you need.

Just did EVERYTHING you listed above, but over 8 weeks and 1 winter. LOL

Good job champ, post up more picktars.

... and I have the 30 mm thin wall deep socket for the trans flange bolt if you heed the advice here for the trans seal.

[e30_kid89]

I have a feeling there's a good chance "Rear brake lines" are going to be added to the list If you get em off clean, you're good to go!

I'm glad I got all of mine done way back when!

[Nick_V]

When I did the rear suspension on my E34, the RTABs were the biggest bitch. I ended up drilling and cutting mine out (hole saw/sawzall lol) because I was having trouble getting them to budge even with a 20 ton press. Going back in was easy with the press, but I think you could do it with a really big vise. Everything else should be pretty straightforward. Good luck!

[Bullet Ride]

Day 2: Start 1pm finish 10pm.

Sort of a frustrating day, spent a good amount of time battling with rusted shit. Luckily I did manage to get the brake lines off without destroying them. The parking brake cables were a royal bitch and after struggling with them for a long time I just decided to cut them and pull them out. I'll have to replace those. The back end is almost completely on the ground, the right side subframe bushing is being a PITA, I tried prying on it with a big crowbar but it wouldn't budge. I just need to pick up a 5/8" tap so I can thread the bottom of the bushing then put a bolt in it and hammer it out. Unfortunately I wasn't in the greatest mood yesterday so I didn't take any pics. I'll make sure to take some today.

oh yeah I also got tires put on my rims yesterday...

Cheers.

[Bullet Ride]

Lunch update. Day started off well so you guys get pics




....wrench for camber

More to come....

[Bullet Ride]

Day 3: start 10am finish 5pm

Got the sub frame completely out of the car first thing in the morning then proceeded to take it apart. Spent the afternoon hours removing the subframe bushings. At first it started with a hack saw which was painful, but then when my old man came home with his sawzall we had the old bushings out in no time. The sub frame is pretty rusty, but it's mostly surface rust that I'll clean up, then paint the whole thing.

[HavocSteve]

Looks sweet I pick up my first BMW E30 tomorrow if it looks alright. Hoping that I can sink some $$ into to look all pretty and get the same thing your doing done this coming winter.

[E30 Kid]

Love this write up. so sick

[DR.ZED]

Well done dude.

Trust me.... fixing those bushings is WELL worth it. I broke the top of one in the receiver hole and had to drill it out.

[Bullet Ride]

Originally Posted by DR.ZED

Well done dude.

Trust me.... fixing those bushings is WELL worth it. I broke the top of one in the receiver hole and had to drill it out.

Yeah both are broken in the receiver on mine. Solution, 5/8" tap... tap the broken part...insert bolt...go inside car with rod that fits the hole and pound out the broken piece