Shawn's track car project (e36 M52 325i) - Page 24

sb_600 · 04-11-2012, 12:23 AM

With the stiffeners cured on the roof, I was able to test the strength and was very happy. Not quite as stiff as a stock panel, but good enough! With a 15+lb weight savings, I can't complain!

So I proceeded to paint that, and then work on my shock towers. I want the flexibility to get up to 5deg of camber and more caster, so I slotted one hole, rotated the top plate, and redrilled the others.

2nd and 3rd pic are before and after shots. Other side is the same.

I also got my new RTABs in, and installed those.

Finally, i got new shiny bits

sb_600 · 04-13-2012, 01:03 AM

Ok so a few developments:

1. I realized today that the car NEEDS to be ready for May 4th. I'm doing the race school so uhhhh, yeah. 3 weeks... FML.

2. The car is a rolling chassis again! I had pulled it all out to replace my poly subframe & rear trailing arm bushings with solid ones (well, spherical bearings for the RTABs). It's all back together.

3. Got the roof installed. Right now it's bonded with PL Premium contruction adhesive. Once that cures, it will be drilled out for rivets.

Arek & I are going to do the wiring tomorrow, and then the engine is going to go back in sunday, probably. Sunday I'm also going to try and replace the input shaft seal on the diff, and install my new backing plates for the 6-pt belts.

I'm going to try something to make my car look "different": I have rivet on flares, skirts (which I will rivet on), and now my roof too. I think I'm going to paint the car, then do all the riveting after and leave them bare might look cool. Worst comes to worst, I just paint them all afterwards.... Should be interesting.

everlast · 04-13-2012, 01:11 AM

Lookin' awesome!

Just something to make you think: airplanes have exposed rivets. Maybe take a camera to the rockcliffe airport museum for some inspiration?

sb_600 · 04-13-2012, 01:16 AM

My thought exactly! If done right, might look cool and have some contrast on a black car....

sb_600 · 04-15-2012, 08:04 PM

So I owe Arek a huge thanks. Yesterday he, Chris, and I spend 12 hours wiring my car. We got almost all of it done (just waiting for a few more switches, connectors, and a custom carbon fibre dash panel).

Today, I started doing the routing, trim and fitted the dash, and I fabbed up a mounting panel for the kill switch.

I also got my new tailights wired & installed - no more altezzas!

bmwconnect · 04-15-2012, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sb_600

So I owe Arek a huge thanks. Yesterday he, Chris, and I spend 12 hours wiring my car. We got almost all of it done (just waiting for a few more switches, connectors, and a custom carbon fibre dash panel).

Today, I started doing the routing, trim and fitted the dash, and I fabbed up a mounting panel for the kill switch.

I also got my new tailights wired & installed - no more altezzas!

Tails lights amazing !

sb_600 · 04-26-2012, 08:54 AM

Progress update:

Since last weekend, I have:

-replaced input shaft seal on the diff
-reinstalled diff & rear swaybar
-installed all harness eye bolt & backing plates
-bondo'ed roof
-sanded roof
-seam-sealed roof
-prepped body for paint
-rebuilt front shock towers (wasn't happy with the mods I did early - seemed too weak)
-painted front shock towers
-picked up the primer/paint
-primer'd the car

Off to Jersey tonight!

MBrown · 04-26-2012, 10:52 AM

Wow, must have been a late night!

sb_600 · 05-01-2012, 09:32 AM

Sunday I got the car painted, and last night got the engine, tranny, driveshaft, exhaust installed:

Also, I apparently got some crap on my camera lens

everlast · 05-01-2012, 09:34 AM

Sweet! How does it look in person? Smooth?

Jeff2886 · 05-01-2012, 09:41 AM

Cool stuff man! I'm sure the dirt on the camera will come off with a little isopropyl alcohol.

sb_600 · 05-01-2012, 10:08 AM

Thanks

The paint has some built in texture, so I wouldn't say "smooth" but I'm happy with the overall turnout. That being said, I have to re-spray the tops of one of the doors, and the roof.

The fibreglass roof was absorbing the paint, so it didn't turn out like the rest of the car. I needed to put a thicker coat on - I'll do that after this weekend.

sb_600 · 05-01-2012, 10:09 AM

oh and the tailights look kick-a$$ with the black

everlast · 05-01-2012, 10:11 AM

Might be better off to hit it with a quick coat of black epoxy primer before your next coat so it doesn't continue to soak in.

sb_600 · 05-01-2012, 10:15 AM

There's primer on it already, just probably not enough. I tested a corner spraying the coat really thick and it came out good - I think I just needed it to be thicker. But I ran out of my batch and didn't want to make another.... oh well