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  4. ClassE 1989 325IS Build Thread

ClassE 1989 325IS Build Thread

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  • KaiserRollsK
    KaiserRollsK
    KaiserRolls
    wrote on last edited by
    #175

    Even if people are into different stuff. Anyone who calls himself a car guy can respect the time and effort put into a project.

    Looks good man. Can't wait to see it in person.

    1 Reply Last reply
    2
    • jc43089J
      jc43089J
      jc43089
      wrote on last edited by
      #176

      KaiserRolls said:

      Even if people are into different stuff. Anyone who calls himself a car guy can respect the time and effort put into a project. Looks good man. Can't wait to see it in person.

      Troof!  Not my taste with the stretched tires, but the wheels look awesome!

      2/94 325i Sedan, Arctic Gray: UUC LTW FW, EVO 3 and DSSR, +.020 Maxsil pistons, ASC delete, Eibach shocks/springs, 16" contour reps 238k
      3/93 325i Coupe, Schwarz 2, Sketchy stance action, ebay turbo, 300k
      '89 325i Vert, Alpine White: 5spd swapped, sold.

      '04 Toyota Sienna: 24V to 24V swap in progress

      '05 Volvo V70R, 6spd.  200k
      '85 Toyota LandCruiser: Lifted, gas hog. 205k
      '99 Nissan Maxima: 5spd, Rusty but trusty winter beater. 252k RIP.

      1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • ClassEC
        ClassEC
        ClassE
        wrote on last edited by
        #177

        Thanks guys! I'm just anxious to get it back together and get in some wheel time! I'm not doing nearly as much cleaning and coating to everything as I wanted - but given the compressed timeline before good weather *should* be arriving... I'm okay with it.

        Now I just can't wait to get the wheels back with the centers colormatched - and the shaved centercaps!!!

        1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • ClassEC
          ClassEC
          ClassE
          wrote on last edited by
          #178

          Anyone on here knowledgable on E30 rear subframe and suspension geometry? I've got questions regarding subframe bushings and their affects on toe/camber....

          1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • DrLeadFootD
            DrLeadFootD
            DrLeadFoot
            wrote on last edited by
            #179

            ClassE said:

            Anyone on here knowledgable on E30 rear subframe and suspension geometry? I've got questions regarding subframe bushings and their affects on toe/camber....

            Are you interested in the condor speed shop 12mm risers?

            Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

            15924991875a64c599885m.jpg

                 @DrLeadFoot

            1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • m42b32M
              m42b32M
              m42b32
              wrote on last edited by
              #180

              This car is going to be absolutely gorgeous, I love those wheels, they look like OZ turbos!

              1991 318is, 1991 318i, 2022 Bronco

              1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • ClassEC
                ClassEC
                ClassE
                wrote on last edited by
                #181

                Thanks - They are essentially a 1-piece "remake" (knockoff) of OZ Turbos.

                Here's my dilemma: went to install the subframe and the camber adjustments plates are hitting the under side of the body. I kinda went overkill and installed the subframe riser AND the weld in camber adjustments - I believe the risers are causing the weld-in adjustments to hit because they're now 12mm higher. Here's my options:

                -Buy the "standard" height subframe bushings and hope everything fits.

                -Cut off the tops of the existing weld-in camber adjustment plates

                -"Flip" the existing subframe riser bushings and reinstall subframe (flipping the bushings should gain me the clearance - but I'm worried about "lowering" the subframe and offsetting my camber adjustment - and what it might do to my driveline angles).

                Open to suggestions: leaning towards cutting off tops of current weld-in subframe risers, or flipping subframe risers. Not crazy about ordering $160 bushings, waiting for them to arrive, and hoping those don't hit too.....

                886A5D21-DF74-4F69-A446-C49F17704D62.jpg

                B42CF732-9C45-4CFE-93ED-D45F8C9858E8.jpg

                61AB1C7B-290D-4CE0-BD37-BEA2D631FD11.jpg

                1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • ClassEC
                  ClassEC
                  ClassE
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #182

                  Didn't have any help today, so swapped all the interior door panels and cleaned the carpets up.

                  Before:

                  9919B7CD-2642-4C88-8326-D9202B7832EE.jpg

                  After (hard to tell - but MUCH better):

                  4906F9EC-4266-45D0-84F9-F93668FF48AF.jpg

                  1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • ClassEC
                    ClassEC
                    ClassE
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #183

                    Gonna try to flip the rear subframe bushings tonight and reinstall. We'll see what that does with the rear camber once installed - hopefully it won't be more then I can offset with the weld-in camber plates.

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • ClassEC
                      ClassEC
                      ClassE
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #184

                      Well - had another good night in the garage last night. Pulled subframe back out, flip-flopped subframe bushings and removed subframe spacers and reinstalled. We had some issues getting the metal sleeves that run through the subframe bushings into the underbody "pockets", but half an hour of wiggling and "adjusting" with a BFH they finally slipped in.

                      The weld-in camber plates clear the underbody now.... But not by much. I do have acouple questions:

                      -Do I reinstall the original large washers that were sandwiched between the subframe bushings and body? I did - just wasn't sure if I was supposed to.

                      -When I drop the big rear suframe bolts through the holes/bushings about 1/2" is sticking down through the bushings. I was expecting more - so tried tapping the bolt down with a socket extension but it didn't seem to want to go down. Does 1/2" of thread sound about right? When you tighten down the nut from below, does the splines of the bolt seat down and gain me more thread?

                      -I've seen 70ft/lbs for the subframe nuts - and "get tight as possible". Thoughts on torque spec?

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • B
                        B
                        B C
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #185

                        on mine, I torqued them to 70 lb-ft ish or whatever the spec is and it didn't seem quite right to me so I snugged them down by feel. 

                        I couldn't find anything on the trailing arm torque specs so I checked for free motion without the shock attached and snugged it down until it started to bind just a bit, then backed it off to where it still freely rotates, I used nylock nuts and loctite.

                        Also, yes, the washers get re-installed, otherwise the shear area on the bushing will be reduced and will wreck the bushings sooner

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • ClassEC
                          ClassEC
                          ClassE
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #186

                          Well - had another pretty good night!

                          Subframe is up and bolted in, rear coils are in, ebrake and driveshaft are bolted in, rear seats are in, new front sway bar end links and steering boots are in, new front tie rod ends are in.... Didn't install the new swaybar bushings though when I ran across this:

                          DE57DF74-5598-48F1-9970-AE1D69FE8DDC.jpg

                          Apparently the passenger front sway bar bushing mount was broke/stripped at some point and a PO or shop did this. I'm going to leave bushings "as is" until I can replace the front substructure.

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                          0
                          • ClassEC
                            ClassEC
                            ClassE
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #187

                            Hoping wheels are done at paint tomorrow so I can get tires mounted and set this thing on the ground.... Hopefully Saturday is a productive day!!!

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • jc43089J
                              jc43089J
                              jc43089
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #188

                              This is the e30 weekend!  Parts for mine are coming Friday so hopefully Monday it will be ready to go.

                              2/94 325i Sedan, Arctic Gray: UUC LTW FW, EVO 3 and DSSR, +.020 Maxsil pistons, ASC delete, Eibach shocks/springs, 16" contour reps 238k
                              3/93 325i Coupe, Schwarz 2, Sketchy stance action, ebay turbo, 300k
                              '89 325i Vert, Alpine White: 5spd swapped, sold.

                              '04 Toyota Sienna: 24V to 24V swap in progress

                              '05 Volvo V70R, 6spd.  200k
                              '85 Toyota LandCruiser: Lifted, gas hog. 205k
                              '99 Nissan Maxima: 5spd, Rusty but trusty winter beater. 252k RIP.

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • ClassEC
                                ClassEC
                                ClassE
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #189

                                I'll just leave this here....

                                86B7AF15-CF51-4171-80A2-1B3EE09DA9C4.jpg

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                2
                                • ClassEC
                                  ClassEC
                                  ClassE
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #190

                                  Interior is 99% done (for now at least):

                                  996B178C-A093-428E-89C1-EA40AC91E3B6.jpg

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • wasnt m3W
                                    wasnt m3W
                                    wasnt m3
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #191

                                    I love everything about this except for the wood wheel and shift knob. Of course, you're building it for yourself, not me. Either way, this thing is awesome!

                                    m3sig-1.jpg

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • ClassEC
                                      ClassEC
                                      ClassE
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #192

                                      I've always had a "thing" for wood wheels - but I do have to admit I'm undecided on if this one is gonna stay. The same wheel with brushed silver center - but wrapped in black leather - could be on the "to do" list.

                                      I've got a long list of stuff to do though before I get to that point!

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • jc43089J
                                        jc43089J
                                        jc43089
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #193

                                        Looking great!  Keep up the good work.

                                        2/94 325i Sedan, Arctic Gray: UUC LTW FW, EVO 3 and DSSR, +.020 Maxsil pistons, ASC delete, Eibach shocks/springs, 16" contour reps 238k
                                        3/93 325i Coupe, Schwarz 2, Sketchy stance action, ebay turbo, 300k
                                        '89 325i Vert, Alpine White: 5spd swapped, sold.

                                        '04 Toyota Sienna: 24V to 24V swap in progress

                                        '05 Volvo V70R, 6spd.  200k
                                        '85 Toyota LandCruiser: Lifted, gas hog. 205k
                                        '99 Nissan Maxima: 5spd, Rusty but trusty winter beater. 252k RIP.

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • DrLeadFootD
                                          DrLeadFootD
                                          DrLeadFoot
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #194

                                          Dude.....  Hell yeah!!

                                          That thing is looking good!!

                                          15924991875a64c599885m.jpg

                                               @DrLeadFoot

                                          1 Reply Last reply
                                          0

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