Shop Life 2.0

[HipMF]

Well, it's that time again...

Time to rip a bunch of stuff apart, spend half the winter with my hands saturated in engine degreaser, and maybe put it all back together in time to have some fun next summer.

This years plan is to do coilovers, wheels and tires, and a little bodywork. If there's time, I might start working on that turbo I keep saying I'm going to do...

So far I've built a shelving unit/workbench,

pulled the rear subframe and started de-rustifying it,

and sized up some borrowed 225/45/15s.

I'm thinking I'll weld on some flares off a mark one vw golf, but not 100% sure about that yet. Should be fun!

[YoungCR]

Tis the season!

[B C]

Borrowed tire and wheel setup looks good from here!

Your car keeps getting better and better

[CMart]

Right there with you buddy. I bought a space heater this summer. Hoping it helps with my winter motivation.

[suspenceful]

Keep those 6UL's, they look great.

[rampelsauce]

Not building cars this winter.  Got a motorbike to build in the basement because the garage is full of powder equipment.  

Your peg board game is on fleek though, brah.

[KaiserRolls]

Suspension time this winter

[rampelsauce]

KaiserRolls said:

saving big money time this winter 

Fixed

[KaiserRolls]

Lol I remember that day. So glad I haven't worked there in forever

[B C]

KaiserRolls said:

Lol I remember that day. So glad I haven't worked there in forever

I still never got an answer as to whether I can huff gold Rustoleum spray paint.

1/10 for service

9/10 for selection

[GunMetalGrey]

I just noticed the thread tag of nochristmassjazzallowed

We have rules around here. Stick to them. 
Glad to have you back around Mike!

#friendsdontletfriendspaintcarsmatteblack

[Bassboy3313]

PM sent

[HipMF]

Spent the weekend figuring out the rear suspension. While I had everything out of the car, I put it together, put it up on jackstands, leveled everything out, and took some camber and toe measurements. I would have pictures of the whole process, but I forgot my camera at the shop. Here is the data though:

The "height" is measured at the hub, but not really relative to anything. The swingarm is level right about where the toe reaches it's minimum and camber crosses the zero line. I was planning on lowering the rear about 2 inches, and then welding adjusters in to fix the camber and toe issues. However, looking at the toe graph and thinking about what happens to the rear suspension under braking has got me thinking that's not such a hot idea... I think I'll be keeping the rider height closer to stock.

Here's the rear bottomed out:

Shock has maybe 1/2" of travel left, but the swingarm is hitting the chassis in an area that's a little too close to the subframe mount for me to feel comfortable with just bashing it in with a hammer:

[HipMF]

When I dropped the gas tanks and crawled under the car...

[YoungCR]

Nooo! Had the same moment when I found rust on my frame rail

[i_love_cars]

sometimes i feel like we just can't win in this business as DIY enthusiasts - newer cars have too much tech and crap to work around, and older cars are prone to shit like this. Sorry to see that

[HipMF]

No worries, I've got work to do in that area anyway.

Just a friendly PSA. If graphic scenes of violence against strctural metal offend you, then you may want to avoid this thread for a while. It's about to get real horrorshow...

[Bassboy3313]

I have a set of BNIB rear wheel bearings and seals with your name on it! Let me know.

[HipMF]

Mine aren't bad yet, but I've started soaking the nuts in penetrent periodically as a precautionary measure, because I know that day is coming...

Don't you think you'll need them before I will with the offsets you're going to be running?

[Bassboy3313]

I am running e21 323i rear trailing arms which have bigger bearings than the US spec 320i does. So I wont be using them.