Shop Life 2.0
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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
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I just noticed the thread tag of nochristmassjazzallowed
We have rules around here. Stick to them.
Glad to have you back around Mike!#friendsdontletfriendspaintcarsmatteblack
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PM sent
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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:
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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
2011 E92 M3 6MT ZCP - ESS 625 supercharged
2007 Z4MR
2003 E39 M5
2002 E46 M3
2021 X5 40i -
I have a set of BNIB rear wheel bearings and seals with your name on it! Let me know.
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I am running e21 323i rear trailing arms which have bigger bearings than the US spec 320i does. So I wont be using them.
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Finally got around to getting the pics of the suspension off my camera and made some eye-infecting visual AIDS.
Also got some raw materials to work with now, so hopefully I can get back to work on the car this weekend. Oh, and another engine to replace the Automotive Supply enhanced unit that's currently in the car. Thanks Industrialsized!
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The effed-up block will get bored out 1mm over for some low-compression pistons
Might I suggest Automotive Supply? I hear they do great work!
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Wow, 6 months since the last update...
Well, now that my chances of success with this project are starting to look better than my chances of horrible and disasterous failure, I suppose I can let the cat out of the bag. As can be seen above, there's a limit to how much you can lower the rear of an e21 before suspension-things try to occupy the same space as frame-things. Lowering the car that much also creates camber and toe problems. I wanted my car to be lower than what was really reasonable, AND I wanted my suspension to be functional, so I decided to do what any rational person would do: cut all of the rear subframe mounting points out of the chassis, and move them up a couple of inches.
Still with me? Okay then. I didn't take many pictures until recently, but I can tell you that after the initial cutting the regret set in immediately and deeply. The biggest hurdle with this project has been getting over the psychological trauma of seeing giant holes in your car where important structural things used to be. Many months were lost staring at the nothing that was left, wondering how I would ever close the wounds. Somehow, I just kept moving, hoping that my efforts would somehow reclaim my car from the scrap-heap, for which I thought it was surely destined.
I've still got a lot of work to do, but I think I'll have a running, driving car again someday...
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The biggest hurdle with this project has been getting over the psychological trauma of seeing giant holes in your car where important structural things used to be.
I cant relate, but i understand completely
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Looking good!
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