E21 Project Thread - Part 2
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Got the center dash push button ignition all wired up, installed and working. No pictures tho unfortunately.
I also picked up a spare e21 rear subframe and an e30 rear subframe from JP to do a little chop surgery. I will be getting a chop/cut/weld operation done to put the e30 diff carrier onto the e21 subframe so that I can upgrade to a stronger e30 lsd instead of the super weak e21 lsd. Like shown below in some reference pics I found over on bf.c
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Starting surgery on the passenger side floor pan this past weekend. Started off by using an air scraper to get rid of all the sound deadening tar material so I could see the extent of the rust.
It looks bad in the pic, but in reality the rot is a smaller area than I previously thought. Most of the area that looks like "surface rust" in the pic is actually just residue from the tar material.
I then busted out the air saw and started cutting away the rot out to some good solid metal.
Still have some more to cut out. After that I will kill any remaining surface rust with the kbs system, cut my new floor pan to shape and start the rivet process just like the driver side.
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Finished cutting out the passenger side floor pan and threw down 2 coats of KBS.
Got a piece of 18ga sheet metal from speedy metals, cut and formed it to shape and drilled all the holes for rivets. Using structural panel adhesive I glued the panel in place and riveted it down with my air riveter. Same way I did driver side.
I then went ahead and seam sealed the driver side floor pans on top and underneath.
Thank God for heated garages!!!!
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Put to use that old Lincoln flux core welder sitting in back of my garage and tried my hand at some tack welding.
Had to weld a new lip onto my front valance in order to mount the group 2 airdam. I had cut off the old lip for a previous airdam. I think it turned out fairly good for flux core. I will be grinding then down smooth, no worries.
Picked up a cheap welding helmet from harbor freight, so naturally I had to customize it with my decals.
I also cut out the stock passenger seat mounts and started making the new ones similar to drivers side.
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Picked up an S3.46 differential out of an e28 from forum member Jawa yesterday in preparation for the rear subframe modifications. Just need an e30 diff cover if anyone has one to part with.
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Medium case. E21 came with small case diffs that don't handle much hp, so upgrading to medium case diff is the way to do it.
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So after 2 months and one mailing address screw up later, my fiberglass hood from Portugal finally arrived.
Would have been nice if they didn't spray expanding foam directly on hood, but whatcha gonna do, right? Just have to rip it off and sand it smooth later on. I am debating on how to secure the hood down now. Whether to do flush hood latches, dzus 1/4 turn fasteners or hell, even bonnet straps. Any suggestions?
I also tore into my new 3.46 lsd to see what I'm working with. Looks like someone's been in it before.
Also found a little friend inside the diff case.
Taking everything apart revealed some decent looking clutches and plates which I am happy about. The bearings seem to have newer red grease applied to them and seals I am not sure about. I will most likely replace the output seals since they should be relatively easy and I'm testing the input seal right now. Snap gave me the idea of filling the diff with a lightweight oil overnight to see if there is any leaking from input seal. If not, then it will definitely withstand the thicker gear oil when used. I am also going to be adding a third clutch and dog ear to raise the locking a bit while I'm in there.
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That's one way to go out. Drown in a medium case diff.
Things are ramping up for you! Ride that wave!
@DrLeadFoot
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I got the diff with the cover off already, so that probably explains how the tiny frog got in, lol.
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Hell yeah Dave! E30 picnic bound. You better make it
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This weekend I finished cutting, grinding and welding in the passenger seat mounts. I also finished the seam seal on the passenger side floor pan patch as well.
Continuing, I painted the entire passenger side floor with kbs rustseal.
Next will be undercoating the new floor patches, cleaning up the rear seat area, treating and painting it with kbs. Then I will come back with my spray gun and put a second coat of kbs on the entire interior.
I also ripped all the foam off the fiberglass hood and test fitted it. Fits well for being way thinner than the stock hood. Obviously not show car fitment, but I'm happy. I'm leaning towards using 4 aerocatch hood latches to secure it down.
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What temp is your garage?
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No idea. I use a turbo heater. If I have it on high I can work in a tshirt out there.
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Just curious about the kbs drying time when it's cooler (I can get the garage to like 45ish)
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Just curious about the kbs drying time when it's cooler (I can get the garage to like 45ish)
It would dry fine at 45ish no problem tho.
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Sweet! Now I have no excuse
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I've even helped it out at cooler temps with a box fan and its cured fine. Pretty much all in the prep like any paint job
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Got my rear strut brace back from Rampelsauce tonight too. Looks great! Thanks again!
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