E21 Project Thread - Part 2
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Got the output seals and snap rings changed out on the new diff which was way easier than I thought. Scrap pieces of charge piping made it super simple to press out old and press in new seals.
I also thinned up some kbs and sprayed final coat of the entire interior and trunk of my car with my hvlp gun.


Word to the wise, don't let your air hose get to close to your torpedo heater. Scared the crap out of me when it popped.

Luckily I live so close to harbor freight I was able to grab a new air hose and get back in time before the paint left in the hvlp gun started drying.
I also drilled holes in my rear brace/battery holder and prepped it for install. Tomorrow I will get the rivnuts installed in the strut towers and bolt it in place.

(my dog photo bombed me with her bone)
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Smoked ellipsoids in progress

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I ended up cleaning all the old sealant off, clear coating the glass lenses, painting the inner reflector black and reassembling with new sealant.

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awesome. was that the first set you've done? i broke so many lenses when i was converting those.
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awesome. was that the first set you've done? i broke so many lenses when i was converting those.
Yeah this is the first set I've done. They are actually the ones I bought from you a few years ago. [emoji106]
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So I got the ellipsoids all sealed up with newly painted trim rings and adjusters installed.

Next thing was deciding what to do with the empty high beam holes. Can't install the lights since the intercooler charge piping goes through it. I decided to take some chicken wire I had laying around and making mesh inserts with the high beam trim rings.

Paint them black and they are good to go.

Then came the scary part for me. What did I get myself into?!?!?!

Following a tutorial on r3v, I disassembled the passenger e30 sport seat first to see how hard it was. Wasn't THAT hard, but still a lot of little things to get wrong. I cleaned up all the vinyl with some prep cleaner and tested the vinyl dye in an inconspicuous spot. I chose a Walnut brown as tribute to my old e21 seats. First test coat is light, but it will darken up with every extra cost applied. I think it's gonna look great!


To be continued.....
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I am using a professional leather/vinyl dye called rub-n-restore (giggity).
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After some trial and error on the passenger seat, here is what 4 coats looks like.

After 3 coats it still had streaks from the cellulose sponge they say to use, so I blotted a 4th coat on. This helped a lot! There are still a few spots that need touchup but overall way better than wiping it on. I will remember that for when I do the driver seat. What a difference!
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Yeah this is the first set I've done. They are actually the ones I bought from you a few years ago.

haha wow that was a while ago!
the seats look great so far. it looks like the seat back vinyl absorbs the dye too? i might have to get some of that stuff for my ugly green leather recliner
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haha wow that was a while ago!
the seats look great so far. it looks like the seat back vinyl absorbs the dye too? i might have to get some of that stuff for my ugly green leather recliner
Bassboy3313 said:
Yeah this is the first set I've done. They are actually the ones I bought from you a few years ago. [emoji106]
Thanks! Yes the dye will soak into the vinyl. It is guaranteed not to peel, chip or rub off either. It would work great on your recliner for sure.
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It was getting super intense. The pants had to go!
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So I'd like your guy's opinion on what you think the interior should look like in my car. I have decided on putting carpet back in so I have a color decision to make.
As of right now this is what it is .... no carpet, black door cards, black dash, brown seats, tan headliner
This is what I am thinking, comments? ... black carpet, black door cards, black dash, brown seats, tan headliner and maybe some brown floor mats to tie in the seats
What do you guys think it should be? Keep in mind that I can always replace/dye the door cards or headliner if it would look better in a different color.
Open to all your creative imaginations!!!
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seats need to match the door door cards like stock e30s. get some that were the same tan color as the seats and dye em the same way.
black dash (there is no option there) black carpet and black headliner.
brown and black look great together. putting tan in there too will clutter it all up.
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The base material color does not matter when using the dye that I have. Whether the base color is black or tan, the brown will still turn out the same shade with complete coverage. Here is what the door cards look like (although mine arent as shiny).

Now would a two tone look best with black on outer and brown on the inner "stripped" section or would 100% brown look best? Examples below.

Then I take it people agree to dye the headliner black instead of keeping it tan?
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