<![CDATA[The Dirty Dolphin build thread]]>Hopefully this is the beginning of an epic transformation of an 89' Delphin/Tan 325i into a rock solid street/track car.

Before i bought her:

IMG0478.jpg

Parts installed (as of 5/9/13):

:(

Parts that I'm looking for (as of 5/9/13):

Cardinal Red sport seats

is lip

Z3 steering rack

Euroweaves or BBS RM or BBS RS reps or Ronal LS

///M shift knob (sorry Zach the one on the car broke:()

an OEM jack

A spare bottle cap 

i'm sure there's more...

Coming up... lets take a look at some areas for improvement and discuss my options.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/topic/1419/the-dirty-dolphin-build-threadRSS for NodeWed, 16 Sep 2026 06:41:32 GMTMon, 29 Apr 2013 01:29:48 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to The Dirty Dolphin build thread on Thu, 01 Jun 2017 23:11:29 GMT]]>

YoungCR said:

Where did you get your new tank from? 

It's a brand new Spectra tank from Advance Auto Parts of all places. link here->Spectra Premium Tank.  I added a few coats of black paint.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/80261https://wibimmers.com/post/80261Thu, 01 Jun 2017 23:11:29 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The Dirty Dolphin build thread on Thu, 01 Jun 2017 15:33:43 GMT]]>Nice tank! Also wondering where you got that specimen from?

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/80240https://wibimmers.com/post/80240Thu, 01 Jun 2017 15:33:43 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The Dirty Dolphin build thread on Thu, 01 Jun 2017 14:03:43 GMT]]>Where did you get your new tank from?

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/80234https://wibimmers.com/post/80234Thu, 01 Jun 2017 14:03:43 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The Dirty Dolphin build thread on Thu, 01 Jun 2017 01:48:16 GMT]]>Hey! Great to see some things happening. I got my reman driveshaft from a place in illinois (delivered of course) but I cant find the site. i will keep looking

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/80219https://wibimmers.com/post/80219Thu, 01 Jun 2017 01:48:16 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The Dirty Dolphin build thread on Thu, 01 Jun 2017 01:22:16 GMT]]>This is the go to place from everyone I have talked to=)

http://www.driveshaftspecialist.com/Import html/BMW.html

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/80218https://wibimmers.com/post/80218Thu, 01 Jun 2017 01:22:16 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The Dirty Dolphin build thread on Thu, 01 Jun 2017 01:18:46 GMT]]>A little update on a major operation.  Lot's of parts have been removed...

pile o parts.jpg

TO FIND THIS!!!  I've had a tank that leaks when more than half full or when I corner hard right for a long time.

golden shower.jpg

Not for long:)

new tank.jpg

The diff is out because I also bought a low mile 4.10 LSD to replace my noisy 4.10 open diff:)

Also, my driveshaft U-joints are pretty notchy.  Anyone know of a good place that can rebuild them?

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/80217https://wibimmers.com/post/80217Thu, 01 Jun 2017 01:18:46 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The Dirty Dolphin build thread on Thu, 09 Jul 2015 22:13:54 GMT]]>This car is awesome. I saw it at Road America last year during the Hawk vintage races. It was the day after I bought my E30 project and only boosted my ambition to get moving. Great work!

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/59968https://wibimmers.com/post/59968Thu, 09 Jul 2015 22:13:54 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The Dirty Dolphin build thread on Mon, 06 Jul 2015 02:13:46 GMT]]>Seeing those seats has me rethinking redoing my sport seats in black....

Looks good!!!

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/59782https://wibimmers.com/post/59782Mon, 06 Jul 2015 02:13:46 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The Dirty Dolphin build thread on Sun, 05 Jul 2015 22:41:51 GMT]]>Looks great

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/59768https://wibimmers.com/post/59768Sun, 05 Jul 2015 22:41:51 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The Dirty Dolphin build thread on Sun, 05 Jul 2015 15:09:36 GMT]]>Very nice

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/59763https://wibimmers.com/post/59763Sun, 05 Jul 2015 15:09:36 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The Dirty Dolphin build thread on Sun, 05 Jul 2015 14:15:59 GMT]]>Pretty much done.  I like.

cardinals%20installed.jpg

Also, I bought this other red thing a couple months ago...  They look good together:)

the%20whips.jpg

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/59762https://wibimmers.com/post/59762Sun, 05 Jul 2015 14:15:59 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The Dirty Dolphin build thread on Tue, 30 Jun 2015 01:52:30 GMT]]>I just watched that gif through a good 15-20 loops

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/59576https://wibimmers.com/post/59576Tue, 30 Jun 2015 01:52:30 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The Dirty Dolphin build thread on Tue, 30 Jun 2015 01:50:04 GMT]]>

Snap said:

Great work Andrew! Marcus showed me a pic and I thought it was professionally done! Looks much better than a lot of the reupholstery jobs ive seen

Thank you!   It's kind of a pain, since the replacement upholstery isn't a perfect fit and is missing some holes, but it went back together better than I expected... though I kind of fear one of these moments happening after hitting a bump.

 17tqx06cq0rrxgif.gif

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/59575https://wibimmers.com/post/59575Tue, 30 Jun 2015 01:50:04 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The Dirty Dolphin build thread on Tue, 30 Jun 2015 01:46:14 GMT]]>I'll have to look at the seats when go to the shop next weekend, I know the bolsters are cracked/worn for sure. I'll send you a pm later.

What's the next project on the car after the seats are done?

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/59574https://wibimmers.com/post/59574Tue, 30 Jun 2015 01:46:14 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The Dirty Dolphin build thread on Tue, 30 Jun 2015 01:33:07 GMT]]>

CYoung said:

Looks great! Any chance the old vinyl is salvageable? I could use some for repairs although I still wanna try one of these kits someday.

I didn't destroy the old vinyl during deconstruction, so i think you can use it.  The original upholstery looked really good on the outside, but man, the 25 years of shit you cant see...  I can send you pics of the pieces of interest.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/59570https://wibimmers.com/post/59570Tue, 30 Jun 2015 01:33:07 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The Dirty Dolphin build thread on Tue, 30 Jun 2015 00:56:03 GMT]]>Great work Andrew! Marcus showed me a pic and I thought it was professionally done! Looks much better than a lot of the reupholstery jobs ive seen

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/59562https://wibimmers.com/post/59562Tue, 30 Jun 2015 00:56:03 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The Dirty Dolphin build thread on Tue, 30 Jun 2015 00:52:41 GMT]]>Looks great! Any chance the old vinyl is salvageable? I could use some for repairs although I still wanna try one of these kits someday.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/59560https://wibimmers.com/post/59560Tue, 30 Jun 2015 00:52:41 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The Dirty Dolphin build thread on Tue, 30 Jun 2015 00:07:15 GMT]]>This project still lives!  It moves at a glacial pace i know.  I'm pleased with this next modification...

I put this (cardinal red vinyl upholstery kt from zoomzoomzoom-ing on ebay)... 

IMG2851.jpg

On this...

IMG2872.jpg

And got this!

IMG2891.jpg

The drivers seat is the last piece to the cardinal red puzzle  Hopefully done next weekend.  These are not fun to put on by the way...

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/59555https://wibimmers.com/post/59555Tue, 30 Jun 2015 00:07:15 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The Dirty Dolphin build thread on Mon, 05 May 2014 01:16:11 GMT]]>Those tires are meaty!  I like

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/40269https://wibimmers.com/post/40269Mon, 05 May 2014 01:16:11 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The Dirty Dolphin build thread on Sat, 03 May 2014 20:31:07 GMT]]>Gr8 upd8 m8

You may have overtightened the strut mounts or omitted a necessary washer

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/40207https://wibimmers.com/post/40207Sat, 03 May 2014 20:31:07 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The Dirty Dolphin build thread on Sat, 03 May 2014 20:10:43 GMT]]>Alright guys, she's back on her feet! Partial car photos only at this time:) I'm saving full vehicle pics for after I finish the IS lip, shadowline, and give her a bath:)   More importantly, the test drive revealed that I have some wicked auto-steer AKA anti-return to center, meaning, if I steer a direction, the car tends to steer HARDER in that direction as opposed tending to self center.  Now, this doesn't happen right off center, but I dont have to get near steering lock for it to happen either.  Its not uncontrollable, but it is definitely NOT RIGHT.  I replaced a whole ton of stuff on the front end (iv'e unbolted and reinstalled every component related to the front suspension, including removing the front subframe), and haven't had an alignment yet, so that may be part of it.  What type of misalignment would cause this "auto-steer"? Eyeballing it, It looks like i have lot of toe in... Could i have reinstalled something wrong to cause this?

On a positive note, the front end feels really solid and responsive; no more crashing over bumps!!!!!!!!!! No creaking when steering!  The majority of this was the ball joints, they were realllly bad. The solid motor mounts affected shifting precision more positively than i ever expected; very cool.  I think my passenger side motor mount was broken before, which would explain the clunkiness between shifts.  The solid motor mounts definitely increase vibration though.  My new diff seems to have fixed the major grinding/whining that I had, but there is still something rubbing back there, likely parking brake shoes...

And a pic...   Also, these tires pick up road grit like crazy.  They are sandblasting my wheel wells something serious.

IMG1142.jpg

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/40205https://wibimmers.com/post/40205Sat, 03 May 2014 20:10:43 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The Dirty Dolphin build thread on Fri, 25 Apr 2014 02:05:46 GMT]]>I was gonna buy a set of esm's until I bought euro weaves. Esm's look good for the price! Can't wait to see them installed!!

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/39533https://wibimmers.com/post/39533Fri, 25 Apr 2014 02:05:46 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The Dirty Dolphin build thread on Fri, 25 Apr 2014 01:03:05 GMT]]>

Earl said:

What wheels are those that you chose to go with? Look to be one piece with beauty hardware possibly?

They are ESM 002r 16x8.

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/39527https://wibimmers.com/post/39527Fri, 25 Apr 2014 01:03:05 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to The Dirty Dolphin build thread on Fri, 25 Apr 2014 00:42:22 GMT]]>What wheels are those that you chose to go with? Look to be one piece with beauty hardware possibly?

]]>https://wibimmers.com/post/39526https://wibimmers.com/post/39526Fri, 25 Apr 2014 00:42:22 GMT