The Dirty Dolphin build thread
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Getting closer...
This tool made CAB installation a breeze. If anyone wants to borrow it, lemme know.
Question: Are these motor mount heat shield bracket wraparound hook things important, or can i cut them off (just the hook part that wraps around)??? They cant be hooked around the subframe after I welded in my reinforcements. Is the only purpose of this part to hold the heat shield?
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Subframe looks fantastic!
Your CAB install tool looks exactly like mine did, I didnt use very good threaded rod because the threads were buggered up by the time I was done with it.
Where did you get the bushings pressed into the lollipops at?
You dont need the hooked portion of the heat shield bracket but I dont see a reason to lop it off.
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I have always installed the bushings by hand after lubing them with dishsoap, (It is still not easy to get them on though). From my understanding the car needs to be set down right away so that they dry with them at the proper angle with the weight of the car on the suspension so that they are not twisting/flexed when the car is at normal height. How are you determining the correct angle to install them at?
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cars coming together nicely!
also,
countdown to ecstasy
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I have always installed the bushings by hand after lubing them with dishsoap, (It is still not easy to get them on though). From my understanding the car needs to be set down right away so that they dry with them at the proper angle with the weight of the car on the suspension so that they are not twisting/flexed when the car is at normal height. How are you determining the correct angle to install them at?
Soo i just read the installation procedure in my trusty Bentley manual and it describes the necessity to press the bushing on the arm and let the car rest on the ground in a loaded condition within 30 minutes, as you stated, otherwise you will crash and die (maybe). I did not use BMW's special lube, nor did i use any lube; i just installed them in a generally correct orientation. I wish i would have read the install directions before installing (who does that?). Now i'm kinda concerned. I cant believe that any torque caused by the bushing will be that significant compared to other forces on the wheel, and i cant believe that the bushing wouldnt slip after a few miles. We'll see.
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S4.10? or grandma 4.10?
The new rubber and new front end stuff means we need to get out and hit some twisties soon
Its an open diff, and twisties must be driven with extreme prejudice this year.
Subframe looks fantastic!
Your CAB install tool looks exactly like mine did, I didnt use very good threaded rod because the threads were buggered up by the time I was done with it.
Where did you get the bushings pressed into the lollipops at?
You dont need the hooked portion of the heat shield bracket but I dont see a reason to lop it off.
I didn't want to battle with pressing them in, so i bought the bushings pre installed in the brackets. Expensive, yes, but sometimes i will pay for no hassle.
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I didn't mean to concern you, I think it is more of a longevity issue. If the bushing is constantly twisted it may not last as long. Did you use standard bushings or e36 m3 ones?
They are E30 M3 offset bushings. The install was sooo easy with my fancy home made tool, i knew it was too good to be true. Hopefully there will be no ill effects:)
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What wheels are those that you chose to go with? Look to be one piece with beauty hardware possibly?
They are ESM 002r 16x8.
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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!!
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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.
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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)...
On this...
And got this!
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...
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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.
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