Alpine e30 progress/build thread

[Earl]

Do you mean stud kit as in for the hubs or stud kit for the diff mounting bolts?

[m42b32]

Earl said:

Do you mean stud kit as in for the hubs or stud kit for the diff mounting bolts? 

Studs to replace the diff mounting bolts, though I am also going to be running a stud conversion for the hubs too.

[Earl]

m42b32 said:

Studs to replace the diff mounting bolts, though I am also going to be running a stud conversion for the hubs too. 

Might want to wait on hub studs until we do the wheel bearings=)

[m42b32]

Made more progress over the last two days. Random things:

- Made a new alternator ground wire and got the alternator reinstalled

- Half done putting the power steering back together

- Front sway bar reinstalled with new bushings (what a PITA)

- New tires mounted on the Weds, 205/50/16 Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 (Rebranded Bridgestone Potenza RE003 from Europe, just started being offered here this year) 

Front brakes installed (minus lines) with new blank rotors and Stoptech sport pads

Went to test fit a wheel.....and the caliper interferes with the face pretty significantly. I am going to use some washers to measure how little spacer I can get away with and still clear the brakes. I was hoping to not have to push the wheels out any further, if tire fitment becomes an issue after the spacers I can remove the drop hats and install the fixed camber plates I have sitting around. 

Also got halfway through installing the UUC rear sway bar. Fit isn't very good, I shouldn't have to be modifying brand new brackets and hardware to get this to bolt up...

[B C]

Rear sway bar install sucks regardless of brand. That is all.

The only consolation is making fun of the pencil thin stock bar

[Earl]

Installing swaybars is always a chore=/ Good progress though

[andyhundley]

The IE rear sway bar I put on actually went on pretty easy but I wasn't too crazy about drilling holes in my car.

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[KaiserRolls]

I used turner Motorsport mounts. They should just include instructions on how to link swear words into the most effective anger relief.

It went on fairly easy tho. Just annoying trying to fumble around on your back and drill and install shit with poly grease sticking to everything

[Boris3]

Turner mounts are the easy part. Get a long drill bit extension to help set the pilot holes from under the car.

If the entire rear subframe, driveline etc is in place threading the bar into position is the real pain--evil puzzle. Hint: thread in from the passenger side and make sure the bar is oriented in the correct way before you start so you don't have to redo.

[m42b32]

Huge progress today:

Rear suspension is in. Driveshaft is in. Heat shields, exhaust midsection, and front half of the Stromung catback are in. 

Also worked on the radiator setup more. Got the zionsville fan shroud and e36 expansion tank installed. Had to flip the m42 lower hose around to clear the expansion tank outlet but once that was done it fits really well.

Fit the euro plate filler:

Other things accomplished today:

- New drivers seatbelt installed

- Reinstalled lower dash panels

- measured for front wheel spacers

Getting closer!

[straight6pwr]

hot sauce! collector plate looks great

[Jdesign]

Niceeeeeeeeeeee!!!

[GunMetalGrey]

Can you measure the expansion tank for me? 
Height, width, and thickness?
Trying to figure out if I can fit something like that in my car. 

Car is looking good!

[m42b32]

More progress on Sunday but forgot to take pictures...

- Rear ABS sensor holes plugged and sealed

- Lower license plate holes plugged and sealed behind plate filler

- All handbrake parts reinstalled, still need to adjust

- Found a brass adapter (3/4" to 5/8") that connected the E30 expansion tank hose to the e30 m42 expansion tank hose and got that spliced/routed

- Started wiring for SPAL fan, going to have it always on with ignition for now. Wiring to temp switch and manual override in the cabin later. 

- Replaced drivers door interior handle and got the door reassembled. Old one came out in 7 pieces... all my doors and locks work again!

- Rear rotors are used (but appear to be nearly new) so I wire wheeled and painted the hats, cleaned the rust from the friction surfaces

- Installed a new battery as the old one was so dead it might as well have not even been connected

I'm hoping to have it on the road a few days before the picnic to work out any major issues and have some time to clean it really well!

[m42b32]

GunMetalGrey said:

Can you measure the expansion tank for me? 
Height, width, and thickness?
Trying to figure out if I can fit something like that in my car. 

Car is looking good!

Sure! I will be there again tonight so I will take some measurements.

[Earl]

What'd you use to plug the ABS sensor holes?

[m42b32]

Earl said:

What'd you use to plug the ABS sensor holes?

I found that a 3/4" plug fits really well, I used a metal plug like this one:

installed it from the underside with silicone (cleaned off the excess), and then folded the ears flat on the back side to lock it in place. Looks really clean from underneath, other side is covered by the seat.

[Boris3]

Similar plugs also work as an option for sealing up floorboard drain plug holes when OEM rubber/plastic plugs not handy. Never thought to install from the underside though, nice idea.

[m42b32]

Got the radiator sorted. Ended up using an e36 6cyl upper hose to clear the airbox and then spliced it into the original M42 hose. Instead of just splicing it I added a piece where I can mount a water temp sender for a VDO gauge, but currently the sensor hole is just plugged. 

Completed the wiring for the Spal fan, it is currently set up to always be on with the ignition. I will eventually be adding a temperature switch and override switch in the cabin. I am getting power from a fuse tap for the relay and direct to the power distribution block (fused) for the fan. I have heard mixed comments on mounting relays horizontally but they usually revolve around water getting in the contacts, and since this one is a sealed plug I think it will be fine. I wrapped the entire harness in black non-adhesive vinyl tape and routed everything along the factory harness for added stealthiness. While I was doing electrical things I also wired in the 9006/9005 connectors for the ellipsoids.

Rear brakes are done! I decided to hold off on swapping master cylinders until sometime after the picnic, i'll have a bit of a long pedal travel but it should be perfectly fine for now. 

With that done I test fit a rear wheel, really happy with the fitment. This is not fully compressed as I just jacked up the wheel till the car started to get light on the jack stand. I have very little room to the fender lip so I am almost guaranteed to need a roll in the rear to avoid serious rubbing. Anyone have experience rolling fenders or have a roller I could use? 

I also started re-booting the half shafts, and when I went to install the new inner boot, it turns out the outer boots I had bought fit like crap (Meyle brand, OEM was really expensive for what it is). It looked like a generic boot and didn't have the right lip on the larger end. Thankfully I ordered from FCP and they will let me return them, and in the mean time I ordered different boots so hopefully they will get here soon.

[m42b32]

GunMetalGrey said:

Can you measure the expansion tank for me? 
Height, width, and thickness?
Trying to figure out if I can fit something like that in my car. 

Car is looking good!

10.5" tall, including cap, not including lower connection and level sensor, 3.375 inches wide, 2.375 inches deep. The outer edge sits flush with the upper frame rail seam, and the bottom of the tank is 1" above the top of the seam. 

Hope that helps!