E21 Project Thread - Part 2

Bassboy3313

Today I got the old rear end parts completely disassembled. Next step with that is replacing the wheel bearings in the trailing arms, paint the arms and start reassembling with the new custom subframe.

I also starting installing more outlets in the workshed since I'm tired of tripping over extension cords and having to switch plugs whenever I wanna use something. Ill be putting an outlet in garage too on other side of wall. Cleaning and organizing comes next.

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straight6pwr

nice. workshop mods are as good as car mods.

and how did the crab legs taste?

B C

Crab legs, lol

Bassboy3313

straight6pwr said:

nice. workshop mods are as good as car mods.

and how did the crab legs taste?

Priceless!!!

Earl

straight6pwr said:

and how did the crab legs taste?

Post of the year lol

Bassboy3313

All done!

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Bassboy3313

After further looking and comparing the H4 lights with the e21 headlight buckets, it seemed like it was going to be lots of tedious work that may not even be correct. I ended up selling those lights and picking up a set of vw mk2 smoked crosshairs instead. These come with the buckets and adjusters already attached.

Talking to a guy who has done this retrofit before, looks like just a bit of trimming on the vw bucket to fit the shape and size of e21 bucket. Then just clearance a few spots on e21 bucket and tack weld them together. Shouldn't bad. Here are some pics he sent me of what he did.

My initial thought was to just trim up the vw bucket and weld on mounting tabs to bolt to existing location on core support. That would involve a lot more careful measuring that this guy's way since using the e21 buckets will position the lights correctly to fit flush with the grilles.

That's where I'm at right now with those.

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Earl

Do you still need your euro parts with this fix?

Bassboy3313

Nope. That was one of the reasons why I decided to go this route instead too.

Jdesign

Those will look awesome. Good choice.

Bassboy3313

Ordered a 90mm wheel stud kit for black friday and also made my hvac gauge/switch panel. Added some texture which turned out to be a little overkill, but whatevs. Looks kind of military-ish.

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straight6pwr

better make another for Earl, I know he's drooling over that. (from the aneurysm)

the visible layers of past versions are a little meh, but it's a race car so function>form.

Bassboy3313

Wheel studs showed up super quick!

Also finished up my custom headlight buckets for the vw golf crosshairs. Needs to be adjusted till straight but gives a good idea what it will look like.

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HipMF

Wow, guess I haven't been following this recently...

I dig the lights. Reminds me of all the old-school customs that used to use lucas tri-bars.
$700! damn. Glad I managed to get a good deal on mine. I got a super-clean one from California with an aluminum/polyurethane dogbone off of bimmerforums for $400
Hope you put a chase nipple or something between those two handy-boxes (picture with the amputated crab and Jack Daniels bottle). It's been a while since I've picked up a code book, but I'm pretty sure that wire running through holes in a metal box in direct contact with wood is generally not acceptable.

Bassboy3313

HipMF said:

Hope you put a chase nipple or something between those two handy-boxes (picture with the amputated crab and Jack Daniels bottle). It's been a while since I've picked up a code book, but I'm pretty sure that wire running through holes in a metal box in direct contact with wood is generally not acceptable.

I used romex for all wiring, which is acceptable to run through wood studs without EMT. Should be fine between those 2 boxes and double protected with romex through EMT everywhere else.

HipMF

Puting romex inside EMT is actually also illegal for heat-disipation reasons. Although there's an exception for verticle runs less than 6 feet in residential basements (IIRC)

Not saying that it's a problem, or that it's going to start on fire, just that it would be a code violation if you hired someone to put it in. Owner-installed electrical is usually exempt.

B C

Extension cords from the neighbors house ftmfw

Bassboy3313

HipMF said:

Puting romex inside EMT is actually also illegal for heat-disipation reasons. Although there's an exception for verticle runs less than 6 feet in residential basements (IIRC)

Not saying that it's a problem, or that it's going to start on fire, just that it would be a code violation if you hired someone to put it in. Owner-installed electrical is usually exempt.

Interesting. I am no electrician, but my thought process was this ...

Both romex and THHN wire have the same temperature rating which doesnt make sense to me. Also, romex can be run in insulated walls which you'd think would be illegal for heat-dissipation reasons then too. Another reason I used romex with emt is because a) I already had the romex sitting around and b) to protect it from getting damaged due to it running along the backside of a work bench.

Either way, I DO WHAT I WANT!!!!!!!!!

straight6pwr

codes are there to protect us against idiots. i think they overreach into the world of personal property. i agree with bucketmouthboy, its your own damn house to do with as you please. you will probably say 'well who wants to buy a house that might be dangerous', to which I would respond A) thats what inspections are for and 2) i like to live dangerously

common sense > codes

HipMF

Yes, the codes are over-reaching. Designed for worse-case scenario, with multiple failures required to kill someone or start fires... still happens amyway.

They come out with a new code book every four years and have to do something to justify their jobs, so they keep adding to it.

WIBIMMERS

E21 Project Thread - Part 2