540i Swapped Rat rod Build thread
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sad to see an e30 chopped up for this, but you will have fun and that's whats important!
Yes it took a lot of thinking to chop up that car it made me sad. But It will all be worth it in the end.
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Alright seeing that it Is coming up to the end of the month. I need a next month goal.
So with that being said I have most all of the steel for the rolling chassis ordered. I have rough proto type sketches for my push rod front suspension. Pics will be coming. And I will be moving the body of the Olds mobile in to my shop this week. So excited.
Then the donor car (540i) will be coming in shortly after.
I will be able to start mock up a frame by the end of next week. And hopefully get a Frame started.
So by the end of July I will (as in will I am going to try my hardest) have a rolling chassis.
If you guys feel that I'm falling behind on the project. Some good harassment will do the trick.

This is my up date.
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We're pretty good at harassment. Just browse a few other threads and you'll see that.
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Harassment = motivation
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This seems like it will be awesome. That's all I can say until progress is updated.
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I'm not sure what's happening here, but I'll be following along.

At the risk of being labelled a hot rod terminology enforcer, I have to say that a rat rod and a street rod are two very different things. The whole rat rod thing started in the 90s as a reaction to what was happening in the street rod scene at the time...
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I'm not sure what's happening here, but I'll be following along.

At the risk of being labelled a hot rod terminology enforcer, I have to say that a rat rod and a street rod are two very different things. The whole rat rod thing started in the 90s as a reaction to what was happening in the street rod scene at the time...
You and Earl should get together and discuss the differences between using wheel/rim and street rod/rat rod.
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HipMF said:
I'm not sure what's happening here, but I'll be following along.

At the risk of being labelled a hot rod terminology enforcer, I have to say that a rat rod and a street rod are two very different things. The whole rat rod thing started in the 90s as a reaction to what was happening in the street rod scene at the time...
You and Earl should get together and discuss the differences between using wheel/rim and street rod/rat rod.

Wheel

Rim
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Damn it! You've already gotten it wrong! Now we have to disown you!
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Very interesting project. I'm just wondering, why not just use the 540i for the chassis? Seems like the e30 chassis would be too small(particularly narrow and short) for the Olds body. Not to mention the benefit of larger brakes, suspension components, wheel options, and saving lots of time not having to swap engines and necessary swap parts.
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Very interesting project. I'm just wondering, why not just use the 540i for the chassis? Seems like the e30 chassis would be too small(particularly narrow and short) for the Olds body. Not to mention the benefit of larger brakes, suspension components, wheel options, and saving lots of time not having to swap engines and necessary swap parts.
Yes it would be easier to use the 540i chassis. But the vehicle is coming with a junk title. So it will no longer be able to be registered. And yes I am going to take advantage of the bigger brake and use them. For the suspension and chassis. Most of it will be tube steel and fabricated.
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wasnt m3 said:
Very interesting project. I'm just wondering, why not just use the 540i for the chassis? Seems like the e30 chassis would be too small(particularly narrow and short) for the Olds body. Not to mention the benefit of larger brakes, suspension components, wheel options, and saving lots of time not having to swap engines and necessary swap parts.
Yes it would be easier to use the 540i chassis. But the vehicle is coming with a junk title. So it will no longer be able to be registered. And yes I am going to take advantage of the bigger brake and use them. For the suspension and chassis. Most of it will be tube steel and fabricated.
I have some rough proto types I will
Post pictures.
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Here are the rough pictures of the 540i. I will be doing a part out on very select items. I will make a Craigslist post. Getting really excited.
I know I have had a couple people not ask why I am not using the 540i chassis and that is for two reasons.
1. The vehicle does not have a title. There for registering it will not be fun.
2. I'm doing this for the experience. I want to fabricate as much as I can. I enjoy the prototyping and figuring out another way to to things. Yes I could chopping the body off and weld one on.
I've seen that done with a e36 it was cool. But not safe.


Yes I give the guy credit for the build for say. But me personally. I would not want to do it sketchy. Do it right the first time.



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I saw that e36 version a few years back, that thing looked pretty awesome.
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I keep hearing Olds, but I see no Olds...
Anyway, if it's from the late 30s or early 40s the e30 chassis could be closer to the right size. Normally I prefer traditional, "period-correct" rods and customs, but definitely approve of the idea. At least it's better than taking some 40s car and putting it on an S-10 chassis... never understood that one. I get it, it's about the right size, body-on-frame construction, and cheap... but it's also... an S-10... not generally know for their handling, comfort or cool-factor.
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