FuturisticConcept Art BMW E36 with a V8 on a bottom dollar budget

[Jdesign]

So, I finally took some time to work on this. Despite the parts being moved around the shop as I tended to other projects, I finally moved the crate for the last time and got this going last weekend. Up on the lift I pulled the old wheels off and found that one of my spacers became no longer hub centric..

Besides that I was able to get 6"s of lift out of the coilovers up front before the bottom of the uprights hit the control arms. I made a slight adjustment back down to prevent this. In the future I might need to add a spacer to the subframe and control arm bushings to get more lift and travel out of this set up. I also had to remove the brake lines from mounting locations as the flex section was maxed out and would have prevented me from turning. The PO deleted the ABS and its a mess, so I might find myself addressing the brakes again in the near future, but for now I will just weld tabs for new "lower" mounting locations to allow the lift.

I had to remove the front bumper due to the tires rubbing and I was unsure if I wanted to trim it and the filler panel with the kidneys. After I removed it I test fit the front wheels and kind of like the look with no bumper cover. I might need to attach some kidneys of some sort just because of the BMW factor but I will revisit this later.

I then started the rear last night which was a whole different situation. I started by removing the over fenders and exhaust. As mentioned earlier, I was upgrading to ///M Swing arms and axles. So with that, I have all new bushings, subframe, control arms, control arm supports, ETC. I am swapping out everything besides the shocks, brakes, and diff. I was able to remove everything without any major issues. Once everything was set aside, I started to trim the arches more to allow the bigger tires.

After this I gave up for the night and will return tonight.

...... But obviously I had to see how it looked on the ground, so I set it all in place and lowered the car back on the ground. Needless to say I was pretty happy with the results.

[jc43089]

Excellent!

[Jdesign]

jc43089 said:

Excellent!

[straight6pwr]

WhistlinDiesel would be proud

next step:

[YoungCR]

Mount the kidneys to a custom brush guard? Or make your own monster kidneys

[Jdesign]

YoungCR said:

 Or make your own monster kidneys 

You mean use a set from a 2020 BMW?

[Jdesign]

Got the gas tank out last night. Despite what I thought, the gas tank wasn't actually what was leaking. Turns out the brake lines behind the fuel tank for the rear brakes was extremely rusted in the corners and was leaking. The vent tube on the top of the tank was in pretty bad shape which may have been leaking too but only when the tank was full. Speaking of full, I also had 3/4 of gas in the tank. 

The line above the two vent lines:

The spot where I thought the tank was leaking once I cleaned it off.

It was rubbing on the chassis but I fixed that with a hammer once it was out.

Also, thinking ahead, I realize the fuel and brake lines running to the back of the car are low an pose a threat to any obstructions I may find, So I will be building bash plates to "fix" the floor and cover all the lines to prevent damage. 

Pics of floor to show you why cars have windows and leaving wet carpet in your car for a year is bad:

[Jdesign]

I figured the rust wasnt removing enough weight fast enough.  

Also needed room for this

With nothing in the back of the car, I noticed that the car was starting to tip off of the lift so I had to strap it down LOL

Some quick C.A.D.

I found some nice sheet metal at my work from an industrial washing machine, which made a perfect new floor. I will be using the same stuff under the rusty sections too before I fully flintstone the car. 

[KaiserRolls]

Me, every time I see this thread updated 

[Jdesign]

Just bought a BIGGER BFH. 

If anyone is bored and has a desire to be destructive, wants a little extra arm exercise, or just wants to watch me break something, I need to persuade the chassis a bit, for some slightly larger wheels, you are all more than welcome to "swing" by.

[REKIII]

Based on how the world is devolving, you better get this thing on the road sooner than later. 

[Jdesign]

REKIII said:

Based on how the world is devolving, you better get this thing on the road sooner than later. 

Seems like the world is conforming to this thing, not the other way 'round. 🤪

[B C]

You need to make at least one TP run in this thing and fill the dang roof rack. 
 

love seeing updates here

[Jdesign]

B C said:

You need to make at least one TP run in this thing and fill the dang roof rack. 

T H I S. 

More progress last night. I got the AGK reinforcements welded in. It was more work than I expected, and I also had a quick panic as the fuel lines for the fuel expansion tank were still in the car and I may have had a small fire.

Cleaned

Mocked 

Welded

Painted

I also got all the rear brake lines replaced.  

My last challenge is to finish repainting the control arms, diff, and swap the delrin bushings from the old swing arms to the new ones.

[Jdesign]

So an update here is long overdue. With working from home I have had more time to work on projects at the shop but this one has got the most attention because it has been stuck on the lift. Lifting it wasn't as easy as I was expecting it to go, but it wasn't because of lifting it in general. It was more because I kept running into issues I wasn't anticipating. 

The steering actually worked out once the car was back on the ground, so luckily, all I needed to do up front was hammer the wheel wells back and remove the front bumper brackets.

Then I ran into the axle stubs of the diff being too small. I should have known but I completely overlooked this and had to source stubs. Found some locally and the guy actually gave me a whole M3 diff for $40.

Once the axles were in, and everything was in place, I went to install the brakes. Being an idiot, I forgot I had M3 brakes in a box, and I bought another set from @Sam_Holzmann Before that, I also learned that E46 brakes are not the same as the internet says. THE HARD WAY. Luckily I sold them right away and broke even. the brake shoes for the parking brake on the M3 stuff is bigger, and there is a casting tab that the shoes ride on not allowing non-M rotors to fit on the hubs. Although the caliper is the same, and the pads are the same, the carriers and spacing is also different. 

Another issue I ran into was the Fuel tank leak. the vent hose that goes to the expansion tank was ripped and I had to replace it. Now on the TI's and other BMW's there is an access panel. This car for some reason, does not have that, so I have to fish the hoses back through using a piece of wire and a lot of swearing. No lie, this alone took a good 4 hours. AND yes I know its not fuel hose, but I used what I had. Fumes are really only the main thing that pass through it anyways

Another hiccup was the length needed for the rear shocks. Needing the extra height, I was able to find some coilover sleeves for the springs in a bin of spare parts, but that caused the length of the shocks to be way too short. I thought about how all these cheap CHYNAH coilovers use the same bodies and remembered that I had a set of brand new coilovers in a binn for the Lexus. Well suck me sideways, they worked, and added just enough length.

Finally I set the car on the ground and ran into one last issue. The spacing of the tires to the mounting points of the swing arm just were not working. I  cut away the rockers, and the quarters as much as I could, but it just wasn't enough. I ordered some 2" spacers and they gave me just enough clearance... and by just enough, I mean 1-2mm. Im hoping I can adjust everything a touch more so that it doesn't hit while driving, but I havent got to that step yet. 

I was able to seam seal the trunk after I welded in the new floors. I was also able to repurpose this access cover inside the car to cover the vent hole in the trunk that was missing. it almost looks like its was meant to be LOL.

The car is on the ground now and everything is together. I still need to bleed the brakes and fix the radiator, but then it should be back in business.

[patsbimmer1]

#staypositivecambergang

[Jdesign]

patsbimmer1 said:

#staypositivecambergang

I have yet to actually adjust the lower control arms, which is funny, because before there was negative camber (only like 1-2 degrees) but that just shows you how much the geometry changes in the travel of the suspension. Im also afraid that as I add camber it might make my rubbing/ interference issue with 31" tires worse. Fingers crossed for "self clearancing" videos.

[patsbimmer1]

In all honesty positive camber is probably a better driving experience in that car with those tires on it to make it a little less effort to turn.  It just looks like an 80's pick up truck alignment lol.

[jc43089]

Love it!  Also just saw your stickers, very appropriate.

[HipMF]

This is the kind of stupidity I can really get behind. Well done.Can't wait to see what's next. Flares?