Back from the dead or something.

[Jdesign]

[Jdesign]

[rampelsauce]

Sorry sorry! Things have been hectic and I have literally made zero progress. I am daily driving the compact for now till we go and buy the wife an X1/X3/X5 (she can't decide but hasn't driven any of them yet). I will post a decent update soon. I know I said that before, but I'm a compulsive liar.

[rampelsauce]

Fake update 2:

After some driving and silly goose times and stupidly leaving a disconnect power steering pump to freewheel, the thing was making a whole lotta bad sounds. So, I went to advance, found the correct size belt, and have deleted my power steering pump for the time being. If anyone needs the belt size to delete their PS pump on an S52, I have it (advance auto parts pn:560K6).

Also, I have my springs in from Turner motorsports really neat Ebay page. Now to get time to put them and my adjusters in. So much to do, so much money to spend, so little time (but also money). Still love this car, just kinda sick of daily driving it. 

Full update soon when I'm.... you know what? Full update never. I dont want to build you all up just to let you down with another one of these posts in like 2-3 weeks.

[rampelsauce]

So I'm officially in prep mode for that Round headlamp rally 1000. I will be blasting through a to-do list in the next few weeks. Planning on dropping my rear subframe this coming weekend and doing everything (bushings, reinforcement plates, diff IF I can make it over by Boris this week). Also have the pre-flight inspection list to run through. 

Finally going to do the rear wheel bearings which have been noisy (but not grindy) since I bought the car. I'm also taking a look into doing my lexan windows and sunroof panel with a roof scoop because the inside of the car gets quite warm. Still pondering some of the fabrication stuff. 

I am working on retrofitting the Hartge wing to the compact and I'm about 50% there. Just some foam then glass then paint.

[Boris3]

I'm back in town. Diff is waiting, also have the rear subframe if you still need one.

[B C]

The wang is cool

[rampelsauce]

B C said:

The wang is cool

Y-y-you too

Boris3 said:

I'm back in town. Diff is waiting, also have the rear subframe if you still need one.

Hopefully Friday right after work but I'll shoot you a text on Friday beforehand.

[rampelsauce]

Woopty poopty scoop.

So I made some custom adapters to install an E30 comfort seat into the compact. Why? Because f-you that's why.

made my own sunroof delete out of black lexan because I'm going to add a rally style roof scoop to an overhead ventilation system.

Then, shawks.

Idk, stuff is happening. Wheel bearings inbound, as well as some E30 axles. Might not be doing all the rear suspension this weekend, but probably next weekend. Very exciting stuff. We're also buying the wife a certified pre owned BMW X3. So look for that beauty.

[rampelsauce]

Oh baiiiiiiii

[rampelsauce]

So I picked up a subframe and diff from @Boris3 the other day. Go to work on the sub right away. First had to ID all the cracks and other various issues.

After I welded in some reinforcements and gouged out and re-welded all the cracks, I cleaned off all the old grime and paint.

Subframe bushing BBQ

Like any smart boy, I started with some high quality primer. I painted it on this painting fixture provided by the city of West Allis.

Finally, color coat. Now I know you'll all scoff at the color, but I dont care. It's not a show car, I don't mind color under the car, and who cares about resale value of a gutted compact. The main reason this color was used is because it's a super heavy duty epoxy that my work uses to paint submersible pumps that sit in run off pits. Needless to say it's some really tough stuff.

I'll be popping the diff and bushings into the assembly soon and getting ready for the big change up.

[Boris3]

Apologies for those subframe "surprises" under the crud. End product looks good.

[SteelBlue]

Very thoughtful of the city to provide you those.

[rampelsauce]

Boris3 said:

Apologies for those subframe "surprises" under the crud. End product looks good.

If it didn't have cracks I'd be surprised. It's a 30+ year old highly stressed member of a car.

[B C]

Epoxy

Enjoying the progress from over here

[m42b32]

I like the color. Paint one trailing arm red, one blue, and the diff yellow and you'll have a harlequin rear end.

[Jdesign]

Moving right along. 

[YoungCR]

I dig it

[rampelsauce]

m42b32 said:

I like the color. Paint one trailing arm red, one blue, and the diff yellow and you'll have a harlequin rear end. 

@wasnt m3 and I were talking on the phone and he told me not to do exactly this haha.

[straight6pwr]

your subframe color gave me a serious flashback to my favorite game of all time from the 90s - Gizmos and Gadgets

you'd solve puzzles about 'simple machines' with color-coded diagrams like such: (the green handles were a 'lever', etc)