E30 Touring Build

Discussion in 'Project Car Builds, Projects, Experiments' started by Eric@Helix, Jan 27, 2015.

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  1. Eric@Helix

    Eric@Helix New Member
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    #1 Eric@Helix, Jan 27, 2015
    Last edited: Jan 27, 2015
    We recently did a pretty complete build for a customer with a '13 Clubbie. I was a little surprised when he asked us a couple of weeks later to do his BMW as well. He said it would come in on a rollback, but didn't specify what it was. When it arrived we all were a little surprised:

    [​IMG]

    That's right, a right-hand-drive E30 touring with the factory sport package, including wheels and interior. Pretty sweet old ride. We actually tried to convince the customer just to fix it up and preserve what he had, but nothing doing, he had a vision for this car: a complete custom show car on bags. It's a little bit out of our comfort zone, but we were excited to do some fabrication. I decided to go retro/steampunkish for the bag system, which meant hiding all of the compressors, tank and all of the electronics. We cut out the spare wheel bracket out of the well (who needs a spare tire, right guys? ...guys? ...guys?), and mounted the pumps, valves and controllers on a board that can be pretty easily removed and serviced. We're about 75% done with that. Here's the work in progress:

    [​IMG]

    It'll tidy up a bit when we are done. Installing the air bag suspension was pretty simple. You have to weld the front shocks to knuckle, and do some cutting into the body in the rear to make it work, but that's what bats and hammers are for. Now she can go really low (still on the stock wheels).

    [​IMG]

    Next, I started collecting antiques. I got a bunch of 150-year-old reclaimed hardwood flooring from a salvage company,

    [​IMG]

    to build a false floor in the rear hatch. I live in an old Philadelphia relic which, thanks to a recent fire in my house (I've been living in an apartment since last March), offered up some pretty cool bits, including a barn door hinge strap and a copper fire extinguisher (ironic). I cut open the extinguisher and extended it with sheet copper by about 40% so that it could jacket the chrome air tank. I left a lot of the patina in the wood with careful sanding and finished it with poly. I mounted it on a 3/4 board and cut it to fit the rear hatch perfectly, routing channels in the underside to accomodate the air lines. Here's what it's going to look like:

    [​IMG]

    The engine needed some repairs, and we took advantage of the removed-parts to powdercoat bits for a smoother look.

    [​IMG]

    The customer's budget is not infinite, so there will be a few rough edges on the car. It'll be a freak-your-buddies-out driver, not a trailer queen. I'll post more progress pics as we come along.
     
  2. Eric@Helix

    Eric@Helix New Member
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    Here's a little more detail with the cool embossed brass plates on the extinguisher.

    [​IMG]
     
  3. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    This is rather nice. Thanks for sharing.
     
  4. daviday

    daviday Active Member

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    Looks like a lot of fun. Curious to see how it comes out.
     
  5. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    #5 Dave.0, Jan 27, 2015
    Last edited: Jan 27, 2015
    Ugh a STANCE car really? :mad2: Well money is money and it does pay the bills.

    How about for your next build you do a 911 RSR clone in White with Black wheels and interior? :devil::lol:
    I know where you can find one close by and it has not been outside in the weather for the past few years. :ihih::rolleyes5:
     
  6. TheModFather

    TheModFather Well-Known Member

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    Sounds interesting...

    I will be watching.
     
  7. mrntd

    mrntd Well-Known Member
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    Interesting project. Waiting for more
     
  8. Eric@Helix

    Eric@Helix New Member
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    Dick.
     
  9. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    yeah and.....:ihih::lol:
     
  10. Detroit Tuned

    Detroit Tuned Well-Known Member
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    The atomically correct way of saying it is penis. :devil: Now lets all say it together so we get used to saying the correct term. Penis.:wink:

    But it's a great looking car!
     
  11. TheModFather

    TheModFather Well-Known Member

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    What do you want? :p
     
  12. Ronbo

    Ronbo New Member

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    A couple of pics of my old E39 Wagon. Thought it would make a nice family cruiser, but was a bit cramped inside - especially with a couple of kids seats strapped in. Adding the 20" wheels gave it a bit of "bling", but made the ride pretty harsh. Only kept it for a few months then traded it in for a Range Rover
     

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  13. ScottinBend

    ScottinBend Space Cowboy
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    I thought it was Dave?






    :biggrin5:
     
  14. Savvy

    Savvy Well-Known Member
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    #14 Savvy, Jan 28, 2015
    Last edited: Jan 28, 2015
    You had to watch this as an impressionable youngster... didn't you, Chad?

    (Jump to 10:55 for the joke... since the board doesn't like the time stamped youtube links.)
    [ame="http://youtu.be/hKEwFBJH2dQ?t=10m56s"]Strong Kids, Safe Kids: 1984 PSA Featuring The Fonz - YouTube[/ame]
     
  15. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    Umm on my W2 it says Mister Phallus. :lol:
     
  16. Eric@Helix

    Eric@Helix New Member
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    While penis is direct and to the point, it reminds me too much of the health class cut-away graphic poster. I need something more subtle. I've got it: Richard. From now on Dave-O shall be referred to as Richard.
     
  17. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    Cool, I have been called worse. :lol:
     
  18. Savvy

    Savvy Well-Known Member
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    [​IMG]
     
  19. emaniez

    emaniez New Member

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    I like wagons!
     
  20. Eric@Helix

    Eric@Helix New Member
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    Old Skool.

    [​IMG]
     

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