Yet another E30 challenge project

Well here she is. It is an 86 325e. I bought it from a guy for $500 bucks. It was in the middle of an 325i head swap. I still need to get a throttle body to finish it up and be able to have power brakes again. I have already gutted most of the interior and pulled the A/C and power steering pump off the motor.

I know I won't win, but I have wanted to participate in the challenge for a long time. Hopefully this will be a good learning experience. Maybe next time I can bring a Miata with a Jag V12 or something fun like that!

Duck tape covered intake tube.

This might need some attention...

And for a little style, the spoiler off of a mid 80s firebird!

How soon after your challenge car arrived did your neighbor’s house go up for sale?

Nice find!

That intake elbow is pretty cheap. Something like $36 bucks if I remember right. Ok...not cheap, but not hte ~$100 I thought it was going to be when I bought my '85 'e.

That's a reasonable deal if your body is ok. Mine's pretty beat up and rusty and I got it with a bad clutch for roughly the same.

PseudoSport wrote: How soon after your challenge car arrived did your neighbor’s house go up for sale? Nice find!

Bwahahahhaa, freakin; hilarious. When I meet new neighbors they always say: "Oh, you are the car guy." to which I answer: "Yeah, its a museum!"

DavidinDurango wrote:

PseudoSport wrote: How soon after your challenge car arrived did your neighbor’s house go up for sale? Nice find!

Bwahahahhaa, freakin; hilarious. When I meet new neighbors they always say: "Oh, you are the car guy." to which I answer: "Yeah, its a museum!"

Well, the neighbors have put up with my loud as hell mustang for several years so i don't think the BMW is going to cause too much of a problem.

ClemSparks wrote: That intake elbow is pretty cheap. Something like $36 bucks if I remember right. Ok...not cheap, but not hte ~$100 I thought it was going to be when I bought my '85 'e. That's a reasonable deal if your body is ok. Mine's pretty beat up and rusty and I got it with a bad clutch for roughly the same.

I like to think my body is pretty good. Maybe a little too well fed, but overall nice. But seriously it is a pretty nice little car. There is one small rust hole in the passenger floor, but nothing too bad. As for the intake tube, I will probably just grab one at the yard. If not I may try to make on myself. Who knows.

will be watching with interest. In case you're looking for ideas, I've been doing a low-budget e30 for rallycross (not within Challenge budget, but not too far off), so might give you ideas, who knows.

thread: http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/mein-e30-mein-sammlungkreuz-baugewinde-my-318i-rallycross-build-thread/40440/page1/

Also, if you're looking for non-engine parts (mine is an M10), let me know. I have a bunch of random stuff that may or may not be of use to you and can be had for ultra-low challenge price. Just shoot me a list of things you need and I can tell you if I have any of them.

I also have a pair of front e30 Bilsteins that need a rebuild with new pistons, but that would be alot cheaper than new ones. If you want them, let me know - they're yours for price of shipping and a few extra bucks to cover my gas to UPS, lol....

In reply to irish44j:

Thanks for the offer! I will let you know what i need as soon as I figure out what I need.

On a side note, does anyone know if you can fiberglass over greatstuff?

Cuda wrote: In reply to irish44j: Thanks for the offer! I will let you know what i need as soon as I figure out what I need. On a side note, does anyone know if you can fiberglass over greatstuff?

yes, i know. the answer is yes, you can. my google-fu is weak, because somewhere on this board is a thread about my mariner blue '92 miata i named "Rusty" because, well, you know. i filled the rockers with spray foam, roughed it down to below the desired final profile, then skimmed it with bondo a few times before having Maaco shoot it for me. it came out pretty darn good, and when i sold it i gave full disclosure on my eBay ad.

Ok guys. What should I do about this. Apparently, the guy my friend bought the car from loved him some music. So much so, that when his new-fangled speakers wouldn't fit he chopped up the car to make them work. Is there any structural damage here? Can I cut off the entire area? In keeping with the goals of this car, I have to make this look better that this.

that area doesn't provide all that much structural rigidity (the front bar of the deck does, really). You could weld some sheet metal on there, or just find some old subwoofer grates (with no heavy speaker under them) and put them there for cosmetics, lol.