BMW 326rb build thread...

[ctnewman]

oh. i guess i forgot to update you guys.

I traded in the elise on an 04 RANGE ROVER. I also sold my SR20 240sx.

(that is not my black M3 next to the STi.)

[GSXRJJordan]

^^^ Not bad, a Range huh?

*cough* balllinnnnnnnn */cough*

[ctnewman]

Spent most of my day at work today blasting suspension components. I blasted:

Rear control arms
Front Control Arms
Top Hats
Front shock tubes/knuckles
F&R Hubs
F&R subframes
Rear subframe mounting plate

I powdercoated the subframes orange (as planned) and they came out great.

Everything else is going to be powdercoated black. The differential is going to be bright green and the swaybars are powder blue. I like that the exterior of the car is fairly subtle, while the underbody is bright.

Also, before i completely blasted the rear control arms i made new spring perches and welded a backing plate on to the swaybar mount. The stock perches were fairly corroded, and while in good condition, the rear swaybar mounts are weak by design.

Some shitty cell pics:

[projekt_s13]

YES!! finally updates..

Keep them coming dude, ive been watching your thread for a long ass time.

[ctnewman]

started grinding off the undercoating.

this is going to suck.

BADLY.

[RUTH'LESSDET]

"oh you a baller huh"???

[Edgar]

I just read everything, this build is so amazing.

How far are you from Williamsville? I think i'm going to be visiting there for a bit.
Amazing!

[ctnewman]

Originally Posted by Edgar

I just read everything, this build is so amazing.

How far are you from Williamsville? I think i'm going to be visiting there for a bit.
Amazing!

about 10 minutes.

[Inlandsilvia]

wow, you got skills my man!!! Sick build, can't wait till it's done.

[brewster240]

you traded a lotus for a rover?

[ilia]

I would suggest welding a triangular tab perpendicularly to the swaybar mount tab. As you may already see, the stock E30 rear sway bar mounts are loaded in bending, which is not an ideal condition. Welding a second tab transfers the load to tension, which prevents the inevitable- those stock mounts break every time with a big rear sway.

Also, buy the sway mounts from ireland engineering. They go on the chassis side of things in the rear, and bolt through the trunk floor. The rear sway rips out of it's chassis mounts, too.

[sillyvia13]

HOLY SHIT about an hour of reading, I couldn't go away!
1. you are the MAN. w/ different personal stlye, but I dig it, kinda rat rod look!
2. you are the man
3. your work is sick.
4. nice fucking work
5. how old are you? you spend money like it has no meaning!!! I WANT THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
stay up homie! keep the good work up! I know you will.

[ctnewman]

Originally Posted by brewster240

you traded a lotus for a rover?

yeah, i needed a winter car. Originally my STi was my winter whip, but after the 35R it's no longer really a "winter car". I weighed the pros and cons of the elise and sti, and the STi is far more fun to drive, so i kept that.

Originally Posted by ilia

I would suggest welding a triangular tab perpendicularly to the swaybar mount tab. As you may already see, the stock E30 rear sway bar mounts are loaded in bending, which is not an ideal condition. Welding a second tab transfers the load to tension, which prevents the inevitable- those stock mounts break every time with a big rear sway.

Also, buy the sway mounts from ireland engineering. They go on the chassis side of things in the rear, and bolt through the trunk floor. The rear sway rips out of it's chassis mounts, too.

I have the IE sways. The 10GA backing plate will sufficiently reinforce the tab. From an engineering standpoint, all you have said is correct, but it's unlikely that the joint will be loaded past any yield.

Originally Posted by sillyvia13

HOLY SHIT about an hour of reading, I couldn't go away!
1. you are the MAN. w/ different personal stlye, but I dig it, kinda rat rod look!
2. you are the man
3. your work is sick.
4. nice fucking work
5. how old are you? you spend money like it has no meaning!!! I WANT THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
stay up homie! keep the good work up! I know you will.

I'm 26. I'm a mechanical engineer.

[brewster240]

hes right about the sway bars. extra is better.

e46's rip out rear floor pans
e36's break rear subframe mounts
e30's do their thing.

[sillyvia13]

Originally Posted by ctnewman

yeah, i needed a winter car. Originally my STi was my winter whip, but after the 35R it's no longer really a "winter car". I weighed the pros and cons of the elise and sti, and the STi is far more fun to drive, so i kept that.




I have the IE sways. The 10GA backing plate will sufficiently reinforce the tab. From an engineering standpoint, all you have said is correct, but it's unlikely that the joint will be loaded past any yield.



I'm 26. I'm a mechanical engineer.

I ask age, and say you spend monet alot! lol
you answer...26 and mechianical engineer, lol...that a GREAT paying job...

[thetopcow]

glad to see the thread active again, keep up the good work

[ctnewman]

OK. I have been a little bit busy. With the car and GF.

But i have the car ready to go back to the blasters. I have been removing the undercoating for the past few weeks now, and i am going to take it back to the blasters to get all the nooks and crannies. From there, i will paint the undercarriage/engine bay and reinstall the suspension... Then i think i will fit the fenderflares and paint the body...


What's slicker? Body color engine bay or black engine bay? At this point i think i am leaning toward black for ease of touchup/cleanup...

[TheArkitekt]

im a fan of the flat black engine bay. makes the engine pop more, not that your build needs any help with that...lol

[SimpleS14]

I vote black engine bay

[Neejay]

black engine bay

[Edgar]

Body Color Engine Bay

might as well

[SaintlyCharBoy]

well, with a black engine bay, you hide any possible issues
but on the other hand
you can't see any possible issues...









body color

[wannabe_drifter]

Body color definitely, otherwise it looks like its been half-assed ...

[brewster240]

silver or machine gray engine bay.

[sillyvia13]

TRUE BALLERs ROLL WITH WHITE...
just be real careful with assmebly/...

you don't dare...lol...you'll be cleaning everytime you open bonnet...

[shift_boost]

body colored engine bay

[Kinzer SR13gtR]

If you paint it anything other than BODYCOLOR,
it may look like a half assed after accident repaint!
Then again, only an idiot would think that, looking at your finished machine.
If I were to paint it differently, I would do it in Gray! Black creates to much
shadow, and its harder to "see" when you are working on it.
Parts, and bolts that may "slip out of your hands" will stand out against the gray paint. Making it easier to find them afterwards.
Have you thought about wrapping it?
Sound deadening, or heat wrap. Something With a repeating logo pattern.
Or something trick... Carbon fiber. Kevlar... Carbon/Kevlar dry weave!
Are you hiding all your harnesses, in the frame-rails?
Wires and Tubes, look like crap contrasted against a lighter colored background! Just some ideas that I have had for myself!

[Rusker]

Originally Posted by wannabe_drifter

Body color definitely, otherwise it looks like its been half-assed ...

Agreed. Nothing on this car should be half assed

[acheron]

awesome build man, thumbs up... keep up the work and fill in more pics. good luck !!

[300hp owen]

nice work newman, cant wait to meet up this year and have some chit chat.

too bad the elise is gone but youre riding in style now huh? comfyyyyyy.

sti is looking good too.

sheeeeeesh.