Project E30

[Chris]

The winter overhaul begins. Here are some things I've completed in the last month or so.

I re-mounted all my harnesses. I didn't like the hardware bolted flat to the floors, so I bought new eye bolts and clips.

Before- bolted flat:



Parts used:




After:







I also spray painted the interior and trunk. I went with a metallic silver to complement the future exterior color.

Trunk before (aluminum foil works great for covering wires!):



Roll bar before:



Trunk after:



Roll bar and doors:





Front floors (I used this awesome "rock" textured spray paint, which dries like sandpaper- perfect for wet shoes)






What I learned painting: I was outside for ventilation but it still was too windy and now I have some overspray to cleanup. Preparation is key... I didn't spend enough time, therefore have some cleanup. I guess you can't be in too much of a hurry. Aluminum foil works great for covering wires and other parts. The textured spray paint is great for floors. I kept the back shelf flat black so the sun's glare doesn't reflect on the back glass.

[.RJ]

Looks great chris I will never do that again! :lol:

[Sijray21]

great paint job!

i remember trying to paint some small parts in my bathroom in Sunchase once....it was red spray paint and even with a tarp it left a nice reddish hue on the floor...

[Chris]

I've got a question about brake line fittings, but I think I've already answered myself. I wanted to get other opinions though.

One of the things I'm replacing on the car are my SS brake lines. The new lines thread into the front calipers but stop about 1/8 of an inch before touching the caliper, leaving a little thread showing. Is this ok or could the part be wrong? I put 2 washers in to help it tighten, but I think it is (very) slowly leaking through the washers. I think I'll just remove the washers, but I'm concerned the SS line may loosen up.

Here is a picture:




Other on-going progress:

new front control arms and ball joings
new front tie rods
new lug studs and lug nuts
new transmission mounts
new guibo
new SS lines
new LF hard brake line (I damaged the fittings) and now get to learn how to bend brake line...
painted side mirrors yellow

[Dave]

just for clarification on your brake line question:
Is the new hose screwed all the way into the caliper and just has some threads hanging out at that point, or are you running out of slack before it threads all the way in(i.e. line is too short)?

If the line is too short, try giving a gradual bend to your hard line to give it the little extra bit of slack. If the hose is bottomed out with bunch of threads hanging off, that would seem to me like the product and I'd return/get a different set. Brakes are NOT somewhere you want to jury-rig on a track car.

[PDenbigh]

On the brake lines -

If it is meant to use the washer as a crush washer - i.e to seal - then you should have 0 threads showing and they are incorrect.

If it is a fitting such as a double flair, inverted flair, or AN, then you may have threads showing and it's no problem.

Most often, however, calipers are crush-washer fittings, which I'm sorry to say, means that they sent you the wrong piece. Don't use it with two washers, it won't work.

Peter
- I hate brakes.

[PDenbigh]

BTW, your project is going great! Your car will feel SO much better with the new control arms/tie rods. I can remember the difference on the XR (similar age/wear as yours) and it was great!

Oh, and YAY for German car guibo weirdness!

[Goodspeed]

Nice project Chris, coming along great!

Your car will feel SO much better with the new control arms/tie rods. I can remember the difference on the XR (similar age/wear as yours) and it was great!

Is there really a significant difference/improvement to be had from replacing the whole control arm rather than just the bushings?

[Mike]

Nice project Chris, coming along great!

Your car will feel SO much better with the new control arms/tie rods. I can remember the difference on the XR (similar age/wear as yours) and it was great!

Is there really a significant difference/improvement to be had from replacing the whole control arm rather than just the bushings?

The cost/pain of replacing the bushings is not worth it.
In fact, Honda doesn't even sell the bushings... Just new arms.

[.RJ]

In fact, Honda doesn't even sell the bushings... Just new arms.

You can get bushings, but sometimes you have to have the part # first.

[BLINGMW]

Is there really a significant difference/improvement to be had from replacing the whole control arm rather than just the bushings

At least, in the case with 3-series BMWs, the control arm includes two ball joints, which eventually get a little sloppy. Just a tiny amount of play in them leads to surprisingly large steering feel and handling problems.

Brake lines, just call whoever you got them from. I THINK they're a tapered fitting, so as Pete mentioned, no problem if they're torqued correctly (easy to overtighten!). I don't remember if they bottomed out on my E30(s).

[Dave]

IIRC Nissan recommends the whole control arm too, rather than replacing the ball joint.

More benefits, if you're going with an aftermarket unit, could include a considerably lighter weight and maybe more adjustabilty, depending on the suspension type.

[Mike]

unless you have a honda... most of the aftermarket shit is adjustable, but way bigger than stock... unless you're running ridonculous spring rates/bars, they'll hit the shock tower.

[Chris]

Thanks for the input guys. To clarify, the brake line did not come with any washers, that was my trial to see if it tightened anymore. The line threads into the caliper and stops with extra threads showing. I already have a feeling the lines are from the wrong car model because the front lines themselves are about 3-4" longer than the lines I had. I've already spoken with Bimmerworld and just need to give them the length to verify the part.

[PDenbigh]

Look at the end of the fitting that goes into the caliper, then look in the caliper, and see if it looks like they mate up.

For example, if the inside of the calipers look something like the female parts of this:



And the end of the hose looks something like this:



You are in fine shape.

If, however, you look in the caliper and it goes to a black hole of space, you need to use washers and you can't use more than one.

From what Chan said, it sounds like you have the flares and mating surfaces.

[Chris]

Thanks a lot Pete (and everyone). I'll check on it later this week when I'm back at my office where the car is.

[kcook]

that interior looks awesome all painted.

[Chris]

More progress!


Guibo- old vs. new!




Guibo installed and new transmission mounts:



Prepping for paint:











Primed (pics were taken when it was wet... its not as spoty as it looks):







Bondo works!

[kcook]

what color is it going to be. better be white

edit : nvm , just read that the interior floors will accent the exterior...

[.RJ]

White with gold wheels?

I'm biased though...