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Kale's E36 STX build thread

bmwohio

By bmwohio,
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bmwohio Newbie

bmwohio

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love the updates!

 

Thread gives me stress/suspense!

 

 

Thanks gents! Trust me, the stress/suspense is killing me too! :lolguy:

 

I was dragging a little yesterday, so I didn't get as much done as like, but there was some progress....

 

A few goodies came yesterday....

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/55867DFC-BBF8-4454-9872-DCCA5938F9A8_zpsn2aus8ou.jpg

 

I'm official...no turning back now :dumb:

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/03CC0B33-A23B-4E0E-921E-91FD88931450_zps76xspslu.jpg

 

Charger came for the LTW battery (since the battery is a Lithium Ion battery it's can't use my regular battery tender)

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/0FB766B7-DB15-4B3A-951C-1717A3222AA0_zpspbghc1fk.jpg

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/6BC34C24-5EF3-45A8-B651-ECE2EF154988_zpsqkmhhgn1.jpg

 

My car actually had the 'old style' mechanical tensioner for the main drive belt, but BMW discontinued this back in 1996.....yup, my car hasn't had the update yet....

 

Old mechanical style tensioner

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/74F148A0-32FA-4099-8F55-149A6ABD3700_zpsu1sgc1ka.jpg

 

New hydraulic style tensioner bracket. It bolts right up in the old location, and interestingly enough, there are 2 other pre-tapped holes for two other bolts.

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/A35AFC99-6BB8-4FA9-82B5-02ED784FF594_zpsrpfbcu6w.jpg

 

Did a little 'fabbing' to get this plate to fit over my sunglasses case that I cut earlier in the week.

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/6BAB994E-E961-4773-8006-58F1B8B611A3_zpslisw1h3p.jpg

 

Had just a little to shave off after I hit it with the cutoff wheel

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/DD929448-0ECF-4900-82F7-BB69FF2C4B81_zpsndtawon2.jpg

 

So it started like this:

 

http://www.jegs.com/images/photos/100/105/105-2237.jpg

 

...and here it is mocked up where it's going to go. Still a little more fitting to do, and then I will secure it in place. I also finished running the wires under the dash and fished them through the back. It's zip-tied and ready to go!!

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/688A6C36-8969-49C9-B8F4-6026F161C14B_zpsvb5ujgei.jpg

 

Also vacuumed the entire inside of the car and got the seats mocked up....

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/1574C1A1-E74A-45AE-B64E-F550DA796CD1_zpsw68ocust.jpg

 

 

Oh yea, and these showed up yesterday :masturboy:

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/0FD7DE06-D331-432D-9585-CB3239AF65C3_zpsyawgsmjp.jpg

 

9 days!!!!!!!!

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bmwohio Newbie

bmwohio

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What do all of these tools have in common?

 

-Sawzall

-GIANT breaker bar

-MAP gas

-Air chisel

-cordless drill

-Air hammer

-Air cut-off tool

-BFH

-Giant Pry bar

-Bushing press

 

....they were all used to change my lower control arm and lower control arm bushing last night....FML!

 

We started by using a 1/2" impact turned up to 110psi to try and loosen this frozen bolt....no luck

 

Next, we took the handle off of my floor jack and paired it with a 1/2" ratchet, and the end result (as expected) was a sheared bolt.....

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/1186EC2E-8578-45F8-AF5A-82305D919B1E_zps0yjodyhg.jpg

 

Next, we needed to free the other side of the control arm, so we tried an air chisel and hammer (after drilling a 'pilot hole') and tried to 'pop' the bolt out.....no luck

 

Time for the cut-off tool.....

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/32413AED-3D88-4BE3-913E-AF6C0EBE8821_zpsodxw1qt3.jpg

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/10592C56-3CC7-4C03-A3BE-5E180A5C912D_zps9c1aqbcx.jpg

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/638417EA-EDCB-4B17-96BF-5B3718AAF920_zpskxa4gmtz.jpg

 

Ok, so now we have the other side of the bolt off and the center of the bolt should just slide right out....right....nope!...amd the other half of the control arm didn't want to come off either...time for the sawzall!

 

First we cut off the rest of the control arm and then went to town on the bolt:

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/9F9E2B02-726D-4DC0-B033-FAF9942EEE82_zpsqk7fhk9i.jpg

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/7317D0F4-294E-4614-BDC1-298941C7D238_zps0fatprdh.jpg

 

After multiple attempts and 2 metal sawzall blades, we made our cut, broke out the air hammer again and presto!

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/6DD6D053-DCDF-45D3-B547-5452D6FDA343_zpszmt3f8m0.jpg

 

After that we were able to set-up up the press right on the rear trailing arm, and out came the bushing, and in went the new one!

 

Old:

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/286C3219-46DE-4E0D-BA95-A0F9786F53D6_zpsaveoshsl.jpg

 

New lower control arm, lower control arm bushing, ecentric bolt, eccentic nut, eccentric washer all installed....bolt was given a LIBERAL amount of copper anti-seize so this won't happen again!

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/F380B835-5C9B-4D4A-9430-95977C5DD69F_zpsdcr5i5wk.jpg

 

We're getting close!!

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/75CCDAD1-5B6D-4FBD-8BF6-642DCF00EF86_zpsxylh1qzb.jpg

 

 

...other than that, half of the headers are in, and the belt drive system is complete....going to pull another late night tonight and hopefully get the OTHER side down with lower control arm, and possibly get the exhaust and diff installed....

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/D8152AE4-DD5D-47D1-9AB9-1D1BA1A21837_zpsuja9ucrm.jpg

 

 

Happy Friday!!

 

8 days!!

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bmwohio Newbie

bmwohio

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Had to do the same thing to get my old lcabs off my old E36

 

 

Luckily, the passenger side went much smoother.....

 

 

With less than a week to go to the first event, it's getting down to crunch time. I have a very strict plan in place, and everything 'should' go according to it.....

 

Items left:

 

-Install Radiator, expansion tank, and top rad. hoses

-Install MAF and cold air intake

-Finish installing diff

-Install seats and belts

-Build battery box

-Finish installing gauges

-Put oil in car and start car..........

 

Getting **** done....

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/4E165CEE-24B1-46A1-BC4E-0FAA351CBC2A_zpsigpydlsd.jpg

 

Got a few more goodies on Friday:

 

GPS for my data acquisition:

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/B6671B81-D12A-4FED-8D23-F782BBB19856_zpscaxrzwqk.jpg

 

ProClip for my Tab 3 for data acquistion

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/9B2C5DF5-3CD0-47BD-98F7-4DD365961296_zpsthqcp3nu.jpg

 

 

Got some great work done Friday night:

 

Got the other LCA knocked out along with the LCA bushing: This one came out just a little bit easier (thank God)

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/FA09E454-7D1D-480E-B2C5-3FC2AF7B504A_zpswoamkejl.jpg

 

New Salad Tong (aka Lower Control Arm)

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/817D3D76-1F49-4B70-B5E8-A3923A462CB5_zps6um67qql.jpg

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/19807E9F-AE06-4AAB-B3E9-58CE6596EDA3_zpskytcnx16.jpg

 

Getting some new gear oil in the diff prior to its install

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/8C5819FF-6931-4880-976E-7510A30B8575_zps2usm7ueu.jpg

 

Headers and exhaust going in!!!!

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/B8001A22-F657-49C7-8CD4-162286540ED9_zpszkziapxx.jpg

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/D7D2F325-812E-4B99-B976-01D6F2DBB1A2_zpsbxqrfjrv.jpg

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/081F3EC1-9F69-4DBC-9A3E-53C087080A72_zpslcmoveyr.jpg

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/8038175E-DD6D-4F8A-8538-C115D2ADDD0A_zpsffez0lcj.jpg

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/DA785B03-7C56-4441-99D3-78F0208BBE85_zpsdpyujztn.jpg

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bmwohio Newbie

bmwohio

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Update time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Here is the 'final' FINAL list...... :D

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/EF7C978F-B815-4761-8DB4-8D2878FB3E76_zpsboomt3ol.jpg

 

Started the night by getting the rear end all 'buttoned-up' and ready to go.....

 

Rear shocks and mounts

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/8D43F441-65E6-4E59-B5AA-4608824DD601_zpse4t6fomp.jpg

 

New crush washers for the drain and fill plugs, and the diff when back in

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/53DAB93E-100B-4BC8-AA75-7AF41D5BE9B0_zpscgnonnw8.jpg

 

halfshafts connected

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/E1BBC232-5B80-46C6-A839-BC7C0DC55A4A_zpsow5dklwe.jpg

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/F5F5A17C-7039-4DAD-8177-350DAEAC20DE_zpst7056jlq.jpg

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/7E81EA58-1132-4CB7-A983-42315F9197AC_zpscvhcuovm.jpg

 

Rear sway bar prepped and ready for install

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/6074F0CF-DB28-4314-B8D0-8418760E9D3A_zpsm1ru2pwk.jpg

 

Better shot of the exhaust installed

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/75B78E6F-5F6C-494E-950F-A0E860F2B480_zpsklv3llbd.jpg

 

Then it was on to the front end and getting the radiator in along with accomodating hoses/parts

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/40CA0CAE-CD8D-4CF1-9348-1DD51D6EF406_zpsphed34hd.jpg

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/486C7C2D-B659-489C-9B46-C160F3C6CB09_zpsgknwplzn.jpg

 

Coolant and oil went in

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/FC3E6282-2808-4811-B32D-A765E7B69C7E_zps3fdgmhkx.jpg

 

By this time it was about 1:30 am, and I didn't think my wife and son would appreciate a wake up call at this time....

 

SHE GETS FIRED UP TONIGHT!!!!!!!!!!

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/EE397B30-0A15-4590-9EF0-0F9CCB914FEF_zpsleqqm07c.jpg

 

Video to follow the fire up tonight....stay tuned!

 

2 days!!!!!!!!!!!

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bmwohio Newbie

bmwohio

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Ugh, just looked at this thread. NOT LOOKING FORWARD to doing my LCABs :no::no::no:

 

 

Yea....this was a HUGE help on the passenger side

 

http://www.bombayharbor.com/productImage/0018208001315965112/Map_Pro_Gas.jpg

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bmwohio Newbie

bmwohio

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Hey Kale, can you share where you got your control arms, bushings, etc for the rear end?

 

I've been cross-referencing RockAuto parts with ECS Tuning and Bimmer Forums for personal recommendations...

 

 

Autohausaz.com....get most of my parts there. Very competitive prices.

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bmwohio Newbie

bmwohio

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Just read through this thread, and ended with your last post from an hour ago of it firing up. Very, very cool. Great write up. Congrats!

 

Very nice! :cool:

 

I love how you're documenting every step with a ton of pics and details. Awesome thread :thumbup:

 

Thanks guys, it's been a loooooong off-season getting this thing ready, but she's all coming together now :fuckyeah:

 

Update time....

 

SHE RUNS!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

We had a few 'hiccups' getting her started, but she runs and purrs like a kitten (video to come).....

 

Prior to that we continued to get some other work done.....

 

I tried my hand at Plasti-dip for the first time on my wheels (RICERS UNITE!!)

 

Got a wheel kit from dipyourcar.com to try out....

 

Before (caked on brake dust and all)

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/B7CB2572-9D0A-48F1-88B6-6512EC9AFBF8_zpsamagz1mw.jpg

 

First coat:

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/A6C5513E-8D35-487D-8FF4-2A1924AD1B33_zpscpwdm7kv.jpg

 

After 4 coats (Vintage Gold is the color name):

 

Didn't come out perfect, but good enough for racecar wheels

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/76E63927-1729-4CF5-BB09-0AE45BD20B92_zpsyijfoyc6.jpg

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/06A09E6F-2EAB-44EF-9663-136D38F130D2_zps3epl9kyw.jpg

 

Brought the tires to work today to get mounted in my BMW pick up truck :D

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/1D9EA9AE-8FDC-4F6B-8CBA-85658CEC794C_zpsk9ob7qtu.jpg

 

Next stop was batteries plus to get flat square nuts to attach my battery posts....$1.28 later I have terminals for my battery

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/4B9B7634-9B6B-4588-BBCE-85FAEF35C0D5_zpswmz9cv13.jpg

 

We then got the gauges ran an all hooked up prior to starting

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/B857E481-900B-4C02-A9BB-84F031941237_zpsxrvcjftv.jpg

 

All buttoned up and ready to start!!!

 

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/5CCCCC30-557B-464B-9292-614A9F16C9E2_zpsn3nqq1d9.jpg

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/380A1B72-18AE-404E-86EA-AE930589BF12_zpsgcexiiuu.jpg

http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae245/bmwohio/E36%20STX%20build/0E42585D-12E5-4146-BCEE-BB1386923625_zpsw99qzsvu.jpg

 

Tonight's agenda is:

 

Finish bleeding brakes (ran out of brake fluid)

Install front sway

set ride height

finish belts install

put wheels and tires on car

TAKE CAR OFF JACK STANDS AND TAKE FOR A TEST DRIVE!!!! :D

 

Editing video now of start-up.....stay tuned!!!!

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bmwohio Newbie

bmwohio

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Nicely done!

 

 

 

Awesome! Congrats on getting her running. Also glad you made your deadline! I'm excited to see this thing out this summer

 

 

Thanks guys, it's been a long time coming.... I'm just ready to get her out on the dance floor

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