07-28-2013, 03:04 PM | #1 |
Tri-State Post Whore
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'94 530iT Project
I think this car will be worthy of a separate journal, but this is more for me to document the car's progress. Story Traded my ****ty $500 Saturn for this thing last Friday, as the kid was in dire need for a reliable daily. After seeing some potential in the car despite how the kid didn't take care of it (at all), I decided I could definitely bring the car back to life, and here we are. The car will end up being a simple, aesthetically pleasing daily. Plans The exterior of the car needs some work, but the grime that was all over this car essentially preserved most everything under it, so my first phase has been to bring the OEM paint back up. The fender flares, the front and rear bumpers, the side skirts, and part of the driver's fender all need to be repainted, and the car needs a hood as well (someone stepped on it). The last two days I spent buffing the car by hand with compound, and I was shocked to see how it looked underneath, minus the parts spray painted by the previous owner. I have slowly been working overspray off the car as well. The Auto trans only has reverse gear, however, a low milage trans was given to me with the car, so that will be thrown in within the next few days. After tearing into it thus far it is obvious that the car was garage kept before the last owner had it, and the last owner only had it for two months, in which time he almost destroyed it. All weatherstripping, foam pieces, etc are all in fantastic shape without any dry rotted plastic. The dash has but one 2" crack in it as well . Parts needed: -Exhaust (2' of pipe missing, no cat, and fart can currently on there) -Fog lights and corner bumper lights (cracked) -Hood (dented severely) -IS Lip (blunttech) Modification Plans: -HD Bilsteins and IX specific H&R Springs Pictures Before (door) and after (quarter): Drivers Side Buffed and Waxed. The original paint on the car is very rich. The back quarter and trunk came out great as well. Areas of concern. First, the rear bumper and rusty battery tray/valance (and rice exhaust). Then, the jacked up front bumper and hood. Then, the drivers fender. Passenger side came out great: And this is how clean the underside of the trunk lid was without me touching anything. Last edited by blue91lx; 08-11-2014 at 10:03 PM. |
07-28-2013, 03:16 PM | #2 |
Tri-State Post Whore
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: York, Pa
Member #2462
My Ride: 1996 7.3 f250, 2001 Focus wagon iTrader: (2)
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Subd.
Looking good so far! If you're looking for parts and don't feel like searching junkyards, hit up Bimmer Buddies in Middletown PA (should be like 100 mile drive for you). They're quite reasonable with the prices overall and they just stripped a red 318i earlier this week. E30s get stripped quick on parts and resold on forums, it's kinda annoying cause my brother has an 88 325 SuperEta. As for the Bilsteins, look into if the M3 rears will work on the iX. I've read they work on the 'normal' e30s and are a heavier duty. I have seen a few topics about the 'standard' e30 rears blowing out and Bilstein replacing them by warranty and people getting M3 rears instead. PM sent. Last edited by yellow2000S/R; 07-28-2013 at 03:19 PM. |
07-28-2013, 05:15 PM | #3 | ||
Tri-State Post Whore
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Maryland
Member #20326
My Ride: 06 STi/08 Legacy/10 Forester iTrader: (5)
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Like previously stated....LOVE IT
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07-28-2013, 10:48 PM | #4 | |
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Thanks man!! I'm really excited for what is to come with this thing. |
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07-29-2013, 12:37 AM | #5 |
Tri-State Aficionado
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Bahhhh miss mine. Enjoy it!
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07-29-2013, 05:48 PM | #6 |
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I surely will!
-- I pulled the pan off of the new (used) trans, and the fluid looked very clean, didn't smell burnt, etc. There's also a magnet under the pan there and there was but the tiniest bit of metal in there, so it's looking like the new trans is good to go. She's going in tomorrow night! |
07-31-2013, 12:21 AM | #7 |
Tri-State Post Whore
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Update.
I got the trans out, and would like to speak with whoever decided the placement on the top bellhousing bolt. The HP22 trans that came with the car is for a 325i despite it being the 'same' model number. The linkage is on the wrong side of the trans, and I don't think it can be switched inside the guts of the trans. If anyone knows of a 5sp swap for an IX I'm definitely interested. |
08-07-2013, 09:02 PM | #8 |
Tri-State Post Whore
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Update #2.
Sourced good auto trans/tcase with a good viscous coupling, along with a pair of front axles and a new converter. The main issue with these transmissions are two seals on the input shaft before the first set of clutch discs. They wear out, leak, and eventually take out the discs. You're then left with nothing but reverse. So, I opted to get those seals and replace them while the trans is out to ensure some longevity out of this thing. New fogs and blinker lights were purchased, as well as an IS lip, and a catback since the car didn't have one on it. Any recommendations for cheap-ish but still good paint work? |
09-15-2013, 06:25 PM | #10 |
Tri-State Post Whore
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Finally had a decent chunk of time to work on the car this weekend.
Scrubbed the interior like crazy, and was quite happy with how it came up. Pulled the bumper off and started repair on that. It had a crack and the fiberglass support piece behind it was cracked pretty bad. After a good wash, the trim panels were restored the best we could get 'em. Took the stock lip off of my brother's IX, as I decided I wasn't fond of the IS lip for the look I'm going for. However, I'm by far the most excited about restoring my stock BBS wheels and doing a polished lip with a flat to semi-gloss center. It took some serious time, but I got all lips down to bare aluminum today, and will be slowly doing the fine-tooth work as time allows. Car is running great, and I've been driving it every day. Things to troubleshoot still: My radio stopped working completely (due to horrendous wiring), and my RPM and Fuel Milage only works when my lights are on. That one sort of blew my mind, so if anyone has any ideas in regards to that issue I'd love to hear them. |
09-15-2013, 06:42 PM | #11 | ||
Tri-State Post Whore
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Maryland
Member #20326
My Ride: 06 STi/08 Legacy/10 Forester iTrader: (5)
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That interior looks amazing, you did a damn good job. For those black plastic peices try using this stuff called "ReNu Finish" on them. I used it on the bottom half of my forester and it looks great, brought back the finish like brand new. Ive also been meaning to say that the pictures youve been doing look great lol, just for progress pics of normal driveway work are looking super focused and clean as hell. Usually these are cell phone style but youre going hard lol.
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09-15-2013, 07:39 PM | #12 | |
Tri-State Post Whore
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: York, Pa
Member #2462
My Ride: 1996 7.3 f250, 2001 Focus wagon iTrader: (2)
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He said check fuses, otherwise you'll have to tear the entire center out of the dash and check everything... which sucks. |
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09-15-2013, 08:35 PM | #13 | ||
Tri-State Post Whore
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My photog skillz suck azz, so these little projects give me an excuse to whip out the camera and try to make these updates look mediocre . Quote:
If it comes down to ripping apart the dash I think I'm just going to drive with my lights on all of the time . Also, I found out my frame is rusted out where the rear upper strut housings sit, so I sourced a pair from the parts car, unfortunately, so the shell won't make much of a trailer for your brother. I'm sorry I forgot to tell you sooner, man. |
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10-02-2013, 08:19 PM | #15 |
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10-08-2013, 10:24 PM | #17 |
Tri-State Post Whore
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10-13-2013, 11:14 PM | #19 |
Tri-State Post Whore
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Finished the other side, hit with seam sealer, put on new-used e-brake pads and rotors, and got her back on the ground.
Once seam sealer dries I'll re-undercoat. In the rear passenger wheel well (worse than drivers side by far) anywhere there was once a bracket there is now a rust hole, so I surely have my work cut out for me (pun intended). I'm just shocked to see the car sit like stock again. Am going to order some bracing for the car from IrelandEngineering, and if Turner would put their H&R/Bilstein combo on sale I'd pick them up too. I was originally planning on going with the GC setup, but don't want to bother with shortening the housings and struts so I have enough travel when I already have a car that the 325ix will never get close to on the street/track. Some pics from today: Passenger side: Seam sealed: One of the many rust holes I need to take care of: |
10-14-2013, 12:32 AM | #20 | ||
Tri-State Post Whore
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Maryland
Member #20326
My Ride: 06 STi/08 Legacy/10 Forester iTrader: (5)
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Damn.
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