shifter prob

[normboudreault]

Jeez guys, you're embarrassing me!! It's only a little (super high quality synthetic polyresin-polymer, 10X the solids) paint!!

[normboudreault]

Well time to tackle the bottom... 

Fuel expansion... not sure what all this shizen does but its rusted and needs beautification....

The fuel exapansion tank is held in place by two nuts - on at either end. These were rusted but came off
fairly easily. I think I used a 10mm...or was it 8mm??

Here is one of the brackets holding the tank - a wee bit rusty...




Here I removed the protective plate on the fuel expansion tank lines...






Closeup of the lines...


Tank out, lines pulled out, steel filler pipe removed (one bolt)...


Were the fuel lines ran thru... (it was HARD to pull them thru but cursing helped)


All the crap out...


Removed the fuel filter bracket (NLA btw).. Had to cut thru the rubber "shock" mounts.. The bolts
thru them were rusted out... New rubber mounts are available and cheap.. Already ordered and received...



Wire wheeled clean...


First coat of POR15.. (they should be paying me endorsement fees...)


Done...


Fuel filler pipe about to be wire brushed...


And POR 15'd...


That was easy....

[keflaman]

Great. Now you've made it impossible for me to re-install the ball joints on my control arms without painting them.

THANKS A LOT, HOSER!



 

[normboudreault]

Hoser!! Haven't heard that one in a while!! Bob and Doug McKenzie.... great skits... 

As for you having to paint your ball joints - Good!! - glad Im raising the bar around here!!

Have fun painting! 


 

[normboudreault]

Begun work on the bottom finally!

Just before I pulled out the expansion tank...Grease, grime, dirt and rust...


After pulling out the expansion tank and associated lines I was good to go...Did some very light wire brushing just to get the grease/grime off most places....


Started applying POR15 where I uncovered rust (areas ground and clean of course!)






At this point it was high time to take the front suspension off as I will be doing the engine bay and most of that crap is being binned anyhow..

Pretty straight forward (on a rotiserrie!), just find the bolts and remove them...duh...
Started with the wishbones then the turret...










This is where things slowed down...steering knuckle of course...


Of course just loosening the bolts did NOTHING.. I had to find a way to pry open the knuckle..


Used this...


Tapped it fairly hard with a hammer...


Worked on the bottom portion but not the top...


Was told by the PO that he thought the rack and pinion was leaking,
I am seriously considering an e36 rack at 2.7 turns..


Next up was the crossmember...




Off..


Done...


With all that sh*t off I wire brushed the frame to steel...


amazing... No rust...   

[Nick_318is]

The shorter turn rack is a sweet upgrade.  Makes the car feel a lot more like a go kart, one of the best things I've done to mine.

[normboudreault]

It does look like a sweet upgrade but pricey if I order a rebuilt rack... It's a PITA to have to send the core back too- how much will that cost? And trying to find a e36 m3 rack at the scrapyards..forget about it! So I will probably order new... Im also looking at another 318iS a guy has here..started a resto project but stoppped when he hit a failed head gasket... Im going to see it tonite if the guy is available... Gonna buy it to source some stuff off of it and then sell it on...Gonna be cool having 2 318iS's in the driveway!

[colin86325]

I put an E46 330i rack in mine, along with replacing the upper steering column bearing and the u-joint mechanism and it feels terrific now.  I would have replaced the lower column bearing as well, had I known about it.

IIRC, I shipped my old rack back to the rackdoctor in the box they sent, and received a credit.

[normboudreault]

Must have required a bit of modding??

[DesktopDave]

It does look like a sweet upgrade but pricey if I order a rebuilt rack... It's a PITA to have to send the core back too- how much will that cost? And trying to find a e36 m3 rack at the scrapyards..forget about it! So I will probably order new... Im also looking at another 318iS a guy has here..started a resto project but stoppped when he hit a failed head gasket... Im going to see it tonite if the guy is available... Gonna buy it to source some stuff off of it and then sell it on...Gonna be cool having 2 318iS's in the driveway!

I have a core sitting in my garage right now! I got lucky with a '98 M3...I grabbed the whole front suspension, brakes, rotors and the steering rack. Jus' wanted to brag a little. 

Good luck with the projected project...

[normboudreault]

It's getting a bit crazy now Dave...hehe   
 

[normboudreault]

***UPDATE***

Just bought ANOTHER 1991 318iS..Runs good and will be a parts car even though the shell looks better than the one I have now...

Gonna pick it up on Tuesday...

Amazingly the wife isn't even angry...she understands its a disease.... 

[colin86325]

Must have required a bit of modding??

Spacers were required to adjust for the difference in height/thickness between the two racks.  I got the spacers from Dungeonmotorsports/E30tech, but they are a common item.

The only other thing was grinding the firewall hole where the steering column comes through.
You should probably bend your power steering lines for an ideal fit, but I just used a pry bar to tension mine out of the way as I tightened its  banjo bolt. (I was  in the middle of moving and didn't have facilities to do it the right way.)

[Jay-Vee]

Still following this project mate, looking real good and great to hear you're adding to the collection 

[normboudreault]

Must have required a bit of modding??

Spacers were required to adjust for the difference in height/thickness between the two racks.  I got the spacers from Dungeonmotorsports/E30tech, but they are a common item.

The only other thing was grinding the firewall hole where the steering column comes through.
You should probably bend your power steering lines for an ideal fit, but I just used a pry bar to tension mine out of the way as I tightened its  banjo bolt. (I was  in the middle of moving and didn't have facilities to do it the right way.)

Thats why the kits for the swap appeal to me - everything included. I think it may cost a couple hundred bucks more but will be very straightforward