The Rust Rocket, 2.5i convertion

Millar · Post by **Millar** » Mon Jun 28, 2010 10:29 pm

Well I thought it was about time I started my build thread. Got an e21 82' 320/6 for £900 a few weeks ago and it needs quite a bit of work. Plus there is no way I'm leaving it standard haha. The list of things to do goes a bit like this:
The sills need replacing
The interior is buggered, by the fact that is is brown and the seats are about as comfortable as sitting on a pile of rocks.
The front splitter is exactly that, split. And its hiding quite a rotten front valance.
The gear lever is as loose as a (insert your own catch phrase here) and the original lever is horrible.
Also clutch is on the way out.
Someone has badly removed a rear spoiler at some point and a new one needs to be found to replace it.
Obviously the usual chassis mods will be done, lowering springs, strut braces etc.
Exhaust is standard, why would i keep that...
And finally something needs to be done about the engine, whether it will be replaced all together or just that crappy solex carb, will depend completely on budget, which I forgot to mention is tight.
So yeah, it could be a while.

But to kick things off I have bought a make your own ashley exhaust kit which should be arriving this week hopefully.
And I'm taking the car to have the sills looked at this week as well, and if that doesn't go well it could bring a stop to the whole thing before its even started...

Here's a few pics of how it stands at the moment. Cheers

love the sharknose

needs lowered, badly

going to be replaced

Picking it up

Alan · Post by **Alan** » Mon Jun 28, 2010 10:35 pm

Good effort!!

Nice looking motor.

The Solex carb isnt anyones choice but the one I have has been pretty good! I have a rebuild kit but havent needed it yet!

I'm not too sure your keeping it standard!!

Millar · Post by **Millar** » Mon Jun 28, 2010 10:42 pm

good the intention isn't to keep it that way

my solex is buggered, running rough as hell, and just found out it had head work done on it in 88' and the cam was replaced so wonder whether it was a non standard item, and if that why its a bit lumpy or it just down to the carb being buggered...

Alan · Post by **Alan** » Mon Jun 28, 2010 11:13 pm

Millar wrote:good the intention isn't to keep it that way my solex is buggered, running rough as hell, and just found out it had head work done on it in 88' and the cam was replaced so wonder whether it was a non standard item, and if that why its a bit lumpy or it just down to the carb being buggered...

Mine ran like poo when first got it, but it turned out to be a dodgy breather pipe/valve from the manifold-servo. Worth a look as I nearly ended up having a full engine strip down.

E21meister · Post by **E21meister** » Mon Jun 28, 2010 11:14 pm

Those Kamei front spoilers (not a splitter) are very fragile, I also had one on a Henna Red 323i and I just about managed to get it off the car in one piece. Good luck with the project.

Millar · Post by **Millar** » Mon Jun 28, 2010 11:18 pm

cheers for that, i'll have a look into that. Yes sorry front spoiler, no idea why i keep insist on saying splitter lol, to very large splits, one even as far as half way up. gonna get it fixed, then when it goes back on will put a bit of bar in behind it to stop it from happening again hopefully.

tommi_e21 · Post by **tommi_e21** » Tue Jun 29, 2010 12:00 pm

like that front spoiler, very cool!!!!

looking foward to the ashley exhasut build

Millar · Post by **Millar** » Tue Jun 29, 2010 10:13 pm

cheers austin, your car looks epically clean! love the wide wheel arches.
So got the car up on a lift today and it didnt go as badly as i thought, but its mixed news.
Good points:
Behind the rotten sills there is good metal to weld to, and not even the whole sill needs replaced on one side.
The inner wings aren't as bad as i thought, maybe just a rub down and a paint, hopefully.
Bad news:
The sills are still horrendous.
Someone had filled in further rusty gaps around the sills with mastik, idiot!
The front corners of the floor pan are gone on both sides, nightmare.
There is also a small patch of rust in the back right hand corner behind the fuel tank that will need patched up.
All jacking points were buggered.

So i need someone to recommend a decent welder to buy, what sort of metal i should use for patching up, and where to buy some floor pans (if they are too expensive they will just be getting patched up).

Better news is that the ashley exhaust kit arrived today (the tail pipes look awesome), just need to wait for the exhaust sealant to arrive and i'll get started. Thinking about using it other than intended, but more on that when i start.

drjim · Post by **drjim** » Tue Jun 29, 2010 10:17 pm

Go here

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/

Read about welders, work out your budget and buy accordingly. I suggest a clarke from weldequip at the shop on that site, unless your budget is big! Avoid ebay specials and Wolf MIGs

Jim

Jason_323i · Post by **Jason_323i** » Tue Jun 29, 2010 10:26 pm

Heck eBay I got a portamig for £10

Jason

drjim · Post by **drjim** » Tue Jun 29, 2010 10:31 pm

10 quid for a portamig??

Jason that's either rampant bullshitting or the best ebay win ever.

Link/Pics??

Millar · Post by **Millar** » Tue Jun 29, 2010 10:39 pm

wow that website is unbelievably useful, cheers jim. And £10, really? I could do with that haha, otherwise it looks like i'm going to be shelling out about £300.

Jason_323i · Post by **Jason_323i** » Tue Jun 29, 2010 10:57 pm

Yet to see if it works

Item number 120586171542

Jason

Millar · Post by **Millar** » Tue Jun 29, 2010 10:59 pm

i see why it was only £10 now, it was only the wire feed unit.

tyson 320i/323i · Post by **tyson 320i/323i** » Wed Jun 30, 2010 2:20 am

when i needed to go get some metal for my floorboard replacement, i went and bought some 16 gauge cold rolled steel. its the same thickness as the metal on the car and the same type as well. as far as forming it and such, i used a rubber mallet, a length of aluminum tubing and a bit of angle iron