Uwbuurman: 1978 323i polaris: almost done

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uwbuurman
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My E21(s): 1978 type 1 323i 5speed dogleg Polaris
Location: Ljouwert

Re: Uwbuurman: 1978 323i polaris building a e21 from scratch

Post by uwbuurman »

As I stated before, the section on and around the right A pillar is up. The fittings here are far from original, the imitation metal has all edges wrong and not even on the right place. Time to restore all that’s wrong!

I started repairing the front side of the inner sill.

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Then I repaired the lower side of the Apillar, cleared the rust out and sprayed it.

Image
Last edited by uwbuurman on Sun Dec 10, 2017 3:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.


It's the man next door!

1978 BMW 323i
1980 BMW 528i maior restitutio
1987 BMW 325iA cabriolet
2015 BMW 320dA touring xDrive High Executive ///Msport
2016 BMW 420dA Gran Coupé
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uwbuurman
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My E21(s): 1978 type 1 323i 5speed dogleg Polaris
Location: Ljouwert

Re: Uwbuurman: 1978 323i polaris building a e21 from scratch

Post by uwbuurman »

After that I started on the floor, to begin with a picture of the donorpart taken apart.

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I can use this, but first the rust holes have to be sorted. The floor part needs a new corner. I can’t make a nice and tidy edge on a round part, so I just weld it on.

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Dry fitting

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The original and it’s clone.

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And attached. Just one side, the lower side I won’t weld, because the lower part is to be cut away.

Image
Last edited by uwbuurman on Sun Dec 10, 2017 3:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.
It's the man next door!

1978 BMW 323i
1980 BMW 528i maior restitutio
1987 BMW 325iA cabriolet
2015 BMW 320dA touring xDrive High Executive ///Msport
2016 BMW 420dA Gran Coupé
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uwbuurman
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My E21(s): 1978 type 1 323i 5speed dogleg Polaris
Location: Ljouwert

Re: Uwbuurman: 1978 323i polaris building a e21 from scratch

Post by uwbuurman »

Then the bulk head part. In a very good nick apart from the lower edge. There used to be two ridges in that piart, so water and mud can get out. But of course that will clog up with dirt, stays wet and start rotting…

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New and old.

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And done, front and rear

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Last edited by uwbuurman on Sun Dec 10, 2017 3:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.
It's the man next door!

1978 BMW 323i
1980 BMW 528i maior restitutio
1987 BMW 325iA cabriolet
2015 BMW 320dA touring xDrive High Executive ///Msport
2016 BMW 420dA Gran Coupé
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uwbuurman
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My E21(s): 1978 type 1 323i 5speed dogleg Polaris
Location: Ljouwert

Re: Uwbuurman: 1978 323i polaris building a e21 from scratch

Post by uwbuurman »

Time to clean, sandblast and coat….

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And then I’ve got me a genuine BMW E21 DIY building pack!

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Prepped the floor

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And a look at the inner side of the original A pillar. Lot of rust, almost eaten tru.

Image
Last edited by uwbuurman on Sun Dec 10, 2017 3:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.
It's the man next door!

1978 BMW 323i
1980 BMW 528i maior restitutio
1987 BMW 325iA cabriolet
2015 BMW 320dA touring xDrive High Executive ///Msport
2016 BMW 420dA Gran Coupé
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uwbuurman
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My E21(s): 1978 type 1 323i 5speed dogleg Polaris
Location: Ljouwert

Re: Uwbuurman: 1978 323i polaris building a e21 from scratch

Post by uwbuurman »

Than on November 19, 2013, I was surfing the ol’ interweb and found a bunch pics of my car from back in 2004. Me like!!

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Last edited by uwbuurman on Sun Dec 10, 2017 3:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.
It's the man next door!

1978 BMW 323i
1980 BMW 528i maior restitutio
1987 BMW 325iA cabriolet
2015 BMW 320dA touring xDrive High Executive ///Msport
2016 BMW 420dA Gran Coupé
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uwbuurman
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My E21(s): 1978 type 1 323i 5speed dogleg Polaris
Location: Ljouwert

Re: Uwbuurman: 1978 323i polaris building a e21 from scratch

Post by uwbuurman »

‘Saturday, December 14th, 2013.
Did some nice work to the A pillar, but first I mounted the car into my very expensive and high tech straightening bench.

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After that I tore apart the lower part of the A pillar. This is copper welded in the factory, but because of old repaires metal is gone and the joints are far from how they should be. I started by cutting out a small strip.

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Astijl ripped out on the weld

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Reapaired the outer sill

Image
Last edited by uwbuurman on Sun Dec 10, 2017 3:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.
It's the man next door!

1978 BMW 323i
1980 BMW 528i maior restitutio
1987 BMW 325iA cabriolet
2015 BMW 320dA touring xDrive High Executive ///Msport
2016 BMW 420dA Gran Coupé
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uwbuurman
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My E21(s): 1978 type 1 323i 5speed dogleg Polaris
Location: Ljouwert

Re: Uwbuurman: 1978 323i polaris building a e21 from scratch

Post by uwbuurman »

Next I welded in the little corner of the outer sill, that W&N forgot… :hammer

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Then I repaired the inner sill, put in the part I made earlier.

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And Weld Away!!

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Repaired the edge of the bulkhead. On the front I still need to weld it, but I like the view already. Happy to have the ridge back!!

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Finished nicely and primered.

Image
Last edited by uwbuurman on Sun Dec 10, 2017 3:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.
It's the man next door!

1978 BMW 323i
1980 BMW 528i maior restitutio
1987 BMW 325iA cabriolet
2015 BMW 320dA touring xDrive High Executive ///Msport
2016 BMW 420dA Gran Coupé
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uwbuurman
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My E21(s): 1978 type 1 323i 5speed dogleg Polaris
Location: Ljouwert

Re: Uwbuurman: 1978 323i polaris building a e21 from scratch

Post by uwbuurman »

After that, I dryfitted the lower part of the A pillar I prepaired before. Fits great!

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Weld!

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Spotweld!

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Last edited by uwbuurman on Sun Dec 10, 2017 3:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
It's the man next door!

1978 BMW 323i
1980 BMW 528i maior restitutio
1987 BMW 325iA cabriolet
2015 BMW 320dA touring xDrive High Executive ///Msport
2016 BMW 420dA Gran Coupé
User avatar
uwbuurman
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My E21(s): 1978 type 1 323i 5speed dogleg Polaris
Location: Ljouwert

Re: Uwbuurman: 1978 323i polaris building a e21 from scratch

Post by uwbuurman »

Grind down!

Image

Image

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Last edited by uwbuurman on Sun Dec 10, 2017 3:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
It's the man next door!

1978 BMW 323i
1980 BMW 528i maior restitutio
1987 BMW 325iA cabriolet
2015 BMW 320dA touring xDrive High Executive ///Msport
2016 BMW 420dA Gran Coupé
User avatar
uwbuurman
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My E21(s): 1978 type 1 323i 5speed dogleg Polaris
Location: Ljouwert

Re: Uwbuurman: 1978 323i polaris building a e21 from scratch

Post by uwbuurman »

Primered!

Image

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And some more grinding and sanding.

Image
Last edited by uwbuurman on Sun Dec 10, 2017 3:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
It's the man next door!

1978 BMW 323i
1980 BMW 528i maior restitutio
1987 BMW 325iA cabriolet
2015 BMW 320dA touring xDrive High Executive ///Msport
2016 BMW 420dA Gran Coupé
User avatar
uwbuurman
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My E21(s): 1978 type 1 323i 5speed dogleg Polaris
Location: Ljouwert

Re: Uwbuurman: 1978 323i polaris building a e21 from scratch

Post by uwbuurman »

And with the pics above, Ladies and Gentlemen, this concludes the year 2013! The next set of pics, is dated Januar 9, 2014. So now this threath is running less than a year behind on the my Dutch topic. Both in 2014!

I'll try to get this one up to date all the way ASAP.
It's the man next door!

1978 BMW 323i
1980 BMW 528i maior restitutio
1987 BMW 325iA cabriolet
2015 BMW 320dA touring xDrive High Executive ///Msport
2016 BMW 420dA Gran Coupé
jimbob
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Re: Uwbuurman: 1978 323i polaris building a e21 from scratch

Post by jimbob »

Good work on the front sill area. this looks like a hard place to replicate.

Nice pictures of it from 2004 looks good. that interior is spotless

looking forward to more updates
E21 323i [kashmere] Off the road pending restoration
E21 3231[Graphite metalic] Restoration and conversion to M52
E36 318i Had it nearly 10 years work in progress
E36 328i Daily driver
E39 520i Family car school run workhorse
E36 328i Touring
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uwbuurman
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My E21(s): 1978 type 1 323i 5speed dogleg Polaris
Location: Ljouwert

Re: Uwbuurman: 1978 323i polaris building a e21 from scratch

Post by uwbuurman »

Thanks Jimbob! Interior is still just as nice, just sitting in my storage, waiting to be put back...
It's the man next door!

1978 BMW 323i
1980 BMW 528i maior restitutio
1987 BMW 325iA cabriolet
2015 BMW 320dA touring xDrive High Executive ///Msport
2016 BMW 420dA Gran Coupé
User avatar
uwbuurman
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Posts: 19130
Joined: Fri Jun 12, 2009 4:49 pm
My E21(s): 1978 type 1 323i 5speed dogleg Polaris
Location: Ljouwert

Re: Uwbuurman: 1978 323i polaris building a e21 from scratch

Post by uwbuurman »

So, finally, I almost cought up with today. Next couple of pics are from last January!
It's the man next door!

1978 BMW 323i
1980 BMW 528i maior restitutio
1987 BMW 325iA cabriolet
2015 BMW 320dA touring xDrive High Executive ///Msport
2016 BMW 420dA Gran Coupé
User avatar
uwbuurman
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Posts: 19130
Joined: Fri Jun 12, 2009 4:49 pm
My E21(s): 1978 type 1 323i 5speed dogleg Polaris
Location: Ljouwert

Re: Uwbuurman: 1978 323i polaris building a e21 from scratch

Post by uwbuurman »

:rev: :mrgreen:
It's the man next door!

1978 BMW 323i
1980 BMW 528i maior restitutio
1987 BMW 325iA cabriolet
2015 BMW 320dA touring xDrive High Executive ///Msport
2016 BMW 420dA Gran Coupé
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