bmwe21.net forums

Hi all

This is the start of my new Classic Thunder Race Car build.

It is basically a re-shell of the old yellow car which should now be called the "Test Mule" see thread below:
viewtopic.php?f=55&t=5116

Although it will be built with all the knowledge gained from the "test mule". so there will be improvements.

So here she is at the start, fairly bare 1983 316 shell with some dodgy suspension and wheels reverse mounted


First job was to strip the shell completely whilst mounted on a "Rollover jig/spit"




Then all loaded up on the trailer to transport to SPL for acid dipping. A nice 500 mile trip today to drop it off.

I'll post progress when new parts start arriving and I pick the clean shell back up in March (hopefully there will be some metal left )

SPL (Surface Processing Ltd):
http://www.surfaceprocessing.co.uk/for-cars.html

Regards

Ben

Nice, can't wait for more! You won't be picking up my roof anymore next sharknosemeeting then.

Looking forward to the acid dip photos, think it will be that rusty?

Hopefully not too bad

The usual areas have signs of rust, around front and rear jacking points and fuel filler neck in the rear inner arch.
Everything else looks pretty good, but the dip will reveal all

Nice! Well, eh, 500 miles to the nearest acid dipper?

Not the nearest but the most experienced. That did include pick up and drop off of my dad's trailer which adds ### miles.

Did have a peak at a csl race car shell being dipped with a cage I wish, maybe in ten years or after a Lotto win lol.

Ben

I get it!

uwbuurman wrote:Nice, can't wait for more! You won't be picking up my roof anymore next sharknosemeeting then.

Hi mate, missed the comment with the edit. Yes won't be needing the roof.
It just seemed a bit far for transportation costs and the timing wasn't quite right.
I needed to get the project started so will be attempting to weld in the sunroof panel without distorting the roof too much.
This needs to be done before it goes to have the cage fitted in early April.

Ben

subscribed ! Hoping for a lot interesting technical pictures of the improvement you are going to make

I can't remember who, and I might be mistaken, but someone on here chose not to acid dip due to that some body panels in the rear arches are not welded together but just glued.. did you consider this?

I'm pretty sure all the panels are either spot welded or welded proper.
Looks like the only glue used is seam sealer over the joints.

They have done 2002's, E9's, E30's and they all strip fine so fingers crossed.

Ben

I'm sure it will be. I did find the post though. It was uwbuurman that mentioned it:

viewtopic.php?f=54&t=22124&p=240264&hilit=acid#p240264

I am considering the same approach as you at some point so I will be interested to hear how it goes.

I do like the reversed wheels btw

E21noob wrote:I do like the reversed wheels btw

Its very strange but the shell turned up like that.
It had what look like 2002 rear arms with wheel studs rather than bolts. I guess the offset meant the wheels wouldn't go on the other way round.
One was an E21 wheel and the other was a space saver both on reversed

LOL, saw a similar issue at the 2013 Spa Classic event. Classic 911 had a bent rear beam so they replaced it complete with the training arms, early morning on race day. All looked fine until they fit the wheels... track with was way wider, speaking of inches! Too late to change so they raced it, without much success btw and it looked silly too. I'll try to dig up a photo!