My car 318 76 model converting to 323i

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uwbuurman
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Re: My car 318 76 model converting to 323i

Post by uwbuurman »

Looks great! You'll go from the one middle muffler to 2 end mufflers? A 323i has a different middle section with two outgoing pipes.


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Atle_323i
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Re: My car 318 76 model converting to 323i

Post by Atle_323i »

uwbuurman wrote: Mon May 01, 2023 6:18 am Looks great! You'll go from the one middle muffler to 2 end mufflers? A 323i has a different middle section with two outgoing pipes.
No I will go for original twin setup from the headers and back, but that will be done when I replace the engine this winter.
The rear setup will be like the prototype 323i that Jeroen has posted earlier. So I hope my car will be one of a kind with that narrow exhaust setup. I think it looks cool :D
BMW E21 318 76 ---> transforming to 323i
BMW E21 323i 79 - gone to heaven
BMW F46 220D Xdrive daily driver.
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Jeroen
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Re: My car 318 76 model converting to 323i

Post by Jeroen »

Fully agree, might be a one of a kind indeed, never seen one with that exhaust setup in real life!
Regards/groeten, Jeroen
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Re: My car 318 76 model converting to 323i

Post by Atle_323i »

The only thing I can´t figure out is if I´m going to use single headlights or twin. I like both of the setup, but everyone uses twin on all models.
And I would love to have yellow headlights, it looks very nice on white cars. But they are soooo expensive on Ebay. I might try yellow tinted film, and see how it looks. It´s not allowed in Norway, but worth a try, and just rip it off, if I get stopped in a technical control on the road.

Anyone ever tried using tinted film?

https://www.amazon.com/VViViD-Air-Tint- ... WRJ7U?th=1

Still got alot of time to think about it.
BMW E21 318 76 ---> transforming to 323i
BMW E21 323i 79 - gone to heaven
BMW F46 220D Xdrive daily driver.
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Atle_323i
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Re: My car 318 76 model converting to 323i

Post by Atle_323i »

Update:

Car is ready to start up and drive. But when we started to weld in the right side exhaust bracket, the welder started to behave strange, so we couldn't finishe that project. But all other things is done, brake caliper customized and fitted, all breaks are bleed, wheels are on the car and the exhaust is bolted to mid muffler.

Never been this close 😃

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1Qip ... 1yMm04WEtB
BMW E21 318 76 ---> transforming to 323i
BMW E21 323i 79 - gone to heaven
BMW F46 220D Xdrive daily driver.
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Re: My car 318 76 model converting to 323i

Post by Atle_323i »

Update:

Finally, the car is down on it´s own wheels, and is driveable.

I had som strange noices from the rear brakes after a quick test drive. I thought the hand brake shoes had become loose, so I had to dismantle everything on both sides to check. I couldn´t find anything wrong, then I figured it out, wheel bolts, were just a few mm too long. So I had to cut off 3mm to be sure, and it´s all good.

So stage 1 is finally done :D

Stage 2 will be started this fall / winter.

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipO ... 1yMm04WEtB
BMW E21 318 76 ---> transforming to 323i
BMW E21 323i 79 - gone to heaven
BMW F46 220D Xdrive daily driver.
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Re: My car 318 76 model converting to 323i

Post by Jeroen »

:banana :banana :banana :banana :banana :banana
Regards/groeten, Jeroen
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Re: My car 318 76 model converting to 323i

Post by nic65 »

:driving gran lavoro
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Re: My car 318 76 model converting to 323i

Post by Atle_323i »

First, thanks for the feedback :cheers

After driving the car a few km, I must say that the combo Bilstein B8 with Eibach springs (35/30) is great. The car is low, but not too low, and the comfort is very good.
At first the car was a bit high, but now the car has settled, it looks good.
But I´m still concidering coilovers, but I got time to think it through.

I replaced the toolkit in the rear with a less rusty one, that I bought some time ago, looks so much better.
Then I also cleaned the contact surfaces in the fusebox, as I almost had a fire on the fuse for right headlight, the contact was so poor, it was smoking from it, when I noticed the light was not working properly. All good now.

I had to install speakers in the front, not that much fun driving around with the 4 cylinder engine, I miss the other 2 cylinders.
But next spring :D

Added a few pictures.

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipO ... 1yMm04WEtB
BMW E21 318 76 ---> transforming to 323i
BMW E21 323i 79 - gone to heaven
BMW F46 220D Xdrive daily driver.
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Re: My car 318 76 model converting to 323i

Post by Atle_323i »

Update on the car.

After a while my generator started to behave strange, the voltage went from 12 to 18V, and after a while it dropped to 12V. So I replaced the voltage regulator, but no luck, the voltage was still jumping from 12 to 18V again. So I had to get a new generator, and I was in a hurry, as I was to have my car at a car show. I managed to find a brand new, almost identical, but with a grinder I managed to make it fit.
And now I got normal voltage, about 13.7 with full lights on the car.

I then replaced the trunk lid sealing, due to water coming into the trunk. It was bad, so it was time to do this now. And bought new license plates correct for the 70´s era.

Then I bought coilovers from MTS, which will be fitted this winter along with alot of other things, hopefully I will be able to start earlier than previous winter.
And I got a set of Ferodo brake pads front and rear, which I will fit this winter too.

Pictures updated in the link.

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipO ... 1yMm04WEtB
BMW E21 318 76 ---> transforming to 323i
BMW E21 323i 79 - gone to heaven
BMW F46 220D Xdrive daily driver.
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Re: My car 318 76 model converting to 323i

Post by Jeroen »

Nice, getting better all the time!
Regards/groeten, Jeroen
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Re: My car 318 76 model converting to 323i

Post by nic65 »

good job...
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Re: My car 318 76 model converting to 323i

Post by Atle_323i »

Time for a minor update.

Summer is almost over, but I still find days with dry asphalt, which allow me to drive and enjoy myself.
Soon the car will be parked and the engine changed, and the wiring harness will be replaced with a 323i wiring harness.
This summer I made a minor improvement to the brake booster. It was a bit rusty and I gave it a new coat of paint.
I also bought new brackets for the stabilizer bar.

I also managed to purchase new and used timing belt sprockets, so that I can use 127 tooth timing belt instead of the 110 tooth.

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Replaced the master cylinder with ATE, didn´t want to use the aftermarked one.
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BMW E21 318 76 ---> transforming to 323i
BMW E21 323i 79 - gone to heaven
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Jeroen
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Re: My car 318 76 model converting to 323i

Post by Jeroen »

Nice work and great find these timing belt sprockets!
Regards/groeten, Jeroen
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Re: My car 318 76 model converting to 323i

Post by Smartie »

Just for mine brain, why change the sprockets?
Is there difficulty in getting the correct timing belt?
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