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6 minute(s) of a 50 minute read
8-28-2013
Update:
Put the Auto trans in. My helper (Father) failed to seat the converter correctly and didn't say anything until after I turned the crank for the flywheel bolts and the motor didn't turn over.
Took the trans out, fixed converter (after subconsciously knowing the pump was toast), reinstalled everything. Went for test drive. No bueno.
Took the trans back out AGAIN, swapped the pump with an extra trans I have, and she's waiting to go back in, hopefully for the last time.
Put my new fogs and turn signal lights in, pulled the front bumper (cracked) and the grills (faded) to begin the restoration process on those two guys.
.....long day.
8-31-2013
That sounds about right! Good to know, too. I 'spose I'll experiment by leaving the top piece off when I get around to fixing it.
Getting a welder next week to start learning, so I'm thinking I'll repair it myself once I get more experience under my belt with my own machine.
Also, a stock cat is crazy expensive. Any other options for making a mid pipe? I have a new aftermarket catback, but want to put a cat in the midpipe to quite it down so I'm not fully straight piped.
9-5-2013
Welp, a good update finally.
Pulled the pump off of my old trans and she tested good, so I threw it on the trans with said broken pump, and threw it in tonight, and all is good so far!
I have a cat coming and am going to make a mid pipe to work with my new catback, as the IX cat sections go for upwards of $275 used, which I found a little nuts, but then again, I'm not used to the E30 parts world yet.
One issue. I have no dash lights or RPM gauge and that threw me off a bit. I'm sure it's just something stupid, but don't know what.
9-15-2013
Finally had a decent chunk of time to work on the car this weekend.
Scrubbed the interior like crazy, and was quite happy with how it came up.
Pulled the bumper off and started repair on that. It had a crack and the fiberglass support piece behind it was cracked pretty bad.
After a good wash, the trim panels were restored the best we could get 'em.
Took the stock lip off of my brother's IX, as I decided I wasn't fond of the IS lip for the look I'm going for.
However, I'm by far the most excited about restoring my stock BBS wheels and doing a polished lip with a flat to semi-gloss center. It took some serious time, but I got all lips down to bare aluminum today, and will be slowly doing the fine-tooth work as time allows.
Car is running great, and I've been driving it every day!
Things to troubleshoot still:
My radio stopped working completely (due to horrendous wiring by previous owner), and my RPM and Fuel Milage gauges only work when my lights are on. That one sort of blew my mind, so if anyone has any ideas in regards to that issue I'd love to hear them.
10-8-2013
I'm making more progress on the wheels. Taking awhile as I'm just doing it here and there when I have time. However, we've definitely hit a major fork in the road here, and I'm not quite sure what to do..
It's bad... like, really bad.
10-13-2013
Got some work done!
First
Then
Thennnnnnnn
THEN
THENNNNNN
I'm happy with how they came out. Finished the other side, hit with seam sealer, put on new-used e-brake pads and rotors, and got her back on the ground.
Once seam sealer dries I'll re-undercoat. In the rear passenger wheel well (worse than drivers side by far) anywhere there was once a bracket there is now a rust hole, so I surely have my work cut out for me (pun intended). I'm just shocked to see the car sit like stock again.
Am going to order some bracing for the car from IrelandEngineering, and if Turner would put their H&R/Bilstein combo on sale I'd pick them up too. I was originally planning on going with the GC setup, but don't want to bother with shortening the housings and struts so I have enough travel when I already have a car that the 325ix will never get close to on the street/track.
Some pics from today:
Passenger side:
Seam sealed:
One of the many rust holes I need to take care of:
