** Acme [Akagi] bought a pink estate car - E30 325i project log! **

[Akagi]

I don't see the massive issue to be honest, firstly a red bay on a grey car won't look that bad because they are colours which compliment each other, and secondly, you won't be looking under the bonnet much anyway. I hope.

Anyway, if I keep the car as long as I plan to, the engine will undoubtedly come out at some point in my ownership anyway. At which point the bay can be painted.

This is all a long way off anyway, for now I'm more interested in thinking about the colour rather than the method of application.

 

[Akagi]

Google E30 Dolphin Grey Metallic. That's the colour I am thinking about.

 

[Akagi]

It was pretty cool, but it will not be the fate of this car

 

[Akagi]

Its getting repaired one way or another. I plan on doing all of the "easy" bits myself with the helf of a friend. Which only leaves the rear arch to be done by a pro.

Until I uncover more of course!

But seriously though, I don't mind throwing money at it, but I can't afford to throw a tonne at it at once. Hence the idea with getting just the main bit of the paint done first.

The rot will be sorted before the paint of course. And compared to some I've seen, the rot really isn't that bad. Its an E30. You measure the rigidity by counting the number of holes you can fit your hand through. I only have one of those.

 

[Akagi]

Fixed the mirrors and drivers window and other electrical niggles... The door loom looked like this...



Chopped out the knackered wire, new wire soldered in place and heat shrunk etc, and put the loom back in. All fixed.

Gave it a clean for Deutchfest tomorrow at Brands.

 

[Akagi]

Snap from Deutchfest:



Have now taken the mudflaps off (finally) and gave it another clean (apologies for potato pics)



[pic removed]

And I used one of my old MX5 'eyelids' to practice spraying. It came out pretty damn well to be honest. Not patchy at all, and less orange-peel than your average new car!

Will definitely be having a go at spraying the rear quarter with the blown lacquer. Might even do the whole car a panel at a time... Pretty sure that would kill me though! Four coats of primer, sand, three coats of base, four coats of clear, sand, compound, polish.

 

[Akagi]

Nope, rattle cans! Which is why I'm a bit surprised it came out so well.

But I have access to a compressor if needed.

 

[Akagi]

Well trying to blast the ABS rings and sensors with cleaner without taking the disks off didn't work, might have to actually fix it properly. Need to test the sensors...

Going to deactivate the system for now.

 

[Akagi]

No water in the footwell. I haven't found any bulkhead rot yet but the dash and carpet will be coming out at some point, at which point I shall find it!

 

[Akagi]

Very nice! I love Tech 1's.

If I desperately need anything I'll give you a shout. But to be honest with these, its more a case of buying good items when you see them rather than specifically needing stuff. All I *need* at the moment are ABS sensors and sheet metal, but the 'might want' list is huge.

 

[Akagi]

Is sanity on there?

I just bought some lengths of exhaust pipe and a couple of 30 degree angled connectors so I can remove the silencer and replace it with straight pipes.

Does that answer your question pal?

 

[Akagi]

Just a bit of fun...

have you got the 6 branch fitted? Is it the btb one?

Not yet. It's under my bed

I will eventually get it fitted and have a stainless exhaust made up, but this is just a bit of fun. A friend and I had been joking about it.

I'm not going to throw the backbox in the bin either.

 

[Akagi]

I'm afraid it won't be installed by tomorrow.

It's coming on the 5th ish.

 

[Akagi]

Brakes are fine, its an electrical problem with the ABS. It will get fixed but I'm still diagnosing it.

Noticed that the surface rust on the scuttle has turned into a pinprick hole. Think I can probably get away with sanding and treating it and possibly filling the resulting hole with some weld.

Oh and thanks Ace. Sadly the colour match isn't right though.

 

[Akagi]

I have no idea. I was going to primer it, but maybe it's not necessary?

 

[Akagi]

And if I'm filling and sanding as well, should I primer the whole panel then?

 

[Akagi]

Me neither...

Sounds logical though

 

[Akagi]

An M20 without a backbox sounds much better than a college lecture, what can I say.

 

[Akagi]

I know that

This is just £40 of fun. Proper full stainless system will be coming in future. But welding needs doing first preferably!

Speaking of which, I might be buying a nice 180 amp Sealey mig tomorrow.

 

[Akagi]

Grabbing this tomorrow. £50 in fully working order, complete with the lance, regulator, and even some wire. Just needs gas. Silly cheap! 130 amp should be sufficient for welding 2.5mm steel with gas and 5mm steel without. Floor pan steel is something like 1mm...



Now I need to find some metal to cut up and practice on... I have an MX5 Boot lid which nobody is buying, maybe I'll chop some slits in it and weld them up.