Davegerous E21

[Dave-ger]

Missed this.

Yeah the Bav is fun.

I have another subframe in the garage.

no worries man.

Glad to hear you have the spare sub frame, I suggest you get to it!

By the way, I've always really liked the kind of wheels that are on your car, good choice sir!

[TheNeek]

I love your wife's car, it was one of my favorites there for sure. I was so overwhelmed there that I forgot to look, is it actually on the ground when it's aired out? I was also curious for the longest time as to weather or not you had sub frame modifications, and I looked under your car and my question was answered. tear into that subframe and you can make it sit like the bavaria in no time! your E21 is damn clean and high quality by the way, I was impressed by that.

Missed this.

Yeah the Bav is fun.

I have another subframe in the garage.

[Dave-ger]

Thanks! we'll see on the white wheels. since I'm kind of stuck with the steelies at least for a while ($$$, you know?), I might end up painting them white. I have potential plans to paint it valspar satin cappuccino, but that will probably wait till spring at this rate. white on the wheels would probably work with that better. in the mean time, I still dig the valspar Pacific blue (which is holding up amazingly well), and the orange on the wheels that I was on the fence about has grown on me. I can't wait to finish my current stuff with my truck so I can fix the clutch stuff and the tail shaft bushing on my tranny and drive this car again!


here's a pic of why the car currently sits:



I've been shortening the wheel base, it has been a much more involved project than I expected, but I think it will be totally worth it. I was pretty deep into this when the car crapped out on me, and I'm finishing it first so I don't get too overwhelmed.


I'm also now pretty sure the pressure plate in my car failed, but I'll know for sure soon enough I hope.

[MaxBell]

This is slick dude! Get some white wheels on there STAT

[Dave-ger]

Sadly I did not. I appologize for the state of the E21. The wife's bavaria makes my car look like a dump truck.

I love your wife's car, it was one of my favorites there for sure. I was so overwhelmed there that I forgot to look, is it actually on the ground when it's aired out? I was also curious for the longest time as to weather or not you had sub frame modifications, and I looked under your car and my question was answered. tear into that subframe and you can make it sit like the bavaria in no time! your E21 is damn clean and high quality by the way, I was impressed by that.



340i, those are the "top lock" nuts that have the taper at the top. I did have them on and off like 3 times adding the washers in (cause I was too dumb to have it that low the first time), and that is kind of a "no no" with those I understand, but I have oodles of blue lock tight on them too, and I keep an eye on them. If I have any trouble, I should be able to catch it before it causes me to crash (hopefully). I'll replace the nuts later if I have to. the bolts are grade 12.9, and the nuts are 10.9, so it should all hold up dandy!

[340i]

hey are they nyloc nuts? they look to be ordinary ones just with a taper? dont want them coming loose and falling off! other option is castle nuts and drill hole in the bolt for a split pin

[TheNeek]

Did you manage to pick up some uber cheap, yet classy stickers from them at that show?

Sadly I did not. I appologize for the state of the E21. The wife's bavaria makes my car look like a dump truck.

[Dave-ger]

I saw your car, and what appears to be your wife's Bavaria? that's what I remember reading on the blog on here. anyways, I don't know what any of you look like, so I apologize for not saying hi. Also, you may recall my hooptie wasn't there. I am wondering if it would have broken down or crashed on the way in the condition it was in, so that was for the best.

Although, I did see you backing in your car, sorry, I should have thought to say hi.


anyways, I'll be more outgoing at the next show I see stanceworks cars at. I won't let it happen again! I was also pretty distracted helping out my friends who own The Fit Garage with their booth as well, so I'm using that as an excuse. Did you manage to pick up some uber cheap, yet classy stickers from them at that show?

[TheNeek]

you all were at tailored and didn't say hi?

[Dave-ger]

well, I discovered that my tail shaft bushing (the one that goes around the slip yoke... mazda thing) is more than likely kaputs, since my slip yoke wiggles. Also, it seems that my clutch went out. the feel of the pedal changed a little, but I suspect the clutch was installed horribly wrong before I bought the engine and tranny (they were together when I bought them). I was told today that they were just carelessly rammed together. Also, I have a feeling the clutch/pressure plate caused some if not all of the horrible vibrations the car had. they may or may not have subsided after the clutch went kaputs.. wasn't looking for it since I was just trying to get home with my shot clutch. Also, that might explain the change in pedal feel since the slave cylinder is looking like it functions perfectly.


anyways, here's a pic of how it sits right now for personal motivation. i finally have the same size of tire all around again, and I'm rocking the steelies since the white wheels were nearly impossible to balance well enough for me to want them on this car with it's mechanical steering.

[Dave-ger]

I wonder if this car is waiting for a date ... It's a nice place and cool car you have there.

lol, thanks. The car has been brought back from the dead a few times now.

[parklexie]

Thanks guys, I really appreciate the feedback!

Yea, I've heard of drive lines sending cars air borne before, so that's why I have the little safety strap to prevent that in case of a U joint failure. My mishap in september could have easily been a lot worse, you wouldn't believe how long I kept it on the road spinning out. I'm lucky I didn't roll and/or hit a tree, or another car.


My wheels are 15X6, I forget the offset, I think it was something like ET36ish... doesn't matter much though because I had to use wheel spacers to even run them, which cancels out any offset related shortcomings.

Neek, do you have a link or pics of the shortened sub frame? I kind of explored that possibility, but notching it ended up being more feasible for me at the time and I wouldn't have known what to do about my steering shaft (I can TIG aluminum now though), and my engine is too close for that.





As far as the bumpers, I absolutely **** my US bumpers. if I could obtain euro bumpers cheaply, I might do that. I'm considering tube bumpers, but not off road looking. I have some ideas in my head. I'd have to move out the rear "valance" to be at the end of the car like on euro model E21's to make the back look right. maybe I'll do those this summer. we'll see.

I wonder if this car is waiting for a date ... It's a nice place and cool car you have there.

[Volvosome]

dave makin moves like a boss

[Dave-ger]

So the car steers really easy when it's not moving now, it's crumbelievable! I'm undecided as to how it drives so far. It seems like it hardly has any bump steer now, which is nice. I think the flat spotted tires up front are causing all of the steering wheel vibrations, because they are worse than they were with the old tie rods. I also need new CV's really bad.



Full lock (notice the zip tie steering boot clamp.


Straight


Full lock the other way with a crappy blurry picture.

[Dave-ger]

So I'm working with the steering as I'm waiting for sub frame bushings. I have everything mocked up, but I won't have the bolts I need until Friday. Hardware stores in this town kind of suck... but I'm picking up just two nuts and two bolts from fastenal of all places for under $12 friday. it will be a 12.9 grade socket head bolt with a 10.9 grade top lock nut. that should hold me steering alright. I wanted a 12.9 grade nut, but I guess that couldn't be done.



anyways, here it is mocked up on the car with too short of a bolt from an E21 bumper that's only an 8.8. I had to space 1/4" to match up to the angle it had with the stock rod end, then I added an additional 3/4" to match the control arm raise to make a full inch in the spacer. I then added the 1/16" ish washer to it. that's TIGed on for a bit of extra support. I'm happy with how the angles turned out. it's about as close as it could get I think.

/\ look at those shitty brakes!!! :



here's what my setup will look like. I made a short section of tube at the bottom to act as a misalignment spacer so I can get maximum angle out of my rod ends, the washer at the bottom is a friend's suggestion as a safety precaution in case of the unlikely event that the heim fails. I just have to swap out to my new tie rods and get the bolts to finish this basically. my only concern is that I have about 1/4" less thread in the heim than the factory rod end. Since I've spaced the tie rods down about 3/4", I'm hoping that will make up for having less threads as the rod ends shouldn't have to be adjusted out as far that way.




Also, today I did a harness bar on a 1602. Yes, I know the square tube is quite unconventional, but it's what my friend who owns it got and wanted to use...even though he wanted a round tube... long story, lol. we made the best of it by making it sit in there all gangster like.





I hear it made the car feel a lot more solid, so that's good to hear.