Austin's E46 build (2/10, do not recommend)

[mozinqo]

Okay huge question here that I hope someone can help me out on, do style 5 faces fit normal 34 hole BBS lips/barrels? Or will I need to order blank lips and cut the holes myself? We have the machines to do the latter (CNC is what I was going to use) but I was hoping I could just order the lips and mount them up after I get rid of the whole 2 piece problem. My plan is to take the tires and faces off, and cut right in front of where the holes for mounting the face are, leaving just the mounting part with the holes and barrel (obviously like a normal barrel). Then use the lathe (I assume that's what I would use) to machine down evenly to the mounting surface. Then if BBS lips fit, I could just put those on there. If not, I'll have to do them custom too. This all seems way to easy to me though. If it was really this easy, wouldn't more people with style 5s/assorted 2 piece wheels be doing it?


edit: did some more research, found out they don't just bolt up. currently weighing my options as far as wheels go because I'm not sure I want to undertake such a big project. I'll sleep on it.

[mozinqo]

some reason link not showing! but looks super saxy

yeah thanks for that, I could not get them to show up. I couldn't get them to show up in my sig either. Oh well, I'll kpee trying to get that figured out.


In other news, I'm going to the shop again today to hopefully get all the final body pieces taken off and start sanding. I think I'm going to go with a Forest Green type color for the paint. There's a truck in our paint booth right now with that color and I think it looks good, I'll try and get some pics later and get them on here. Relatively dark, high gloss. I'm considering black chrome wheels. They seem really overdone lately though, so I'm not sure about that.

[244Brick]

some reason link not showing! but looks super saxy

[mozinqo]

lol any updates on this pile of shit?

Shit I forgot this build thread even existed lmfao, yeah there is actually. I ended up getting the air settled. I wish I would have gone with bigger lines, but I digress. I'm getting ready to paint it right now (took me a while). should be painted within a week or two, I'll post pictures of that process. I'm also converting my wheels to 3 piece. I'm actually doing it myself, so that may be of interest to some people too. but anyway, here's what it looks like now:

[rozayE36]

lol any updates on this pile of shit?

[7ate9]

that fourth picture
fan of the low
i, myself, live that life

[Oh Damn, it's Sam]

LOL at airing down onto the jack.

This is like my #1 worry when I'm working on mine

I see only the two paddle valves - how have you got it all plumbed such that you don't get side-to-side flow?

[rightfullrudder]

For some reason I just now realized you were bagging it. Looks good man! LOL at airing down onto the jack.

[DER E30]

You do what to that cup holder? lmao and my jetta's ugly and my festiva rocks.

In the e46 there are these two cupholders... Well the armrest folds down right over the top of the rear one and makes it useless for anything taller than a coke can with teh armrest down...
So obviously use it for an air gauge...

[Mozingoo]

You do what to that cup holder? lmao and my jetta's ugly and my festiva rocks.

[mozinqo]

That's a sick festiva! Your e46 is ok too I guess...:lol: I Kid.
I like how you used the "useless for anything taller than a coke can" cupholder for the air gauge.

The festiva will always outshine my car, understandable.

I **** that cupholder, whoever designed the armrest to come down directly on top of it wasn't having his/her best day. But it makes for a great gauge holder.

[DER E30]

That's a sick festiva! Your e46 is ok too I guess...:lol: I Kid.
I like how you used the "useless for anything taller than a coke can" cupholder for the air gauge.

[mozinqo]

I went on and took some more pictures, and found some too. I probably won't post any straight side pictures but it's not very hard to guess what the wheels are



So first and foremost, my friend finally decided to jump into the car scene and I'm beyond jealous. He's driving to sowo with my brother and I, we should have a few more guys driving with us. I cannot wait to see all of y'all's cars there. Too much excitement.



Now I know it's difficult to see past 1) the beautiful, mint condition 1988 Festiva and 2) the lowest quality picture ever taken, but now you see why I need spacers in the back



And this is how it will probably be driven to town tonight #stayratchet

[mozinqo]

In the wise words of Staind, it's been a while.

I've actually got quite a lot done, and I'm hoping to drive it to town for a little meet thing tonight. So let's go over what all you guys have missed. By the way, my ratchet air system worked perfectly



It sat here for the longest time, while parts were being shipped and all.



Then I got all of this in one shipment



It was then sketchily driven home a few miles like this



to go in the shop behind our house. Then the tear down process began, which really wasn't that bad. The hardest part out of all of this was running the air lines, but even that wasn't too bad at all.



The poor man's guide to front camber.



Getting the back bags to sit right was the hardest part of the whole process, we ended up using the mounting plates they gave us and some other things sitting around the shop to make a plate that mounts to the top of the frame there to hold the bag in place.



cut and ready to weld




some welding process pictures



running the lines to the back



I think I may end up having to cut this and weld it together shorter, because it's given me a lot of problems. You can see down at the bottom where it's basically cut a gash into those arms, it's the same on the other side. I don't know.



Putting my switches and gauges here, so cutting these all up



cutting switch holes



and cutting the hole for the gauge



finishing it all up, we ended up having to redo it because one of the lines was crimped, but you get the idea



went out and took some crap iphone pictures because instagram game proper

Alright, now is when we first started testing the air. I want you guys to realize just how much of an idiot I am before this next picture comes up,because I may or may not have aired down onto a jack



by may or may not, I mean I most definitely aired down with a jack under my door.

Oh well, time for a new door.



But boy was it worth it

So now I still need to put my compressor in, which finally decided to show up.

Also, my wheels are in and have been on for a few days. Finally no more black M3 wheels I also ordered spacers because they need them, and extended lugs for the backs, and I've got some 10mm to go up front. Should make everything look great. Those and braided air lines for the front should be in by the 8th hopefully, because there's a show I was hoping to make it to on the 10th. But anyway, I'll post some more pictures later. I just felt like I needed to finally update this thing considering I've actually made some progress. Later

[mozinqo]

Just wanted to let you guys know I just ordered the rest of my air stuff, 3 day shipping on everything so the good stuff should start by the middle of the week. I did some more measuring today and everything should go correctly, but knowing my past with things there's no way it's going to go the way it's planned. I'm waiting on ordering the wrap just because I'm honestly pretty scared because I've never wrapped anything before. I don't know, I'm a dweeb. I'll probably order it tomorrow because it'll look bad to raise my card's limit for the third day in a row.

RIP my bank account, cause of death: car parts