Ben's e36

[Benwalsh91]

So not much to report. I finished up the front brakes and adjusted the coilovers and set them up.



I just love how the brakes look behind the equips!

[Benwalsh91]

So as you know I bought an extra 2x lips for the equips to make the fronts 8.5 instead of 8 and they are the stepped type to match the rear. They had some bad curb marks on them so I started to repair the lips.





I think they may have been owned by stevie wonder in the past



As you can see they do still need some work. Quite a lot of work

[Benwalsh91]

And the money shot

[Benwalsh91]

so its been a little while, not much has happened on the car really due to lack of time but i have got my hands on a few bits for the build and some big deliveries are coming at the end of this month!!

first of all i needed to up the rear brakes so i got a set of e46 320 rear brake set up that run a nice decent size disc, 295 if i remember correctly so they will look nice behind the rear wheels to match the larger front brakes.

not in the greatest condition right now but i got a good price on them, they will be getting a freshen up just like the fronts did.



my good friend Will made a small batch of front splitters for the e36 and i grabbed one of these as i believe only 3 got made, they can be fitted with the standard GT lip or without, i will more than likely fit it with the GT lip, they are built to stay in line with the side profile but stick out slightly more at the front.





and this is it fitted to his bumper without the GT lip.



so i mentioned about a few things coming at the end of this month...

first of all the 328 engine is finally going to be here which i am super excited for as its one of the large pieces left thats needed, the wheels should also be getting there make over. getting the parts to sort out the rear brake refurb and also removing the complete rear subframe and cradles and sending them off for powder coat, they will get the full power flex treatment when back and also a few other little goodies along the way

[Benwalsh91]

So as i mentioned above the engine is coming in a few weeks amongst other bits so yesterday i started getting all the old shit out the way ready for the engine to turn up i want to just rip the old one out and be ready for the new one to just slide right in there.



also mocked up how the splitter would look, this is without the standard GT lip spoiler which i plan on adding.





i just want to stress the bumper is still yet to be painted before it goes on with everything else, it won't be going on in that state!!

[Benwalsh91]

Ok, so this has been a bit out of date.

Some of you know I bought a new wagon, it started off with my old 320 just being a run around in between before I found something I actually wanted.

So whilst scrolling through instagram I came across a 330d genuine sport e46 tourer. Always wanted one of these and it was a good price. Unfortunately it was on the complete other side of the country.

Booked a train to go get the car after work one Friday,

Had a few to many of these at work which I probably shouldn't have when I knew I was off to pick up a car



Then I missed my train so I went out for dinner and had more extremely manly drinks




And then the wagon





By the time I arrived it was almost mid night. Got on the internet and found me a hotel for the evening

On the way home I stumbled across some English ruins in the Yorkshire dales. Mega cool!



By the time I got home the car was utter filth. It was very grimy when I got it. The interior was very sticky and there was horrible substances all over the place. So needless to say I have given the car a very deep clean!





Much better!

[Benwalsh91]

So less of the 46 and more of the 36!

Where I last left the 36 progress I was waiting on some deliveries. I will start with the wheels,

I trial fitted the fronts and they sat lovely as previously seen. However, the rears were not so great the poked massive amounts and I didn't want to have to either ruin the rear arches or run massive stretch and camber.

So the wheels got plugged up, we milled 10mm off the back of them and redrilled them back to 5x120





This should make them fit much better!

I bought a new rear subrame, new to me but definately not new new!

I have purchased all new powerflex bushes for the rear subframe and it is off with the wheel centres to get blasted and then powdercoated so it will look new

[Benwalsh91]

So then I put the touring to use and went and picked up an engine crane from a good friend to borrow



You know what happens next right?

[Benwalsh91]

So that's right I hauled the touring down the country to hackengineering HQ who has lots of goodies for me, we was both surprised I was able to get it all to fit in the touring!

I can't even remember half the stuff I got but here is what I can remember:
E36 328 engine with only 70k miles
E36 m50 inlet manifold
Exhaust manifold
Exhaust centre section
Rear scorpion exhaust
Complete rear subframe as pictured above
Lots of powerflex bushes and some misc bits
New dials from the car that had the 328 engine
Ecu
Front subframe
Steering rack
Steering knuckle
And god knows what else!







Hell yeah!!

[Benwalsh91]

So the next day we started on the removing the old and fitting the new!








Almost as if we managed to catch ourselves a prized weighted fish






Gazebros



BAM





And the exhaust which has since been fitted



We have also done the fuel lines and finished them up, need to finish some of the plumbing we have noticed that one of the pipes for the cooling system has not been connected at the back so I am going to pull off the intake manifold and hopefully be able to get to the pipe and connect it. Then we can start the bastard thing

[Benwalsh91]

So I am hoping across the pond to America in a few weeks, and whilst I am away the rear subframe some front parts and the wheel centres are getting powdercoated.

The wheels will then be built and sealed.

I am going to sort out the rear brakes and finish all the rear suspension and the car can finally sit on the ground for the first time since 2015! Hopefully this thing will actually take shape on not be just a shed on my driveway.

All these bushes, rear suspension parts and other misc parts waiting for the rear end



I managed to finally hunt down a mint condition sport black headliner, non sunroof model!



I do have all the other black trim pieces too which is great! All in fantastic condition.

[Benwalsh91]

And as previously mentioned, the rest of the trim pieces





Also whilst randomly tidying up the garage I found a genuine and complete unopened bmw first aid kit which fits under the passenger seat

[Mehowski]

this is getting really fucking exciting now mate

[michel3171]

Wow, you actually did it! A 1.6 4cyl to a (almost) M3 engine! Damn! I really want to do the same to my 316, but sadly lack the skill to pul, and replace, an engine!

[Benwalsh91]

So I have recently got back from my trip to America. Mega depressed to be home but I done a few bits to this shed whilst I found some free time.

So all the black headliner and trim pieces are in and fitted, unfortunately got no photos. I have also fitted the rear seat and door cards. Need to find some for the front and settle on some front seats I want.

So I took the manky old cover off the bonnet "hood" and I am going to get the silver parts that latch all blasted and powder coated silver.



Which brings me to this...







So the following are about to get powdercoated.

"Hood" latch things (technical term)
Rear subframe
Rear trailing arms
Front subframe
Front lower strut brace
4x work equip centres
The same place is building and sealing the wheels too

Then when that's back we could actually build the rear and back up and actually plant this bastard on the ground!

It's been a long time coming.

Oh also we got electric running to the car. It would not power over though, I realised we still had the original fuel pump in so I have got the correct one coming along with some 328 gear linkage



My buddy also came over today to help, he had his daily wheels in the car as they needed some tyres put on them. We decided to place one on my car so he could get an idea on what they will look like