Bringing back an E9.

[mpower5266]

Super small update, as usual. We have had nothing but crappy raining days this week but we got the e9 moved over to my house Friday night in between storms.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

The plan will be to work on it here and there over the next couple weeks as the twins will let me. I need to wet sand the hood, go over the whole car with a light compound, polish, and seal the paint. I may also steam the engine bay and any other little detail stuff I find. I did my first repair Friday night by fixing the handle on the ebrake with a 3/4" deep well socket and a rubber mallet.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

I will certainly share more as I get some work done this week.

[EasySpeed*Inc]

So nice to see this coming together, amazing work!

[mpower5266]

Since work is slow, and Im just getting really excited about the progress on the car, here is a super small update.

My dad found some generic rubber boots and used them as a dust covers for the headlight connectors.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

With the dust covers installed the headlights went back in and the front end is officially buttoned up.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

The dip switch(high beams) was broken and they are extremely expensive. My engineer father took it apart and repaired and redesigned it a little to make it work.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

The A/C vent covers were installed.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

And the drivers seat, its almost ready to make the trip to my garage for final detailing.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

[mpower5266]

Got it on the ground. I love the wheels but it needs more low.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

We are going to get it ready to load on the trailer and try to sneak it over to my house this weekend in between storms.

[mpower5266]

Again, another small e9 update. We sprayed some undercoating in the fender wells.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

There is also a random hole in the both the front wheel wells. Its formed when the fender is seamed in over the front structure of the car, it leaves a fist sized hole in the wheel well that turns out to be a moisture trap. This is a before photo but it was also treated and undercoated to hopefully stop rust. We used a boroscope to check it out and it looked surprisingly clean.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

But the best update so far, possibly even better than the paint job. Those awful gold wheels have been finally removed.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

[mpower5266]

Flocked the glove box....

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

Then it was time to install its face. We did a little polish/clean up on its snoot.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

The nose job.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

Add some eyes.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

And a shark is born.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

Sorry that was a little goofy but its a slow day at work and it was fun to kill a little time. I cant believe just how far is as come and how close we are to the finish line.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

[gnmzl]

This is not boring at all. Uncovering lack of rot is always the most exciting thing. Congrats and keep up the good work on this one.

[mpower5266]

Super mega awesome.....boring ass update. Sorry its just slow going right now waiting for parts so we are just working on little stuff. We found some knobs for the radio that don't look so out of place.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr



My dad started by inspecting all the fenders and only found a small bit of surface rust in the drivers front. It looks worse in the photo then it does in real life. It will be encapsulated and touched up.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

When we started this project, we didn't want a full resto. The plan was to fix it up enough to drive it and maybe flip it for a nicer one later on. It ended up being easier to fully repaint, but we were still scared of the rockers. They have a cover on them, that we decided to leave on when we painted it(I wish we didnt) because if we found rust it would have made for a much bigger project. Well the covers did need to be repainted, the screws holding it in were rusty, and the car might go back to the body shop for some touch ups.... so we pulled them. It was a miracle.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

Just a couple spots of surface rust, but no rot. I need to buy some lottery tickets. This will be treated and touched up, and not seen once the covers are installed.

Ran the fuel tank vent.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

Installed more trim.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

And installed the headlight buckets.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

More this week.

[white out]

Such a great thread.

[fuxxo]

wow, this is faultless! :-O amazing project

[mpower5266]

Not much has happened on the E9. We have been waiting on parts and my dad has had some medical stuff(hes fine just kinda run down so I'm avoiding him.
I don't want to get him sick.) We did get a new old stock emblem for the trunk.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

And found some knobs for the radio that look more "BMW."

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

So far 2021 has been pretty crazy but I am hoping this will be on the road by late Feb-early March. I am hoping some parts show up and I can get over this weekend to work on it.

[scweet14]

love the work so far, really excited to see where this takes you. so just plans as a restoration or are we gonna see some real driving out of this thing?

[AmazonE30]

That whole center console looks absolutely beautiful - a perfect combination of wood, leather, and bare metal. Great work! Love the retro-look radio as well.
I just bought a '77 E21 that needs some interior refreshment, and this is great inspiration and tutoring.

[hinrichs]

Nice touch on the sticker on the radio to keep it more oem looking, I would have never thought of that.

[mpower5266]

This is like eating an elephant at this point. Just small bites until its done. Center console is complete, and the window switches are installed.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

We also found a little sticker to put over the digital display so the radio looks a little more period correct when off.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

It covers the read out a little when its on, but Im just going to use bluetooth so it doesnt really bother me.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr