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Dirtbagging a BMW : )

Started by _dirtbag_ , Aug 11 2012 12:59 AM

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#1 _dirtbag_

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Posted 11 August 2012 - 12:59 AM

Well some of you have probably seen the thread floating around in here called "sledge made me do it", and this is the outcome.
The owner is "macca" and has been a pleasure to deal with, so am really looking froward to this project.

The car arrived at my place a little while ago but I've been flat out, and now crook with broncitis to get much done to it. I have made a start on the disassembly though. I'm taking my time and tagging and bagging everything as these aren't exactly a common car.

So here's the beast when it arrived at my place. There wasn't really room in the shed so I stored it at the house for a while.

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So it eventually found it's way to the shed, after spending half the day getting it going. A new coil and some aero start had it running eventually : )

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The cream triangle thingy is a factory fold down tool box. I love it!

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OK, so now you get the rough idea of how it looks. It has some nasties hiding in that paint, but as usual it will all come off and the fun can begin from bare steel : )

I started the tear down in the boot, thinking it would be a 20 minute job. hahahaha that's funny : )

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Everything in this thing is trimmed. Even the front wall of the boot. And it's glued too. Yay! : )

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OK, so getting the carpet out was easy, revealing two vinyl covered panels in the floor. Cool.

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Under the two floor sections are the spare wheel, fuel tank and jack. Nice and tidy.

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Taking the rubber seal off around the boot opening revealed a bit of rust, but it is a 70's car after all, so nothing too strange about that.

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I did notice that the support for the fuel tank has fatigue cracked, so that'll need some blue tac and a rivet later on.

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The spare wheel well will need a new base too, but having said that I'm not sure at this stage whether the boot will get redsdigned for a bigger tank or just restored. Either way it'll get done ; )

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A couple of very light taps with my small welding hammer made easy work of putting in some "racing" holes : )

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#2 _dirtbag_

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Posted 11 August 2012 - 01:10 AM

OK, so before I brought the car down for dismantling I built up a set of shelves to store all the parts, as the mezzanine is already full of firebird, monaro, monza, escort and torana crap : )

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OK, so I started by pulling the tail lights and centre panel, then went to the rear bumper. Every bolt was a different size, annoying yes, but the biggest pain was getting to the over rider mounts. The over riders are mounted to the bumper from the inside so I had to get the mounts off with the limited room available. I got there, but skinned the odd knuckle or two hahaha!

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Getting the tow bar off would have been a breeze had my arms been a foot or two longer, as getting to the nuts and bolts up near the diff on my own was fun. All done though. I'm not sure if the owner wants to re use the tow bar, so like every single other part all the nuts, bolts and washers have been bagged and tagged.

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With that done I turned my attention to the wheel tub trims. These are two pieces a side, inner and outer, and totally glued down and made from thin plastic. Again, not sure if the owner would bother re using these parts, but just in case I took my time and got them off without cracking the hell out of them. I also got the panel off the front wall of the boot.

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The drivers side outer bumper mount has been damaged at some stage and the bolt has pulled through the panel. At least it meant there was one bolt I didn't have to undo to get the bumper off : ) Plus the panel will be easily fixed.

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Then I started removing the side trims. The nuts holding the trims on ranged from 7,9 and 10mm. Not sure why, It was quite annoying, but mainly funny : )

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I undid as much of the side trim as I could from inside the boot. The rest of the rear pieces need to be got at through the inner side panels.

They certainly put a lot of effort into the interior. The scuff plates have an inner and outer section, and the rear of the door jam has a stainless cover.

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#3 _dirtbag_

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Posted 11 August 2012 - 01:19 AM

Apart from the flat carpet panels on the floor, the rest of the carpet and trim was glued in. Of course : ) Again I took my time as there were a few hidden screws here and there and the last thing I want to do is break a piece.

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On the floor there is carpet, underlay, foam backed rubber then tar sheet on the floor. Serious business!!

It even has retractable rear seat belts. Cool!

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This piece of moulded foam was on the floor where the floor pan joins the firewall, under the foam backed rubber. I assume it's to make a smoother transition on the floor for the passengers feet. Odd. It was really degraded though so not really usable again, but I've kept a section in case the owner wants it replicated.

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This is where the foam was placed.

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The rear window mechs are huge, and this side only wound down a certain way and then died. I tried swapping switches but had no luck. I'll sort it later.

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With the flu and a virus kicking my butt I decided to get out of the dusty interior and start on the front.

I started with the side trims, then attacked the side vents. I assumed they'd be bolted on too but they were glued and double sided taped. Damn strong stuff too as I had to be really careful not to damage the vents. They're only flimsy plastic but the glue was strong enough to pull some paint with it : )

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Little bit of paint : )

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#4 _dirtbag_

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Posted 11 August 2012 - 01:26 AM

Some of the paint in various places is fairly blistered. I don't know why at this stage, but every inch of paint is coming off so it doesn't really matter ; )

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I'm really really really hoping macca will give me some free range with these awful front indicators. They're definitely the UC tail light of the BMW world!

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Looks better already! At this stage the lights, grillls and bumper have all been removed. Same story, hard to get at, different sized bolts, but all done now : )

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Plus the passengers side lense is broken, so I can only hope new ones aren't available ; )

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I found a couple of parts on this car that are so awful, so daggy and so stupid that I love them so much I hope macca will let me have them. I'm talking about the rear speaker cover. The main speaker parts themselves are stuffed, and the covers are sun melted, but they're just so damn funny : )

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Fully sick tweeters mate : )

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#5 _LS1 Hatch_

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Posted 11 August 2012 - 01:30 AM

After reading the original thread about it... (and helping push for the LS power, lol) what are the plans for the car itself ? Many body mods ?

The dash is pretty plain-jane is seems for the somewhat sleek body shape...hmmm..

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#6 _dirtbag_

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Posted 11 August 2012 - 01:32 AM

It's sad that there's been hours of work and doesn't look like there's any progress, but I feel I have to be extra careful with this one, as it's such a rare car over here. Plus, because I'm giong to keep storing it at the house when I'm not working on it I want to keep it running for as long as I can.

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As I backed it out of the shed to take it back up to the house I thought a pic of the new running gear would be appropriate. It's currently being stored in the black clubsport garden shed : )

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I like driving this car. Can't wait until the LS1 and 6 speed go in : )

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Back at home for now. I need to get over this illness before I can function properly, but I'm hoping to get at least one day in next week on it, between the hatch, camaro and monza.

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The interior isn't looking as flash any more.

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#7 _dirtbag_

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Posted 11 August 2012 - 01:40 AM

Jeff I'm not 100% sure on what body mods will be carried out. There are quite a few being discussed but nothing that will take away from the cars shape and character too much. I'd like to see the over riders gone, bumper rubber gone and bumpers welded smooth and turned into one piece bumpers, badges gone, side trims gone, and a neat little steel chin spoiler. The owner has some lovely wheels in mind so I know once the stance is set this will look amazing.
As for the dash I'm not sure on the plans there. To be honest in the flesh it looks pretty cool. I even think a resto interior would be cool in this car but I know the owner has good taste so whatever he decides it'll be classy and suit the car. There'll be no yellow leather and airbrushed snake crap in this car!!!! : )

Here's the motor arriving.

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The best bit. 6 speed manual!!! Cars have three pedals, push bikes have two!!!! : )

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So that's all I've done so far. I'm hoping the bronchitis and virus nick off soon so I can get back to work as it's driving me insane. But I'll keep the updates coming as they get done, whether you want me to or not hehehe : )

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#8 _LS1 Hatch_

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Posted 11 August 2012 - 01:48 AM

That sucks on trying to work while sick...been there before and it's no fun.

Smoothing things out on the body sounds like great plans so far, and the bumper mods sound like good thoughts as well. And the steel chin spoiler sounds awesome too, would really lend itself well to the car's shape.

There was a place out this way that had spares for them from memory, so if it needed anything original for it, I might get called into play, who knows..ha ha.

And obviously, the LS1/6 speed is the combo to go with

PS...just saw a new M6 the other day on the freeway...white, black roof and white and black 22" ? or so wheels.. pimptastic. :lol:

PS. If you are sick, shouldn't you be in bed what ever odd time of the morning it is there ? lol...

(quarter to 2 in the morning?)

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#9 _dirtbag_

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Posted 11 August 2012 - 01:53 AM

Yes Jeff it's 1.52am here and I feel like a zombie but do you think I can sleep? Not a hope! hahahaa! Shoot me now : )

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#10 _LS1 Hatch_

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Posted 11 August 2012 - 02:05 AM

I feel like a zombie ...Shoot me now

I'm all set for the Zombie Apocalypse

(plenty more ammo, fear not)

(Chainsaw, etc are out in the back shed...)

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#11 _dirtbag_

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Posted 11 August 2012 - 02:07 AM

BRAAIIIIIIIIINNNSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!! hahahahaah : )

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#12 _dirtbag_

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Posted 11 August 2012 - 02:12 AM

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#13 _LS1 Hatch_

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Posted 11 August 2012 - 02:37 AM

PS... is the car going to get bigger diameter wheels ? Some big brakes to go under them would be a nice touch..

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#14 MictheAussie

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Posted 11 August 2012 - 03:56 AM

I don't think I've seen a thread go so far off track so quickly.
Love the work Dirtbag. Gonna be a beast once it's done.

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#15 _dirtbag_

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Posted 11 August 2012 - 07:11 AM

Thanks Mitch, yes it will be an awesome car. Jeff yes the car is definitely getting good sized wheels and tyres. I think the engineer has said no to 10's on the rear but not 100% on that yet, but either way the guards will be nice and full : )

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#16 _LS1 Hatch_

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Posted 11 August 2012 - 07:42 AM

You should build a car for over here....have free run to do what ever you want with no pesky engineers getting in the way

I could run 20 x 15's on the back of mine...if I was so inclined, ha ha.. (but 18's are plenty for me)

Psst....how about flaring the wheel arches slightly on the BM'er ? Hmmmmm....

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#17 _dirtbag_

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Posted 11 August 2012 - 07:47 AM

I built a 59 Plymouth suburban for a guy and fitted 20x15s, they didn't even look big on that car! hahaha.

As for flaring the guards, I'm sure I'll have to roll the lips at least, but not thinking he wants them actually flared. I guess we'll see how we go and see how the wheels he chooses fit.

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#18 _Big T_

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Posted 11 August 2012 - 08:02 AM

Looking forward to seeing this one progress. My folks had a similar era 3.0 si when I was a kid. Not as pretty as the 2 door, but still a nice car. Same colour too.

Those indicators would look mega cool on a UC Tim. Chuck 'em on the orange on in the shed LOL !!

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#19 _LS1 Hatch_

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Posted 11 August 2012 - 08:18 AM

Cool on the biggy wheels on the wagon !Those outers might have come from us actually...haven't heard of anyone else there directly importing them (unless the wheels came complete from here)And I can understand if he didn't want to change the look of the car too much with flares, it does have a pretty classic shape, but would be hard to not "help" it along a little here and there. Rolling the lips under I would have assumed anyways to get a decent sized wheel under the car with how it will (assumed) sit a little bit lower..(Here is a 20 x 15 along with some little 20 x 12's)

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Edited by LS1 Hatch, 11 August 2012 - 08:22 AM.

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#20 _dirtbag_

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Posted 11 August 2012 - 01:55 PM

The wheels he used were Coys brand. Quite a common wheel over here, but not so common in this size : )

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Quite a bit wider than my size 11 : )

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Tubs stretched and rear and middle seats narrowed to suit.

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Here she is trimmed and painted.

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Anyway, enough about that. This is a BMW thread! Geez I get sidetracked easily : )

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#21 _LS1 Hatch_

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Posted 11 August 2012 - 02:03 PM

I don't really like coys stuff personally...just cheap 1 piece chinese pretty much (I've seen coy the guy out at the swap meet here alot, lol)

The ones we built were a 2 piece billet wheel...same sorta tires though but taller

They went onto a '56 ? or so F100... (one of these days I'll get some pics of how it came out)

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#22 _LS1 Hatch_

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Posted 11 August 2012 - 02:08 PM

Geez I get sidetracked easily : )

It happens easily...ha ha...

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#23 _Bomber Watson_

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Posted 11 August 2012 - 06:18 PM

That car is so epically cool.

Cheers.

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#24 r2160

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Posted 11 August 2012 - 06:26 PM

Hey Dirtbag,

If my memory serves, those speakers were Pioneers. In their day they were really expensive and actually sounded really good!!!

cheers
Glenn

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#25 its Paul

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Posted 11 August 2012 - 07:12 PM

Hey Dirtbag,

If my memory serves, those speakers were Pioneers. In their day they were really expensive and actually sounded really good!!!

cheers
Glenn

Yeah I had a set but they only had one tweeter and set of fins, sounded pretty good for the day, but no doubt crap for today's standard :-)