Uwbuurman: 1978 323i polaris: almost done

[jimbob]

Nice

[uwbuurman]

Tnx Nick and JB!

[Jeroen]

Really wonderful! So how much more needs to be done before it's time for paint?

[uwbuurman]

Well, I guess couple of hours for the rest of the sealant. Then I have to rebuild a type 2 door into type 1, make holes for the electric chrome mirror and stuff like that. One of the front wings is in a bad nick. A dent and some rust, so I have to take care of that. After that, I don't know how to delay it any more

[cobbler2u]

great work
fancy another project

[uwbuurman]

Nice Stag!! (But, no... No more projects, first finish my 323i...)

[uwbuurman]

Lots of dust on this topic… But finally I’ve done some things to the car!

I haven’t finished sealing the body, but that I’ll do next holiday. For now I took on some prepwork of parts.

I started with the new door leftside. My type 1 door was rotten and I have a good type 2 door. An empty door is exactly the same, but everything has to go. The differance is in the build in parts, like window, windowmechanism and mirrormounting. Type 2 has the mirror in the triangle above the doorplate, while type 1 doors have the mirror on the doorplate and a little black plate in the corner.

The black type 1 plate is not a straight swap with the mirror mounting, the whole window frame has to go. Drill out the rivets and cut the sealant and rit that frame out. Then drill the holes for the type 1 mirror and the door is ready for paintworks.

(almost) empty door



No triangle



Type 2 triangle/mirrormount



Sealant needs to be cut



Rivets



Old, type 2 windowframe. Goes in the bin.

[uwbuurman]

Besides the doors I’m prepping stuff to go to the powdercoater.
Some parts, without the front subframe and parts. For those who wonder: that front piece is not going to the coater.



Fan housing needs to be done



Bracket of the fuelpump aswell



Front subframe needs to be taken apart



And my engine mounts are gone…



Next week I’ll start getting it all apart and ready.

[BuschBertl]

Nice to see more pics!

Do you think powdercoating is the best finish?? Powdercoating is not so resistant to stone cuts?!?!

[uwbuurman]

Well, true Bert, but spraypaint neither. That doesn't chip, but right now it's also all rust. How will you conservate the undercarriage?

[BuschBertl]

After sandblasting i paint it with Brantho Nitrofest. It is a Little bit flexible - so more resistant to Stone cuts

[uwbuurman]

OK also a good option ,

[uwbuurman]

Today I've done some preparation for the powdercoater. I took apart the front suspention and subframe and my e21 never seizes to amaze me.

On the front subframe is a heatshield that protects the powersteering. To mount the heatshield there is a hole in the subframe, where a bolt goes. In my subframe is a bolt, with an old piece of a heatshield. The new heatshield is mouted with a screw, in a newly drilled hole, half an inch in front of the old one. Why? I don't know.

The discbrakes are fitted with a little bolt. On one side that was the case, on the other side I couldn't get it out. As it turned out, they just put a regular bolt thru the hub, with a nut on the backside. Which I couldn't reach. Why? I don't get it. El cheapo repairs... I'm in the market for a new hub...

I also worked on the two fuel tanks. My own were in whorse shape than I bargained for, so I got me a different pair. One half is in super condition, the other half has one rotten spot in the edge, but is still very good. I took out the rusty bit and cleared out the rust. It's sitting and soaking in Rustico gel. Next week I weld it all up, so it will be as good as new.

Pics will follow.

[BuschBertl]

Nice to read again! pics pics pics !

[uwbuurman]

Hold your horses hahaha And they are phonepics today. Not those super cool pics you take, my friend....

Swingarm rear side, I put all the bolts and caps in, so things stay clean during powdercoating. Saves me lots of work after.



Strange construction for the heat shield. Rear bolt holds an old piece and the front bolt doesn't belong there.



The inside of my new tanks. Very happy with that.





Outside of the left one had 1 spot. So I cut out the rotten part. Next steps follow later on.



My old tanks have seen some rust in their days. The seams have rotten out.