LSB M3 Restoration…
I need to do a whole post about this car. But I am doing the trunk on my SC and it reminded me of repairing the battery box and repainting the trunk of my M3. It came out so good it was a shame to cover it up with the carpet. I had to go to the junk yard and cut out a battery box, then weld it into the car. The battery was almost falling out of the trunk the box had melted so bad from acid. I had to drill through the floor to the subframe for the new rear strut tower bar and trim the carpet to fit around it. I ordered brand new carpet and mats so that was kind of daunting.
I also had to weld up the front strut tower and repaint it. They tend to crack with harsh spring rates and I had fallen into the trap of thinking BC’s were good coils. So before I installed my Stance coils I welded and reinforced the strut tower. I also added a PBM strut tower bar. Everything primed with Steel it to keep corrosion away.
Steering wheel wrapped and painted to match the roll cage and rest of the trim. I always wanted a Phoenix Yellow M3. I never wanted LSB until I saw this one. So I painted these pieces Phoenix Yellow. It contrasts well with the blue.
I couldn’t find high temp Phoenix yellow so I just did the brakes regular yellow.
There’s so much more to this “build” or “restoration”. I don’t know what to call it because I don’t see it as either. But I’ll update later.
Throw back Cafe racer build…
2013 I went through a cafe racer phase. I didn’t take many photo’s of the progress but I loved this thing. 1983 Midnight Maxim.
Electric…
Continuing with the electric ps installation. I started to route the pressure and return lines for the pump under the car. I started by removing the AN pressure line I had already going to the factory mechanical pump. Then fitting one side of the AN lines.
I ordered a return fitting from Driftmotion but they are on back order. So for the time being I took the fitting out of the mechanical pump just for mockup. I dont beleive it is the right size but it threaded right in albeit with a little play until it was snugged.
I also started running the power and ground.
I had bought 10ft of everything thinking it would be enough. But this didn’t even get me past the fuel tank. So I had to stop here and order more line and fittings to join them. Also spare wire to run the 12v signal.
Everything came quickly except the high pressure line. Ill have to wait another week for it.
But in the mean time I kept moving.
60 amp inline fuse. I was going to run the 12v to the fuel pump but I may run it to the center console. I stripped the paint where the bracket will be welded. The trunk is a mess. Dirt, random trash and surface rust from the previous owner. The car was not great when I bought it. But theres also issues from mistakes I made when I first built the car. The expanding foam to seal the over fenders was sloppy, I drilled too many holes for the fenders etc.
But I will clean it up as best I can.
I also had to fix the 3rd puncture in the same wheel on my truck.
Fab Gawd…
…I wish.
I gotta stop rushing. Even though this isn’t a major part and virtually no one will see it, I started to want to scrap it and do it perfectly towards the end. I ran out of material so I let it ride. Not great but not bad. I started off cutting 3 equal length uprights.
Then I welded nuts on the ends.
Then supports next.
Welded all up and test fit the pump.
Then test fit in the trunk. This may not be the final location but we will see.
I also cut some vinyl for the car.
I wanted to save this stuff for last but I needed the motivation.
Intalled the wing so I could do the vinyl on there easier.
Then the grande finale.
Today is Christmas. I spent the day doing this and fasting/ praying for my sister. I’m putting this in here to reference later when God heals her. 7:41 pm and I’m going to break my fast now.
Tig Ole…
In this installment I was trying to start welding up the captured nut in the B pillar for the shoulder belt/ Harness bar. However my welding mask was not working. I bought 3 separate sets of batteries 3 days in a row. The first two net nothing. The last set inexplicably only gave me a low battery flash.
So I bought a new mask. Frustratingly this mask came with a dead battery as well.
I ordered a battery for overnight delivery on Amazon but it came two days later instead. So in the mean time I bought one at the store when I went to refill my welding gas. I also picked up a heater for the garage. It works pretty decent. It even got hot in the garage while it was sub 30* outside.
I finished the sway bars and the rest of the extended studs.
This whole time my valve cover was not bolted down. I had been waiting for driftmotion to ship the new hardware and it finally came.
This allowed me to finally install the new titanium bolts for the spark cover.
Also the strut bar and new top hat hardware went in.
Welding up the frame for the ps pump next.
The list keeps growing…
I really need to start jamming. Ironically I originally thought this was just gonna be paint and engine bay. I didn’t think I’d need to redo the entire interior.
Rear sway bar took entirely too long. And I’m not done since the end links are destroyed. One wouldn’t even come off. I tried welding the lock tabs to it but the welds kept breaking.
I just ordered new ones so this will get final install when they come.
I started cleaning the overspray and dust off my freshly redone subframe. My entire exhaust is full of orange paint. Im so blown.
I also started working on adding hardened and extended studs to the rear. The stock ones are super short and I have sheered 4 out of 5 on one corner on two separate occasions. One of the scariest things ever. The last time was on a single lane road. I never plan for this to happen again.
When I was pulling the old studs out I found a remnant of one of the broken ones from years back.
This is going to let me run slip on spacers like I do on the G35. No more bolt on when I swap to higher offset spares. My SP1s are the widest wheels I have so I’m going to have to do some spacing.
I also FINALLY finished installing the headliner.
Wake…
I needed to get more space to work on the power steering system. First step was getting the G35 going. 2nd step was getting the M3 out the garage. I’ll be taking one, possibly both to storage. I need a second garage.
Of course the battery was dead. These AGM’s are really horrible with storage. After clearing the car off (I recently had it painted and I’m ashamed of how I’m treating it) I rolled it out the garage to jump it with my pack.
Battery wasn’t just dead. It was buried in a moseleum. I tried the SC battery as well, still no dice. So I employed the G35.
Took the car for a spin. Its been a while since I felt some power. The G is such a dog by comparison.
I got the SC sideways in the garage. I’ll get it on stands tomorrow.
The other sway bar showed up, along with some other misc. stuff. I’m really looking forward to see how this thing handles with the new bars and solid bushings.
Gee
Haven’t moved the G35 in a long time. The FDF loosens up after a few miles, kills front tires, and makes the car feel like its totalled. I had parked it waiting for warm weather to go through it and tighten stuff. Last night I pulled the equips off. Two of the Grams have dead tires still from Fuel Fest so I put the VSXX on. The tire shop balanced them without me asking and destroyed my centers.
Trying to decide if I just do black replacements or red.
Turkey Butt…
Interior rounding out. Finished up the center console and dash pieces.
I was attempting to polish my shifter bezel and it got caught in the buffer. I’m going to have to glue it and do a Carbon overlay because prices on these have jumped.
Waiting on some interior clips to finish installing everything. I need to get some fiberglass to reinforce the door cards then wrap those and then I can turn my attention to the seats.
More interior…
Today I continued pulling parts to re wrap and clean up. I also pulled more of the old tint off. I’m still contemplating going with mirror, color, or just 50% ceramic to keep the interior from fading like it did.
I had flocked the center console grey. But it didn’t come out the way I anticipated and it didn’t stand up to use. So I started to remove the flocking so I can wrap it in the grey suede.
Started pulling old cloth off for fresh…
Pump up the jam, pump it up…
While your feet are stomping
And the jam is pumping
Look ahead, the crowd is jumpin’
Pump it up a little more
Get the party goin’ on the dance floor
See, ’cause that’s where the party’s at
And you’d find out if you do that
Parts for the electric PS are coming in…
Headlining…
Ran out of spray adhesive. More gets here Thursday. Which is fine, I broke all the clips and those will be there Friday.
I bought a LVLP paint gun, and got my Pops old gun and compressor. No more paint shops?
Wrap…
In this episode I fail.
Not completely… but partially.
I started wraping interior pieces. The lower portions came out well but the upsers were just too intricate for my skill level. Additionally the material was too light.
My truck keeps picking up nails.
The material for my headliner came in. Loving the color.
Steps back…
I finally found a method to attack this overspray. Razor blade, pick tool, masking tape, goof off auto gel, and steel wool.
Door sill gaskets I pulled off and scrubbed.
Under the car I sprayed with undercoat.
I took a break and started on the interior. I thought this would be motivational but I found quite a few issues. I thought the interior would be mostly dirty but I found that most of the bride material is sun faded as well as dirty. The body shop cracked the front of my seat, they had left the door open while it was in the shop and there’s a thick layer of shop dust and overspray all in the interior, the spot welds to bolt for the harness bar in the B pillar broke and it fell inside, the brackets to the radio broke while pulling it out. I had tried to flock the center console. But the adhesive wasn’t strong enough and the material is all over the interior. I’m going to have to order more cloth and redo all the parts that were already done. Ill also have to get better seat mounts to support the seat after I do some fiberglass repair.
While pulling the interior apart I found some stickers and passes from old drift series.
I bought a steam cleaner and some dye. Praying it comes out decent.
Ace Hood…
Wild how the vents look black in the shade. I’m going to need to make a drip tray for this so water stays out when it rains.
Moving this hood solo is a workout. It’s unbelievably large and heavy.
Also installed my HKS resevior socks.
Haitch Kay Ess…
I spent entirely too much for a timing belt and oil cap. But twas worth it.
I initially installed the belt “backwards”. It’s not like it would have affected the function but my ocd wouldn’t let me leave it alone. I took everything apart and reinstalled.
Moterr Mountzz…
The last time I drove the SC was US Air 2021.
I kept blowing intercooler couplers and there was there was a strange kickback on the gas pedal. Eventually my throttle cable broke. I initially suspected the motor mounts despite them being less than 2 years old. But visually they looked in great shape, and they passed the motor shake test inexplicably.
I suspected the traction control to be the culprit but bought some Silver mounts anyway just in case.
Today I finally got around to installing them and discovered BOTH mounts were completely broken.
Wild. I must have been driving on these for a LONG time. This also explains my broken and loosening power steering AN lines as well as my intercooler couplers blowing just from the engine movement. At one point I felt like the throttle was running away from me which also makes sense.
New mounts in. Now I can start reassembly in the bay. I will still be doing electric PS. My oem pump and Drift Motion pulley will be for sale.
Getting somewhere…
Today everything went pretty right.
I did a final coat of 2k clear on the engine bay and unmasked the engine to pull the valve covers off for paint.
I also got paint and clear on the hood and unmasked it to let it dry in the sun. Very ok with the results.
It was tempting to just slap the car together without these details but I’m glad I didn’t.
Cleaned and primed the valve covers.
Then got some color on them. Can’t wait to put the new 2500 twin turbo decals back on in the new colors and get this back on the motor.
Bathroom bumps…
Last night I went out with my homie and he ended up in the bathroom doing bumps with a Mexican cat. He became paranoid that MS13 was after him. After finally convincing him to leave I drove him home. We had to chill in the car so he could come down. The night ended with a pushup contest on the sidewalk. He owes me $200, because his Venmo wasn’t working.
Anyway. Here’s where the car is…
This feller was unpleasantly surprised when he got home.
#joyofpoo 
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