This trunk was so junky. Rusty and the spare wheel well was all beat and dented from me backing into a bank turn 1 E-town. So I prepped it as best I could and patchwelded some holes. I also cut two holes for the ps lines. I wanted to remove the vents but all the screws were stripped.

While that dried I moved on to the rear wheel well which was full of overspray. Even my coils. I used goof off to scrub them down and sprayed undercoating.

Midnight Purp up next. Supra rear calipers are on their way. My factory ones are done for. The pins are completely corroded and the hydro is sluggish as a result.

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.

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.

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.

…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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

I need to update this, but its the SC plan…