It's getting there...

I haven't posted in a while, but I have been working on the car. THis is where i have picked up some of my parts, the local u-pull-it junkyard.I finally fixed the sunroof, after pulling 2 of them at the yard I was able to replacing the existing rusty track. The actual sunroof panel is a bit rusty, so i will need to replace that as soon as i find one. A pic of the repaired multi colored car. I installed a metal bumper from the www.dirte30.blogspot.com for the time being. I think it loooks pretty good. Another shot, I still need a new front valence, the current one is still a bit deformed.

Upper radiator support welding

So i've spent the past 2 weeks gathering parts from the junkyard, and tonight i was finally able to get some work done on the car. I installed and welded the upper radiator support. THere was a bit of adjustment necessary to get things to fit, but i was rather surprised at how easily it all came together. I installed the drivers side fender. THe next step was to test fit the new headlights and grills. I had to re-use the front valence, and it was bent in some places. I straightened it as best as i could. You can see the areas where it is still not perfect, but i don't plan on keeping this piece forever. As soon as I find a plastic bumper and front valence at the junkyard I'm going to grab it, but for now, this should do. I found my fender for $40 on e30tech.com and i should have it by mid next week. I still need to re-wire the headlights, and install my temporary divingboard bumper. I'm hoping to be on the road a week from now.

Teardown

Ok, so i made it to the junkyard this past Saturday morning, and after about 4hrs, i picked up some of the parts i needed. I found a hood, radiator support, pass headlight, all 3 grill pieces, a fan shroud, and an uncracked intake boot. Over the past 2-3 weeks i began tearing down the car, and i was able to remove all of the damaged parts. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get pictures of the damage before i began workin on the car other than the ones I posted earlier. I was able to drill out the spot welds in the upper radiator support and remove it, which gave me access to the other damaged areas. The fender apron was pushed back quite a bit. With some patience and about 6-8 hrs of work i was able to put everything back to its original shape. Here you see the new Radiator support in place ready to be welded on.

The new project begins.

Lately my Alltrac has been giving me some trouble, so i have been looking on craigslist for a good daily driver project. I found a car that looked like it had some potential in little havanna. I went to look at it with Christy this past Wednesday, and decided that it would be a good buy. Saturday morninq Jimmy and I got up bright and early and we went to pick it up. Its a 1991 BMW 318 IS. It has had a lot of preventive maintenance done to it, but was recently in a bad fender bender. It has 197,xxx miles, New brakes, lines & rotors, new clutch, new used transmission, new brake and clutch master cylinder, and some other odds and ends. It was too good to pass up.