Hard to believe it’s been three months since updating here so here’s a little update in chronological order of events to get up to speed.
I got my wheels back from powder coating and couldn’t be happier with the eggshell white finish. I’ve opted to run the full set of 18’s after seeing how they look on the car. I love my Style 32’s but I won’t mind having a pair of nice wheels as backup.
Then saw this pop up on a local BMW drift page on Facebook for sale. Ad essentially said, “Don’t know what car this comes from, likely fits an e36”. I am pleased to announce that this wing does indeed fit an e36 and I’m loving what it adds to the rear.
I then had a friend 3D print me vent delete plates for my kill switch and my switch panel. This was my friends first go at taking a “client” order and I was extremely happy with the results. I’ll have to get a separate shot of the plate he made to accept my switch panel as well.
Pictured is my driver side block-off plate with the kill switch.
For documenting purposes I was unfortunately at the stage of the build where I just rolled up my sleeves and finally stopped procrastinating (and by “I” it’s more my awesome friends who came through to help big time and I’m very appreciative). I FINALLY GOT THE ENGINE IN. It’s my first ever project of this sort of scale and man what a rush of joy and sense of accomplishment something like this gives people.
Even though he won’t see this I got to show off one of my best friends, Robert (on the right of this shot). He has helped make a lot my progress possible and has always been the voice of reason when necessary to help keep me on track with the build haha. I’m sure everyone here has their own Robert who always pulls through.
Pretty much the only shot I got of working on the car during the day. Everything fit up so perfectly it was satisfying to see how well the engine clearances all around. The perks of having a ready to-go swap kit I guess lol. Zero firewall hammering necessary so I’d call that a success.
Engine install day was not without its speed bumps though. In my previous photo you can see I have that diy angle kit I found out about through a YouTube video with my white cut knuckles strapped on. Well to make it quick and to the point: unfortunately the kit didn’t work out for me. I couldn’t figure it out at all after a week of searching for answers and in the end I found that answer.
I said screw trying to Frankenstein something together and saw someone local was selling an essentially brand new FDF angle kit that he had only installed and never run.
Here are a few shots of everything mounted up with my BC coilovers all installed.
Front end is 95% complete and I couldn’t be happier! So happy with overall progress. The car is a trans mount away front being dropped for the first time in two years and sent out for a new floor at my friends shop.
Finally got around to getting tires for my wheels as the car is ready to go back down soon. Bought two Hankook RS4’s for the front and some cheap 90$ tires to burn. Also my budget couldn’t take a full set of RS4’s lol.
Of course a fitment check was in order and it’s pretty tasty if I do say so. Waiting on spacers and fender flares to come in for the front before I can show some fitment shots of that.
To end this update off I found older shots of my first ever time working on a car when I had my first 318is coupe about 3-4 years ago. Embarrassingly it took me quite literally all afternoon, on to around 9:30-10pm to get all four corners done for my Raceland install day. Amazing to look back and see what you’re able to do now comparatively (as well as how much faster).
