American Hot Boi e36

jo_nathon

jo_nathon

Member
Hi everyone!
My name is JoNathon and I'm from Kentucky. I've been working on my build for quite a while now and just now getting around to making a build thread. It was a 97 318 vert but now a 95 318 coupe that I've shoved a ford small block 302 in. It has a good mix or Euro drift, early 2000s D1, and american muscle all in one. Which was my goal from the beginning. I also daily a 318 sedan/saloon which will be my clean and low yet simple car. Fell free to let me know what you think.

here's how its sitting currently

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started its life as a completely stock single owner 318i
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changed the wheels and installed coilovers
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my son really wants to help build the car so i let him help of course
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It has been between 4 and 20 degrees F for the past few weeks and I finally got around to getting my new shop cleaned out enough to move my car inside to start working on it again.
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Got the wheels mounted back on and off of jack stands for the first time in about a month.
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Had to push the car in with the front of my truck due to no help on the only semi warm day I had off work. It actually worked great.
The car is now in the shop and Ive started working on it again. Can't wait to get heat in the shop.
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Got my compbrake pedal box installed and lines ran.
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Did the mandatory rear camber arm upgrade.
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The interior finally looks like a car again.
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Turbo mocked up
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A family friend painted my helmet by hand for me. Possibly the coolest thing I've ever had done. He's also doing all of my vinyl for the car.
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And I finally organized my tool room and tire shed! No more searching for junk.
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Made a little pit of progress over the weekend. Got the front end cut and prepped for the tube front and got the front suspension adjusted for max angle/lock. Even took off the front fenders to clearance them more for the tires. Turns out that it was the first time the fenders had ever been removed. had to cut the factory undercoating away that was holding the fenders on at the bottom.
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Jelous of the shop bro, now all you need is a lift! Nice looking build so far..I can hear the bald eagle screaming already haha what wheels are on the front in the first pic?
 
drews472 said:
Jelous of the shop bro, now all you need is a lift! Nice looking build so far..I can hear the bald eagle screaming already haha what wheels are on the front in the first pic?
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I wish I had a lift! The wheels in the front are some older XXRs. The rears are 10th anniversary cobra mustang wheels.
 
Well, took the car completely apart and probably going to scrap the shell. I got a good deal on a fairly clean coupe and will be swapping everything over. Totally bad timing since the season is about to start.
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The new coupe
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Also got in a package from Lithuania. My CliqTuning skirts came in!
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Got some extra spares too.
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And wired in my headlights.
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My new Gauge pod came in and I think I'm going to like it.
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Also loaded all of my suspension, wheels, and overs to take to work so i can put them on the new car and use a lift.
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managed to get my NP Parts lock kit, Condor Speed shop Bushings, J2 Coilovers with RacingSprings.com springs, XXR wheels, reinforcement plats, and other goodies installed over the past 2 long nights. even managed to swap in the whole rear subframe and components from the old car.
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Got the m42 pulled last night. Gotta take a couple days off from working on it but will be back full force to get it prepped and drop the 302 in. The season is coming up super fast.
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Also managed to make a rough rendering of how my livery will be. keep in mind that the blue will have stars cut out for the white to show through. Gotta show some American flare.
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Took a break from working on the car this past weekend and went hiking. Managed to find a beautiful waterfall and a cliff about 200ft (60meters) off the ground.
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Sunday after church was full force on the racecar again.
Set up my battery kill.
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Deleted the ABS.
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And dropped in the engine.
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Finally got my front wheels sand blasted so I could paint them a dark gunmetal.
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new sticker!
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got all of the fuel system ran and buttoned up
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had to use the old vacuum gauge trick to finding top dead center to get it all timed.
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got both radiator hoses made and they actually turned out pretty good
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It was pretty hot out this past sunday so all I managed to do was put body panels on.
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