Well I wanted to post this for 2 reasons.. To help build up our new section ... And to show you guys what I have done to the "Old Grey Goose" so far..
My $350 project from he!!

The motor supposedly had a blown head gasket. When I pulled the head off the valves and pistons had trespassed on each other. Nasty mess for sure..

So, right after yanking the engine.
http://home.comcast.net/~sreed124/S5301382.JPG

Here is the rest of the story..
http://home.comcast.net/~sreed124/S5301291-2.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~sreed124/S5301288-2.jpg

Pressure washed engine bay FTW !!!!
http://home.comcast.net/~sreed124/S5301381-2.jpg

The mighty eta replacement ! By the grace of good friends this was free if I went to a Nashville shop and picked it up.. Here it is !
http://home.comcast.net/~sreed124/S5301394.JPG

Then it was time to prep for paint It needed worse than anything..
I spent about 28-30 hrs over many, many days to get this car clean enough for paint.. Fixing as many things body wise that I could.. I had never done this so for a first time...I didn't do to awfully bad..
This is about halfway thru what I did...
http://home.comcast.net/~sreed124/S5301521-2.jpg

Then, off to the paint shop ! When she returns...DELPHIN METTALIC FTW !!!
http://home.comcast.net/~sreed124/S5301529sm.jpg

After some booth time, before I go home with it...
http://home.comcast.net/~sreed124/paint4.jpg

At this point I'm trying to get the windshield back in..( finally did last night !)
http://home.comcast.net/~sreed124/S5301553.JPG

And doing some soundproofing and insulation..
http://home.comcast.net/~sreed124/S5301556-2.jpg

That is pretty much up to date.. I still have many things to do even to get the inside ready to re-install... I have a new headliner (already done) and new carpet.. Some used leatherette sport seats I bought from a forum member. And a ton of stuff I bought my way into the doghouse with ..:rolleyes :(

And one last note.. All of you know Ely, he has been the biggest help to me with all the mechanical expertise.. We have a couple of surprises to come as of yet.. It's slowly turning into a monster of sorts.. Once I finish assembling everything and get it back to being a drivable car.. We are doing some engine work in the near future..

And doing some soundproofing and insulation..

No need for that! :) I am really glad I didnt buy that car Steve. The motor issue would have made it a sour deal for me...even though it would have been replaced with a different motor soon after the purchase and restoration process. Looks good!

Josh K

No need for that! :) I am really glad I didnt buy that car Steve. The motor issue would have made it a sour deal for me...even though it would have been replaced with a different motor soon after the purchase and restoration process. Looks good!

Josh K
It has turned into a bigger project than I wanted at the time.. But the car has grown on me, now, It's gonna be one of the nicest E30s you'll find...(I hope)

Again, thanks to good friends ...I have a Euro 323i head to bolt on soon.. A different intake and afm.. Should make a big difference in this old car.. Zoom, zoom, zoom...(screw mazda)...lol

Steve

How much was the paint job? Anyone have a hook up for decent paint jobs?

Yeah, second Joe's question. Ratty still needs a paintjob.

Looks good! I think I might be starting an e30 project of my own soon... either turn my e30 into my track car or I might be picking up a 325is with the broken timing belt mod. Man that motor is messed up on your car!

looking good steve!

Thanks guys, I paid $800 for the paint.. Wasn't a top dollar job but for my needs it is sufficient.. I had ask for plenty of clearcoat and he got so much on it there are a couple of runs..

Not a big deal it was buffed out pretty well

looking good, oh I think you'll love the 323i head once we get it tossed on.

looking good, oh I think you'll love the 323i head once we get it tossed on.

what are the advantages of the 323i head?

bigger ports, hotter cam, dual valve springs, 50-70 hp bolt on modification to an eta block. I did basically the same thing to my engine but modified the 325e head to beyond 323i specs.

hows that new bad boy of yours running anyway?

800? Really? How long did it take? I'm just looking to get my flat black job re-done in satin/semi gloss black with no clear coat.

why dont you want clear coat?

More cost. Plus it'd be kind of pointless to have a smooth clear coat on a flat black car, at least for me.

go to peaches if you trying to cut so many corners... they'll paint your car for like 200 dollars.
it wont be the best job in the world, but they'll do it.

also, kayla's cousin has his own body shop at his house. its not the best thing in the world when it comes to paint, but he'll do it. Probably won''t charge you much either, i'd say give him 100 bucks and pay for all the paint and he'll spray it any color you want.
i'd say its better then peaches

Thanks for the heads up on Kayla's cousin, now I just need to find a place that carries John Deere Blitz Black by the gallon.

have you tried that place on ringgold road? i think its called chattanooga body supplies or something like that....

PPG paint can make you most any color.. I think they are on 20th St. Or used to be..

Cool. JD Blitz Black is really cheap though, and durable as all hell. I think the only places that carry it are JD sales/service places, which shouldn't be that hard to find.

your car would look good in black with a really nice gloss... as long as you took care of it. Because black with those wheels of yours = sex

UPDATE !!

I can't throw the pics up right now, But I have the carpet in and the back seats and side panels.. The drivers seat is in temp so I could move the car around.. Then before I can get any further Ely comes along and wants to yank the rear subframe out... So now it is all laying on my driveway in pieces... Big pieces...

Oh my, what will I do???????

looking good. I really want to do a project like this, maybe with a engine that is in a tad bit better condition, or if I can find some friends like yours. Keep us posted.

looking good. I really want to do a project like this, maybe with a engine that is in a tad bit better condition, or if I can find some friends like yours. Keep us posted.

Thanks, it was more than I realized at first but it will serve fine for a track/beater car to run around in...

I now have it at about 93% complete... Mostly trim and some smaller inside components left to do..

I plan to drive it to the club picnic 9-16 if any of you are going to be there...

I ended up with an 87 model eta engine with a euro head fixing to go on it... Already put in a 3.46lsd so it will be fast enuf for me..