First, let me post a disclaimer that if you are expecting to see anything remotely as spectacular as Holder's E46 turbo build, please click here - http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=689216 - because you will be completely disappointed :)

That said, here goes.

I bought the car back in November with the intent to build a dedicated track car. It is a 95' M3 with 157k miles on the ticker. The previous owner was the poster child for "poor maintainence". Wheel bearing were shot, brakes were warped and worn, diff was clunky, ALL bushings were toast (the rear felt like you were ice skating under acceleration). Luckily I was more interested in a straight chassis, and that it was.

After stripping the interior, I finally started working on the rear section of the cage. Once my new 1.75" bending die arrives in the next few weeks, I'll start on the main hoop and such.

I'm going to run a true coilover set up in the rear, so I've reenforced the towers with .125 4130 plate, and have tied the tubing into the subframe points. I'm going to go with 1.75" .095 wall DOM for the car and 4130 for all of the plating. All welding is TIG.

Looks like a great start and nice welding.

ahh you're local. who's doing the cage? apex?

dude that looks nice,
welds look clean.

Are you completely redoing the engine? What did it run you for a beat down M3?

ahh you're local. who's doing the cage? apex?

Nope, I'm doing the cage. They actually did the cage in my Type R years ago (I think there are pics on their site still).

Are you completely redoing the engine? What did it run you for a beat down M3?

I picked it up for $8k after all was said and done. I've sold about $2k in parts off of it (Schnitzer wheels, seats, door panels, etc.) so that has further helped offset the price. Structurally it was great, just needed a lot of maintainence.

What kind of shocks are you running (rear specifically)?

Did you not drill the mounting holes yet for the rear shocks or is nit just a weird angle of the picture?

Have fun, looks like a great start.

starting out nice. I see that you are in San Diego, you should join up with us other local e36ers on socale36.com. We meet wednesday in clairemont mesa off the 163 if u wanna come by and meet us. Id like to see the car when its all done

nice welding

What kind of shocks are you running (rear specifically)?

Did you not drill the mounting holes yet for the rear shocks or is nit just a weird angle of the picture?

I plan on running the Moton Club Sports. And no, the mounting holes have not been drilled yet, just very small pilot holes.

agreed, very nice welds...looks like its going to be a nice build

Very cool!!! Good luck - looks like a great start!

I wish I had the skill to build my own car - but I don't!

btw, the welds will be much nicer over the next few weeks :) I haven't welded any tubing for almost a year now, so Im pretty rusty. Plus, I'm 6'4", and if you've TIG welded before, you know how hard it can be to contort yourself into the proper position inside of an E36 trunk, while holding the torch, filler rod and pressing the pedal with your foot, lol :)

Plus, I have realized the hell that is known as "body seam sealer". Talk about a quick way to foul a weld when trying to plate to the factory sheet metal... Now I know why people acid dip these things before seam welding, heh.