Tuesday, June 5th.
Hi. I bought this car may 6, 2007, was validated a membership here today after a month, haha. I just turned 16, bought the car by myself. Got it for $1000. I am actually more of an "Jap" import person, I was planning on getting a Subaru Impreza GC8, but this car is too dope. I came up from working on E30 bimmers, so I have to love them.

Its an Arctic blue 1984 633CSi, 140K, with 5spd manual, and beige interior, and comfort seats. Its not in the great condition, but Im going to fix it up. I am planning to mod it a lot too.

I had some problems when I bought the car. The second day I had it, it would not start. turned out to be an ignition switch. Last week it would not start, my own fault, battery died.

Recently, I went to the junkyard and bought an ashtray, and window switch. Next week, im going back, and picking up a few BMW wheels off of E30's.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v369/B18c5/05-07-07_1627-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v369/B18c5/05-07-07_1632-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v369/B18c5/05-29-07_1848.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v369/B18c5/05-07-07_1635.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v369/B18c5/05-21-07_1655.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v369/B18c5/05-21-07_1654.jpg

Tuesday, July 10th.
I have also got a few parts since the last time I posted. I got an ignition switch, and a passenger side speaker cover. The car has been running real good, I was driving it a lot yesterday.

I am also getting the nose sheet metal in this week, so the shark nose will be fixed!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v369/B18c5/07-10-07_1748.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v369/B18c5/07-10-07_1749.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v369/B18c5/07-10-07_1750.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v369/B18c5/07-10-07_1751.jpg

Friday, July 13th.
Also, look what came in the mail yesterday!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v369/B18c5/NOSEPanel.jpg

Saturday, July 21st.
Hey. Once again got new parts. Last Saturday my friend gave me a free shift knob. Way better than my old one, it would just fly off.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v369/B18c5/4b32b26e0da8.jpg

Today I got a front passenger side bumper blind thing. Putting it on very
soon.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v369/B18c5/0a5a3c68455e.jpg

I also got a chance to clean the interior out real well, spent about $30.00 on cleaning supplies, and the leather still had dirt. Thats alright, it looked way better than before.

Friday, August 10th.
More Parts!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v369/B18c5/LightedSwitches.jpg
Lighted Window Switches...I have all 7.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v369/B18c5/NewRims2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v369/B18c5/NEWRims1.jpg
New Rims...OZ Racing MSW...Also notice the new bumper blind, still have to hammer the fender a little to get it straightened out.

I also got new interior parts, passenger side door handle trim, and the drivers door panel carpet. No pictures of that yet.

The nose should be fixed soon hopefully.

Thursday, August 23rd.
I got a few new pictures. Nothing has been done to the car lately, besides its fluids being changed. Im getting quite a few parts in tomorrow.

Parts List:
Interior B-Pillars
Trunk Carpet
Drivers Side Turning Lens
Kidney Grills
Drivers Side Headlight Grill
Black Floor Mats

I'm still waiting on getting that front fix, but I just cleared my Garage out to make room for my car, so that should be very soon.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v369/B18c5/1-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v369/B18c5/2.jpg

Sunday, August 26th.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v369/B18c5/12.jpg
Rust work has begun.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v369/B18c5/14.jpg
Me and my friends 7er, and you can barely see but his torn apart 5er in the garage.

Tuesday, August 28th.
Hey all. So i'm planning on doing some parts in my car suede, and I had an old B-Pillar lying around with torn leather. I got the suede, and practiced on the B-Pillar with it.

Turned out alright. Now hopefully next time it will be better, no little imperfections. I did learn a lot though. Pretty straight forward, and a cool upgrade for any car.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v369/B18c5/17.jpg
Suede Pillar
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v369/B18c5/15.jpg
Old pillar and new pillar.

I also replaced my old passenger side B-Pillar.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v369/B18c5/16.jpg
Before.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v369/B18c5/18.jpg
After.

Saturday, September 1st.
We started cutting out and griding the rust. Tackled a lot. On Monday we are fiberglassing and cleaning it all up. Me and my friend also installed a cd played yesterday. Backlight is orange/red, so it matches the car well. No pictures of that yet.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v369/B18c5/19.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v369/B18c5/20.jpg

Monday, September 3rd.
Today, I finished off the undercoating I had to peel off. What a B****, haha. took me hours with a chisel. Anyways, after that, I masked the trouble areas up, and my engine, and than I learned how to sandblast. After that I sandblasted all the rust, and all the edges, etc.

Than I had to go to work, left my friends the car and they friends did the fiberglass. Dope ass job, and its not even finished yet. One fender down, one more to go.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v369/B18c5/21.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v369/B18c5/22.jpg

Im getting some money tomorrow, and am thinking about starting a whole suspension overhaul, since the body work is finally being done in the coming weeks.

I want to do springs, shocks, sway bars, strut bars, and replace some of the old suspension parts, like control arms, bushings, and things like that.

Could you guys give me some input on that?

Also, I got the mats, grills, and turning signal lens in today. :buttrock

Here is an article on rebuilding the front end to give you an idea of what is involved and how it all works and what you might need:

http://aaron.aussiefiverdriver.com/Front%20End%20Rebuild.htm

The link in the above article to the thrust arms section is broken, here it is:

http://aaron.aussiefiverdriver.com/Control%20Arms.htm

The parts, (less the springs and shocks) are $425 from steve Haygood using Meyle parts, including the Meyle thrust arms with the heavy duty "750 style" thrust bushings pre-installed so there is no press required, just bolt them in. If you are on a budget, you can save $96 if the lower control arms are still good.

Gotto give you props on all that work. Good job. I'm 17 so for a whipper snapper like you to do all that gets me all jealous ;)

Way to go for all the teens buying and fixing up these old hulks. I also am 16 (17 next month) and am doing an engine swap and mostly complete restoration of my car. This means I can't drive it. Actually, I haven't driven it at all yet.

Thanks for all your comments.

I'm trying to restore before I mod it.

Tomorrow is FIBERGLASS!

BTW, update added.

I'm 18and fixing up my 635...

Update! One fender has been fixed!

you might be better off finding a clean parts car or replacement fenders --fiberglassing rust holes is ghetto

Yeah, from your picture, I worry about the rust under the fender in the inner fender. It is just going to erupt through the fiberglass in six months to a year from now if it isn't all cut out.

Oh no we cut all the inner fender rust out. After that, i took off all the undercoating and sandblasted it. We still have to fiberglass it with that heavy duty strong fiberglass from the bottom.

Replacement fenders would be a good idea, but its OK. We like the challenge and the work.

So glad to hear that! Sounds like you're trying to be thorough.

FYI, Don't run it around much in primer. Most people don't realize that primer is porous and not water proof. Moisture can get under it and start rusting again! If you can't paint it right away, rattle can a temporary top coat until you can.

Thursday, September 14th.
Well I worked on the car last Saturday. Did not get as much as expected one because of work. I also parked my car inside of my friends garage since we are starting on that front clip.

I checked with my friends yesterday and he went to work on the car. Took of the spoiler, steel bumper, guards, radiator fan, hood, headlight buckets, and a few other things. So on Saturday we will be cutting the old front off. While I finish sandblasting and fiberglass.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v369/B18c5/26.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v369/B18c5/27.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v369/B18c5/28.jpg

BTW, here is my friend Beto's new ride. They had been working on that on and off with my 6, and after about 3 weeks its finally done and running again. It had a lot of rust problems, holes and such, but those were all taken care of.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v369/B18c5/24.jpg

It wont let me edit my original post!:help

Whoa Dude!

Stop, wait and let me come see how you are progressing! Im in the NW burbs, I think we chatted on another forum earlier. I definitely want to see the progress first hand. Maybe I can lend a hand.

Im doing my brakes this weekend, and will have mine up doing some additional preventative maintenance myself. Lets trade some rebuild stories!!

So it has been a while since I have posted. My car is still not done. The fenders, and hood need some more work, and they are ready for primer.

We have been drilling out the spot welds from the Nose Panel, to put the new one in.

After we get that on, we we are going to fiberglass some rust around the rocker panel, and the passenger side door, around the mirror. So about 2-3 weeks left hopefully.

Since than I have bought and been given few parts.
-Front bumper valance
-Rear sidemarker
-Short Shifter
-Clear Euro Lenses
-Sports Steering Wheel

Also, I blacked out my grills, not the kidneys though.

Im working on getting a chip from Korman racing, but I gotta rip my ecu out and see if its a plug in or not.

Check with D'Sylva about a chip for the early cars, this is on the E.A.T Chip web site: http://www.dsylva-tech.ca/

"Are you interested in a chip for the 0 261 200 008 DME as used in the 83 and 84 3.3l motor? Please email if so. Field testing starts April 30, 2006."

Sunday, November 25th.

So, we are pretty close to welding. We finished straightening out everything, and this coming weekend we are welding the new front end. After that we got a few more weeks of work on it.

New Parts:
K&N Air Filter

Parts Ordered:
AC Belt
PS Belt
Alternator Belt
Fuse Box Cover
Fuel Filter

Here are some pictures.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v369/B18c5/30.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v369/B18c5/31.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v369/B18c5/32.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v369/B18c5/33.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v369/B18c5/36.jpg

DNA of my car. I found it stuck onto the back of the rear seat. Pretty cool.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v369/B18c5/35.jpg

I removed the front seat, rear seat, and rear left panels to remove the window motor and bracket. On the rear left side rocker panel, right before the wheel, some rust ate my car. So we are going to fiberglass that up as well. I was removing the motor and what not, so I could sandblast without hurting the motor, and so we can fiberglass from inside the car too.

I have to give it to you, body work scares me. I have no problem taking on an engine, trans, or whatever, the body scares me. That I will have to pay for.

Well Im learning, and so are my friends. They have no prior experience to bodywork like this before either. The Body Shop quoted me $4,000 for the front end work, and paint. So far, I am at about $460.

BTW, I hate body work. But through this whole thing, I have learned not to give up, and just try something. Like not being afraid to do major work on my car. Not being scared to take a chance.

Awesome, congrats on the dedication

Look what I got. :devillook

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v369/B18c5/TURBI.jpg

Too small, might have a bigger one this weekend. :evil2

Well Im learning, and so are my friends. They have no prior experience to bodywork like this before either. The Body Shop quoted me $4,000 for the front end work, and paint. So far, I am at about $460.

BTW, I hate body work. But through this whole thing, I have learned not to give up, and just try something. Like not being afraid to do major work on my car. Not being scared to take a chance.


This is great to hear. Kudos to you guys!

Working on cars really does teach lots of good lessons. Just think of what's required: patience, perseverence, problem solving, mental and physical endurance, artful cursing, time management, financial strategizing. These are important things.

Top stuff mate. Keep this thread going, its great to see what you're accomplishing and I look forward to seeing this car getting better and better.
The car is lucky to have found you! :thumbup:

This is great to hear. Kudos to you guys!

Working on cars really does teach lots of good lessons. Just think of what's required: patience, perseverence, problem solving, mental and physical endurance, artful cursing, time management, financial strategizing. These are important things.

I think the cursing is more blatant than artful.

Great job guys way to rescue a car that was bound to be sold for parts or worse if you had not intervened.

Dwight

Keep up the good work man! Thats impressive. I'm about to tackle the front sheetmetal myself.....lol

Keep updating!

The art is in knowing when to be blatant about it.:cool

Hey donfather-

Progress looks great on the car! One thing im fearing is doing bodywork myself, but i think it would be neat to try with the right tools!

Sorry about the wait, but ive got that seat leather ready for you. Check your pm's, i sent you one with my number, give me a call anytime...

-Jeff

LOL - Great thread - love to see people who aren't afraid to dive in!

Pix?

Thanks everybody.

Honestly, I think if you choose bodywork as one of your projects, it makes any other project a hell of a lot easier. Personally, I think it is the most difficult, and biggest bitch out of all. :D

BTW, we welded a bit in the front nose today, and tried to finish rocker panel.

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/8068/38hl0.jpg
Before.
http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/6489/40rv3.jpg
During.
http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/7174/41rb9.jpg
Almost done.
http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/5481/39yn0.jpg
Some friends.
http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/5932/42ok4.jpg
Same guy with the Primer E30.
http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/5697/43ie8.jpg
Same guy with the golden e23.

Were getting close to finish......I think.

nice job, im in the same boat doing lots of body work and wow it is a b****. btw any chance you are under 20?

I have to do the bodywork myself for my kit. I plan on finding a body kit I really like to modify to fit to my car.

Very nice Acorn, fiberglass will be your best friend.

I am 16 to be exact.

The picture with the car in primer out in the snow and slush reminded me of something.

Don't drive or let a car sit out in primer and repeatedly get wet. Primer is porous (that is why the top coat sticks to it) and not actually water proof so water can eventually penetrate underneath and start rusting under the paint.

Yea his primer has got fucked up already haha. Hes got little bity rust posts. It does not bother him much, he'll just fix it.

Thats the way we look at everything. :D

Looking good!

Not only is primer porous but body filler is as well. Body filler should not be used to patch holes as it can absorb moisture from the back side and cause rust to reappear quickly. If body filler is used to patch holes , it needs to be sealed and coated on the backside.

Actually, I was planning on finding a urethane kit to use. Much more durable, can withstand impact. Unless I can find out from a good source that Vfiber is easily worked with. (sorry for the threadjack)

Saturday, March 22nd.
Updated. A lot has been done.

-All rust has been fiberglassed+bondo.
-Front nose is welded on.
-Drivers seat is being fixed.(Got a seat bottom from JB)
-Sandblasted Headlight Buckets+Mirrors
-Previous rust areas+fiberglassed painted with sealer.(Forgot the name, but it takes away rust, and keeps it away)

Misc:
-Zender Body Kit(Junkyard) A STEAL!!
-Rear Center Console
-Belts removed
-Pinstripes Removed(Got new gold ones)
-Rust Paint applied inside a few areas.
-Undercoating(Just caulking so far)

-Wheels

Parts:
-Drivers Seat Bottom
-Headlight Bucket
-ST sway bars coming
-Zender kit
-Rear Console
-VDO Gauges + VDO Clock
-18" BBS for fun
-Monza Exhaust Tips

Thats about all I can think of right now. We have been working pretty well lately, but we need to get the final details on the bondo done, and than we can put some primer down. Cant wait to take the car out again, i miss it.

Only teaser for the rims. Tehe. :evil: They are 3pc.

Yesterday
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v369/B18c5/teaser3.jpg
Week and a half ago.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v369/B18c5/Teaser2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v369/B18c5/Teaser.jpg

Tomorrow, I am going to start putting the rear interior back together. I took apart the drivers side rear window motor, and the panels. Got to put that back together and the seats. Probably some other things too.

BBS 17" wheels? =)

Funny how these cars inspire some sort of insane love...

Monday, April 14th.
Everything has been going well. We are almost done prepping every area for paint. A lot has to be painted, including parts that are not on the car. So far we are pretty much done prepping, might start painting this weekend, other than that, no more major projects. All the bondo/putty, and fiberglass is done.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v369/B18c5/car6.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v369/B18c5/car7.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v369/B18c5/car8.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v369/B18c5/car9.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v369/B18c5/car10.jpg

Nice Work