Operation - BMW

[Chauncey]

As some of you know, and some of you don't, my wanna be "hotrod" project is a 1985 BMW 325e.  I've had it for 6 years now as it was given to me as a college graduation present, back in the day.  It's been sitting under a tarp for the last 5-6 years and earlier this spring, with some encouraging from my "brothers", it was finally unveiled to the world.  The project is officially underway, but thanks to getting back to work and spring being the busiest time for my job, I've been working weekends for the past month or so.  Although keeping busy with work has allowed me to get some of the financial stuff squared away and I'll be able to actually buy things for the project now, so that's a plus!

Anywho, here she is:



And here's the "story":

Our family's old pastor from North Branch purchased the car sometime in the late 90's I believe from a dealer in Forest Lake.  It was (and still is) a pretty snazzy looking little guy.  He drove it for a while I guess until a few mechanical things went haywire and he couldn't, or chose not to, keep up with the little repairs all the time.  So he basically gave it to my dad in exchange for some services around the house, or something like that.  Anywho, it's been in our family for a number of years now.  I drove it to school a few times while I was attending Mora.  However, my dad's ex-gf drove it for the most part.  I'm not sure if it had always run rough or not, but I don't think I've personally ever driven it under full power.  It seemed to always have a miss or something and just never seemed right.  All I remember is that it was pretty darn quick for a car that wasn't 100%.

[Chauncey]

So the ex-gf used it as a daily driver for a year or so I think.  Meanwhile running it dangerously low, if not empty, on oil.  Not once, but twice.  Needless to say, it fried the rings (and probably other things), or so we think, as the engine that was in it had almost no compression at all.  And the auto tranny that was attached to it had a main seal go out I guess, so that needed to be fixed or replaced as well.  So while it was running, this tranny seal that went bad caused countless amounts of ATF to leak/spray all over the bottom of the car.  Sounds cruddy, but I think it actually kept most of the car from rusting, which is nice.

So my dad and I found an engine and tranny combo on eBay that was located near Cleveland, OH.  It was the same size engine and car, only it had a 5-spd attached to it.  We scored it for a good price and made a road trip out to get it.  Took his Ford Ranger with a snowmobile trailer behind and drove straight there and straight back, taking turns driving and snoozing.  We now had basically everything we needed to get the car running and back to life.  Unfortunately, I dove into it head first, but with my eyes closed.  I started way too many small projects on it and got overwhelmed fast.  And this was all before even attempting the motor swap. 

I failed miserably.  And then it sat.  For 6 years.  Until now.

[Chauncey]

I get by with a lotta help from my friends.

[NCHKustoms]

OOoOOOooo look at my build thread.. OOOoOOooOOOO 

here we go!!

[Chauncey]

I'll end you so fast.

Hey, how about if/when we get the spare straight-six back in, and banking on it actually running, we line up our straight-sixes and see what happens.  Can't race BMW and SHO anymore, so it might as well be the Granada GT!  Haha.

[Chauncey]

Possibilities for wheels:







Disregard the speedy photoshop job.  Just enough to get the point across for now.

[hillbilly les]

bottom definitly

[Krandall]

Yeah the black w/ the black trim really looks SA WEEEEEEEEEEEEEET


photochop those windows black now to set the tint on them suckas!!

[Chauncey]

So, almighty wise one (Papa Chaunce), here's my dilemma:

Of course after photoshopping them I also like the black the best.  However, these rims are like 6-7 years old and are somewhat hard to find.

I can get the red ones and the yellow ones in a 4x100 bolt pattern (for the BMW), but the black ones are only available in a 5 bolt.  Or at least that's what's left.

So, I was talking to Randy about it and was thinking I could just buy 4 of the red ones in the correct bolt pattern and paint over the red parts.  I'd have to mask off all of the brushed aluminum parts of course, but I could then make them any color I want, right?  Is there any special paint that I'd need to use on wheels?  I know that aluminum requires powedercoating or anodizing, but if they're already painted I'd assume I can just cover that existing paint with some black.

Confused yet?  Hopefully not.  Would appreciate any suggestions.

Thanks!

[hillbilly les]

not a problem  im sure there coated allready maybe some epoxy and bozinga   done and then saweeeet

[Farmboy]

i was lookin at this build again and wonderin whats the deal with the orange jump suit?

[hillbilly les]

didnt know they made them that tall  (carrot covers)

[Chauncey]

i was lookin at this build again and wonderin whats the deal with the orange jump suit?

Scored it for cheap at a thrift store.  Figured I'd keep my regular clothes clean and wear that.  And look cool at the same time, of course.  Gonna get some NCH patches on it or something.

[Farmboy]

ive seen these before, i was on a lil vacation for 47 days, ya thats what we will call it, a vacation 

[Krandall]

ive seen these before, i was on a lil vacation for 47 days, ya thats what we will call it, a vacation