Joe's E36 M3 Coupe Journal

cblock · Thu, Oct-01-2015, 05:51:41 PM

How's the project coming? I'd love to check this out sometime, are you actually in Seattle?

TheGenius46M · Sat, Oct-03-2015, 12:17:25 PM

Looks to be a promising project op. Best of luck, and it sounds like good things are about to come!

JitteryJoe · Sun, Oct-04-2015, 11:16:30 PM

Progress is being made but it is slow. I can grab 4-8 hours per weekend.
This weekend I got the struts off & front sub frame dropped. I'm almost to the point where the tear down is complete. I just have to dismantle the front & rear sub frames and suspension into their piece parts. Also, I'm not sure if the gas tank has to come out. I don't know if a welder will weld in the RTAB reinforcements with the tank in.

Yes, I am in Seattle, Central District.

Here is the front sub frame out. I torn down the brakes, removed the calipers, pulled the wheel bearings, and removed the struts first. Each step I learn more about how these cars are put together.

Front sub frame out:

There is a big empty hole here:

JitteryJoe · Thu, Dec-24-2015, 09:56:04 PM

Finally getting rebuilt parts back. Slow and steady is the game.
I got my rebuilt axles back from Butters Stoch today. The subframe and suspension parts are being finished up at powder coat shop, and diff is being finished up. So things are staring to come together, albeit slowly.
Also waiting on a SuperSprint end-to-end euro exhaust system that I picked up at one of the Christmas sales.

Evtron · Fri, Dec-25-2015, 06:07:38 AM

Awesome project! I love that you're knocking everything out all at once. Motivates me to make moves and knock out the bigger stuff. Have you started tearing down the motor yet?

JitteryJoe · Sun, Jan-31-2016, 10:39:20 PM

Waiting on the mobile welder to get the AKG Rear Trailing Arm Pocket Reinforcement plates installed. The only time I'm not working and he is available is President's Day (Feb 15). So everything kind of ground to a halt. The good news is that the front and rear subframe reinforcements plates are welded in and all the sub frame & suspension parts, and the brake calipers are back from powder coating. The Super Sprint Euro headers, mid pipe, and race exhaust arrived as did the M50 manifold I got off EBay.
SAP delete arrived as well.
Found someone to do the engine work. Just have to figure out how deep I'm going to go $$-wise.

JitteryJoe · Mon, Feb-15-2016, 05:50:19 PM

Finally got someone to weld in the Rear Trailing Arm Pocket Reinforcement plates. Whew! Now I can start the suspension installation.

Mike the Welder doing his stuff.

NolliM3 · Thu, Mar-10-2016, 03:16:09 AM

Nice progress...keep it coming...liked the idea of your using the automotive seam seal.

Z33KLF · Sun, Apr-03-2016, 09:47:30 AM

Can't wait for more updates!!!

JitteryJoe · Mon, Apr-04-2016, 12:35:52 AM

Things slowed down a bit due to other commitments. I'm back on track now.

The new suspension is on order and should arrive in 2-3 weeks. I bought a dual fuel pump kit from a forum member. Pulled the old pump and sender unit today and spent too much time cleaning the gunk off the fuel tank. Also had the SS headers ceramic coated inside & out. Working with someone on the cams. Trying to determine the best route to go. Anyway, things moving better now.

Reinforcements in. I used seam sealer all around to prevent any moisture getting in.

Old fuel pump and sender out

Thu, Oct-01-2015, 05:51:41 PM	#11
cblock Registered User Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 865 In the garage: '99 BMW M3 Reputation: 0 Location: PNW	Re: Joe's E36 M3 Coupe Journal How's the project coming? I'd love to check this out sometime, are you actually in Seattle? __________________ Cblock

Sat, Oct-03-2015, 12:17:25 PM	#12
TheGenius46M Registered User Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 2,014 In the garage: '03 BMW ///M3 Reputation: 0 Location: Pleasanton, CA	Re: Joe's E36 M3 Coupe Journal Looks to be a promising project op. Best of luck, and it sounds like good things are about to come! __________________ 2003 E46 M3 TiAg/Cinnamon 6MT Purchased: 11/13 with 58k miles Karbonius \| MCS \| Recaro \| OMP \| Hyperco \| Ground Control \| Besian \| AKG \| Rogue \| Schroth \| Bimmerworld \| Turner \| PFC \| CSF \| SuperSprint \| Bay Area/ Nor Cal Coding and DME Tuning Specialist. PM for inquiries. My Build Thread \| My Build Journal \| Instagram:@thegenius46m

Sun, Oct-04-2015, 11:16:30 PM	#13
JitteryJoe Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 662 In the garage: '98 BMW M3 '11 BMW M3 Reputation: 0 Location: Seattle	Re: Joe's E36 M3 Coupe Journal Progress is being made but it is slow. I can grab 4-8 hours per weekend. This weekend I got the struts off & front sub frame dropped. I'm almost to the point where the tear down is complete. I just have to dismantle the front & rear sub frames and suspension into their piece parts. Also, I'm not sure if the gas tank has to come out. I don't know if a welder will weld in the RTAB reinforcements with the tank in. Yes, I am in Seattle, Central District. Here is the front sub frame out. I torn down the brakes, removed the calipers, pulled the wheel bearings, and removed the struts first. Each step I learn more about how these cars are put together. Front sub frame out: There is a big empty hole here: __________________ My Techno Violet E36 M3 Journal Last edited by JitteryJoe; Sun, Oct-04-2015 at 11:27:59 PM.

Thu, Dec-24-2015, 09:56:04 PM	#14
JitteryJoe Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 662 In the garage: '98 BMW M3 '11 BMW M3 Reputation: 0 Location: Seattle	Re: Joe's E36 M3 Coupe Journal Finally getting rebuilt parts back. Slow and steady is the game. I got my rebuilt axles back from Butters Stoch today. The subframe and suspension parts are being finished up at powder coat shop, and diff is being finished up. So things are staring to come together, albeit slowly. Also waiting on a SuperSprint end-to-end euro exhaust system that I picked up at one of the Christmas sales. __________________ My Techno Violet E36 M3 Journal

Fri, Dec-25-2015, 06:07:38 AM	#15
Evtron Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 411 In the garage: '97 BMW M3/4/5 Reputation: 0 Location: ATX	Re: Joe's E36 M3 Coupe Journal Awesome project! I love that you're knocking everything out all at once. Motivates me to make moves and knock out the bigger stuff. Have you started tearing down the motor yet? __________________ E36 M3 Sedan Journal

Sun, Jan-31-2016, 10:39:20 PM	#16
JitteryJoe Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 662 In the garage: '98 BMW M3 '11 BMW M3 Reputation: 0 Location: Seattle	Re: Joe's E36 M3 Coupe Journal Waiting on the mobile welder to get the AKG Rear Trailing Arm Pocket Reinforcement plates installed. The only time I'm not working and he is available is President's Day (Feb 15). So everything kind of ground to a halt. The good news is that the front and rear subframe reinforcements plates are welded in and all the sub frame & suspension parts, and the brake calipers are back from powder coating. The Super Sprint Euro headers, mid pipe, and race exhaust arrived as did the M50 manifold I got off EBay. SAP delete arrived as well. Found someone to do the engine work. Just have to figure out how deep I'm going to go $$-wise. __________________ My Techno Violet E36 M3 Journal

Mon, Feb-15-2016, 05:50:19 PM	#17
JitteryJoe Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 662 In the garage: '98 BMW M3 '11 BMW M3 Reputation: 0 Location: Seattle	Re: Joe's E36 M3 Coupe Journal Finally got someone to weld in the Rear Trailing Arm Pocket Reinforcement plates. Whew! Now I can start the suspension installation. Mike the Welder doing his stuff. __________________ My Techno Violet E36 M3 Journal

Thu, Mar-10-2016, 03:16:09 AM	#18
NolliM3 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 842 Reputation: 0 Location: Louisiana	Re: Joe's E36 M3 Coupe Journal Nice progress...keep it coming...liked the idea of your using the automotive seam seal. __________________ 1995 Alpine White...X-Brace, Fan delete, Cold Air Intake

Sun, Apr-03-2016, 09:47:30 AM	#19
Z33KLF Registered User Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 34 Reputation: 0	Re: Joe's E36 M3 Coupe Journal Can't wait for more updates!!!

Mon, Apr-04-2016, 12:35:52 AM	#20
JitteryJoe Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 662 In the garage: '98 BMW M3 '11 BMW M3 Reputation: 0 Location: Seattle	Re: Joe's E36 M3 Coupe Journal Things slowed down a bit due to other commitments. I'm back on track now. The new suspension is on order and should arrive in 2-3 weeks. I bought a dual fuel pump kit from a forum member. Pulled the old pump and sender unit today and spent too much time cleaning the gunk off the fuel tank. Also had the SS headers ceramic coated inside & out. Working with someone on the cams. Trying to determine the best route to go. Anyway, things moving better now. Reinforcements in. I used seam sealer all around to prevent any moisture getting in. Old fuel pump and sender out __________________ My Techno Violet E36 M3 Journal

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