New Project - or another 5spd swapped touring

[Redfive]

Yep. I've got more cars than I can handle again.
My brother, who lives in SoCal, decided to hike the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine this year. So back in March he drove his 1989 Jeep Wrangler YJ 4clyinder across the country (I live in CT). After he got here he asked me to sell his Jeep so that he had some money for the trail and then spending no more than $2000 buy him a car that he could then drive back across the country and use as a daily driver. He only had two other requirements. That car had to be a manual shift and it had to be a wagon.
So I fixed up his Jeep and managed to sell it for $4000.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2499/3731580005_8dcb36ef21_b.jpg

Ideally he would like me to recreate the 87 Volvo 240 wagon that we both had growing up and that he ultimately wrecked when it rolled it 3 times on a dirt road. So I looked at old Volvos and they're pretty pricey because they last forever. They also have a ton of rust issues. Ours was a one owner car and it was very well maintained but it was rotting out on us. They're also hard to find in manual shift. So I decided to do another approach.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3011/2371447512_b769b50bd3.jpg

I decided the best car for the money, in terms of reliability, longevity, and fun was a 525it. All I had to do was find a nice one that had a bad transmission so I could get it really cheap. Then I'd also have to get a 5 speed swap.
So earlier this summer I bought the RedZit, a 93 525i/5 as a parts car because it had a good 5 speed swap. That has been sitting in storage at my buddies warehouse.
***If you need parts from it let me know. The engine and trans have already been claimed, as well as the steering box and half shafts. It has a black leather with wood trim interior***
Then this week I bought a 1992 IslandGrau over Parchment, 525it with just 112k and a slipping transmission. It also appears to have the winter package. Total spent on the 2 cars is $1750.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3488/3731583819_484c9e8926_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3469/3732385586_9fd31aec66_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2461/3732386722_7e01a4dd37_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2570/3731588999_ca45fb9ea1_b.jpg

It has some minor issues. The front suspension is blown out, the rear sway bar end links are broken, there is some rust on one of the doors, the AC doesn't blow cold, the seats are twisted and the headliner sags. All this will be repaired.

Now me being me, just a 5 speed swap is not enough. I'm planning on doing the following to this car.
New front shocks with lowering springs.
Brake ducts
Side skirts
smoked headlights (either euro or US)
smoked turn, sidemarker, and tail lights
tinted windows
shadowline
CD player with Ipod interface
And painted lowers.

If you're selling any of the above mentioned stuff, please let me know as I'm interested.

So in the next month I have to get my BMW up and running. Finish installing the fence in my yard so the doggies can run and play. Detail my new X3. And perform all this work on the touring. Oh and I'd also like to lower my Avant and drop in a K04. I think I can do it if I don't work at all during August...:help

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2656/3732378462_3b17054d13_b.jpg

[Binjammin]

I think I can provide a few of the required parts and some time.... :devillook

[bigsixe34]

wow nice touring it needs a drop baad though. idk if it's just the angle but that gap looks huge!

[ShapeShifter]

Great dog!

[Binjammin]

That dog is awesome!

[Redfive]

Great dog!

Thanks. She is a great dog, but she's also part of the reason I've been spending so much time this summer installing a fence. She just had her second ACL surgery so she's not doing that hot right now.
I tried to take a picture of our puppy sitting in the driver's seat with his paws on the steering wheel, but he would stay there long enough to get the shot.

The front gap looks huge because the back end is lowered. It appears to have newish SLS shocks, so somebody may have lowered the backend while installing them.

[ShapeShifter]

Sorry about "blackie", sucks man.

I can get a good green rear touring door if you need it.
Also the hatch was complete if you need the rear washer parts.
How are the back interior panels?
The touring I found had all the side panels and plastic trim in pretty good shape.

[4500 RPM]

Awesome project Redfive!

PorscheH6 is selling skirts for CHEAP. Better jump on those.

[kalevera]

Can I apply to be your brother? :D I'll drop off a toyota tercel, give me a new M3 in a few months :help


Looks like a fun project :)

[flipwils11]

Sorry, I was so discouraged by the huge number (seems like half of them) of green on tan Tourings when I did my search that they left a bad taste in my mouth. Wish it were a different color for all the effort you are going to be putting into it.

[Binjammin]

Sorry, I was so discouraged by the huge number (seems like half of them) of green on tan Tourings when I did my search that they left a bad taste in my mouth. Wish it were a different color for all the effort you are going to be putting into it.



:bj




Hehehe No worries man, I'm sure we can do something to make it a little different than the norm.

[Redfive]

Sorry about "blackie", sucks man.

I can get a good green rear touring door if you need it.
Also the hatch was complete if you need the rear washer parts.
How are the back interior panels?
The touring I found had all the side panels and plastic trim in pretty good shape.
I still have to test the rear wiper but given how the car has such low miles I don't think there will be any issues with the tailgate. The interior trunk panels are in good shape. What I need is some non-seperating parchement door panels for the other 4 doors.
Haley is recovering well. My wallet will take more time to recover.

Awesome project Redfive!

PorscheH6 is selling skirts for CHEAP. Better jump on those.
Thanks. I already have the side skirts sitting in my garage.


Can I apply to be your brother? :D I'll drop off a toyota tercel, give me a new M3 in a few months :help


Looks like a fun project :)
Its only partially for him. This is a car that I've wanted to build for some time now, but never had the justification.


Sorry, I was so discouraged by the huge number (seems like half of them) of green on tan Tourings when I did my search that they left a bad taste in my mouth. Wish it were a different color for all the effort you are going to be putting into it.
If it makes you feel any better its not Oxford, its Island green. I did want to find a cooler color, but its hard when 75% of the cars were ordered in green. Plus my brother didn't want black interior. Ideally I would have liked to found an Avus blue, but that's never happening. Perhaps if the car continues to be built up a color change might be in order...

[free740il]

Sorry, I was so discouraged by the huge number (seems like half of them) of green on tan Tourings when I did my search that they left a bad taste in my mouth. Wish it were a different color for all the effort you are going to be putting into it.

Why is that? It seems the 5 series have the generic colors, at least the E34 (green) and E39 (silver) do.

And wow 4k for an 89 Wrangler with a 2.5L. I was lucky to get 2.5k for my 95 6 cylinder with a rebuilt engine and a lift kit.

[Binjammin]

And wow 4k for an 89 Wrangler with a 2.5L. I was lucky to get 2.5k for my 95 6 cylinder with a rebuilt engine and a lift kit.

It had like 90k on the clock and came from CA. NO rust on the thing, hard to find in a jeep.

[m60b30530i]

you need help , give me a call or txt :)

[TouringGuy]

Good choice on the car! I really love old Volvo 240s, I loved mine while I had it. Your Touring does look really high, more than normal, it may just be the way you took the picture. Im looking forward to seeing everything you do to it! Good luck!

[David325e]

You want to be my brother too? Haha kidding, I have no car to give you, I'm out of shape, and don't want to go to cali. I have trim I'll paint and sell you if you really don't want to do yours.

And honest question, how much speed was involved in rolling the 240? A friend of mine has an 87 240 as a DD. When we were in 9th grade his dad was driving us back from a Reel Big Fish show and hit some black ice on an off-ramp. Car ended up on its roof in the ditch. There were 6 of us guys + dad so we got out, turned it over, drove it to a gas station and made sure it all checked out. Drove it home and my buddys still driving it. Guess I'm just suprised a 240 can actually be totaled haha.

[XR000mb]

^^^

this is worth hiking to maine for.

[Redfive]

You want to be my brother too? Haha kidding, I have no car to give you, I'm out of shape, and don't want to go to cali. I have trim I'll paint and sell you if you really don't want to do yours.

And honest question, how much speed was involved in rolling the 240? A friend of mine has an 87 240 as a DD. When we were in 9th grade his dad was driving us back from a Reel Big Fish show and hit some black ice on an off-ramp. Car ended up on its roof in the ditch. There were 6 of us guys + dad so we got out, turned it over, drove it to a gas station and made sure it all checked out. Drove it home and my buddys still driving it. Guess I'm just suprised a 240 can actually be totaled haha.
Our 245 had the full IPD suspension setup, spring, shocks, sways. It had 15" turbo rims and of course the very rare 5speed gearbox because all my cars have always be manual.
So my brother was out screwing around one night after it snowed. He was showing off to a girl and took the car down a twisty dirt road to show her his "rally" skills. Well he was probably doing 30 or so, but the car didn't slide thru the turn. Instead it went straight into the uphill embankment, causing the car roll over 3 times and land in a snow bank, tires down.
He calls me up at 2am (it was thanksgiving eve so we were out at a dinner after hitting the bars) and I went and pulled him out of the snow bank using my Corrado and the tow strap that I always carry in my trunk. He got the car started but it wouldn't stay idling. The engine had broken all of the engine mounts but managed to drive home. It never started again.
It was never reported to the police or the insurance company. I pulled the good parts off it and sold it for $300. Every panel was damaged, but there was only a crack in the corner of the windshield. He and the girl escaped with just a couple bruises.

My brother is one of 2 people ever to drive Redfive on the track, although when he did it, it was mostly stock. I was also kind enough to lend him my supercharged 535 last summer to use while he was back east for my wedding. He knows some stuff about driving. Just not enough...


^^^

this is worth hiking to maine for.
I'll let him know how jealous you all are.

[David325e]

Our 245 had the full IPD suspension setup, spring, shocks, sways. It had 15" turbo rims and of course the very rare 5speed gearbox because all my cars have always be manual.
So my brother was out screwing around one night after it snowed. He was showing off to a girl and took the car down a twisty dirt road to show her his "rally" skills. Well he was probably doing 30 or so, but the car didn't slide thru the turn. Instead it went straight into the uphill embankment, causing the car roll over 3 times and land in a snow bank, tires down.
He calls me up at 2am (it was thanksgiving eve so we were out at a dinner after hitting the bars) and I went and pulled him out of the snow bank using my Corrado and the tow strap that I always carry in my trunk. He got the car started but it wouldn't stay idling. The engine had broken all of the engine mounts but managed to drive home. It never started again.
It was never reported to the police or the insurance company. I pulled the good parts off it and sold it for $300. Every panel was damaged, but there was only a crack in the corner of the windshield. He and the girl escaped with just a couple bruises.

My brother is one of 2 people ever to drive Redfive on the track, although when he did it, it was mostly stock. I was also kind enough to lend him my supercharged 535 last summer to use while he was back east for my wedding. He knows some stuff about driving. Just not enough...


I'll let him know how jealous you all are.

A VW pulling out a Vvo in some sort of free-willy parody operation. I love car guys haha. And very interested in the project. Update this thread often man.

[Binjammin]

Must have been something like this... :devillook

How to pull a turbo bmw out of a snowbank:

http://i435.photobucket.com/albums/qq75/bin_jammin3/Random%20stuff/IMG_2296.jpg

http://i435.photobucket.com/albums/qq75/bin_jammin3/Random%20stuff/IMG_2294.jpg

http://i435.photobucket.com/albums/qq75/bin_jammin3/Random%20stuff/IMG_2295-1.jpg

With a supercharged bmw of course :D

[Redfive]

Nice. I completely forgot about that. Damn, I miss having a running E34...

[Binjammin]

Me too :(

[3rd One]

I figured I would bump into some familiar faces researching tourings :)

[sfgearhead]

Sounds like a great project, and you sound like me, a list of projects that never seems to end. I just tallied up all the stuff we did on our house in the first year of ownership. Yikes! No wonder the touring still looks like hell.

[Redfive]

Sounds like a great project, and you sound like me, a list of projects that never seems to end. I just tallied up all the stuff we did on our house in the first year of ownership. Yikes! No wonder the touring still looks like hell.

LOL. This is my 5th year and 6th summer in this house.
summer 1. Moved in.
summer 2. Painted house/Dropped in turbo engine
summer 3. Roof, deck, kitchen, hartdwood floors/Stand-alone ECU
summer 4. Engaged/replaced HG and then drove car
summer 5. Wedding/supercharged other 5
summer 6. fence, got paint house again/ rebuild turbo engine, build touring

[Sam Son]

very nice Justin..im sure once its done itll be a hell of a car...a Manual touring is always fun..
if you need help fence or otherwise you know how to get a hold of me

[Binjammin]

I figured I would bump into some familiar faces researching tourings :)

Hahaha What's up Dwight?

[3rd One]

Hahaha What's up Dwight?

howdy :)

just trying to figure out what to look for in a 530it right by my house. All I know so far is that checking the stamp on the block is on the top of the list. I'll wing it from there :)


I posted a few pics over at the other place

[David325e]

Check the hatch wiring. You seen the PPI form that user jacd1 made?

And you guys talking about the house, I feel you. Moms been in this new house since 8/8/8. Retile a bathroom, strip and put new everything in her closet, replace the windows up top, cut down a couple trees, tear down the 540 then reassemble it to tear down the 525. Re-screen the porch, move my sister out then back in. That and a year of college.

But I've gotten a boatload of new tools :stickoutt

[Redfive]

very nice Justin..im sure once its done itll be a hell of a car...a Manual touring is always fun..
if you need help fence or otherwise you know how to get a hold of me
I'll get in contact with you. The fence is nearly done. If I can manage to leave work early twice this week, I should be all set, since I can't work on it this weekend.

Check the hatch wiring. You seen the PPI form that user jacd1 made?


I will do that, but I've told myself that I can't play with the Touring until my 5 is up and running. One thing at a time. I can't go and get distracted with some new toy...

[Binjammin]

howdy :)

just trying to figure out what to look for in a 530it right by my house. All I know so far is that checking the stamp on the block is on the top of the list. I'll wing it from there :)


I posted a few pics over at the other place

PM me or find me on AIM, I can talk you through all the tips on the e34 you'll need. It's the perfect dog transporter btw.

[E34nication]

You are the project master Justin. Good luck with all of them!

[Sam Son]

I'll get in contact with you. The fence is nearly done. If I can manage to leave work early twice this week, I should be all set, since I can't work on it this weekend.
Im in texas til midnite sunday/monday but once im back and I know my work schedule i'd have no prob with comin to help

[BMgroundation33]

Good luck in tryin to get brothers wagon rollin. If you come across another 5 spd convo, holla back @ me, if at all possible. I got a touring that I want to set up too. U definite sound you know what u doin. That's cool what u doin for your fam nuff respect!

[BMWheadSpence]

Good luck in tryin to get brothers wagon rollin. If you come across another 5 spd convo, holla back @ me, if at all possible. I got a touring that I want to set up too. U definite sound you know what u doin. That's cool what u doin for your fam nuff respect!

Hey, no offense what so ever, but we try to use use some what proper english when we post replies.
I'd expect you to do the same

[Redfive]

Big Update:
The car is done. It leaves for Cali on Monday. Big thanks to Binjammin who helped my brother do the transmission swap.

So here's what was done this summer.
Wheels: Thanks to GarrettSR5 I was able to snag a a set of 18" Breyton Inspirations with tires for $300. The finish was trashed, so I sanded them down and refinished them in Graphite.
Brakes: The car had the original brakes so they were replaced with Brembo Rotors and new pads at all four corners. I also had to replace a front brake caliper. The rotors and calipers were all painted aluminum.

Suspension: The rear SLS appears to be in good shape. However, given the bounciness experienced while driving the car, this might need to be replaced in the next year. At first I cut the front springs to lower the car, but then we bought some used Bavauto springs and new KYB shocks. It gives the car a nice stance. The thrust bushings and rear subframe bushings turned to to be bad after driving the car, so they're being replaced with my powerflex bushings because I haven't installed them in my car and time was an issue.

Lights: The free forms are gone. Replaced with smoked US ellipisods, thanks to Bin. For those cross country drives at night, the high beams are 100watts.
Clear then smoked front turn signals, smoked side markers and tail lights round out the setup.

Engine: Stock, except for a new air filter, oil filter and oil, and spark plugs. Seems to run good.

Transmission: A Getrag 5 speed from the red zit. There is an issue with the shifter and the transmission won't stay in 2nd or 4th. So I might need someone's help fixing this once the car gets to Cali, because I've run out of time working on it here. New transmission mounts.

Interior: Kept the original seats and door panels for now. Added a Pioneer head unit with Ipod control. Sounds good. Repaired the headliner sag, but it will need to be replaced in the future.

Exterior: Meguiars 105/205 polish and then covered with Collinite 845. Makes for a very nice 10' car. Shadowlined. Blacked out grilled and repainted trims all around.

Refinishing the wheels
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2425/3958326279_dbf6db5d0a.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3440/3958327077_b16e4558ee_o.jpg

The new headlights
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2458/3959102202_3bc46a7d22_o.jpg

smoked tail lights, shadowline, cut springs, morning dew on the refinished paint
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3467/3958328817_c87b3cde51_b.jpg

what's left of the parts car before it was towed away.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2493/3959105366_5797ca4b0e_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2554/3958331929_0c28fe65f9_b.jpg

Interior: which was not cleaned
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2482/3959109598_825fd1f53e_b.jpg

The rear brakes and wheels
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2614/3959112136_b0769597d3_b.jpg

Front brakes and wheels
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3479/3959113196_6e6f7c502c_b.jpg

The finished product.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2583/3959115012_fe7caec8ce_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2566/3959116842_8935c9a64b_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3528/3959118350_89166f7247_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2479/3959120046_8153187b07_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2430/3959121600_ee4073e942_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3446/3959123226_fafc4eec38_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3471/3958349615_87cbc2072e_b.jpg

I didn't get to painting the lowers, adding side skirts or brake ducts as intended. I also wanted to tint the windows, but there just wasn't enough time. I think i came out pretty good, but by my standards it still needs a ton of work. Oh well.

[E34Big6]

Looks nice you really don't like wasting time in the summers do you?

[Redfive]

Looks nice you really don't like wasting time in the summers do you?

Someone recently told me they were bored and I had to look up the definition...

[Sam Son]

congrats Justin im sure your brother will love it..

:rofl that 5spd getrag tranny is certainly making the rounds
so far its been owned by 5 board members and if your brother joins that will make it 6

and of course the redfive looks sexy all put back together and stuff

pretty floor jack too:naughty

[TGreene]

Really impressive transformation. Every other thread seems to be about tourings, and I really want one.

[m60b30530i]

yeah the shifter was always sitting weird in the red zitt but it always went into gear it never pop out i even drove the red zit for a week and it didn't pop out. the only thing is it was in a weird position but i got used to it.