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View Full Version : RTAB pocket reinforcement on M3


das borgen
10-16-2010, 11:55 PM
a local (Rittmeister on here) wanted to do his RTAB pocket reinforcement so we linked up with his neighbor's cousin and accomplished this today
he drives a 97 arctic silver coupe like me

prep work
http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss160/das_borgen/Arctic%20Silver%20E36%20M3/IMG00167-20101016-1232.jpg?t=1287273750

http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss160/das_borgen/Arctic%20Silver%20E36%20M3/IMG00168-20101016-1233.jpg?t=1287273751


his
http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss160/das_borgen/Arctic%20Silver%20E36%20M3/IMG00169-20101016-1250.jpg?t=1287273755
mine
http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss160/das_borgen/Arctic%20Silver%20E36%20M3/IMG00172-20101016-1401.jpg?t=1287273756

from this

http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss160/das_borgen/Arctic%20Silver%20E36%20M3/IMG00170-20101016-1252.jpg?t=1287273753


http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss160/das_borgen/Arctic%20Silver%20E36%20M3/IMG00171-20101016-1401.jpg?t=1287273754

to this
http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss160/das_borgen/Arctic%20Silver%20E36%20M3/IMG00173-20101016-1403.jpg?t=1287273756


http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss160/das_borgen/Arctic%20Silver%20E36%20M3/IMG00174-20101016-1604.jpg?t=1287273905

discuss:alright
kornkid8600
10-17-2010, 05:59 AM
Why? Are they prone from being overstressed? I replaced by RTABs a couple months ago, the area looked in good condition.
das borgen
10-17-2010, 12:38 PM
Alignment done. Job is now finished

yes, they are to ripping out of body

like this
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v169/325is_MadBimmer/DSC00624Medium.jpg

I had marked the RTA to body with a paint marker but those marks on the body got ground away.............

any time you unbolt the RTA, if you don t put it back the same way (which is very hard to do anyway) you change your alignment. The RTA bracket has slotted holes and that is how rear toe is controlled/adjusted
Michael9218
10-17-2010, 04:49 PM
Can you list the steps in doing this? What did you remove? It looks like you just removed the shock and dropped the RTAB pocket. Did you have any issues welding so close to the fuel tank? This has me a little nervous about this job, but I really don't want to remove the tank. I was thinking of shielding the tank with some adhesive barrier cloth and holding a piece of sheet metal between the tank and the welding area.
das borgen
10-17-2010, 06:23 PM
Can you list the steps in doing this? What did you remove? It looks like you just removed the shock and dropped the RTAB pocket. Did you have any issues welding so close to the fuel tank? This has me a little nervous about this job, but I really don't want to remove the tank. I was thinking of shielding the tank with some adhesive barrier cloth and holding a piece of sheet metal between the tank and the welding area.

the welder who did this job had never done it but he understood the task before going in....he did Rittmeister's car before so I had no problems letting him have at my car 2nd :).... welding close to the gas tank was perfectly fine. I had done research and a few people told me they did it this way with no problems (from the track/autocross subforum)

yes, I just unbolted the shock and the RTA....the RTA was able to rotate up down left right enough to keep it out of the way of the grinding, welding, painting processes


if you're really anal, yes, by all means shield your tank with something but do realize that will compromise what little room you have to work with
Brent 930
10-17-2010, 06:33 PM
I shielded the tank with roofing flash and aluminum tape. No way was I going to drop the fuel tank.
das borgen
10-17-2010, 06:37 PM
I shielded the tank with roofing flash and aluminum tape. No way was I going to drop the fuel tank.
completely agreed....that easily is another 2hr ordeal that I do not like at all doing

I've done it on a Toyota Hilux *you yankees never got that indestructible truck:buttrock*and way more recently installed on an E30.....dislike dislike dislike