Category: CMbuild

Captured the first weight numbers for the project with our corner scales.  Weighed with the dollies attached.

Weight of the shell including dollies ….

Mixed feelings – kinda nice to have the old car back in the garage and prepping for a race which is the point of all this … driving & racing.

Was concerned about moving the car on dollies down the driveway, into the street, and up into the trailer.  However, our neighbors lent hands to help and it went very smoothly.

 

It’s done.  We’ve removed all of the metal (plus a little more) that we think can be removed without compromising the integrity of the chassis.  Next, it will be blasted, primer applied, then sent off for the cage.

Hoping that more weight can be removed but leaving that decision and execution to an expert (cage builder).

Wrapped the last bits on the shell.  Trimmed edges in the trunk – we removed it in a hurry and the jagged edges were a hazard waiting.  Removed rust from the inner fender wells and trimmed the inner most sheet of metal then attacked the last bracket … it won but it’s not pretty.

 

 

Man down!

Top coat of tar attacked with heat.

The ‘easy’ tar.

Blasting should clear off the tar and gunk.  Used heat and scrapper to remove top layers.

Transmission tunnel brace with the sharp corners – gone.

More, bigger holes than planned.

Last of the seat brackets, out.

Starting to plan for electrical requirements ….

We have nearly stripped the chassis to bare shell and shifted to the roof.  It was claimed from the beginning but odds were against removing it in good condition.

Next step – getting the panel and headliner to their new owner in good shape :/

Had intended to log days worked on the chassis but did not maintain the discipline.

While removing spot welds has become rather fun, brackets are different and I seem to make a mess.

Working on my spot weld removal skills. Skills are coming along slowly but there are so many in an e46 chassis that I should be quite good by the time I’m finished and will never need to repeat this. 

We have removed all of the parts. Not sure what build day # this is but I building is complete.

Next, drilling and cutting for weight. Plus roof.

With help, I was able to remove the windshield in a single piece. Cracked but in one piece. We used a “side knife”, propane torch, heat gun and putty knives.

I attempted the rear on my own without the voice of reason to caution against “too much fire” or “don’t use screwdrivers as wedges”. This was the sudden, dramatic, result.