"OPERATION EURO" has been at a standstill for about 2 weeks now...
The weather just will not co-operate with me. It has been cold, humid, and rainy for what seems like forever. I just need one nice week-end to finish up with the rough repairs I need to do before sending the car to paint. The rare occasion that it is nice weather, I am either tied up with other commitments, or holed up in my house studying.
I need to do some priming and undercoating, but if it's not raining, it's close to 100% humidity! Not really ideal painting conditions!!
I can't even drive my car due to it being already partially stripped...
~_~
WINTER SUCKS!!!
I need a pep talk, here...
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Rich in WI
- Posts: 1115
- Joined: Feb 12, 2006
I don't know if this is a pep talk or not, but...
Here in Wisconsin, we live in what is sometimes referred to as an arctic bog. Wet and cold. I simply refuse to attempt any major repairs or work from late November through late February. I barely got my garage floor painted in late October because of cold rain. So two weeks sounds like a pretty good break. Have some hot chocolate and go see a movie. I used to "enjoy" laying on 20 degree concrete battling with exhaust systems. But I can't take that anymore. Car projects in the cold absolutely suck. Plastic breaks and injuries skyrocket. It's just not worth it.
OK - that's not really fair. You don't have to contend with Wisconsin weather, so you aren't conditioned to it. Luckily that means you know the weather will be better soon. I suggest you look over your project and take this time to get things REALLY organized. That way when the time hits to get cranking, you'll be ready to go. Plus, it'll kind of be like doing the project.
Good luck,
Rich
Here in Wisconsin, we live in what is sometimes referred to as an arctic bog. Wet and cold. I simply refuse to attempt any major repairs or work from late November through late February. I barely got my garage floor painted in late October because of cold rain. So two weeks sounds like a pretty good break. Have some hot chocolate and go see a movie. I used to "enjoy" laying on 20 degree concrete battling with exhaust systems. But I can't take that anymore. Car projects in the cold absolutely suck. Plastic breaks and injuries skyrocket. It's just not worth it.
OK - that's not really fair. You don't have to contend with Wisconsin weather, so you aren't conditioned to it. Luckily that means you know the weather will be better soon. I suggest you look over your project and take this time to get things REALLY organized. That way when the time hits to get cranking, you'll be ready to go. Plus, it'll kind of be like doing the project.
Good luck,
Rich
[QUOTE="booker535"]"OPERATION EURO" has been at a standstill for about 2 weeks now...
The weather just will not co-operate with me. It has been cold, humid, and rainy for what seems like forever. I just need one nice week-end to finish up with the rough repairs I need to do before sending the car to paint. The rare occasion that it is nice weather, I am either tied up with other commitments, or holed up in my house studying.
I need to do some priming and undercoating, but if it's not raining, it's close to 100% humidity! Not really ideal painting conditions!!
I can't even drive my car due to it being already partially stripped...
~_~
WINTER SUCKS!!![/QUOTE]
Winter in New Orleans, all 30 days of it, yeah! Spring is just a few days away, have patience Grasshopper.
The weather just will not co-operate with me. It has been cold, humid, and rainy for what seems like forever. I just need one nice week-end to finish up with the rough repairs I need to do before sending the car to paint. The rare occasion that it is nice weather, I am either tied up with other commitments, or holed up in my house studying.
I need to do some priming and undercoating, but if it's not raining, it's close to 100% humidity! Not really ideal painting conditions!!
I can't even drive my car due to it being already partially stripped...
~_~
WINTER SUCKS!!![/QUOTE]
Winter in New Orleans, all 30 days of it, yeah! Spring is just a few days away, have patience Grasshopper.
Don't despair. My car was out of action for more than a month. But now the euro's are on and it's worth it. It has been raining alot here in the SF Bay area. I tried to paint the euro valance in the garage with the door open and just when I got set up and ready to spray - Rain!! But have no fear, you'll get it done. and from the looks of it, you're going all out with a euro rear valance. So hang in there.
Mike
Mike
[QUOTE="Dinan 5er"]Don't despair. My car was out of action for more than a month. But now the euro's are on and it's worth it. It has been raining alot here in the SF Bay area. I tried to paint the euro valance in the garage with the door open and just when I got set up and ready to spray - Rain!! But have no fear, you'll get it done. and from the looks of it, you're going all out with a euro rear valance. So hang in there.
Mike[/QUOTE]
Thanks, Mike.
Yeah, I've filled in all of the US stuff in the rear. Last thing I need to do is tidy up underneath, and in the spare tire well.
I'm relatively happy with the progress so far, just need a break to finish it...
hehe... It just occured to me that next week is the Mardi Gras holiday...
Hope there will be good weather!
Mike[/QUOTE]
Thanks, Mike.
Yeah, I've filled in all of the US stuff in the rear. Last thing I need to do is tidy up underneath, and in the spare tire well.
I'm relatively happy with the progress so far, just need a break to finish it...
hehe... It just occured to me that next week is the Mardi Gras holiday...
Hope there will be good weather!
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Kyle in NO
- Posts: 17638
- Joined: Feb 12, 2006
- Location: Nasty Orleans------> Batten-Rooehjch------>More Souther LA
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Tim in N FL
- Posts: 7392
- Joined: Feb 12, 2006
- Location: North Central Florida, USA
- Contact:
Hang in there Booker...I'll soon be joining you as I begin to eurofy my '87 535i. Weather in my part of Florida has been less than ideal for the past 4-5 days as well...cold and humid (some rain). Fortunately, I have no interest in acquiring auto painting skillz so I'll be handing off my NOS euro valance (thanks TT) to GT Motorcars here in GNV to do the painting (bronzit with black strip along bottom - rubberized rock proof goop).
Riddle me this Booker...will I need to be doing all of the "body fill" stuff you mentioned having to do on your car to simply swap out the euro ///M5 rear bumper (no rear valance)? If so, I had not anticipated this part of the project. In my ignorance, perhaps, I thought I was just going to be removing the picnic bumpers and bolting on the euro front and rear bumpers. Have I completely deluded myself here? If so, your day may be lookin' beter already booker535
Cheers and good luck mit the weather!!!
Tim
Riddle me this Booker...will I need to be doing all of the "body fill" stuff you mentioned having to do on your car to simply swap out the euro ///M5 rear bumper (no rear valance)? If so, I had not anticipated this part of the project. In my ignorance, perhaps, I thought I was just going to be removing the picnic bumpers and bolting on the euro front and rear bumpers. Have I completely deluded myself here? If so, your day may be lookin' beter already booker535
Cheers and good luck mit the weather!!!
Tim
[QUOTE="Tim in N FL"]Riddle me this Booker...will I need to be doing all of the "body fill" stuff you mentioned having to do on your car to simply swap out the euro ///M5 rear bumper (no rear valance)? If so, I had not anticipated this part of the project. In my ignorance, perhaps, I thought I was just going to be removing the picnic bumpers and bolting on the euro front and rear bumpers. Have I completely deluded myself here? If so, your day may be lookin' beter already booker535
Cheers and good luck mit the weather!!!
Tim[/QUOTE]
Here's a picture of what you get if you don't fill in the holes left by the US-spec bumper.
(I don't know who's car this is, but the credit isn't mine)
Some can live with it, some can't. I plan to fill in the holes on mine.
Cheers and good luck mit the weather!!!
Tim[/QUOTE]
Here's a picture of what you get if you don't fill in the holes left by the US-spec bumper.
(I don't know who's car this is, but the credit isn't mine)
Some can live with it, some can't. I plan to fill in the holes on mine.
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Tim in N FL
- Posts: 7392
- Joined: Feb 12, 2006
- Location: North Central Florida, USA
- Contact:
Pat,
Jeez...now I won't sleep a wink ruminating about all the work I'm going to have to do to fill-in those HOLES in that photo you posted above. Is there a FAQ written about a sound course of action to take on filling-in the U.S.-spec ugliness? Perhaps Booker535, you can share your experiences with plebians like me in this area? Many thanks for the wake-up call, Pat...painful though it may be. Now I see why folks like to install the rear valance as well...
Good night....
Tim
Jeez...now I won't sleep a wink ruminating about all the work I'm going to have to do to fill-in those HOLES in that photo you posted above. Is there a FAQ written about a sound course of action to take on filling-in the U.S.-spec ugliness? Perhaps Booker535, you can share your experiences with plebians like me in this area? Many thanks for the wake-up call, Pat...painful though it may be. Now I see why folks like to install the rear valance as well...
Good night....
Tim
[QUOTE="fastpat"]Here's a picture of what you get if you don't fill in the holes left by the US-spec bumper.
(I don't know who's car this is, but the credit isn't mine)
Some can live with it, some can't. I plan to fill in the holes on mine.[/QUOTE]
"I plan to fill in the holes on mine." So did Rich Euro M5, whose car that was. The car oxidized itself rapidly and with much heat, preventing completion of the mods. I don't know about California, but it is legal to drive a car in Texas before Euro conversions are done "properly"! :p
[Edit by Shawn D. on [TIME]1107265931[/TIME]]
(I don't know who's car this is, but the credit isn't mine)
Some can live with it, some can't. I plan to fill in the holes on mine.[/QUOTE]
"I plan to fill in the holes on mine." So did Rich Euro M5, whose car that was. The car oxidized itself rapidly and with much heat, preventing completion of the mods. I don't know about California, but it is legal to drive a car in Texas before Euro conversions are done "properly"! :p
[Edit by Shawn D. on [TIME]1107265931[/TIME]]
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bobby in Derby City
- Posts: 980
- Joined: Feb 12, 2006
- Location: Hidin' in a bowl of rice ready to put a cap in an a$$
you'll be alright Booker. I have not driven my 535iS Since August 2004. In fact this was the only time I'd ever driven it. I had RESCUED it from a sink hole in the previous onwer's front yard. The next time I will be driving it will not probably be until around May after Derby. That rebuild list just keeps getting longer and longer 
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Tim in N FL
- Posts: 7392
- Joined: Feb 12, 2006
- Location: North Central Florida, USA
- Contact:
Thanks for the replies guys...
Tim,
As you can see in the photo above, there are holes where the US bumpers mount that will need to be filled in. What I did was cut circular pieces of sheet metal and tack welded them in the holes. There are three holes for the bumper, and two on each side, a little bigger than a quarter. I then came back with "kitty hair" (fiberglass resin with fiberglass strands mixed in) to build up the indentions where the US stuff mounted. Grind that till it is somewhat smooth, then put a top coat of regular body filler over it. This you need to block sand, prime, and rock gaurd. I was already back there fixing some rust, so I decided to fill the holes myself. If you have the dough, I would recommend you get your body guy to do this for you. Mine came out OK, but being that this is my first big body work project, it is far from perfect. The saving grace is that no one ever really inspects the rear valance, and if it is really bad, you can put a rear skirt on to cover it up.
I'll try to get some pics up this evening. I have some work to do today.
Tim,
As you can see in the photo above, there are holes where the US bumpers mount that will need to be filled in. What I did was cut circular pieces of sheet metal and tack welded them in the holes. There are three holes for the bumper, and two on each side, a little bigger than a quarter. I then came back with "kitty hair" (fiberglass resin with fiberglass strands mixed in) to build up the indentions where the US stuff mounted. Grind that till it is somewhat smooth, then put a top coat of regular body filler over it. This you need to block sand, prime, and rock gaurd. I was already back there fixing some rust, so I decided to fill the holes myself. If you have the dough, I would recommend you get your body guy to do this for you. Mine came out OK, but being that this is my first big body work project, it is far from perfect. The saving grace is that no one ever really inspects the rear valance, and if it is really bad, you can put a rear skirt on to cover it up.
I'll try to get some pics up this evening. I have some work to do today.
Patrick,
I used "kitty hair" when I did the bodywork on my '57 Chevy when I was in high school (summer of '83). My biggest problem was it setting up before I could get it on the car! Yes, the proportions were right, but 95-degree heat cures that stuff fast! It was my first attempt at bodywork as well, but 22 years later, it's still holding tight and is crack-free. The only tip I'd have for your work on that area is to use a LONG body file (or do as I did and glue a piece of sandpaper onto a long wood block -- the cheapo high-school way) so the blends are smooth.
I used "kitty hair" when I did the bodywork on my '57 Chevy when I was in high school (summer of '83). My biggest problem was it setting up before I could get it on the car! Yes, the proportions were right, but 95-degree heat cures that stuff fast! It was my first attempt at bodywork as well, but 22 years later, it's still holding tight and is crack-free. The only tip I'd have for your work on that area is to use a LONG body file (or do as I did and glue a piece of sandpaper onto a long wood block -- the cheapo high-school way) so the blends are smooth.
[QUOTE="Shawn D."]Patrick,
I used "kitty hair" when I did the bodywork on my '57 Chevy when I was in high school (summer of '83). My biggest problem was it setting up before I could get it on the car! Yes, the proportions were right, but 95-degree heat cures that stuff fast! It was my first attempt at bodywork as well, but 22 years later, it's still holding tight and is crack-free. The only tip I'd have for your work on that area is to use a LONG body file (or do as I did and glue a piece of sandpaper onto a long wood block -- the cheapo high-school way) so the blends are smooth.[/QUOTE]
Yeah, I had that happen a couple of times.
We used a rubber sanding block to shape the lines. It was not ideal, but it came out alright. Since the area is covered with rock gaurd anyway, it doesn't show as bad (I hope!). The rear valance was not very pretty off the factory floor, considering the seams at the corners and such.
I'm glad your kitty hair has held up so long! If I get 10 good years out of this project, I'll be happy!!
[Edit by booker535 on [TIME]1107283483[/TIME]]
I used "kitty hair" when I did the bodywork on my '57 Chevy when I was in high school (summer of '83). My biggest problem was it setting up before I could get it on the car! Yes, the proportions were right, but 95-degree heat cures that stuff fast! It was my first attempt at bodywork as well, but 22 years later, it's still holding tight and is crack-free. The only tip I'd have for your work on that area is to use a LONG body file (or do as I did and glue a piece of sandpaper onto a long wood block -- the cheapo high-school way) so the blends are smooth.[/QUOTE]
Yeah, I had that happen a couple of times.
We used a rubber sanding block to shape the lines. It was not ideal, but it came out alright. Since the area is covered with rock gaurd anyway, it doesn't show as bad (I hope!). The rear valance was not very pretty off the factory floor, considering the seams at the corners and such.
I'm glad your kitty hair has held up so long! If I get 10 good years out of this project, I'll be happy!!
[Edit by booker535 on [TIME]1107283483[/TIME]]
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Tim in N FL
- Posts: 7392
- Joined: Feb 12, 2006
- Location: North Central Florida, USA
- Contact:
Booker535 and ShawnD,
Many thanks for this information.....very very helpful!
I wonder what my local German autobody shop would charge for this type of
job plus repainting the area on the back? May go this route simply b/c of time....
I'll play hell just trying to install the euro goodies....
Booker535...Look forward to the photos when you have a chance...no rush
Best,
Tim
Many thanks for this information.....very very helpful!
I wonder what my local German autobody shop would charge for this type of
job plus repainting the area on the back? May go this route simply b/c of time....
I'll play hell just trying to install the euro goodies....
Booker535...Look forward to the photos when you have a chance...no rush
Best,
Tim
Tim,
Here are a couple of pics of what you need to do to fill the holes. I had more of the process, but I was a dumbass and erased them from my camera before I downloaded them to my computer... ~_~
Fill in the holes with plugs:
Other side:
Here is one side after filling, sanding, and rock gaurd:
Other side:
There are flaws, so before anyone goes and starts pointing them out: I know. I'm learning, here
I plan to correct a couple of bad "low" spots, and then call it real.
BTW, this is what my car looked like before I started all this, so it can only get better, right?:
Luckily, thats all the rust. And it's gone now.
Here are a couple of pics of what you need to do to fill the holes. I had more of the process, but I was a dumbass and erased them from my camera before I downloaded them to my computer... ~_~
Fill in the holes with plugs:
Other side:
Here is one side after filling, sanding, and rock gaurd:
Other side:
There are flaws, so before anyone goes and starts pointing them out: I know. I'm learning, here
I plan to correct a couple of bad "low" spots, and then call it real.
BTW, this is what my car looked like before I started all this, so it can only get better, right?:
Luckily, thats all the rust. And it's gone now.
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Tim in N FL
- Posts: 7392
- Joined: Feb 12, 2006
- Location: North Central Florida, USA
- Contact:
Booker535!
Thanks for the wake-up call and for posting the details on your body fill project....yikes, guess I'm an idjut for thinking I could just unbolt the picnic bumpers and install the purty euro stuff Oh well, my local body shop will be gettin' some additional bizness from me on this project...d'oh! ~0 Holy Shiznat, I feel like a fool...
Cheers,
Tim
Thanks for the wake-up call and for posting the details on your body fill project....yikes, guess I'm an idjut for thinking I could just unbolt the picnic bumpers and install the purty euro stuff
Oh well, my local body shop will be gettin' some additional bizness from me on this project...d'oh! ~0 Holy Shiznat, I feel like a fool...Cheers,
Tim
hehe..
The front is really fun...
I think I told you about it on the old board, but you have to do some serious surgery to the front as well. To use fog lights, you must cut part of the frame rail off the car. When they mounted US diving boards, they put different frame rails on the front. This makes using the stock euro brackets difficult. I have opted to create my own, custom brackets, after consulting with DMNaskale, and looking at it for myself. He has a great set of pics here.
I'll try to take some pics of the front if it ever stops raining...
I hope I'm not scaring you off the project, but you need to know what you're in for. It is a considerable amount of work...
But it should be worth it!!
[Edit by booker535 on [TIME]1107322215[/TIME]]
The front is really fun...
I think I told you about it on the old board, but you have to do some serious surgery to the front as well. To use fog lights, you must cut part of the frame rail off the car. When they mounted US diving boards, they put different frame rails on the front. This makes using the stock euro brackets difficult. I have opted to create my own, custom brackets, after consulting with DMNaskale, and looking at it for myself. He has a great set of pics here.
I'll try to take some pics of the front if it ever stops raining...
I hope I'm not scaring you off the project, but you need to know what you're in for. It is a considerable amount of work...
But it should be worth it!!
[Edit by booker535 on [TIME]1107322215[/TIME]]