Truthfully, I had really enjoyed the two other "big projects" I had been involved in many years earlier, e.g., the aforementioned M5, and my Inka 2002/M2... but, this time I wanted to be more of a DIY participant, and not just the planner and organizer who pretty much left all the hands-on work to others more skilled. Not to mention, I was looking to keep the cost down in this manner, and with no event driving a targeted completion date, I have no set time frame to get the car finished.... I'm thinking Fall 2013.
After taking inventory of my e28 parts, thinking about how I'd use this car and what I wanted it to be, I decided on a moderate resto-mod build, i.e., lots of performance and aesthetic mods with a cool euro look. So, with the help of a few friends we began this past November to tear things down, and I started finding and buying needed parts & mods, new or used. My end vision is a 300+ bhp, two-tone, euro styled e28 that will be a great driver (no track, no auto-x, no garage queen)!
Thus far the full interior is out, the dash is out; the sunroof, bumpers, lights, & grills are off; the front & rear windows are out; the exhaust is out; and most importantly the engine is out. The next immediate steps are: determine what parts need or should be replaced now that everything is somewhat accessible; have the head checked out and renewed as needed (compression and leak-down numbers were spot on); clean & paint the block ; dye headliner; re-finish engine parts that will be re-used; re-seal engine; install replacement dash; and clean, clean, & re-clean (prep for paint). And, in February I'll be picking up a parts car (nice quality & running e28) from a very good friend... this will provide many of the parts for the project car, e.g., euro lights, grills, misc. bits, after some re-freshening I plan to do.
Later in the Spring the under-carriage will be sand blasted and re-sprayed; the upgraded suspension will be installed (as well as fresh steering components); the upgraded brakes will be installed; the upgraded clutch & flywheel will be installed; the engine will be re-installed; the new exhaust system will be installed; and the TCD Stage II turbo system will be installed and tuned.
Sometime during the Summer to early Fall, I envision the paint work being completed; the new front and rear windows installed; the new trunk, hood, doors, & sunroof rubber gaskets/seals installed; lights, grills, handles, mirrors, etc. installed; up-graded wheels & new tires mounted.
Finally, a replacement and color-changed M5 interior, plus an upgraded sound system will be installed, along with any smaller items not completed earlier. I'm sure some changes to these plans will be made along the way and the timeline may be slightly different, but that's how I currently see it.
Here are some pictures of the car when I first got it and progress made to date. I'll post any meaningful updates and pics as progress is made. I've concluded, after doing this a couple times now, that the planning and the execution phases are perhaps more fun than the completion phase... I'm having a great time!!
-RoyW
http://www.mye28.com/viewtopic.php?t=113146
...no idea why BMW named that particular color Sepang. It's a very nice color too!