I would appreciate advice, suggestions and wisdom from anyone concerning frame rails. First, a little background. I have a 1974 3.0cs I bought about 20 years ago. The seller should be arrested for what he sold it to me or I should be arrested for theft for what I paid for it. I have owned BMW's for close to 35 years. My first car was a Triumph spitfire. What a piece of you know what. While in college I managed to buy a 2002. I totaled it. I then bought a 1600, sold it and bought a Bavaria. I sold the Bavaria for a song, (if I only knew then what I know now). My next car was a 530i (78 i believe). While still owning this car I came across the 74 0cs. I always wanted a 3.0cs because I felt it was the most beautifull car ever made by BMW but couldn't afford it. It was a lot of money back then .I bought it on a lark and used as an everyday car for about 10 years although it already had some rust. After a few years I sold the 530 i and bought a 84 500 SEC coupe Benz which I still have. The BMW 74, coupe then sat in my garage for about 10 years starting it up for a drive every couple of months. I had the body of the 3.0cs redone already twice-not a total restoration- but pretty close at a "professional body shop"about 16 and 11 years ago. Both times, the rust came back after a year or so. I guess that's why it sat in my garage for 10 years. I am now ready to re-do it once again, a third time and hopefully the last. The difference is, is that this time I'm going to do it myself. This where your advice and suggestions come in.
I have already changed the floor panels and rockers about 11 years ago. Thay are not original. I got them off a 5 series I found in a junk yard, rented a welding machine and welded them on. They don't look great but they held up. To this day, there is no rust on the floor panels or rockers. Nevertheless, I intend to replace them with original panels and rockers. My immediate concerns however are the frame rails. They are totaly rusted from the rear (under the floor panels) to about where they curve up at the firewall. from there to the front of the car they look solid. I attached a link with pictures for all to see. (I never used Ficker so I hope I did it right.)
For those who have it, if you look in the 2 set blueBMW Repair manual ( the one that recently sold for over $700 on EBay), in section 41, pages 41-00-2 and 3, it clearly shows that to replace the front enf of the car you need to cut the frame rails at the firewall and force the new section into it. I don't need to replace the front end of the car, only the frame rails.
Has anyone ever done this as shown in the repair manual? Replacing both frame rails is doable but it would be a real pain as they are also welded on to the fender side in the engine bay. I have already received valuable suggestions/advice from Ed G and Malc. Any additional advice from them and anyone else would be truly appreciated.
The car still runs very well. Has original engine, transmission and clutch. The only engine work ever done ( while I owned it for 20 years) was a new alternator and starter. I would drive to California and back without hesitation after I change the clutch master cylinder. I just noticed a leak. I found a new one on e-bay for $50. It's being shipped from Beirut Lebanon for crying out loud, imagine.I may get a visit from Homeland Security asking what I'm getting from there.
Sorry for being long winded but I wanted to cover as much as possible. I promise to be short the next time.
Again, any help would be most appreciated.
I'm now going to try the link to flickr. There should be 24 pictures
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23826726@N08/2263625734/
Andre
I have already changed the floor panels and rockers about 11 years ago. Thay are not original. I got them off a 5 series I found in a junk yard, rented a welding machine and welded them on. They don't look great but they held up. To this day, there is no rust on the floor panels or rockers. Nevertheless, I intend to replace them with original panels and rockers. My immediate concerns however are the frame rails. They are totaly rusted from the rear (under the floor panels) to about where they curve up at the firewall. from there to the front of the car they look solid. I attached a link with pictures for all to see. (I never used Ficker so I hope I did it right.)
For those who have it, if you look in the 2 set blueBMW Repair manual ( the one that recently sold for over $700 on EBay), in section 41, pages 41-00-2 and 3, it clearly shows that to replace the front enf of the car you need to cut the frame rails at the firewall and force the new section into it. I don't need to replace the front end of the car, only the frame rails.
Has anyone ever done this as shown in the repair manual? Replacing both frame rails is doable but it would be a real pain as they are also welded on to the fender side in the engine bay. I have already received valuable suggestions/advice from Ed G and Malc. Any additional advice from them and anyone else would be truly appreciated.
The car still runs very well. Has original engine, transmission and clutch. The only engine work ever done ( while I owned it for 20 years) was a new alternator and starter. I would drive to California and back without hesitation after I change the clutch master cylinder. I just noticed a leak. I found a new one on e-bay for $50. It's being shipped from Beirut Lebanon for crying out loud, imagine.I may get a visit from Homeland Security asking what I'm getting from there.
Sorry for being long winded but I wanted to cover as much as possible. I promise to be short the next time.
Again, any help would be most appreciated.
I'm now going to try the link to flickr. There should be 24 pictures
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23826726@N08/2263625734/
Andre
