What else have you built/are you building?

Seth Horwitz

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First off, a big thanks to all of the well wishers before my surgery. I went in for Brain Surgery last Wednesday, and I’m ready to get to work on my project. (PM me for pics if needed. Some guys are great with carburetors, others with Craniotomies. I’ve been through bad ones, so I know a good one.)

Anyway, I had been looking at my upcoming build project as a dual. I wanted to start with an E9, but build something else at the same time. Granted, I’m only a few days out from surgery where I can make a real schedule, but these E9seem incredibly hard to come by. (I’ve been looking for a couple months.) I want a straight frame, as little rust as possible, relatively unmodified metalwork, and as many hard to get pieces as I can get to have refinished. I know I’ll have to hunt, anyway, but might as well start off right. I’d even go as far as saying that I’m ready to overpay for a car, if it’s right. That said, what would you build alongside your E9, starting beforehand if you had to?

I’ve got this thing in my head for 70s imports, and was thinking about building a 240z or possibly a 2002. The 2002 seems a bit too similar to an E9 if I’m still planning on going down that route, though. (Which I am if I find one.) Thanks for any thoughts.
Seth
 

dave v. in nc

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Glad to hear that all went well. I will skip all jokes about brain surgery and trying to fight restoration battles on two fronts...just glad you are up for it.
In the category of yin and yang, if you you are going with something as complex as an e9, you might like the simplicity of either the 2002 (the restoration of mine started the same time as my e9, but far out-paced the progress of the coupe because of said simplicity..), or my latest, a 68 Datsun roadster, which is simpler still. Z cars are more plentiful (I used to think of them as common, but in a good way like a Miata...), but a little more expensive than roadsters. Probably send you a PM...
 

Bwana

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My e9 is finally a little too dog eared to keep going so it's up for a semi-restore this year. As mentioned, it is more complicated to restore than a lot of other machines. I did a body off on my '69 Datsun 2000 18 years ago and it was relatively easy (8 bolts to remove the body from the chassis?). I'm currently also refreshing a '71 240Z and it's a pleasure to work on. Is this your first resto? If so, you might pick something easy to start out with so you don't get frustrated and give up
 

Sooner

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Currently restoring an Isetta, and bringing back a 72 Bavaria along with a couple of 2002's
Needless to say, too many projects and not enough time!
 

Belgiumbarry

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i built a "copy" of Carl Fausset's ( 928motorsports) Porsche 928.... never ended it due a local engine builder who was building me a race engine , went bankrupt and stole my engine that was almost finished and payed for !…. so my courage was low for awhile. I will continue it on of these days… i have a engine … not a race built , but a good , let's hope, '86 one… the latest most updated 16 valves. After that year Porsche went 32 valves on the V8's.
That engine has so far only the windage tray , and i will built it with IDA48 Webers.... the race engine was with ITB's injection. Don't want to spend anymore to much money on it... just built it with what i +/- have.
 

Arde

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I am happy alternating between the E9 and the Lancia Fulvia. Same decade, very different cars.
Can send you info on how to source a Fulvia that would be a good start.

Anyway, I had been looking at my upcoming build project as a dual. I wanted to start with an E9, but build something else at the same time.
 

mr bump

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I'm partially restoring my 72 cs
I restored my 91 E34 B10 3.5/1( full conversion) alpina.
And completed a nut and bolt full restoration on my 81 ford escort XR3 carb turbo, very rare cars due to only 30 carb turbo kits being sold by ford.
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vince

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I built this 02 about three years ago as kind of a 'mini-me' to my coupe. Full euro bumper conversion, 5 speed, recaros, and BBS RSs. The wheels alone took me a couple of months. I sold it on BAT to buy my Dinan E39 M5. The M5 is now my favorite car to drive (just don't tell my coupe!).

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aearch

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restoring a 96 chevy silverado that sat for 14 years
complete paint strip and painting
new transmission and
engine refurbish.
replacing a lot of interior broken trim
restor the alum wheels
 

aearch

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relaying new diagonal Calacatta: marble in the second bath floor as my stepson let the water leak and destroyed it.
designing 5 additons and three new homes
 

adawil2002

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Recommend having just one car restoration going at a time. Easier to focus on one than split time & budgets between 2 or more. Took 5 winters to restore my E9. 2 years for the 1988 M5 and in the 2nd year of the 2002Tii. Advise making a build thread, I have them for the mentioned BMWs

I also restore antique homes.
 

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Rek

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Meet Lazarus, a 420SL from 1985 who was brought back from the dead by myself. He was in a worse state than my E9 when I bought him, but treatment was simple as there are grizillions of parts for them around.

It was meant to be a daily driver but was just not fun enough to drive. Pretty but not a patch on the E9. Also, the seats hurt my back after a while.

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Keshav

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Hi Rek,
Did the same with its older brother........ good part about MB is, no matter what the cost, the parts are available! And yes, the seats.......suck!
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Wes

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I th
Hi Rek,
Did the same with its older brother........ good part about MB is, no matter what the cost, the parts are available! And yes, the seats.......suck!
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I think you guys are getting soft :)

My side project is renovating our house :(
Tried to convince the family I should start with the garage but for some reason they wanted me to sort the bathroom.
 

Marc-M

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Dear Seth

The E9 is not an easy car to do a full nut and bolt restoration, the main issue is the body, so go and buy the best low rust car you can – but also a complete car as well.

The problem as you will be aware is E9s were designed to rust before they left the factory…. But if you can find a dry state car that is a little faded, that would be a great start.

The main problem with E9s is the growing shortage of parts – BMW don’t seem to be making them at the moment.

You can’t even get new front wings (fenders) however there are aftermarket repair sections, as for inner panels – a few are still left but most are NLA

The last car I restored was a 1957 Xk150 Ots – and there are more parts for that than the E9!!


Here are a few of the things I have done….

regards
marc
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My wife wanted a camper - this is the worst driving thing I have ever had - it does not like high winds ....
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Had a few of these over the years - goes like hell - but you die if you crash as its made of Glass fibre - all my mates think this is the best fun car ( apart from the BMW2002 turbo)
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A true GT car - quite soft but great to go long distance - this I got from the USA and converted to RHD - not been driven sine the 1960s....
 

Mike Goble

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I built a 64 Nova to road race in Mexico...

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I built a 65 Vette for the same racing. Oddly enough the Nova was more successful...

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Here's a 64 Chevelle I built for Mats Hammarlund

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I built a 68 Roadrunner for bracket racing. The kid sitting on the hood is future NFL punter Louie Aguiar, my neighbor and crew chief.

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Built a 67 Nova into an 11-second daily driver...

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m_thompson

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I have been restoring this 1973 vintage Digital Equipment PDP-12 for the last few years. It was a barn find, and had been sitting unused for about 20 years. It has the same restoration challenges as a coupe, with unobtainable parts, and high prices for the parts that I can find. Fortunately there are several forums where I can get technical advice, documentation, and scrounge parts. Everything is working now, and I just finished making (with lots of help from others) reproductions of early 60s design game controllers so we can play Spacewar on it.
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