Billy's W124 Coupe Project

[Niks]

Im taking a liking to those ambers too.

 

[brigadier]

+1 on ambers. Looks good on dark colors.

 

[adile220]

Dream car... I often just come onto the forum to have a look at your car - a sight for sore eyes every time!

Mine's scheduled to have a respray, but still don't have it sitting right...

Will be asking the sprayer to roll the arches to accommodate for the wider rear monoblocks, and want to lower it some more by replacing spring pads.

Still don't know who to send the car to for the lowering, and was hoping to get the height where I wanted before respray; nevertheless it will be going in soon.

Need to get some new bumper bump strip inserts on the front and rear too - anyone know where to get them from, and roughly what they cost?

Thanks again Billy - love this motor, both before and after!

adil

 

[BillyW124]

What are you looking to lower by and what are you running height wise currently? I thought your coupe was up for sale?

...just can't rid these things, you can sit in a whole lot of feel good cars but you'll come crawling back!

 

[adile220]

Hi Billy,

I would be really happy to get it as low as yours - at the moment its on some Apex or PI springs - can't remember which...

I need to measure the height of it - where are the two points to measure from?

In regards sale - I realised I would most likely buy another if I sold it on in its current state. Just something so inviting about its lines - often sit and just admire it, if not go for a cruise..!

My missus encouraged me to get it to a point where I'm happy with it, so time to spend some $$$.

Best,

adil

 

[WDB124066]

She has no idea of the meaning of those words she uttered. Get her to remember this or even better confirm in writing, email text or something. It will be valuable.

 

[adile220]

I could type up a statement and have it signed and dated

Respray was authorised - what she doesn't know if the other work ill be doing!

I think this is how Billys wagon started out too - its a bottomless pit after a while...

Guess if your not getting shouted at, keep spending!

 

[BillyW124]

wow - Missus - encouraged - car - spend?? You are a lucky fella, i couldn't even imagine disclosing costs, but after a while they get used to it and begin to realise what it means to the owner and from there on in all in seems okish. (as long as there's a valid reason for it) Example, car needs a respray to finish it off. 'NO it doesn't, not now anyway' maybe later

 

[rx7withtimhui]

Hey havent been posting in a while... finally got a spot at the shop in march to get my car in for restoration. (yes... it has a 1 and a half year wait...)

so, here are some updated photos of my car

 

[BillyW124]

I've been SHAFTED!!

Had an incident over the weekend which unfortunately saw my car being pulled onto the back of a flat bed recovery truck.....A sight i thought i'd never see.

On the plus side, manged to get the car on without any bumper splitting action on the ramp which was probably my main concern as i thought my loss of any drive to my rear wheels can't be that bad. Or so i thought.....

On inspection, my axle shaft has been ripped off the diff completely in a mangled wreck. The actual differential has been subjected to quite some force dismounting it from its mounting points. In the process, its also bent my subframe and the axle shaft has smacked straight up on the edge of the subframe kinking the metal work in places.

Not entirely sure how this has happened, but i have a feeling it may be down to my silly incident i had in a car park a little while back and probably was damage caused way before it gave way on Saturday night!

 

[trapperjohn]

Oh **** man. Feel for you.

 

[mattc]

Billy

Can it be rescued and repaired?

 

[BillyW124]

Warning, the following pictures may cause some distress!!

 

[RBYCC]

How high of a curb did you run over ?

 

[BillyW124]

Billy

Can it be rescued and repaired?

Yes Matt, If there was ever a time to deal with what i had planned now, is the ultimate chance.

I've decided to go whole hog and fulfill my urge to rebuild the rear axle completely and the whole under side of the car.

With everything dropped/stripped back to front, the underside of this car is going to get the royal treatment. I'll put the coupe on one of these bad boys and send it off to get a recoat of waxoyl and then start to re assemble.

SHELL DOLLY / MOVER / TRANSPORTER fits any car or van for restoration/projects | eBay

i'd be greatful for any pointers from anyone on what else I should replace while i have this opportunity. Fuel and brake lines for starters..

 

[BillyW124]

How high of a curb did you run over ?

No Curb at all Ed!

I was stopped at the lights, ready to move off, foot on the gas about 3/4 of the way down then BANG BANG, SLAP, BURBLLE BURBBLE, KNOCK, CLONK. I thought ****! my gear box has dropped off! It was a 'steady' move off noting drastic. 20mins earlier i was enjoying an effortless cruise of varying speeds with no issues. This is what i cant get my head around.

This rebuild will consist of using a 320 diff along with 320 axle shafts which have 129 part numbers. Tbh i think this current 220 diff can handle the extra torque but i think the extra power is putting strain on the components at the rear and its time to properly think what's best going forward.

Talking of strain, having a chat this afternoon, my silly incident as mentioned in above post doing (fun) dougnuts (or not so fun now) on right full lock must have seriously messed up my axle shaft and the diff mounts. Moving an 18x9 alloy from static at full kickdown with the gear stick in pos 3 must have really done it, after all it is my left side thats suffered the damage? I went through a centre prop bearing and tore through the rear prop coupling in that incident.

 

[SL300-24]

Lesson learned there then Billy........

Good luck with the (continuing) rebuild mate.....

 

[WDB124066]

The right spring link bolt looks bent too Billy, sure your friends didn't touch a curb when you let them take it for a spin...??

Did you ever get the car on a dyno?

 

[BillyW124]

The left spring link bolt looks bent too Billy, sure your friends didn't touch a curb when you let them take it for a spin...??

Did you ever get the car on a dyno?

No ones taken the car for a spin to my knowlege and even if they have without me knowing, if it was curbed I'd be sending someone a bill to replace my alloy!

Never got it on a Dyno, I shoud just to see what's what really..

 

[WDB124066]

There was an E36 Coupe for sale on here a while back, be nice to start with something MB have already done the Engineering on Billy, might be a better starting point....??

So looks like the diff mounts gave way and things went from there, was there any rumbling sound at speed on the Mway when driving normally before the incident Billy?