Jump to content
WI BIMMERS - Wisconsin's BMW Community

540i Swapped Rat rod Build thread


ThatRatRodProject

Recommended Posts

Alright. To get started.

I'm fairly new to this WiBimmers.

This is my first build thread.

I will do my best at staying up to date on it.

ABOUT THE BUILD

I have always been interested In BMW'S.

Yet I love that old rat rod (street rod) look. Just a very simple vehicle. With so much character.

Skip around a little bit.

I traded my mini cooper s for a E30

6aee09a8dd60252b8eaaf0b0c7f65bcb.jpg

23f22fb8cbc840b84ee773209a13bdad.jpg

9817322d9786af9cabb1eaa9597b971b.jpg

Mini had high miles. And I really wanted something rwd. Needless to say on the test drive. I did my first skid in a rwd vehicle. It was great. And I continue doing skid. The guy I got it from never told me what rear end was in it but dam she locks.

So I started strip the e30 down.

Because I had planed on save some of the frame rails for the build.

fdc8eb9e8a53b47b7b636b2e47e1b722.jpg

57d14770f07288f36523368afcf6aa98.jpg

b0d1f84b4427fd204a6d0936c1eba190.jpg

a9e53c23a6db4574315554a996a4204b.jpg

217d4a24e64bdb2d2e98447aa4bcf19b.jpg

This mess of wires

18fd56481b61aed171399bdcbb484e23.jpg

Today I started with the chopping. Just trying to strip the extra metal from the frame rails and the rear end. So I hauled it out to my buddy shop.

44063841080229f656b139afc301c85c.jpg

e5d5836967d36c5d6d8d486e216e0756.jpg

cba6917343442ef62001cdba59b640b6.jpg

82df7325f560940b9311ba770ad404e7.jpg

Will be finishing the cutting in the next couple days.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Alright seeing that it Is coming up to the end of the month. I need a next month goal.

So with that being said I have most all of the steel for the rolling chassis ordered. I have rough proto type sketches for my push rod front suspension. Pics will be coming. And I will be moving the body of the Olds mobile in to my shop this week. So excited.

Then the donor car (540i) will be coming in shortly after.

I will be able to start mock up a frame by the end of next week. And hopefully get a Frame started.

So by the end of July I will (as in will I am going to try my hardest) have a rolling chassis.

If you guys feel that I'm falling behind on the project. Some good harassment will do the trick.

866cbe8a9fe98b1ce6407bde50e2e4aa.jpg

This is my up date.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm not sure what's happening here, but I'll be following along.

tumblr_n81c9qMcji1skdqfxo1_250.gif

At the risk of being labelled a hot rod terminology enforcer, I have to say that a rat rod and a street rod are two very different things. The whole rat rod thing started in the 90s as a reaction to what was happening in the street rod scene at the time...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

19 hours ago, HipMF said:

I'm not sure what's happening here, but I'll be following along.

tumblr_n81c9qMcji1skdqfxo1_250.gif

At the risk of being labelled a hot rod terminology enforcer, I have to say that a rat rod and a street rod are two very different things. The whole rat rod thing started in the 90s as a reaction to what was happening in the street rod scene at the time...

You and Earl should get together and discuss the differences between using wheel/rim and street rod/rat rod.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm not sure what's happening here, but I'll be following along.

tumblr_n81c9qMcji1skdqfxo1_250.gif

At the risk of being labelled a hot rod terminology enforcer, I have to say that a rat rod and a street rod are two very different things. The whole rat rod thing started in the 90s as a reaction to what was happening in the street rod scene at the time...

You and Earl should get together and discuss the differences between using wheel/rim and street rod/rat rod.

d9acfa3ed954edda7cb1b65bc938437c.jpg

Wheel

d63c160aba05535a1292b86c296ba517.jpg

Rim

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Very interesting project. I'm just wondering, why not just use the 540i for the chassis? Seems like the e30 chassis would be too small(particularly narrow and short) for the Olds body. Not to mention the benefit of larger brakes, suspension components, wheel options, and saving lots of time not having to swap engines and necessary swap parts.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Very interesting project. I'm just wondering, why not just use the 540i for the chassis? Seems like the e30 chassis would be too small(particularly narrow and short) for the Olds body. Not to mention the benefit of larger brakes, suspension components, wheel options, and saving lots of time not having to swap engines and necessary swap parts.

Yes it would be easier to use the 540i chassis. But the vehicle is coming with a junk title. So it will no longer be able to be registered. And yes I am going to take advantage of the bigger brake and use them. For the suspension and chassis. Most of it will be tube steel and fabricated.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Very interesting project. I'm just wondering, why not just use the 540i for the chassis? Seems like the e30 chassis would be too small(particularly narrow and short) for the Olds body. Not to mention the benefit of larger brakes, suspension components, wheel options, and saving lots of time not having to swap engines and necessary swap parts.

Yes it would be easier to use the 540i chassis. But the vehicle is coming with a junk title. So it will no longer be able to be registered. And yes I am going to take advantage of the bigger brake and use them. For the suspension and chassis. Most of it will be tube steel and fabricated.

I have some rough proto types I will

Post pictures.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here are the rough pictures of the 540i. I will be doing a part out on very select items. I will make a Craigslist post. Getting really excited.

I know I have had a couple people not ask why I am not using the 540i chassis and that is for two reasons.

1. The vehicle does not have a title. There for registering it will not be fun.

2. I'm doing this for the experience. I want to fabricate as much as I can. I enjoy the prototyping and figuring out another way to to things. Yes I could chopping the body off and weld one on.

I've seen that done with a e36 it was cool. But not safe.

42391a78018ace161023f148e8119bd0.jpg

d0db34de5bea9c8d94aa07421ce413e0.jpg

Yes I give the guy credit for the build for say. But me personally. I would not want to do it sketchy. Do it right the first time.

c93426de1dd3ad4335107ef595490550.jpg

c3c6ae96a19881de35ceaafba5d35dd6.jpg

65cb8836fb64fa1f39c39ad888b3bade.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I keep hearing Olds, but I see no Olds...

Anyway, if it's from the late 30s or early 40s the e30 chassis could be closer to the right size. Normally I prefer traditional, "period-correct" rods and customs, but definitely approve of the idea. At least it's better than taking some 40s car and putting it on an S-10 chassis... never understood that one. I get it, it's about the right size, body-on-frame construction, and cheap... but it's also... an S-10... not generally know for their handling, comfort or cool-factor.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.