Atom D&D
Active member
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2010
The back story-Well, since the recent Photobucket debacle I've decide to create a new thread to update the next phase of the project. Most probably don't know about my project, but I converted my Amazon wagon to two door and proceeded to install all manner of custom bits as part of the process.
The past-Well, the car wound up being an Internet hero getting tons of attention and reposts and the original renderings keep popping up all over the place even all these years later. The car was never completed and never ran. The amount of work left to do was just too overwhelming. I don't have a garage at home so I'm at the mercy of a large number of things. Weather, family, house, etc. I decided that it couldn't sit as a driveway ornament any more.
The plan- I decided the fastest path to being able to actually enjoy the car was to use my favorite part of the Amazon (the body) and put it over an already running/driving chassis. My search began. At first I wanted to stay Volvo. I researched everything from 850 to 240 to V70XC to S40, etc. All are too wide and too long a wheelbase. My search widened. I wanted RWD, manual trans and solid aftermarket support. What I didn't was an obscure car that I'd never be able to find parts for. Turns out (after months of Internet scouring and parking lot tape measure work) that the BMW E30 chassis is about the right wheelbase and very close pinch weld to pinch weld width.
The next steps- I started looking for a car and stumbled onto what would be perfect for my needs. An '86 325i convertible that someone had already started parting out (I'd like to point out that all of the cars I've "destroyed" were all headed to the scrap yard before I got them. I'm doing my best to rescue what I can and put the rest of the usable parts in the hands of people who need them). Six cylinder, five speed, extra floor bracing and plenty of aftermarket support. Anyway, I sold the running gear that was in the Amazon and started the break down. Once I had it down to the shell I started by bracing the body to make sure it retained it's shape. Then I removed the entire floor pan. Next I did the necessary repairs to the BMW from the parting process and brought the donor home. I've started removing the outer skin on the BMW. My plan is to prep both cars over the next couple of weeks and I've taken the last week of July off of work to try and complete the body swap.
I'll try to post my updates here, but I have a history of focusing more on the work and less on the posting.
Stay tuned.
The past-Well, the car wound up being an Internet hero getting tons of attention and reposts and the original renderings keep popping up all over the place even all these years later. The car was never completed and never ran. The amount of work left to do was just too overwhelming. I don't have a garage at home so I'm at the mercy of a large number of things. Weather, family, house, etc. I decided that it couldn't sit as a driveway ornament any more.
The plan- I decided the fastest path to being able to actually enjoy the car was to use my favorite part of the Amazon (the body) and put it over an already running/driving chassis. My search began. At first I wanted to stay Volvo. I researched everything from 850 to 240 to V70XC to S40, etc. All are too wide and too long a wheelbase. My search widened. I wanted RWD, manual trans and solid aftermarket support. What I didn't was an obscure car that I'd never be able to find parts for. Turns out (after months of Internet scouring and parking lot tape measure work) that the BMW E30 chassis is about the right wheelbase and very close pinch weld to pinch weld width.
The next steps- I started looking for a car and stumbled onto what would be perfect for my needs. An '86 325i convertible that someone had already started parting out (I'd like to point out that all of the cars I've "destroyed" were all headed to the scrap yard before I got them. I'm doing my best to rescue what I can and put the rest of the usable parts in the hands of people who need them). Six cylinder, five speed, extra floor bracing and plenty of aftermarket support. Anyway, I sold the running gear that was in the Amazon and started the break down. Once I had it down to the shell I started by bracing the body to make sure it retained it's shape. Then I removed the entire floor pan. Next I did the necessary repairs to the BMW from the parting process and brought the donor home. I've started removing the outer skin on the BMW. My plan is to prep both cars over the next couple of weeks and I've taken the last week of July off of work to try and complete the body swap.
I'll try to post my updates here, but I have a history of focusing more on the work and less on the posting.
Stay tuned.