1952/3100/uk

[Hatch83]

Firstly apologies Im pretty sure i have started a build a few months ago-however struggling getting to grips with this forum a little so figured would just start a new one and actually make an effort to update this one!

So I bought my 1952 3100 from a fantastic uk supplier called united muscle/farm fresh. I looked at a number of other suppliers/possibility of organising import myself, but these guys seemed by far the most professional/clued up/easiest option.

I received her in June 2013 (see attached photos!) She was a non runner, but (with the exception of usual rust areas-corner cab etc, and the usual bumps/surface rust etc) was pretty solid.

My aim for this project is to finish with something that looks completely traditional (so no rat look/lowrider stuff) but I want something I can use as a daily run around that will run like a modern vehicle. After a lot of research and discussions decided to opt with the original chassis, with a heindts independent front suspension/power steering/brake booster etc. For the engine after even more research I have decided to go for a 3ltr bmw diesel engine out of probably a 5 series. I know this possibly isnt as exciting as your usual v8 etc, however I really want to finish with something I can drive from A to B with out having to re mortgage the house! I am also hoping we will be able to use the rear dif etc of the bmw.


Below truck as I first saw her and being delivered few weeks later..

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[Hatch83]

So after receiving the truck then followed a good few months of moving house/babies etc (not to mention replenishing funds!) so not a lot happened with the truck (with the exception of a very nerve racking afternoon trailoring it to our new house and trying to fit it in our garage (made it with about 6 inches to spare!



So into 2014...In the end I decided to go with the 3ltr diesel bmw engine. I took a number of 5 series out and although obv not as crazy as a v8, they still certainly have some go in them. (190ish bhp and 288 lbs/ft torque) after a few months of looking out for a good one I found an 02, bmw 530 in fantastic condition with a little over 100k on the clock that i snapped up.




Should state buying this car just to pull it apart did not go down well with my mrs!

I also ordered and took delivery of the heindts ifs kit.

In March ish time the 3100 finally went into the workshop to get started on. (RandJ auto in Tongham, Surrey) It is owned and run by A good friend and incredibly talented mechanic called Richard, who will be taking care of the mechanical side of the rebuild. He set about stripping down the chevy.

[oldman3]

This should be an interesting build, I'll hang around for more...Jim

[Hatch83]

Ok, so flash forward to now (august)

Rich has finished completely stripping the 3100 right down to the chassis.


We have also now had the chassis shot blasted which was a lot of fun to see the results of! -with the exception of one or two tiny sections just behind the cab the steel is immaculate!



Before this pic was taken we sent the bmw off to have the engine completely remapped so it should deliver better torque/bhp now (did not get the final out puts) and have also had the imobiliser/security systems removed. Richard then took out the engine and any other components we though we may need, including the rear diff...




I have now found an amazing body work specialist who works for a company called dubworks who will hopfully be taking all the body panels in to be prepped in the next couple of month.

I have also put an order in with Farm Fresh for a hundred and one of the part we will need to start the rebuild. (Will have to wait for much of it to arrive from the US, however should now be able to really push on with it!

[oldman3]

Looking forward to new updates...Jim

[Hatch83]

Thanks Jim! Hopefully pop some more up in a couple of weeks!

[Russell Ashley]

This is going to be interesting. I'm looking forward to updates. That is a nice BMW to part out though.

[aknovaman]

What are the rear end specs? Width, gear ratio, etc ?

[Race.it]

Similar idea that I have got at present, being looking for a e39/e38 BMW but the v8 diesel so 4.0 v8 diesel, just trying to see what it would take to fit to my 54 3100. so ill be watching this closely.

[Kodiaks53]

I'm in, this one will be very interesting to keep tabs on. Welcome Jim. I have to agree with Russel Ashely that was (past tense ) a nice BMW to part out, but will make a really cool 54.

[MIKESAD50]

I'm in on this one.

[Hatch83]

Thanks everyone for the comments! On response-

I know was a shame to do that to the 530! Unfortunately I'm currently driving around in mk 2 Nissan micra while this is being built so watching the bm get pulled apart took some will power! -still wanted the end result to be as close to a new car as possible.

Not sure on the specs for rear end-will
Need to check with rich-he's sized it all up though and is confident it will go.

I did consider the 740 e38! -unfortunately they seem to be like rocking horse sh*t over here, in the 6 months I was looking for donor I think I only saw a couple, one had like 250k and was In a sorry state! The other had 30k in amazing condition but was £9k! 530 seemed a bit more strait forward, and though obv not as meaty, we have had it re mapped, and once it's all moving will have it fine tuned so hopefully get some nice results out of it! -am
Also debating about having the top of half of the engine refurbed while it's out-kinda figure may as well while it's out??

Have got a couple more picture will post tomorrow!

[Hatch83]

Apologies for staggered posts still getting my head around posting pics...anyway so bunch new parts arrived this week which was exciting ...

[Hatch83]

Cab came off again fully...

[Hatch83]

And suring up the chasis/welding in the mustang 2 ifs has begun! (Posted one pic of this this accidentally on earlier post-here is one more!


Hopefully be moving on to getting engine/box mounted later this week!

[Hatch83]

So predictably has been another couple of months since my last post-have finally found myself with a free evening so will update the last few stages now! -also just noticed the original pictures of when i first found the 3100 at the start of this feed didn't load properly so thought i would post them now! ...

[Hatch83]

End of Sept early Oct, with the remapped engine out of the BMW we figured it would make sense to do a full cylinder head rebuild before it's mounted. This included, having the head skimmed, the valves removed de coked/valves resealed, New valve stem/new oil seals head gasket All intake and exhaust gaskets changed, all other seals. Inlet had the swirl flaps removed and delete kit fitted, New vac pipes and vac system simplified, new injector seals and cleaned, new thermostat and housing, new head gaskets etc etc...

[Hatch83]

Rich spent the rest of Oct Mounting the engine/box. Engine mountings are all custom made to factory angles, Engine Mounts are BMW factory vacuum operated. Last photo is the engine mounted with suspension and brakes

[Hatch83]

Back end of 2014, Rich and the guys at R&J started work on the body of the cab. After getting the cab off earlier in the year we realised that the underside/corners were in worse condition then hoped, so the next job was to do structural repair on the cab/make a couple of alterations. Heres a couple of pics of the state of the cab when we first took it off...

[Hatch83]

And here are a few shots of the repair work done so far. -last shot is starting to mock back together so we can work out placement of rear axle.

[oldman3]

Cab was really bad, looks much better now, nice work....Jim