# Newman's 1986 BMW 326rb build thread. **URL:** \ **Category:** Builds\ **Created:** [December 25, 2006, 8:54pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/newmans-1986-bmw-326rb-build-thread/22123 "2006-12-25T20:54:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 146
**Author:** ![newman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/newman/32/7569_2.png) [@newman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/newman)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 9:15am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/newmans-1986-bmw-326rb-build-thread/22123/2901 "2010-01-26T09:15:43Z")
> [@LUKE\_L](#): > > Great progress Newman. Did you add any “Flare” to your interior or did you keep the OEM guages, HVAC, dome light, etc…? It’s going to have a VERY striiped interior. HVAC: removed Dome light: removed Door switches: removed Gauges: Racetech Dash2 ![http://onyxsyndicate.com/newman/e30gtr/img/thumbs/Dash2.jpg](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/3X/c/5/c5bb738adf6d864b3d38e17ffd7e1eb314dd2bd8.jpeg) I’m using a few Greddy e-warning gauges and 2 AEM gauges. I ordered some CF door skins. ---
**Author:** ![ubengineering](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ubengineering/32/5171_2.png) [@ubengineering](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ubengineering)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 9:32am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/newmans-1986-bmw-326rb-build-thread/22123/2902 "2010-01-26T09:32:02Z")
> [@LZ](#): > > You’re going to school for engineering? :lol: where would i have to know how to read wiring diagrams? youre gonna be upset when you find out 80% of my class doesn’t know what a piston is ---
**Author:** ![LUKE\_L](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/luke_l/32/7462_2.png) [@LUKE\_L](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LUKE_L)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 9:44am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/newmans-1986-bmw-326rb-build-thread/22123/2903 "2010-01-26T09:44:25Z")
> [@newman](#): > > It’s going to have a VERY striiped interior. Radio and Speakers? I drove about 3 months with nothing installed as the OEM radio I had blew up after I switched it back in with a JVC unit that Joe had in. I got so sick of not having Music that I put in an Alpine unit. ---
**Author:** ![newman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/newman/32/7569_2.png) [@newman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/newman)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 9:49am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/newmans-1986-bmw-326rb-build-thread/22123/2904 "2010-01-26T09:49:58Z")
> [@LUKE\_L](#): > > Radio and Speakers? > > I drove about 3 months with nothing installed as the OEM radio I had blew up after I switched it back in with a JVC unit that Joe had in. I got so sick of not having Music that I put in an Alpine unit. I actually have all the wiring for radio and speakers, but I don’t think I’m going to install them… I actually even have speakers and a head unit too… hmm… ---
**Author:** ![juicedz4](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/juicedz4/32/5051_2.png) [@juicedz4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/juicedz4)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 9:55am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/newmans-1986-bmw-326rb-build-thread/22123/2905 "2010-01-26T09:55:33Z")
I bought this for the cabriolet project, for which Im leaving the stock body wiring and fuse box and adding this for the megasquirt, coolant fan, fuel pump etc. It holds 10 fuses and up to 5 micro relays (30A rating on the NO contact) or 3 mini relays (which I think can do up to 45A). They are avail in all sorts of configurations, with or without fuse buss, relay buss etc etc. ![http://order.waytekwire.com/IMAGES/M37/items/46346FL.GIF](http://order.waytekwire.com/IMAGES/M37/items/46346FL.GIF) I used this fuse box in the cavy…(acutaly two of them, ug) It holds 20 fuses and has two separate busses split into 6 and 14 circuits. ![http://order.waytekwire.com/IMAGES/M37/items/46074FL.GIF](http://order.waytekwire.com/IMAGES/M37/items/46074FL.GIF) and for relays I used a row of these all hooked together ![http://order.waytekwire.com/IMAGES/M37/items/75280FL.GIF](http://order.waytekwire.com/IMAGES/M37/items/75280FL.GIF) In all cases the terminals you crimp onto the wires contact the fuse or relay directly. There are no other connections in between. Dan ---
**Author:** ![ubengineering](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ubengineering/32/5171_2.png) [@ubengineering](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ubengineering)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 11:52am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/newmans-1986-bmw-326rb-build-thread/22123/2906 "2010-01-26T11:52:47Z")
that 3wd actually sounds kinda kool, almost like any 4wd vehicle out there, they’re never truly in 4wd cause the diffs arent locked ---
**Author:** ![travisn](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/travisn/32/5046_2.png) [@travisn](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/travisn)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 2:01am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/newmans-1986-bmw-326rb-build-thread/22123/2907 "2010-01-27T02:01:06Z")
I feel better now, got that out of my system for at least a few days. ---
**Author:** ![Motocrossx23](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/motocrossx23/32/5120_2.png) [@Motocrossx23](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Motocrossx23)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 4:30am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/newmans-1986-bmw-326rb-build-thread/22123/2908 "2010-01-27T04:30:28Z")
> [@travisn](#): > > I feel better now, got that out of my system for at least a few days. That’s what she said! ---
**Author:** ![newman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/newman/32/7569_2.png) [@newman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/newman)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 6:27am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/newmans-1986-bmw-326rb-build-thread/22123/2909 "2010-01-27T06:27:09Z")
More stuff… dash 2 install: [01/26/10 - Cluster/gauges… ![http://onyxsyndicate.com/newman/e30gtr/img/thumbs/INSTRUMENTS04.jpg](http://onyxsyndicate.com/newman/e30gtr/img/thumbs/INSTRUMENTS04.jpg)](http://onyxsyndicate.com/newman/e30gtr/e30gtr_110.html) ---
**Author:** ![newman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/newman/32/7569_2.png) [@newman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/newman)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 6:33am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/newmans-1986-bmw-326rb-build-thread/22123/2910 "2010-01-27T06:33:28Z")
> [@travisn](#): > > I feel better now, got that out of my system for at least a few days. 5am. Lol. Thanks again man! ---
**Author:** ![Geoff](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/geoff/32/6104_2.png) [@Geoff](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Geoff)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 6:46am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/newmans-1986-bmw-326rb-build-thread/22123/2911 "2010-01-27T06:46:26Z")
Dash came out great, I like it a LOT. ---
**Author:** ![newman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/newman/32/7569_2.png) [@newman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/newman)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 6:48am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/newmans-1986-bmw-326rb-build-thread/22123/2912 "2010-01-27T06:48:04Z")
Thank you sir! ---
**Author:** ![boardjnky4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@boardjnky4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boardjnky4)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 7:12am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/newmans-1986-bmw-326rb-build-thread/22123/2913 "2010-01-27T07:12:28Z")
+1 on what Geoff said…Coming along nicely ---
**Author:** ![travisn](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/travisn/32/5046_2.png) [@travisn](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/travisn)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 7:18am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/newmans-1986-bmw-326rb-build-thread/22123/2914 "2010-01-27T07:18:09Z")
DVOM is locked and loaded. ---
**Author:** ![93dx\_hatch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/9/90ced4/32.png) [@93dx\_hatch](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/93dx_hatch)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 8:12am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/newmans-1986-bmw-326rb-build-thread/22123/2915 "2010-01-27T08:12:52Z")
that looks awesome. Nice work ---
**Author:** ![Z28pr0jekt](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/z28pr0jekt/32/5393_2.png) [@Z28pr0jekt](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Z28pr0jekt)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 8:14am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/newmans-1986-bmw-326rb-build-thread/22123/2916 "2010-01-27T08:14:40Z")
Are you leaving the dash pieces as bare/brushed metal or painting them? ---
**Author:** ![newman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/newman/32/7569_2.png) [@newman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/newman)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 8:18am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/newmans-1986-bmw-326rb-build-thread/22123/2917 "2010-01-27T08:18:37Z")
Probably bare. I might anodize someday… ---
**Author:** ![newman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/newman/32/7569_2.png) [@newman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/newman)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 9:26am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/newmans-1986-bmw-326rb-build-thread/22123/2918 "2010-01-27T09:26:03Z")
One interesting tidbit… The boost and EGT gauges have been mine (more or less) since 2003. 1. I bought these new for my first real modded car, my 97 Maxima Turbo. (It was my senior design project) ![http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/ctnewman2/maxima2.jpg](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/ctnewman2/maxima2.jpg) 2. Sold the Maxima and installed them into my RHD RB26 240SX (idk wtf I was thinking w/ this setup, lol) 3. Parted out the gauges, sold them to RyanA96, who installed them into a car I ultimately bought, an SR20 swapped 240sx coupe. 4. Sold the coupe but kept the gauges and installed them into my 06 GT35R STi 5. And now they’re in my BMW… ---
**Author:** ![theblue](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/theblue/32/5074_2.png) [@theblue](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/theblue)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 9:30am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/newmans-1986-bmw-326rb-build-thread/22123/2919 "2010-01-27T09:30:30Z")
you should use that 3M CF wrap stuff for your gauges and center stack… the raw metal just looks too unfinished for the kind of car you are building. ---
**Author:** ![Boarderx192](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b782af/32.png) [@Boarderx192](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Boarderx192)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 9:34am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/newmans-1986-bmw-326rb-build-thread/22123/2920 "2010-01-27T09:34:14Z")
> [@theblue](#): > > you should use that 3M CF wrap stuff for your gauges and center stack… the raw metal just looks too unfinished for the kind of car you are building. Agreed. Or wrap them in a Vinyl that would match the dash. The bare aluminum doesnt look right. Your gonna have CF sheet for the door panels, you could use whats left over to reproduce the metal panels your using now. What is going to be on the floor and in the rear of the car where the seat usually goes? Carpet of some sort? [Previous page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/newmans-1986-bmw-326rb-build-thread/22123.md?page=145) [Next page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/newmans-1986-bmw-326rb-build-thread/22123.md?page=147)