# 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:** 47
**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:** [April 3, 2007, 10:37am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/newmans-1986-bmw-326rb-build-thread/22123/921 "2007-04-03T10:37:48Z")
haha, um, i am shooting for june, now. Originally it was the beginning of may, but that ain’t happening. bladez, your car sounds reallll BA. Normally I get a TON of work done, but these past few days have been kind of a lull, because I just completed a major project… Bill, I was thinking that I could get some 12GA metal strips to use as filler between the sunroof and the body. ---
**Author:** ![turbo\_ls1\_ss](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/turbo_ls1_ss/32/7303_2.png) [@turbo\_ls1\_ss](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/turbo_ls1_ss)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2007, 10:48am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/newmans-1986-bmw-326rb-build-thread/22123/922 "2007-04-03T10:48:05Z")
hmmmm. then you would have them tig’d? or mig’d? or what. for reference, im shooting for early may…to be done (w/ mine). then muscle50 and i will get this one whipped up… depends how smooth everything goes…and how long it takes newman to do his thing. ---
**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:** [April 3, 2007, 10:51am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/newmans-1986-bmw-326rb-build-thread/22123/923 "2007-04-03T10:51:13Z")
[quote=“turbo ls1 ss,post:922,topic:22123"”] hmmmm. then you would have them tig’d? or mig’d? or what. [/quote] well, it would just be so that we weren’t trying to span a 1/8" gap with weld. There was a 1/8" rubber seal around the whole sunroof that was obviously removed. ---
**Author:** ![turbo\_ls1\_ss](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/turbo_ls1_ss/32/7303_2.png) [@turbo\_ls1\_ss](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/turbo_ls1_ss)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2007, 10:53am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/newmans-1986-bmw-326rb-build-thread/22123/924 "2007-04-03T10:53:42Z")
that might work well…then we can countersink it like 1/16th-1/8" so we can grind it and put a thin layer of body filler in. the less body filler the better… but we also dont want to warp anything ---
**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:** [April 3, 2007, 10:58am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/newmans-1986-bmw-326rb-build-thread/22123/925 "2007-04-03T10:58:34Z")
[quote=“turbo ls1 ss,post:924,topic:22123"”] that might work well…then we can countersink it like 1/16th-1/8" so we can grind it and put a thin layer of body filler in. the less body filler the better… but we also dont want to warp anything [/quote] agreed, this is less likely to warp. Stop by tonight, i think you’ll see right away. ---
**Author:** ![turbo\_ls1\_ss](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/turbo_ls1_ss/32/7303_2.png) [@turbo\_ls1\_ss](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/turbo_ls1_ss)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2007, 11:00am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/newmans-1986-bmw-326rb-build-thread/22123/926 "2007-04-03T11:00:49Z")
[quote=“newman,post:925,topic:22123"”] agreed, this is less likely to warp. Stop by tonight, i think you’ll see right away. [/quote] ill try, but no promises tonight. school today and test in the morning \> me. after today ill be free…after hrs of course ---
**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:** [April 3, 2007, 11:02am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/newmans-1986-bmw-326rb-build-thread/22123/927 "2007-04-03T11:02:32Z")
i might try and get a couple tacks on it tonight. Right now it’s kind of exposed to the elements. ---
**Author:** ![9ONA3OOZX](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/9ona3oozx/32/7242_2.png) [@9ONA3OOZX](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/9ONA3OOZX)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2007, 11:02am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/newmans-1986-bmw-326rb-build-thread/22123/928 "2007-04-03T11:02:43Z")
is this all being done at Innovative? or at your mom’s newman? I’d really like to check out the monster if it’s open for public viewing…the real thing is always better than pictures… ---
**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:** [April 3, 2007, 11:04am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/newmans-1986-bmw-326rb-build-thread/22123/929 "2007-04-03T11:04:25Z")
[quote=“90NA300ZX,post:928,topic:22123"”] is this all being done at Innovative? or at your mom’s newman? I’d really like to check out the monster if it’s open for public viewing…the real thing is always better than pictures… [/quote] I can’t have a million people stopping by. Bill is helping paint the car, so he’s allowed. You will see it soon enough. ---
**Author:** ![turbo\_ls1\_ss](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/turbo_ls1_ss/32/7303_2.png) [@turbo\_ls1\_ss](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/turbo_ls1_ss)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2007, 11:09am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/newmans-1986-bmw-326rb-build-thread/22123/930 "2007-04-03T11:09:36Z")
yes, progress does NOT happen when there are people around. speaking from experience here. i turned 3 bolts last night. i’m guilty of it too ---
**Author:** ![boardjnky4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@boardjnky4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boardjnky4)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2007, 11:10am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/newmans-1986-bmw-326rb-build-thread/22123/931 "2007-04-03T11:10:35Z")
[quote=“turbo ls1 ss,post:930,topic:22123"”] yes, progress does NOT happen when there are people around. speaking from experience here. i turned 3 bolts last night. i’m guilty of it too [/quote] that is VERY true ---
**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:** [April 4, 2007, 5:00am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/newmans-1986-bmw-326rb-build-thread/22123/932 "2007-04-04T05:00:29Z")
OK, tonight i welded in the sunroof. Step One - Remove all paint from sunroof edges: ![http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/ctnewman2/DSC01553.jpg](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/ctnewman2/DSC01553.jpg) Step Two - Remove all paint from sunroof hole in body: ![http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/ctnewman2/DSC01554.jpg](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/ctnewman2/DSC01554.jpg) Step Three - Cut metal to fill gap where rubber sunroof seal was: ![http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/ctnewman2/DSC01555.jpg](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/ctnewman2/DSC01555.jpg) Step Four - Weld the strips to the body around the perimeter of the roof: ![http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/ctnewman2/DSC01556.jpg](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/ctnewman2/DSC01556.jpg) ![http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/ctnewman2/DSC01557.jpg](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/ctnewman2/DSC01557.jpg) Step 5 - Place sunroof in hole. Shim up the bottom with wood until it is aligned properly. ![http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/ctnewman2/DSC01558.jpg](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/ctnewman2/DSC01558.jpg) ![http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/ctnewman2/DSC01559.jpg](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/ctnewman2/DSC01559.jpg) Step 6 - Apply approximately sixty 1/4" welds to connecting the sunroof to the strips and the body: ![http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/ctnewman2/DSC01560.jpg](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/ctnewman2/DSC01560.jpg) ![http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/ctnewman2/DSC01562.jpg](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/ctnewman2/DSC01562.jpg) Step Seven - Apply primer: ![http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/ctnewman2/DSC01564.jpg](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/ctnewman2/DSC01564.jpg) ![http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/ctnewman2/DSC01565.jpg](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/ctnewman2/DSC01565.jpg) The crack will be filled and blended with body filler. The idea is to attach the roof strongly enough such that is doesn’t flex and crack the filler. This should be plenty. ---
**Author:** ![TheKID](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@TheKID](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/TheKID)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2007, 5:34am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/newmans-1986-bmw-326rb-build-thread/22123/933 "2007-04-04T05:34:13Z")
Are you looking for it to be not noticeable at all, or just make it stay down and be safe? edit: and not leak when it rains? ---
**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:** [April 4, 2007, 5:35am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/newmans-1986-bmw-326rb-build-thread/22123/934 "2007-04-04T05:35:20Z")
[quote=“TheKID10788,post:933,topic:22123"”] Are you looking for it to be not noticeable at all, or just make it stay down and be safe? edit: and not leak when it rains? [/quote] Once the body filler and paint are on, you will never know the car had a sunroof. ---
**Author:** ![neonglh](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/neonglh/32/4951_2.png) [@neonglh](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/neonglh)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2007, 6:25am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/newmans-1986-bmw-326rb-build-thread/22123/935 "2007-04-04T06:25:13Z")
Welding the sunroof can be tricky. It looks like you did a good job, but we ran into some hard work doing mine. A Sunroof delete panel was rivet’d in, so we had to fill in those… 50 or so rivet holes with weld. Even though we went slow, low heat, and alternated, the metal changed shape around some of them. I had low spots near some of the welds. I was able to fix almost all of this by skimming body filler, and sanding, then repeat, but it was still never perfect. I think your route should be quite a bit easier. –mark ---
**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:** [April 4, 2007, 6:29am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/newmans-1986-bmw-326rb-build-thread/22123/936 "2007-04-04T06:29:27Z")
by comparison, the shockdrifting FD only used 4 tacks. I haven’t seen the car since, but those guys seem to know what they are doing: ![http://www.shockdrifting.com/articles/lukefd/37.jpg](http://www.shockdrifting.com/articles/lukefd/37.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Viper966](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/viper966/32/7268_2.png) [@Viper966](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Viper966)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2007, 6:46am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/newmans-1986-bmw-326rb-build-thread/22123/937 "2007-04-04T06:46:00Z")
[quote=“newman,post:936,topic:22123"”] by comparison, the shockdrifting FD only used 4 tacks. I haven’t seen the car since, but those guys seem to know what they are doing: [/quote] 4 tacks seems really low, i would @ least want two on each edge especially the side edgest where most of the flexing would occur ---
**Author:** ![turbo\_ls1\_ss](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/turbo_ls1_ss/32/7303_2.png) [@turbo\_ls1\_ss](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/turbo_ls1_ss)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2007, 7:40am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/newmans-1986-bmw-326rb-build-thread/22123/938 "2007-04-04T07:40:06Z")
damnn… looks good newman… i gave you a call last night. tonight ill def be able to stop by if you’re going to there. hows the contours? we are gonna have to block the shit outa that… but nice job ---
**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:** [April 4, 2007, 7:42am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/newmans-1986-bmw-326rb-build-thread/22123/939 "2007-04-04T07:42:32Z")
[quote=“turbo ls1 ss,post:938,topic:22123"”] damnn… looks good newman… i gave you a call last night. tonight ill def be able to stop by if you’re going to there. hows the contours? we are gonna have to block the shit outa that… but nice job [/quote] The contours are pretty good. You have a much better eye for it than i do. ---
**Author:** ![Anonymity](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/anonymity/32/7215_2.png) [@Anonymity](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Anonymity)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2007, 8:23am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/newmans-1986-bmw-326rb-build-thread/22123/940 "2007-04-04T08:23:24Z")
i would have made it flip open, see the integra… and IMO, … but i can see the pics at work. [Previous page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/newmans-1986-bmw-326rb-build-thread/22123.md?page=46) [Next page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/newmans-1986-bmw-326rb-build-thread/22123.md?page=48)