1981 633 CSI Revival and Refresh
Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2018 2:01 am
Greetings from Florida!!
For starters I will say that I was never good at virtually documenting my builds and progress. I ask for your patience as my 8-month new (to me) purchase has inspired me to be engaged with my fellow shark tamers!
The vessel of the matter is an Arctic Blau 1981 633 CSI. I wont bore you guys with the details of how I came across it and I will just get into the details of the refresh and repairs that this beast will undergo. The vessel is rather rusty and I completely understand that most people would junk the car or part it out. I saw potential in the chassis despite the rust and I began fixing some of the rust already.
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AncWeV69IP_syjZoFvVozjCrx_RU
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AncWeV69IP_syi2-cqpKdOpHHpmE
Besides the rust the chassis needed a major suspension and brake refresh. The rear brake lines were clogged (probably with rust), the front dampeners were leaking fluid, the ball joints/tie rods were old and cracking, the bushings in the front control arms were toast, the rear subframe bushings with the RTABS were deceased, and much more to add.
My first task to tackle was the rear brakes. I changed out the brake lines with braided Condor Speed Shop brake lines, which made a tremendous difference. I also replaced the old fluid with DOT 4 brake fluid. After doing that, I still was not quite satisfied with the braking still. So, I decided to swap the rear calipers out with the E32 calipers and rotors.
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AncWeV69IP_syjh6V4y8650BZrvv
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AncWeV69IP_syj1ekbtRgIS1yOAO
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AncWeV69IP_syj9i2oCJXhoswQxY
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AncWeV69IP_syjcqlo0FOddJQfpG
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AncWeV69IP_sykJ2ZNd6k32eDNJH
As we all know E12 based suspension components do not support the e32 rear calipers and rotors. I decided to do the subframe update along with new RTABs, subframe bushings, and updated diff. This was to just satisfy the rear, for the front I decided to get new lower control arms with new bushings and ball joints, and I also found a set of used Bilstiens and H&R lowering springs from an E28. Again as most of you know, the E28 based cars never matched the E12 so I had to do some minor adjustments to make the front strut tube inserts work.
1.)I had to cut and lengthen the E12/E24 strut tubes in order for the bilsteins to thread in.
2.)The front top hat strut mounts needed a new bearing in order to fit the smaller diameter shaft size of the the E28 bilsteins, and so I went through boca bearings to get a proper sized bearing and pressed it in. (FOR REFERENCE: E28 top hat mount bolt pattern does not match the E12 based chassis)
Seperate from the suspension work that I have done so far. I have also did minor motor work such as replacing the intake boot that goes to the AFM. Which was causing a rather annoying idle surge. I also was having minor overheating problems with the motor too. So I replaced the water pump and upgraded to an electric fan and a small diameter water pump pulley. I will probably say that the smaller water pump pulley was probably the coolest modification I have done on this car to date haha.
The linked photos below are a mix of my old 1984 Alpine White E30 and my '99 mazda miata. As well as other photos of my E24.
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AncWeV69IP_sykfo1HGZY1ajktY4
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AncWeV69IP_sykGcLjbn90yBBoSb
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AncWeV69IP_sykU5ha-vCXKms9UY
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AncWeV69IP_syidYon8RDgzpxfiN
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AncWeV69IP_syiQzPQOsMzTfctKb
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AncWeV69IP_syiXzCWGsd154D0Qr
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AncWeV69IP_syivTY572Bdn-BSca
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AncWeV69IP_syi--P1_1PO0maqJZ
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AncWeV69IP_syjAH3U1TQQfIsWVY
For starters I will say that I was never good at virtually documenting my builds and progress. I ask for your patience as my 8-month new (to me) purchase has inspired me to be engaged with my fellow shark tamers!
The vessel of the matter is an Arctic Blau 1981 633 CSI. I wont bore you guys with the details of how I came across it and I will just get into the details of the refresh and repairs that this beast will undergo. The vessel is rather rusty and I completely understand that most people would junk the car or part it out. I saw potential in the chassis despite the rust and I began fixing some of the rust already.
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AncWeV69IP_syjZoFvVozjCrx_RU
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AncWeV69IP_syi2-cqpKdOpHHpmE
Besides the rust the chassis needed a major suspension and brake refresh. The rear brake lines were clogged (probably with rust), the front dampeners were leaking fluid, the ball joints/tie rods were old and cracking, the bushings in the front control arms were toast, the rear subframe bushings with the RTABS were deceased, and much more to add.
My first task to tackle was the rear brakes. I changed out the brake lines with braided Condor Speed Shop brake lines, which made a tremendous difference. I also replaced the old fluid with DOT 4 brake fluid. After doing that, I still was not quite satisfied with the braking still. So, I decided to swap the rear calipers out with the E32 calipers and rotors.
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AncWeV69IP_syjh6V4y8650BZrvv
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AncWeV69IP_syj1ekbtRgIS1yOAO
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AncWeV69IP_syj9i2oCJXhoswQxY
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AncWeV69IP_syjcqlo0FOddJQfpG
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AncWeV69IP_sykJ2ZNd6k32eDNJH
As we all know E12 based suspension components do not support the e32 rear calipers and rotors. I decided to do the subframe update along with new RTABs, subframe bushings, and updated diff. This was to just satisfy the rear, for the front I decided to get new lower control arms with new bushings and ball joints, and I also found a set of used Bilstiens and H&R lowering springs from an E28. Again as most of you know, the E28 based cars never matched the E12 so I had to do some minor adjustments to make the front strut tube inserts work.
1.)I had to cut and lengthen the E12/E24 strut tubes in order for the bilsteins to thread in.
2.)The front top hat strut mounts needed a new bearing in order to fit the smaller diameter shaft size of the the E28 bilsteins, and so I went through boca bearings to get a proper sized bearing and pressed it in. (FOR REFERENCE: E28 top hat mount bolt pattern does not match the E12 based chassis)
Seperate from the suspension work that I have done so far. I have also did minor motor work such as replacing the intake boot that goes to the AFM. Which was causing a rather annoying idle surge. I also was having minor overheating problems with the motor too. So I replaced the water pump and upgraded to an electric fan and a small diameter water pump pulley. I will probably say that the smaller water pump pulley was probably the coolest modification I have done on this car to date haha.
The linked photos below are a mix of my old 1984 Alpine White E30 and my '99 mazda miata. As well as other photos of my E24.
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AncWeV69IP_sykfo1HGZY1ajktY4
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AncWeV69IP_sykGcLjbn90yBBoSb
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AncWeV69IP_sykU5ha-vCXKms9UY
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AncWeV69IP_syidYon8RDgzpxfiN
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AncWeV69IP_syiQzPQOsMzTfctKb
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AncWeV69IP_syiXzCWGsd154D0Qr
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AncWeV69IP_syivTY572Bdn-BSca
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AncWeV69IP_syi--P1_1PO0maqJZ
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AncWeV69IP_syjAH3U1TQQfIsWVY