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[wht94lytng]

I originally bought this as a daily driver because I wanted something rwd to learn to drift with. After looking for about a month I came across a pretty good deal on one. It was 4hrs away and the seller said the engine had some bad oil leaks and it wouldnt make the trip. I ended up having to get a car dolly to bring the car home.

I got it for $2500, its a 97 with 160k on it. I went through the engine and replaced the oil pan gasket which was the main cause of the leaks. After a few new parts and gaskets, it was running great. I have put over 10k miles on it so far without any issues.

Here it is when I purchased it


318ti by Dominant Engineering, on Flickr

After driving the car for a month or two, I started collecting parts. I also had planned on swapping a different motor into the car, but I wanted to get the chassis all sorted out first.

I bought some cheap Raceland coilovers and fabricated some custom upper camber plates for them. I also have radial bearings mounted in the upper spring seats, similar to the Vorshlag camber plates.


IMG_0135 by Dominant Engineering, on Flickr


IMG_0125 by Dominant Engineering, on Flickr


I also purchased a used Rotora brake kit from a Pontiac Solstice and redrilled the hats to fit the car. I also made custom caliper brackets front and rear. They are 13" front with 4 piston calipers and 11" rear with 2 piston calipers. I also took the calipers apart and powdercoated them.


IMG_0129 by Dominant Engineering, on Flickr


IMG_0128 by Dominant Engineering, on Flickr

I made some swaybar endlinks out of male and female heim joints while I was doing the suspension as well:


IMG_0122 by Dominant Engineering, on Flickr

Also if you are wondering, I redrilled the stock hubs to 5x114.3 and pressed in ARP wheel studs to run a more common wheel bolt pattern.

I did a ton of work to the rear suspension after finding out that you couldnt adjust camber or toe in at all. I really needed to have a good amount of adjustment to run the wheel setup I had in mind. Here is my solution:


IMG_0107 by Dominant Engineering, on Flickr


IMG_0106 by Dominant Engineering, on Flickr


IMG_0099 by Dominant Engineering, on Flickr


IMG_0112 by Dominant Engineering, on Flickr


IMG_0111 by Dominant Engineering, on Flickr

Reinforced swaybar mounting:


IMG_0109 by Dominant Engineering, on Flickr

Solid subframe bushings welded in:


IMG_0110 by Dominant Engineering, on Flickr


End result:


IMG_2766 by Dominant Engineering, on Flickr


IMG_2764 by Dominant Engineering, on Flickr


IMG_2740 by Dominant Engineering, on Flickr


IMG_2743 by Dominant Engineering, on Flickr


IMG_2749 by Dominant Engineering, on Flickr


IMG_2769 by Dominant Engineering, on Flickr


IMG_2774 by Dominant Engineering, on Flickr


IMG_0746 by Dominant Engineering, on Flickr


IMG_0738 by Dominant Engineering, on Flickr


IMG_0733 by Dominant Engineering, on Flickr


Wheel specs are 17x9 +10 17x10.5 +13 with 215/45 and 235/40. Im running -3 front and -3.5 rear camber.

Also here are some pics of my first time on track with the car:


IMG_2669 by Dominant Engineering, on Flickr


IMG_2655 by Dominant Engineering, on Flickr


IMG_2620 by Dominant Engineering, on Flickr


IMG_2671 by Dominant Engineering, on Flickr


My engine is 100% stock. The car is fun but extremely underpowered, im planning on swapping in an LS7 motor with a T56 trans in the near future. Let me know what everyone thinks!

Here are more pics of the build so far: http://www.flickr.com/photos/4638213...th/7553418752/

[xAHx]

I **** these cars...but not this one...super cool fabrication too. Love it.

[FunfGang]

1. Your car. I love it.

2. Your fabrication/ creation skills, I love them.

3. You,

[low+slow=dopeness]

Car is sick bro, want one like this,but didn't get them here in SA... Fitment is good

[Mark Ostrowski]

holy fucking fuck this is awesome. that fab work looks beyond professional, hittin you up for pricing as we speak haha

[Zayan]

Now this is fuckin quality!!!

[bollcosett]

Car is sick bro, want one like this

[e30polak]

Awesome work and an awesome Ti! Love the fact that you switched the bolt pattern to 5x114.3!

You sir are winning at life!

[Ollie]

I saw the Racelands and just when I thought you couldn't possibly be any dumber, you go and do something like this... and totally redeem yourself!!!


Seriously though, awesome work. Easily one of my favorite TIs. Tell me more about how you redrilled the stock hubs to 5x114.3.

[KarlSpackler]

Looks good but wtf on the wheel color?

[hinrichs]

amazing work you did there, was quite suprised with the outcome

[wht94lytng]

Originally Posted by Ollie

I saw the Racelands and just when I thought you couldn't possibly be any dumber, you go and do something like this... and totally redeem yourself!!!


Seriously though, awesome work. Easily one of my favorite TIs. Tell me more about how you redrilled the stock hubs to 5x114.3.

They are only temporary until I get a better suspension setup, I was going to build my own with a real coilover in the rear and not the spring separate from the shock. As for the hubs, I purchased new ones and bored new holes in them to fit the studs. I had to use a stud with a fairly large knurl diameter to cover up what was left of the original threaded hole. ARP had ones that were the perfect size.

Originally Posted by KarlSpackler

Looks good but wtf on the wheel color?

Most people love the wheel color, its definitely different. Im used to seeing the cars in the drift scene with flashy colors, so it works pretty well I think.

[Wagon]

Sick car and even sicker fab skills

[525iT_Feen]

I don't think I've ever liked a ti. I don't know if I like yours or if I just respect the ridiculous amount of work you've put into it. Either way hats off for a QUALITY build.

[NathanHeeney]

Those custom parts are sweet!

[B Rod]

Originally Posted by Ollie

I saw the Racelands and just when I thought you couldn't possibly be any dumber, you go and do something like this... and totally redeem yourself!!!

I see what you did there.

OP, seriously nice work. The fabrication and end result are both VERY impressive.

[Kielan]

Originally Posted by Ollie

I saw the Racelands and just when I thought you couldn't possibly be any dumber, you go and do something like this... and totally redeem yourself!!!


Seriously though, awesome work. Easily one of my favorite TIs. Tell me more about how you redrilled the stock hubs to 5x114.3.

This. Hit us up when you want to get some real suspension on there.

Quality of work here is top notch, those welds are awesome.

[motocaddy]

damn the fabrication is phenomenal and I love the final product! perfectly executed, IMO.

with the drivetrain and suspension upgrades you mentioned (and maybe a cage), this will be insane!

also, can you give me some details on that shift knob?

[Chigga]

I like the wheels, what are they?

[NinoHale]

The fab skills make this car!! Amazing work!!

[Wout CSL]

Incredibly nice chassis parts! Love to see you drift the 318ti! Nice to hear that a new engine is coming in the near future!

[Daviticus]

Holy shit, I almost got one of these in high school. I skipped out because I could never find a manual-trans model, I thought they didn't exist in the US. Now I'm really kicking myself.

Super props on the fab work.

[tstacks]

usually these are ass ugly, but you sir, have pulled it off. Props player!

[got splits?]

Dude, that craftsmanship is awesome.

[andybob]

Holy hell. Did not expect the fab work after seeing the Racelands, lol.

Fantastic work.