e30 M60B40 5-speed!!

[Garage30]

Keep going, it will be worth it in the end

[artoo93]

Bringing this back from the DEAD!!! Can't believe that I have been working on this for this long! Life just sucks sometimes!! Between work, trips, deployments, and everything else going on, my poor baby has been sitting in pieces. Had finished the block (compound hone, new bearings, cleaned everything, pistons reinstalled along with the oil pump) about 8-9 months ago. I finally got the left head cleaned, valve seals replaced and reassembled! Now on to the right head. It is torn down and being cleaned now. I will try and get some pics uploaded of the repairs and slow progress!

[artoo93]

damn snow is holding up me from getting anywhere with my car too!

I know how that is!! I was in Warsaw, IN, 2 weeks ago at my parents and they got 18+ inches while we were there! Had to change the front brakes and rotors on my dad's Durango and not able to put it in the garage!! That was not exactly fun!!! At least in Indiana they have the equipment to clear the roads!!! Down here they don't get it often enough to purchase the equipment necessary. Not complaining too much as a couple of extra days off from work doesn't hurt either!!! One of the pluses of being in the military is that I get paid whether we are in the office or not.

[jksmith]

damn snow is holding up me from getting anywhere with my car too!

[artoo93]

The e30 itself!!

Here is some of what I have done on the chassis:

Clean up of the engine bay. Split the wire harness to either side. Just have to finish tucking it. I also had to repair both front corners of the inner fenders as they were beat to hell!!! Have a new core support to install once engine is finally in its resting place! There will also be RD green sways installed along with Treehouse CABs.






I have my pedals installed but not finished yet. Have to finish the mod to the accelerator pedal linkage along with running the brake/clutch lines. Would have gotten that done this weekend but we go 8+ inches of snow!!! I also got some of the wiring rerun after taking out all the ABS wiring under the dash. Have the replacement dash just about ready to install as well. I have a new head liner to install as well as dyeing the carpet to match the houndstooth interior!





Hopefully more to come real soon!! Awaiting a couple of parts to finish the engine as they were on backorder from Germany so hopefully when they arrive I should have the engine cleaned and ready to assemble. Still have a way to go but it is finally coming together!!!

[artoo93]

Here is one of the heads as I started disassembly:







I will get some pictures of the valves, lifters, etc tomorrow. I have them all cleaned and ready for reinstall. The only thing left on this head before final buildup is to lap the valves and install the new valve stem seals. Then on to the second head! Yeah!!!

[artoo93]

Update Pics

Finally found the camera with some of my pictures on it!!! Here is some of what I have been able to get done.

Cylinders after the initial "hone" with the steel wool wrapped hone stones.




Cylinders after the final "hone" with the felt wrapped hone and the Sunnen compound.




Here are the before cleaning and after cleaning of the pistons. After inspection, I am just cleaning and reinstalling these. Only changing the bearings and the cap bolts. The rings look good and will save me $3-400 as the cheapest I found for new rings is about $35 per piston!!


All the pistons were soaked in kerosene for about a week (I forgot them!!) and then scrubbed and inspected.

[Old city bimmer]

pics

[artoo93]

Still waiting on my chain tensioner. Backordered in States and having to be shipped from Germany. Got one head stripped, cleaned and partially reassembled, one to go! Did get some work done on the car itself over the weekend. Reran the wiring under the dash and got the wiring harness under the hood split in two to make hiding the wires easier. Now I need to install the replacement dash after cleaning and possibly respray with vinyl spray. Also going to dye the carpet black to go with the houndstooth interior and my new black headliner! I've got some pictures of the engine rebuild and work in the engine bay but I can't find the camera!!! Soon as I do, I will get some pictures up!

[artoo93]

I finally got the go ahead from the wife to finish the car!! I hopefully have all the parts either ordered or here to get this thing finished minus some exhaust bits. I got the block ready to go and have one of the heads completely torn down and all parts cleaned. Have to install the new valve stem seals, lap the valves for peace of mind and reassemble the head. Then on to the next one!! I will post up some pictures of the block after I used the Sunnen compound. My new goal is to have the engine complete and ready to bolt the transmission up by spring so that when the weather gets nice, I can drop it right in the car! Sucks not having a garage and doing this all in my driveway and shed. I'll post pictures soon!

[artoo93]

Again life and the Army got in the way!! Between school/training and now deployment, my car has gotten bumped in the pecking order. I won't be back from deployment until sometime in April. I'm hoping to get the rest of the engine parts ordered while I am out here and then get the motor done shortly there after. I keep reading all these other threads and want my car done so bad!!!

[artoo93]

Sorry for not getting more updates but life has kept me from getting much work done on the car. I have gotten some more bodywork done and removed all the ABS from the car. I also have my pedals mounted and just trying to sort out the master cylinder reservoir mountings and the brake lines. Got some more bodywork to do and need the last of the parts for my rebuild. Still debating on if I need new rings as they are about $200 for the set of 8!!!! I'll post some more pics when I can get back on the real computer! Also have to replace one of the house AC units at a cost of $3k!!!

[BlindWolf187]

I don't know the history. It's from a junk yard. So it could be just fine, or it could have 250k on it. This is the time for new bearings and rings since I have it all opened up.

[Jean]

^ what's wrong with your 4.4. block?

[BlindWolf187]

Hey! Any update on this rebuild? I am planning to hone the cylinders on my 4.4 real soon so I'd love to hear how yours worked out!