Did I make a mistake?

[lolcantturn]

Just because you're 17 and can't afford to have something done right by someone who knows what the fuck they're doing doesn't mean the rest of us have to live that way. That's great that you like to work on your own car, props to you. I can't stand working on my own car but I do anyway because I'm better at it then anyone else around here. There is no rite of passage, there is no right or wrong. There's a car and the person who owns it and the relationship between the size of their paycheck and the cost of the repairs required. I'm guessing yours is weighted fairly heavily on the repairs side of things...

Unfortunately for you I know exactly what I'm doing. I do it as well as anyone around here can be paid to.
If you don't like working on your car, sell it. I'm sorry you don't think like that, but I am not going to change that ideology. You bought an old ass car, expect to blow it up a couple of times and rebuild it. That's the joy, thats the connection between YOU and the CAR. Only I want to know how everything in my car is wired together, what everything is torqued to, I can't send it to someone and be clueless if something goes wrong again.
My friend installed my clutch backwards, broke on me during the coldest time of winter and me not having a garage, pissed as fuck. I put it up for sale (you can see the thread in the FS section) even though I JUST built the car. Why? Because if I'm not going to enjoy working on it, I don't deserve to have it. Thankfully no one offered me good money and it got warm the next week after it broke.
If I owned, lets say, an E92, and the clutch broke, then fuck yes I will send it to someone to get properly repaired. That's a car I can't see myself connected with in the way that I am with an E30, so working on it, no matter the weather or how knowledgeable I am about it, wouldn't bring joy to me.

To each their own. I don't work on my car because I can't afford repairs, I work on it because I enjoy it and I recognize that as the price I have to pay for owning a 20 year old car. I'm sorry YOU don't feel that way, I've talked to older car enthusiasts who always tell me "man I hate working on my car now..if it's to add a performance part now but if it's a part I have to replace just because it broke and won't make my car better then fuck it." When I get to that point I will no longer own an E30. Maybe I'm not old enough to experience the "fuck I don't wanna work on this piece of shit I'd rather send it to someone else so I can drive it ASAP," but I am definitely going to hold on to the fact that, if you're not willing to work on your E30, sell it to someone who will. Plain and simple.
Now if OP was near me, I'd gladly fix his car for free even, shit. Granted he was looking around and learning a thing or two for the next time his head blows up. I love working on these things but I highly despise those who don't expect to turn a few wrenches and get a little bit of oil in your open wound, curse a fuck load later.

[FunfGan]

Yes.

[evandael]

^broleteriat elitism ITT

[e30forlife]

Alright I have photos!!

I went ahead and took photos as it laid. Didnt clean it just took photos so you could see what I was seeing.

If I need to clean them next then I certainly will.

Please click on the link to view photos. This is my website for company but just made a page for the engine pics. They are massive so downloading will take a couple of seconds.

Please leave comments!

http://www.webspeakmedia.com/engine-photos.php

[BadCab]

Time for a new motor, i wouldn't screw around with that mess.

[Fidhle007]

Unfortunately for you I know exactly what I'm doing. I do it as well as anyone around here can be paid to.
If you don't like working on your car, sell it. I'm sorry you don't think like that, but I am not going to change that ideology. You bought an old ass car, expect to blow it up a couple of times and rebuild it. That's the joy, thats the connection between YOU and the CAR. Only I want to know how everything in my car is wired together, what everything is torqued to, I can't send it to someone and be clueless if something goes wrong again.
My friend installed my clutch backwards, broke on me during the coldest time of winter and me not having a garage, pissed as fuck. I put it up for sale (you can see the thread in the FS section) even though I JUST built the car. Why? Because if I'm not going to enjoy working on it, I don't deserve to have it. Thankfully no one offered me good money and it got warm the next week after it broke.
If I owned, lets say, an E92, and the clutch broke, then fuck yes I will send it to someone to get properly repaired. That's a car I can't see myself connected with in the way that I am with an E30, so working on it, no matter the weather or how knowledgeable I am about it, wouldn't bring joy to me.

To each their own. I don't work on my car because I can't afford repairs, I work on it because I enjoy it and I recognize that as the price I have to pay for owning a 20 year old car. I'm sorry YOU don't feel that way, I've talked to older car enthusiasts who always tell me "man I hate working on my car now..if it's to add a performance part now but if it's a part I have to replace just because it broke and won't make my car better then fuck it." When I get to that point I will no longer own an E30. Maybe I'm not old enough to experience the "fuck I don't wanna work on this piece of shit I'd rather send it to someone else so I can drive it ASAP," but I am definitely going to hold on to the fact that, if you're not willing to work on your E30, sell it to someone who will. Plain and simple.
Now if OP was near me, I'd gladly fix his car for free even, shit. Granted he was looking around and learning a thing or two for the next time his head blows up. I love working on these things but I highly despise those who don't expect to turn a few wrenches and get a little bit of oil in your open wound, curse a fuck load later.

Hahahahaha.


Fuck you're young.


Look here, kid, I've probably owned more cars then you are years old at this point and I've worked on every single one of them. I've built E30s that make E46 M3s wonder where they just went. I don't drive an E30 every day because I don't have to. I could, but my 330xi is faster, handles better, stops quicker, rides more comfortable, gets better gas mileage and has better heated seats then your e30 ever will. And I can work on it. It doesn't mean I like to, but I can because that's my job.

It's great that you like to work on your own cars, that's how I got started as a tech: fixed my own cars, failed at a few things, asked a real mechanic for a hand, got to know shops, interned for awhile, learned more and more and slowly worked my way up through the ranks to where I am today. When I was a snot-nosed little punk like you I never would have dared tell someone they didn't deserve to own a car because they couldn't work on it though because I have respect for myself and my fellow humans as well as some basic social skills. I see kids like you all the time, they only do their own work and them oops, they hit something they can't quite figure out and suddenly it shows up at my shop on a tow truck. I have yet to see one of those cars that doesn't have at least five things done wrong, attached backwards or just plain missing. Sometimes, people with jobs are willing to spend money to make sure that those sorts of things don't happen.

Get off your high horse and learn a little respect for your elders.

[Fidhle007]

Alright I have photos!!

I went ahead and took photos as it laid. Didnt clean it just took photos so you could see what I was seeing.

If I need to clean them next then I certainly will.

Please click on the link to view photos. This is my website for company but just made a page for the engine pics. They are massive so downloading will take a couple of seconds.

Please leave comments!

http://www.webspeakmedia.com/engine-photos.php

No matter how you slice it that's going to need a complete rebuild. The cylinders are wrecked which means you'll need rings and probably oversized pistons if they need to bore much out. Now that the head is off it will need to be planed and doing head work without doing the valves is pointless so you're probably looking at $4 or 5k. If you can get a clean, reasonably low-mileage motor in RUNNING condition, swapping it in shouldn't be too bad. Do a new clutch, refresh any seals that look bad and do the rear main seal because you can and call it a day. $2k should get the job done and will give you a running car that should last awhile. Seems worth it to me!

[cabriodster87]

Holy crap, that is junk. call me.............. naw!!!!!!!!!!!

[cabriodster87]

I need a vacation, ill drive down, buy a southern hardtop, fix dat shite, call it done.....................

[cabriodster87]

Looking for ROP down south. DONT want to have roll bar/cage for track time.
OP has a spare engine.................. remember?

[lolcantturn]

Hahahahaha.


Fuck you're young.


Look here, kid, I've probably owned more cars then you are years old at this point and I've worked on every single one of them. I've built E30s that make E46 M3s wonder where they just went. I don't drive an E30 every day because I don't have to. I could, but my 330xi is faster, handles better, stops quicker, rides more comfortable, gets better gas mileage and has better heated seats then your e30 ever will. And I can work on it. It doesn't mean I like to, but I can because that's my job.

It's great that you like to work on your own cars, that's how I got started as a tech: fixed my own cars, failed at a few things, asked a real mechanic for a hand, got to know shops, interned for awhile, learned more and more and slowly worked my way up through the ranks to where I am today. When I was a snot-nosed little punk like you I never would have dared tell someone they didn't deserve to own a car because they couldn't work on it though because I have respect for myself and my fellow humans as well as some basic social skills. I see kids like you all the time, they only do their own work and them oops, they hit something they can't quite figure out and suddenly it shows up at my shop on a tow truck. I have yet to see one of those cars that doesn't have at least five things done wrong, attached backwards or just plain missing. Sometimes, people with jobs are willing to spend money to make sure that those sorts of things don't happen.

Get off your high horse and learn a little respect for your elders.

That's a real cool story man but
my car won't ever see a shop unless I am cut for time or space. Had a lot of E30's down to the bare shell and put back together, lots of motors in and out. I remember building my first 24v swapped car at 17, thought it was the coolest shit in the world. Looking back, what a piece of poop. Learned from it and built something different. I don't need to go to a shop to see "how to build something" right if that's what you're saying, I have friends, meets, and forums to learn from. I'm not degrading shops in any way. You're biased cause you're at your own shop where you live off dudes who can't work on their car.
This has nothing to do with respect for my elders either. There are kids my age who bring their cars to shop for a turbo kit and then think they're the sickest shit. I think you're mistaking me and thinking I'm all "MAN FUCK SHOPS," when it's not like that at all..

[e30forlife]

Well this is not good news.....

I have another engine that was pulled from another ix that was running.

Guess I got to swap engines and that's my only choice :(

Still need help on this!!

[Exodus_2pt0]

You my friend need a lift. If you weren't so far away I'd offer to do it for $800 and have it back to you same day.

[Shangsta]

I appreciate all comments.

Sadly enough I am mediocre with mechanic abilities. it was nice looking car that was a 5 speed.

What trouble do I get in when I take the other engine apart and put it with the block thats already in the car? The PO said the mechanic was trying to get new heads (my guess timing belt broke).

that way I dont have to take the engine out... Im just pissed now...

If you have a way to tow it to ga give Dave a call, he has always done great work for crazy cheap. At least give him a call and he can point you in the right direction

http://www.markertmotorworks.com/About_Us.html

[e30forlife]

I just paid 200 bucks to get it towed 125 miles. I really just need to figure out how am I going to get this engine in.

Should I just start parting out now??