Clown Shoe - Progress Thread

[IronFreak]

So.......This saturday I'll be:

• replacing radiator (small pin hole found)
• upper and lower hoses
• water pump
• thermostat
• belts
• valve cover gasket
• vanos gasket
• vanos line
• upper and lower intake boots
• oil filter houing seal

Following that I still plan on doing:

• selector rod seal
• output seal
• guibo
• CSB
• CABs, Subframe, Rtabs and trans mounts
• Subframe with slider adjustment
• e36m3 front suspension upgrade with GC coils and Konis (F/R)
• Axxis pads and SS line F/R
• Refinished staggered style 32's with BFG comp2
• Subframe reinforcement with e36 dual eared diff cover upgrade

Second list will be broken up into two more weekends. Hoping to have all this done mid may.

[RickySixx6]

FWIW as an 02' M Coupe owner - I wouldn't worry about the subframe reinforcement if you don't have to. Its not like its a failure that will occur right away / out of the blue so as long as you monitor the situation and look for signs of wear you'll be ok. Too many examples out there that may have been driven harder than your car (with bigger engines) without any issues.

Nice find for $7500 -

-Rick

[IronFreak]

yeah.....it was more of a while you're in there thing. but I might pass on that for now, its not showing any signs of spot welds popping.

[Andy348]

I've been looking at 3.0L shoes for quite a while. Love them on the Style 32s.

Excited to see where this will go!

[IronFreak]

As am I.......Been having conversation about a different motor setup......long term plans. the M52tub28 is a weird animal.....kind of like a dog and a cat had babies, weird enough that now one wants to support it. Thinking maybe s52 and keeping OBDII through the help of markert motorworks.

[mbonanni]

Ooooohh I can only imagine a shoe with 18" style 32's. That's be sexy.

Nice build/progress. I love these cars.

[IronFreak]

Ooooohh I can only imagine a shoe with 18" style 32's. That's be sexy.

Nice build/progress. I love these cars.

I have 17's. which is ok, they're lighter haha.

[unloadedak]

[IronFreak]

what the.....^

[unloadedak]

kind of like a dog and a cat had babies

[Lof8]

Sweet car! i don't think I've ever seen a coupe that was not an M - I didn't know they existed. That $7,500 price tag is a hell of a lot more bearable than the Mcoupe prices. Are the M cars flared more than the non? The car looks great and I'm subscribed for new wheels and boost progress.

[IronFreak]

The body of the M coupe is the same across the line. The non-M have different suspension, similar to the 325/328 e36. But.........I have M bits for it. The big difference is the z3m coupe rear trailing arms, totally different animal requiring their own axles. So I won't ever be able to run the deep lip wheels unless I source those.....and that's not really a huge priority to me.

[IronFreak]

Well I got phase 1 completed over the weekend. What a learning experience.

Got everything out and gutted down to the oil filter housing gasket, then proceeded to put it all back together.



Do yourself a favor......never skimp on a torque wrench. I have a nice one but it didn't go low enough, so I went to Menards......of all places I should have known better and pick up one that went down to 10lbs. for $35. Oil filter housing bolts it worked fine because they needed about 33ft.lb......when I got to the water pump, well...........



Tried a few things but had to drag out the welder.....



Welded the nut on and......



Success!

That combined with some issues getting the fan off (living in the Midwest renting or buying Euro tools is next to impossible), it was a relatively simple project, just time consuming. Considering I saved myself several thousands of dollars in parts and labor I won't complain.

Pulled the Valve cover to replace the gasket, all looked clean.



dropped in new plugs and buttoned it all back up.



Now it just needs a good clean.

Recap

-New radiator, hoses
-Belts
-Thermostat
-waterpump
-oil filter housing gasket
-Valve cover gasket
-Vanos line
-spark plugs
-Intake boots


I think thats it.

Also test fit some new shoes......



Friend stopped by in a Lotus while I was wrenching......not much to those cars for the price....



All in all, an eventful weekend and the Z is running like a TOP!


Oh.......Bought this for the wife on Friday!

[ThatOneEuroE30]

I remember when I had to replace the water pump on my e36 I ended up getting a strip of stainless steal and made my own spanner tool best thing i've ever made haha. The z is gonna look wicked with those 32's and little drop.

[IronFreak]

yeah, I ended up putting the alternator and belts back on, using a wrench, BFH and my big biceps and I managed to get it off.