Old Blue 2002 (1974 BMW 2002 Content)

[deutschman]

Well lots of disappointment today. The pilot bearing is the wrong size, so we are kind of dead in the water for a while.

[mr2peak]

Stop being so sad about the bolts!

Today we also got the steering rack mount, the radiator support and the steering column supports painted, stripped the rust and paint from the very front of the car (90% ready for paint) and got the shortened pitman arms mounted to the subframe. Almost a 100% rust free car, just a spot near the windshield and a few nicks on the body.

[deutschman]

Thanks guys I really appreciate that! My friend and I have been working 7-8 hours days (me ever day him most days) sins the first of this month. I hope the time we are putting into this build ends up showing in the end. I think it will.
Next time I build a car I want a plasma cutter, real welding table, drill press, and a blasting cabinet. Oh, and my own work space so that I can work at my own pace with out being asked when I will be done every day. lol

[marines2060]

great work!

[FunfGan]

Awesome, the amount of craftsmanship and custom work is awesome, still can't wait to see this finished up :D

[deutschman]

Did not get much done today. We were going to try and get the engine in the car but it turns out I do not have the right bolts for the trans to bolt to the block. So Blunt is sending them my way tomorrow. Until they show up we are kind of dead in the water. I have a few small things to do hear and there but not much till that dam motor is in.
I did get this in the mail today. 22" wide by 19" high aluminum dual core radiator. It should keep the m20 frosty.

We did get the fly wheel on along with new rear main seals and a pilot bearing.

I got the diff mounted up and filled with fluid as well but everyone has seen that done before so no pictures.

[deutschman]

Did some more work today. I got my ear support fabricated and welded in place (still waiting on the aluminum rad from Summit to come in...), got the oil cooler mounted up, and closed up the gaping hole around the steering column. I think we are going to start test fitting the engine and trans tomorrow. I'm excited for that!



I riveted a piece of rubber tube under the oil cooler to keep it from clacking around and scraping the paint off the frame rail.

[deutschman]

Today's update!
I got the steering wheel mount finished, and one of the drivers seat cross bars welded into the car. I also spent some time fiddling with my motor and just futsing around with stuff.





Tomorrow I am going to finish weld the steering rack support to the frame, weld some reinforcement back into the brake booster mounts, and close up the fire wall, and then paint it all. That way I can get the motor in place on Tuesday. :)

[deutschman]

Yes pictures are back up! That means it is time for an update.
So my friend Jame and I finely got the steering rack in place and all aligned. We fabed up a mount for the rack (which still needs to be finish welded in place) and I started on the steering column mount, and drivers seat cross members. Today (Sunday) I plan to get the seat tacked in place, get my fat ass in it, and figure out where I want to be in relation to the steering wheel and pedals, before I finish up the steering column mounting.
Next week should bring some exciting things like actually seeing the motor in the car!

Some of my noobish MIG welding on part of the steering column mount. It is getting better all the time though.

And one of the cross members for the new seat rails.

Here is the same rack swap on some one ell's 2002 for comparison. Its a bit different in execution but same idea.

[deutschman]

We started fitting and fabricating the steering rack and its mount. We are having some problem with the steering coupler and the way it has to bend to reach the steering column. Most of the day was spent just standing around scratching my head and thinking things through. Ill take some more pictures tomorrow that shows what we are up against.
Does anyone know of any builds in which some one had to fabricate steering couplers and showed how they did it?

[89is]

woah....just went through your whole build looks top notch, definitely sub'd.

[JinormusJ]

Lookn pharesh!

[davem]

:0 that's cool

[deutschman]

I am using it in conjunction with an e21 manual steering rack to replace my steering box. the splines on the 2002 steering column and the e21 rack do not match, but the e30 splines and e21 rack splines match.

[davem]

what are you doing with the e30 steering column?