Eta-to-M50: Build thread

[UNHCLL]

Might want to check your chassis grounds in the engine bay too while waiting for the battery to charge.

[Jand3rson]

Might want to check your chassis grounds in the engine bay too while waiting for the battery to charge.

We have a ground going from the frame rail lug on the driver's side to the lug location on the bottom of the oil pan, is there another/more? Forgive my ignorance here, we were under the impression that was the main one.

[AndrewBird]

That's the only one you need.

[UNHCLL]

It is the only one, but it doesn't preclude one from checking it for clean metal, especially since you painted the engine bay.
Sorry, should have clarified that's what I was indicating above.

An Optima Red top also will not charge on a "normal" battery charger.

[clavinZERO]

...waiting patiently... *eh hem!*

[Jand3rson]

It is the only one, but it doesn't preclude one from checking it for clean metal, especially since you painted the engine bay.
Sorry, should have clarified that's what I was indicating above.

An Optima Red top also will not charge on a "normal" battery charger.

It's clean metal under the ground lug and on the oil pan, but thanks for the tip!

I've charged the Optima before on the charger I have, seems to work fine. Is there a better one you'd recommend, or beyond that, maybe a better battery? The Optima has never let me down before, but if there's something better out there that's cheaper, I'm definitely interested.

...waiting patiently... *eh hem!*

Patience, my son. Gonna go down tomorrow and fill up a 5 gallon can with fresh gas, just no more time tonight! Until then... fingers crossed!

[BDSax]

Might want to check your chassis grounds in the engine bay too while waiting for the battery to charge.

that was my problem when first starting my swap.

hope its just the battey for ya!

[Jand3rson]

That was the problem we had summer before last when Crivvy was down here, and we reassembled the top end of my engine. :D

[LJ851]

I have seen a lot of optima batteries fail prematurely, not my own but people i know. I have used interstate batteries for a lot of years with great success and they have an E30 specific batt set up for a vent line like stock, You dont want a trunk full of hydrogen! Highly recommended.

[UNHCLL]

I've charged the Optima before on the charger I have, seems to work fine. Is there a better one you'd recommend, or beyond that, maybe a better battery? The Optima has never let me down before, but if there's something better out there that's cheaper, I'm definitely interested.

I personally think Optima's, if properly maintained, are excellent. We have them in all the boats & most of our customer cars that sit for extended periods of time.

I'd recommend a CTEK charger, as you can use it to charge the battery, and maintain it during the winter when the car is in storage. It has leads that you can leave attached to the terminals.

Look for a CTek Multi US 3300.

-Chris

[Jand3rson]

I'll look into that, thanks Chris. Fingers crossed for me that she starts up tomorrow!

[uofom3]

I'll look into that, thanks Chris. Fingers crossed for me that she starts up tomorrow!

There is a solid chance that if that battery was in the car when you got it, it also spent time in my m3. Might need to be replaced!

[Jand3rson]

There is a solid chance that if that battery was in the car when you got it, it also spent time in my m3. Might need to be replaced!

Possibly. Just took it off the charger and put it back in the car for a test crank, and while it cranked noticeably much harder this time, still no start and the windows still seemed to go back up pretty slowly (they were SUPER slow before). So I put it back on the charger just to see what the battery was at, and it was already back down at 4 on the indicator. So I'm going to take the battery down tomorrow and have it tested, we'll see what happens.

[Jand3rson]

Just tried jumping it with my work vehicle, and it cranks MUCH harder, windows are operating at normal speed, but still no start. It's acting like it wants to, too. I think it might actually be totally out of gas. Guess I'll find out tomorrow.

[KenC]

It takes a while to get the gas to the rail too.