Andrew's 1989 325i Project

[5Toes]

I have finally convinced my parent not to care about my car.

However, that is atleast $400 to swap, plus more for my customizations to make it somewhat safe for me to drive. I have an auto and a torque converter sourced for $80.

I will 5 speed swap later.

[Sagaris]

Andrew, if/when you decide to do a 5spd swap I suggest that you keep the 4.10 diff so that the car is less prone to stall off the line if your clutch release is less than smooth, even a 4.27 torsen from a Z3 might not be bad if you upgrade. I would also consider running a dual mass flywheel instead of a single mass. You should be able to snag one for very cheap since nobody wants the dual mass wheels. It will make for smoother shifting vs. a single mass flywheel which will be beneficial again if your clutch release is less than smooth.

I am wondering if the left-foot clutch operation doesn't work out, if that perhaps just installing a steel clutch pedal (instead of the plastic one) with a bar welded to the bottom that reaches over towards the throttle so that you could heel-toe to work both the clutch and the throttle with just your right foot, this might also let you run the brake + clutch with your right foot but that might get interesting.

[Balleristic31]

Why not make a clip in system on the clutch pedal to attach ur prosthetic leg to when u drive. So ur leg will always be on the pedal and ull have more stable control of the clutch.

[5Toes]

Okay so I have been over this. My right leg is fairly heavy and my "stump" cant lift it super easily. I would ride the throttle

I will either switch the gas and clutch, OR just use a stick attached to the clutch pedal via a ball joint. The stick will go through a u hook coming out of the dash so it doesnt fall down, and the ball joint will make it fit nicely on the pedal.

Now the single vs dual mass flywheel idea is great Brian. However, I believe that my clutch disengagement will be fine, all I have to is resist the stick enough cause the pedal pushes it back off. Infact I should in theory be able to shift fairly quickly

[5Toes]

If I switch pedals, then yes I will just remove my fake foot's shoes when I get in the car and velcro my foot to the clutch

because racecar

[Farbin Kaiber]

How is the project coming?

[kid325e]

Sounds like he needs to get it running and driving by Friday or his parents are gonna make him sell it.

[Farbin Kaiber]

Rut rough, why would they ever do that, do they not support their son tinkering? Do they want to take on the responsibility of driving him to Eagle Scout meetings? You'd think he would have been prepared for this turn of events with a solution.

[kid325e]

Sounds lil dad changed his mind.

[freeride53]

Andrew, have you ever thought of a custom rigged paddle-shift?
I know a lot of volvo homies who've done it running their volvos on ms or vems

i'd fucks with da paddle shift

http://forums.turbobricks.com/showthread.php?t=47229

[lambo]

^That would be nuts

[MR 325]

I have finally convinced my parent not to care about my car.

Sounds like he needs to get it running and driving by Friday or his parents are gonna make him sell it.

When I bought my first car (86 325e of course) it was MINE and nobody told me what I could or couldn't do with it. It was also a pile of shit.

[Dirtsquirt]

It was also a pile of shit.

You guys have something in common lol

[5Toes]

lol update time

I finally gave in and had taken my car to a shop to get the trans installed. It was too hard on the ground, and I didnt want to break anything.

I labeled everything and they charged me 3 hours of labor to have it driveable out of there ($240 + tax). Totally worth it.

Car runs good, I have a high idle issue from a bad ICV. So gotta fix that. Going to swap in a known good one soon just to make sure it solves the problem.

I put the exhaust on last weekend. Major exhaust leaks because I lost the old crush washer for the catback section. But it sounds like my buddy's new 2.25 > cat > magnaflow universal so its cool.

Thanks to everybody who helped! Now to sort out the small shit!

One thing I have a question about is how the ecu cover/panel thing goes on. Because I cant figure mine out.

[clavinZERO]

This thread has good mojo. See you at the picnic?