Four doors for more whores

[acolella76]

Wow, almost made the same mistake with the valve springs. Thanks for saving my wallet, lol. How much did that throttle bore cost you if you don't mind me asking?

It was $100, well worth it IMO considering the price of a big bore throttle body. They bored it out, made a new butterfly, then tested for leaks.

[stonea]

Yeah thats a steal considering what other throttle bodies cost. I'll probably look into them considering its so cheap. Thanks!

[acolella76]

Small update!
Soaking/bleeding the lifters. Filled a cup with 10w30 and pressed the lifters in repeatedly, this is to prevent lifter tick on start up.



WOO!!

[acolella76]

Slowly but surely this thing is moving along...

ZF Detent service


I had a hell of a time with these little ones


The 5th and reverse bushings were sooo much easier


Also tossed in a Rogue Engineering oil pan baffle from Guten Parts



So initially I thought to myself "I should get a DSSR." Which of course turned into "I should drill this selector rod joint out so I can use needle roller bearings"


Which turned into....














Anyways, a couple weekends ago I dropped the motor and trans in. Aside from a major fuckup breaking a motor mount bolt off and having to drill and tap the bitch, it went smoothly.



Used the FX Stage 2 eBay clutch. I'm normally not an ebay guy but my buddy has been running the same clutch and flywheel for years with tons of abuse and no issue.







Conveniently enough, I already installed an E34 V8 a while ago when it was still M20-powered. So I got that part covered, a bunch of misc hoses and sensors and stuff should be showing up soon. Seats should be making their way from Italy here soon, so hopefully in the next coming months my heap of metal will start looking like a car again - it might even run!

[Don Stevens]

Very nice work - One question - Since you have the interior stripped down that far, why not build a full cage just in case you want to race it some day? Secondly, mentally it is a lot easier to go for a flyer lap if you know you have a cage around you. Just a thought.

Don

[acolella76]

Very nice work - One question - Since you have the interior stripped down that far, why not build a full cage just in case you want to race it some day? Secondly, mentally it is a lot easier to go for a flyer lap if you know you have a cage around you. Just a thought.

Don

I want to be able to drive it on the street as well, and a full cage in a street car is about as dangerous as no cage in a track car.

My goal is to make it similar to a GT3 RS, though not as impressive obviously. An extremely track-capable road car. So it'll have a cage in the back, but still be relatively civilized.

[lambo]

My goal is to make it similar to a GT3 RS, though not as impressive obviously. An extremely track-capable road car.

This is what I have been thinking I want my end goal to be as well.

[Don Stevens]

I want to be able to drive it on the street as well, and a full cage in a street car is about as dangerous as no cage in a track car.

My goal is to make it similar to a GT3 RS, though not as impressive obviously. An extremely track-capable road car. So it'll have a cage in the back, but still be relatively civilized.

"a full cage in a street car is about as dangerous as no cage in a track car".........Agreed.

Let me know when you bring it down to Sebring for a DE. I often instruct with NASA and BMWCCA and I love E30s. I would love to ride with you and show you the quick - safe way around.

Keep us posted

Don

[acolella76]

Back from the grave! It's been embarrassingly long since this car has been on the road

I got my car back and have started trying to reassemble humpty dumpty

Started with little things like replacing the fuel filter and fuel lines...

Untitled by acolella76, on Flickr


That don't look right... thought I got the wrong hose! Also installed misc sensors and the oil distribution block for oil temp & pressure sensors.

Untitled by acolella76, on Flickr

As it turns out, my car has the heater core valve on the top pipe rather than the bottom. SO rather than the typical routing, I had to run the back of the head to the TOP and the spider hose to the BOTTOM. Got the hose to fit well, albeit a bit awkwardly.

Untitled by acolella76, on Flickr


Painting the cage! Masking everything off was a bitch and a half. A good coat of self etching primer, and 3-4 layers of rattle can. No rollers here!

Untitled by acolella76, on Flickr

Untitled by acolella76, on Flickr

All done!

Untitled by acolella76, on Flickr

This pic really shows the texture of the paint. I went with Rustoleum hammertone silver. It looks good, it's cheap and easy to find, and it is easy to touch up if needed.

Untitled by acolella76, on Flickr


While I was working on the interior I got a wild hair up my ass and decided that I should dye my carpet!

Ole Crusty

Untitled by acolella76, on Flickr

Cleaned and ready to dye!

Untitled by acolella76, on Flickr

All the dye Publix had.

Untitled by acolella76, on Flickr

Did some carpet oragami and put it in a tub. Mixed the dye with white vinegar and hot ass water and started filling it up!

Untitled by acolella76, on Flickr

Untitled by acolella76, on Flickr


So the directions on the dye said that the dye will be completely set by the time the water reaches room temperature. So I did what any rational person would do and waited about 6 days after the water reached room temperature.

AAAAND

It's blue.

Untitled by acolella76, on Flickr

In some light it looks pretty subtle.

Untitled by acolella76, on Flickr

Most of the time... it is less subtle.

Untitled by acolella76, on Flickr

Untitled by acolella76, on Flickr


I think I'm going to keep it like this though. I kind of like it, it looks like something out of an 80's rap video. The only thing I don't like is that the carpet fits like shit since I took the rubber mat out. This weekend I'm going to stick some foam in some places and see if I can rectify that. Or maybe I should just buy a black carpet with the mat

[Don Stevens]

Carpet

I think it looks great

[AWDBOB]

Loving the progress (and the blue carpet).

I'm building an M52 currently (and just bought a daily e36)- so did you use the stock M50 rods with the S52 crank and pistons? Do you know what comp is going to be?

I wish bimmerheads still reground S52 cams or I'd be all over that.

That throttle body looks great. Are you using an M50 intake mani? Making your own gasket?

[acolella76]

I think it looks great

Thank you!

Loving the progress (and the blue carpet).

I'm building an M52 currently (and just bought a daily e36)- so did you use the stock M50 rods with the S52 crank and pistons? Do you know what comp is going to be?

I wish bimmerheads still reground S52 cams or I'd be all over that.

That throttle body looks great. Are you using an M50 intake mani? Making your own gasket?

Thanks! I ended up using S52 rods. The M50 Non VANOS rods are the right length, but since they are pretty wide (about the same size as M20 rods) they just barely touched the block with the S52 crank. You might be able to machine/"clearance" the block if you still have it apart.

Send them an email! I don't know if it was something they advertised, I just asked if it was possible lol. I am potentially going to have a set of M54 cams done by them, they've been kinda spotty about getting back to me about that.

Yes using the M50 manifold, and no need for a special gasket since I'm just going to use the OBD1 throttle body.

[acolella76]

How are we feeling about the center exit?

[2mAn]

How are we feeling about the center exit?

Assuming the spare wheel well is gone, then it looks great but needs a real diffuser. Get back to work!

[MrBurgundy]

Man, Euro bumps (not that kind) would make that center exit look so good!