Project 1987 Zinno Vert

[OnMy2ndE30]

Have an update of some work I did this past weekend (not that anyone is going to read it or care, lol).

I decided to tackle the timing belt work that has been nagging me for a while. I have been compiling parts for a while now, getting everything together for replacing the timing belt, tensioner, tensioner spring, water pump, valve cover gasket, rocker plugs, valve cover vent hose, air intake boot, ICV hose and intake gaskets.

I started by clearing the AFM and hoses out of the way:



Then started to remove the cooling hoses. I was surprised when I found this:



Yeah, that is half of the outlet broken from a previous repair that they just kind of didn't say anything about to the PO. Now I need to get a new radiator. It is holding for now, just didn't have the funds available to replace it right then and there.

Started to take off the dizzy cap and found this:



Yup, you are seeing it correctly. A crack in the cap. It was almost all the way across. I could shine light through the cap. I am surprised it wasn't in 2 pieces:





So, off to the parts store to spend more money on a cap and rotor. Also got new plugs for it too.

I took the injectors out to get the intake off. They were pretty crusty:



For those of you with weak stomachs, turn away now....the next pic is of some major surgery going on:



I went to take the water pump off and grabbed ahold of the shaft just to check it and the damn shaft had about a 1/4" of wiggle in the shaft. I was thinking that the grinding/growling type noise coming form the head area of the car was something to do with the head. I thought I was going to have to rebuild the head at some point. Thankfully it was just the water pump. I have to say that between the water pump and the dizzy cap, I am absolutely amazed that this car ran for as long as it has. I have already owned the car for about 8 months in this condition.

So I did more cleaning of this car than actually working on it. I cleaned the head, the intake manifold, valve cover, timing belt cover, etc..... I also replaced the cam seal and intermediate shaft seal while I was in there.

I painted the valve cover and intake satin black. Here is the intake painted and ready to go with rebuilt 19lb Ford 4 pintle injectors that I got from MaksV on here...Thanks a TON Maks!!!!!





So I got everything back together. Here are some before and after shots.

Before:



Notice the spark plug wires all nasty and crusty and zip tied together:



I cleaned the plug wires and installed a plug wire holder I acquired at PNP for a few bucks.

How the bay looks now:







Next on the list, now that I have taken care of a majority of the important mechanics of the car, is steering rack with tie rod ends, carpet and a new top with tension straps. Paint and body and wheels are the last thing on my list, unless I come across a really good deal on some wheels in the meantime...

More to come!!!!

[OnMy2ndE30]

Another update. I didn't take any pictures because everyone has seen pictures of the work I did. I finally got my rack from the rack doctor. Dropped the lower subframe with the rack so I could access the oil pan that has been leaking a lot easier. Re sealed the oil pan, cleaned up the subframe, installed the new rack and outer tie rod ends and installed new power steering hoses and reservoir. I located a full cardinal interior with cardinal carpet from a member on bimmerforums who is going to be back in my area in April. I am buying the interior mainly for the carpet. I am strongly leaning towards painting the car Delphin Metallic or Aplinweiss to compliment the Cardinal interior because, well, I have never seen a Zinno car with Cardinal interior. I am getting my new top in April or May and going to install it myself using a DIY on here and the YouTube BMW factory top install videos. The last thing to do is install the BBS RC090 wheels that I am refinishing. I orginally bought them for my E39 540i, but sold that due to me needing a truck more than another project car. So they are going on the cabrio. Until next time...

[TimKninja]

Another update. I didn't take any pictures because everyone has seen pictures of the work I did. I finally got my rack from the rack doctor. Dropped the lower subframe with the rack so I could access the oil pan that has been leaking a lot easier. Re sealed the oil pan, cleaned up the subframe, installed the new rack and outer tie rod ends and installed new power steering hoses and reservoir. I located a full cardinal interior with cardinal carpet from a member on bimmerforums who is going to be back in my area in April. I am buying the interior mainly for the carpet. I am strongly leaning towards painting the car Delphin Metallic or Aplinweiss to compliment the Cardinal interior because, well, I have never seen a Zinno car with Cardinal interior. I am getting my new top in April or May and going to install it myself using a DIY on here and the YouTube BMW factory top install videos. The last thing to do is install the BBS RC090 wheels that I am refinishing. I orginally bought them for my E39 540i, but sold that due to me needing a truck more than another project car. So they are going on the cabrio. Until next time...

My BrilliantRot car has Cardinal interior. Im not a huge fan. but its better then torn up seats.

Nice project, whens the 5 speed swap?

[rcsoundn1]

Sharing some Zino vert love. I love to see progress! GL with the vert, they are fun.

[OnMy2ndE30]

My BrilliantRot car has Cardinal interior. Im not a huge fan. but its better then torn up seats.

Nice project, whens the 5 speed swap?

Love that there is someone else who has done the cardinal interior and has the pictures to show it. I am gonna go with it and shadowline the trim. If I don't like it then I will respray in Alpinweiss. I am planning a respray anyway.

As for the 5-speed swap, that is later. Need to look up a good DIY with a parts list so I can start acquiring the parts.

[rcsoundn1]

Still watching this thread. Ya never know what you can learn from another persons project! keep it up

[OnMy2ndE30]

Well, I wish i had more to share at this point. My project depends on funds and right now it is on hold because of lack of funds...lol.

I traded a set of M5 reps for a clean set of weaves and put new tires on the car. It made a WORLD of difference in how it drives. I can hit 80-90 MPH now with no shimmy or shake. It drives like butter now. I knew the wheels that were on my car had lip bends and some warpage, but I had no idea my wheels were THAT bad...

One of my buddies who has a couple of E30s that he is parting has a complete M20B25 engine he is selling me for $60. Complete long block sans intake and exhaust. It came out of a wrecked e30 and is in good shape. I plan on swapping that in my car as the engine in my car now is getting a rod knock from the previous owner neglecting the ever loving piss out of it and not changing the oil when they should have. Gaskets, new water pump, tensioner and t-belt and swap the thing in.

I also met a guy who lives in the valley here in Texas. He is parting several convertibles and he has a really good tan carpet for my car he is holding for me. I was going to get the cardinal interior because of the carpet, but funds will not allow me to do that at this point. So I am getting a really good tan carpet for $100. Hell yea....I am getting a new tan top this spring sometime as well. I wont put the carpet in until I get the new top. No point in ruining a good carpet. When I put the carpet in, I am going to gut the inside, replace the dash, while the dash is out replace the evaporator, expansion valve and heater core. I am almost done with my dash and will post pics of the progression on that when I am done....

[rcsoundn1]

Any insight as to what front "lip" you have on the car?

[rcsoundn1]

I will answer my own question here, some research shows it may be a Euro Jimmy Hill Valance/Spoiler/Lip. I like it so Ill dig some more and see if I can find one for sale.

[OnMy2ndE30]

I will answer my own question here, some research shows it may be a Euro Jimmy Hill Valance/Spoiler/Lip. I like it so Ill dig some more and see if I can find one for sale.

It is a factory option valance. Looks like it is still available from BMW NA.

http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=BB13&mospid=47326&btnr=51_0583&hg=51&fg=15

[OnMy2ndE30]

So, after a little over 3 years of a hiatus, I finally got some major things done to the old girl here real recently.

I finally got her in for paint.







If you will remember from one of the first posts I had on this thread, I got the car with a slight buff in the front end that affected the torment of everything. I got a new core support and had it installed when my guy painted my car.




Body work done and into paint. They pulled the windshield and I had them replace the deck lid with one I got so I could have a slick deck lid. Got tired of the "is" spoiler on it.





Out of paint and waiting a week for the paint to die back before cut and buff.







The final product:



Next up is a new top and interior.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[OnMy2ndE30]

One of the many things on my list was replacing the damper rings for the wipers. Got this info from another member who did this on his barn find convertible. The pictures don't show the old damper rings because they were non existent.




New damper rings and collars installed.









Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[OnMy2ndE30]

Picked up a decent carpet for my car from a local e30 guy. It is in much better condition than my carpet because of a leaky top. I am not installing it until I get the top replaced.





One side re-dyed.



Then the other.



This is the due I used. It covered pretty well.



This is what I have planned for the seats:



More to come...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk