E30Pdee's 1989 alpine 325i rebuild and restoration project

[2mAn]

pistons looked fine. clean them up and move on

[e30pdee]

yea, some people actually said i can deburr my pistons. but if they need to come out ill probably be getting a eta crankshaft or or a m52 crank with eta rods. So we shall see what needs to be done soon enough!

[Mr. Tasty]

just get some b25 pistons and re use your valves from your old head?

[e30pdee]

This thread is so dead. ive seen threads on the project forum that havent even started to touch there car have more feedback just because all it was was discussion not even progress. is it really that hard guys?

whatever anyways for whoever else does keep up to date with this thread, i tore into the guts of the m20, (again) and noticed that my valves are bent, and piston had been hit too, ive seen much worse pistons but if you guys want a peak heres a link to the pistons: http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=254988

So depending on which is the most cost effective route to go. i'm left with a few choices:

M5X/ S5X swap
Change out the pistons and while im in there possibly build a 2.7-2.8L stroker
Simply change the motor for a whole new m20b25

[e30pdee]

soooo today, i did an oil change, fixed the battery problem, and replaced my throttle cable. once it was ready to drive low and behold i pull out the driveway, and come around the first turn, *clunk clunk* it died out. i tried to turn it on, nothing, the crank wasnt turning so i thought my crank had locked but that didnt make sense. i luckily someone was kind enough to tow my car around the block free of charge, got it towed, im sitting here looking to see whats going on and i saw it, the tension on my timing belt has completely failed, the timing belt is so loose that i could wiggle it back and forth effortlessly. so basically my tensioner failed, and i feel like valves hit pistons, because i did not hear nice noises when i lost tension. :(

whatever, i guess this calls for new pistons, or atleast new valves depending on what got messed up, today is a very sad day. has anyone had such experiences and would care to share them?

[EDirtyZ]

yea ill probably just get new piping, is my cat is bad ill get a high flow cat with a magnaflow muffler or something, ill have Andy figure it out LOL

Yeah I was gonna say Andy can check your cat for free lol, but do you wanna blow that much money on a muffler dude? I bought 2 glass packs and Andy welded for me for $20 and the glasspacks cost like what? $10 a piece? Get new piping a new cat and glass packs Andy will do it all together for 3hun, and you know I got one of the nicest sounding e30's around ;P

[e30pdee]

Hey as for the smog make sure you don't have a hole or anything I had a rust hole and wouldn't pass smog so that's why I used glasspacks. And before you go around changing all the piping I have a buddy that'll check your cat for free. Cause if there's no hole that means you have enough at pressure and your cat is solid you'll pass smog. And you know I still have smog hook.

yea ill probably just get new piping, is my cat is bad ill get a high flow cat with a magnaflow muffler or something, ill have Andy figure it out LOL

[EDirtyZ]

could i get some feedback guys?

Hey as for the smog make sure you don't have a hole or anything I had a rust hole and wouldn't pass smog so that's why I used glasspacks. And before you go around changing all the piping I have a buddy that'll check your cat for free. Cause if there's no hole that means you have enough at pressure and your cat is solid you'll pass smog. And you know I still have smog hook.

[e30pdee]

could i get some feedback guys?

[e30pdee]

so just a quick update before the car can be driveable theirs only two more things left to do, i get a new throttle cable that goes to the gas pedal and a working battery (for some reason i need to jump it from the front to get it to start. once all this is done ill probably be getting new piping and smog it. with the more important stuff done ill be moving onto the steering, suspension and transmission stuff.

[e30pdee]

thanks man!

[EDirtyZ]

Lookin good paulie! Good to see how it's coming, by the way this is sam. ;)

[e30pdee]

Update so the head is on! heres some progress pics of what i was doing throughout that time, i cleaned my fuel injectors and replaced the o rings, painted my manifolds and valve cover, adjusted my valves replaced all my seals, on the head, and im running a Goetze headgasket now and i cleaned my pistons! the pictures will be soon to come, the car didnt run the first time because my spark plug wires were plugged in the wrong order, i rearranged still didnt run, and then finally i switched the fuel lines turned the key and voila! running! better than ever too runs amazing now, almost no ticking whatsoever!

[e30pdee]

finally got my head back in, and boy does she look purty! all i need now is my gasket set, and i finally get onto the installation!

[e30pdee]

picked up a lot of goodies over the past few weeks!

4 weaves all with center caps!



4.10 LSD




and some foglights!




all this for 200 bucks!


oh yea, and heres a little teaser of my dads e30 daily e30 :D