Overlord475: 1988 SETA 2.7i Build Thread (Turbo Prep)

[phenryiv1]

Looking awesome.

[Overlord475]

Well, it's been a while since I've update but there has been some progress......

Replaced all suspension bushings (less CR's and sway bar links), new wheel bearings, new rotors, new ceramic pads:



Rear tear down



I painted everything with POR15. Everything was primer'd with gray POR15 and then got a High Temp top coat.







The 3.46 LSD got all new seals.



New CV axels




New E46 Strut bushings with re-enforcement plates.









Front tear down:





Used a set of drop hats while I was replacing the strut mounts

[Overlord475]

Looking good! It needs a little more low though ;)

In Oklahoma.... Only if I wanst a cracked oil pan

[squidmaster]

Looking good! It needs a little more low though ;)

[Overlord475]

Mmmm... sexy

[Overlord475]

[Overlord475]

Off to mount tires! Plan to mount the wheels on the car this Sunday.

[Overlord475]

These came in the other day:

[Overlord475]

Wait, did you buy Grant's ZHP?

lol

Ya..... :?

Perhaps, I should stop selling and then.... re-buying the same car.

[Neil1138]

Wait, did you buy Grant's ZHP?

lol

[Overlord475]

.....
What did you do for the piston cleaning? Thats my next task. Similarly they have good carbon build up but the hatching still looks excellent. 220k+ (as far as I know)

What kind of power upgrade were you expecting with the chip and injectors? I plan on doing the same with possibly a M30 AFM, as I don't have one yet other than the stock Eta AFM. Exhaust is still up in the air.

I also sourced a 3.25 LS E28 diff......

Thanks man!!!

I actual used scotch bright pads, Berrymans Chem Dip, and a die grinder / wire wheel to clean up the pistons.

I think I'm probably around 180HP. The Squid Chip is a great product. Start right up and has an amazing idle. Car feels almost as fast as my ZHP 330i, but that's probably because the E30 is a bit more dramatic to drive.

I love my 3.46 LSD

[csmitty]

Great thread, and almost dejavu of my 88 SETA build. Mine is torn down to the block and bottom end as well still in the car. Just got the oil pan and lower timing chain cover back on and torqued down. All new seals and cleaned of course.

What did you do for the piston cleaning? Thats my next task. Similarly they have good carbon build up but the hatching still looks excellent. 220k+ (as far as I know)

What kind of power upgrade were you expecting with the chip and injectors? I plan on doing the same with possibly a M30 AFM, as I don't have one yet other than the stock Eta AFM. Exhaust is still up in the air.

I also sourced a 3.25 LS E28 diff. I think. Its actually been a while since I got it. Still wanted to get good hwy miles as I do a bit of a commute and it will be a DD.

Mine will be a single mass flywheel and havent' found a clutch kit yet, mine was 5spd originally. New driveshaft, refurbed suspension/bushings/etc. Looking forward to it.

[phenryiv1]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Awesome reply. Thank you!

[Overlord475]

Question on this process...did you use the POR-15 cleaner and then actually hose off the crud/grime with the engine in the car and taped off like that?

I see people post about cleaning and painting the block still in the car but I always wonder how they actually do that. I happen to have my SETA bottom end out of the car and am about a month behind you in terms of prep and progress on my 2.7i build (this my second one, but the last was 4 years ago and I had help with it) so reading this thread is serving to remind me what comes next and what I might be forgetting.

I am also convinced that just having the IM dipped/cleaned is the way to go.

On another note, I see that you had to swap out the clutch. Maybe I missed it but are you on a single- or dual-mass flywheel?

I cleaned the engine block first with a die grinder / wire wheel combo and super purple cleaner. This was all done with the block in the car. It was fully stripped down though:



I didn't tape anything off except the block deck. I went slow and with a very steady hand.

I am on a dual mass flywheel for more comfortable daily driving. The Grip Force Clutch I bought was a piece of junk.
Their customer service was worse than their product.

Went back to a new stock clutch / pressure plate.

[phenryiv1]

Day 10:

The POR15 Block Paint Kit Came in:

Zinc oxide prep for good POR15 rust inhibitor adhesion, and a pic of the final product (paint still drying)

This block will never rust again:

Question on this process...did you use the POR-15 cleaner and then actually hose off the crud/grime with the engine in the car and taped off like that?

I see people post about cleaning and painting the block still in the car but I always wonder how they actually do that. I happen to have my SETA bottom end out of the car and am about a month behind you in terms of prep and progress on my 2.7i build (this my second one, but the last was 4 years ago and I had help with it) so reading this thread is serving to remind me what comes next and what I might be forgetting.

I am also convinced that just having the IM dipped/cleaned is the way to go.

On another note, I see that you had to swap out the clutch. Maybe I missed it but are you on a single- or dual-mass flywheel?