phenryiv1's 1989 325iC Project - SETA 2.7i Swap Complete and Running!

[phenryiv1]

BIG few days for me.

So I got tired of not having all of the parts that I needed to finish the top- namely the shocks and sleeves that assist the actual top mechanism- no thte cover. These were mentioned back on the page when I had the top installed but at $100 for all 4 parts, I was waiting until better weather to order them- plus I wanted to hold off until I got free shipping for those, some seat repair parts, and a few other odds and ends. Fortunately or unfortunately, I spent enough for free shipping at ECS Tuning, which was th eonly place that carried everything that I needed in this round of acquisitions.



Once things came in, I took time off from work last Friday and started the top repair process. Nothing about it was difficult but it was tedious. I only did this because I was putting off my e36 rack swap, but I got one side done.

Old v. New:



Installed:





I also finally installed the weird slotted fastener that I was missing. This was a real b!tch to install, even using a 90* ratcheting screwdriver.



That is all for this post- more after my next meeting when I get into my new lift and the e36 rack install.

[phenryiv1]

So I just noticed (after looking at the pictures posted yesterday) that the rear wheel gap did indeed settle a little after I drove it up and down my road. The trunk is still completely empty but it gives me hope that I will be satisfied with the final ride height without any changes.





You won't mistake it for a stanced car but for actual driving I think it just might work.

[bluej]

That's a great looking comanche. nice

[phenryiv1]

Pictures of 2 good-looking girls in their mid 20's:

[phenryiv1]

:P

Well, to be honest nobody else would have noticed it either if you hadn't. Just looks like a snug fit. Would totally kill someone with OCD, but I'd just run it and not worry about it unless a cheap perfect hood comes along.

Probably right. I'll be on the lookout for a hood in the local(ish) area but will leave the current one in place until another one comes along.

[irish44j]

:P

Well, to be honest nobody else would have noticed it either if you hadn't. Just looks like a snug fit. Would totally kill someone with OCD, but I'd just run it and not worry about it unless a cheap perfect hood comes along.

[phenryiv1]

Looking back at pics in post 1 it looks like it was bent before and I missed it...

[phenryiv1]

so you were pretty sure that there wasn't a bend in the hood before sending it to paint, but now there is one. seems like it's right at the spot where someone would push on it hard to finish shutting it... sucks :(

I, I actually am not sure that it was not damaged before. My guess is that it was bent before and I never noticed it. Before it was glossy it was not apparent. And eve after, I assumed that the curve was normal, until I put the grilles back in. I doubt that they managed to bend it from closing it...more likely part of the (PO's) damage that led to the mis-matched fender.

[bluej]

so you were pretty sure that there wasn't a bend in the hood before sending it to paint, but now there is one. seems like it's right at the spot where someone would push on it hard to finish shutting it... sucks :(

[phenryiv1]

Update:

After replacing the fuel lines last week I was too dirty to want to sit in the car to try to start it, plus I was not in the mood to run it and have my repair fail (meaning I was still leaking) so I let it sit for a while and pretended that the problem was fixed. Yesterday I was actually brave enough to try to start the car after is sat since December.

SUCCESS!

After a few seconds for the fuel system to fill, the car fired up and idled pretty well. No fuel leaked and only the error lights that I expected actually lit up on the diagnostic panel. I let it idle for a few minutes and put the top down for the first time since the new top was installed and it really was a monumental moment, as I finally got to see how the top is supposed to fold. It still needs some adjustment but overall it is awesome to be able to put the top down.

I celebrated by loading the kids in the back seat and running it up to the end of my development and back, top down and still looking like a work in progress.

With that accomplishment under my belt it looks like it is time to get in gear so that I can run this thing (legally) at some point this season!

[phenryiv1]

Suspension has settled slightly, even without moving.

[phenryiv1]

Sucks about the hood :(

You're telling me...

[95maxrider]

Sucks about the hood :(

[phenryiv1]

Oh yeah, also ordered a set of odometer gears and pre-ordered a front strut bar from Garagistic. I had needed the odo gears but put off ordering them. When the strut bars came available it made sense to get in on the pre-order discount and to get the gears at $25 with free shipping.

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=351946

[phenryiv1]

So today's post is a mix of good and bad news. Bad news first.

After installing the headlights and the lower valance i move on to other grille assembly. Yes, this is moving at a glacial pace but I have a "real" job and a side audio adapter fabrication "job" (which pays for projects like this), 2 kids who have kid activities, a 2 hour commute, and a pile of around-the-house projects to complete. Plus I like to do other stuff- train for running races, go snowboarding with my kids, etc. Anyway, I try to do a couple things every few days and will be working at that pace until this is back together.

So the grilles wen on late last week and I immediately identified a problem:











Notice anything odd about the fit of the grilles? I did...they are in contact with the hood. I tried adjusting the alignment, moving the headlights, moving the screws, and trying several other things. No luck.

Finally I took a step back in direct sunlight:









That funny reflection on the hood- yup, that is a bend. I never saw it when the car was in pre-paint, and I never felt it in prep. I am a bit embarrassed to have missed it but I paid good money to have a bent hood painted.

For now I will live with it but the hunt is on for a good straight hood.

That said, I am still happy with the overall look-





Now for the good news- more progress toward being roadworthy. Last week I put up pictures of the sad state of the fuel filter, the fuel lines, and the general area associated with the fuel delivery. I ordered 10 feet of Gates SAE 30r9 fuel line from RockAuto and it arrived last Friday. I was on the fence on ordering the 2 pre-curved sections form BMW (about $25 for both) but decided to see if the "straight" line could work. I have not fired it up (I was too dirty to want to sit in the car after doing the lines and I had somewhere to go) but the curves feel pretty good and worst case I will buy the precurved lines and replace them. I needed the 10' of line to do the supply/return lines anyway so that was $24 well spent, particularly if the 12" of it that I used to make the curved lines works as it should.

Some pictures:

Old fuel filter versus new:



Old cracked line. This was weeping gas- even at rest- and was pouring gas when the pump was running:



And all buttoned up: