phenryiv1's 1989 325iC Project - SETA 2.7i Swap Complete and Running!
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Last edited by phenryiv1; 04-07-2015, 06:55 AM. -
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:
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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.
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Sucks about the hood :(
________________________1988 528e Rally-xmobile___________________
2014 WDCR Rally-X MR Season Champion, 2014 NE Div. Challenge MR WinnerComment
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Suspension has settled slightly, even without moving.
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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!Comment
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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.Comment
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Looking back at pics in post 1 it looks like it was bent before and I missed it...
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: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.Stage rally/rallycross e30 build/competition journal
Track/street e21 build
visit Condor Speed Shop
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[FONT="Franklin Gothic Medium"] 1985 318i/M50 Rally Car - 1988 Porsche 924S - 2005 Sequoia tow pig - 2018 GTIComment
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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.Comment
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Pictures of 2 good-looking girls in their mid 20's:
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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.Comment
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