89 325i Cirrusblau Metallic m30 Project - Round 2

[marshallnoise]

Thanks rturbo 930 and Raul. I think the important thing here is that I shouldn't be off more than an 1/8" or so anywhere. But an 1/8" plus another 1/8" and then things can get wonky. I will do the best that I can and measure a lot.

[marshallnoise]

I just stripped down the intake manifold for cleaning. Every single hose was brittle as hell. I am surprised anyone goes to a junk yard, pulls a motor and just swaps them in. I can't imagine that they run right afterwards.

The plan is to have the bare intake chem-dipped for cleaning. Clean the other parts as best as I can. Disassemble the fuel rail for cleaning and set the injectors aside and send out for cleaning about 30 days before first fire.

As far as welding on the car. I have decided that I need to learn TIG so I am slowly accumulating the pieces necessary to practice. I already have a couple of 300 cu ft tanks (one about 1/3 full and the other empty), the torch, tungsten and regulator to use with my Everlast PowerArc 140ST. Just waiting on the .040 collets to arrive and I can begin practicing.

What caused me to abandon stick for TIG? Well, warnings from folks on here that if I let any slag into the weld on a structural piece and it fails...well, its my ass.

[marshallnoise]

Tried my hand at tig today. .040 sharpened ceriated tungsten. 30 amps and 15 cfh argon flow and a #4 cup. No filler added at all. Just wanted to see how hard it was to start the arc and see if I could shove some steel around. It works. But I am not thrilled with the gas coverage. It is awfully windy around where I live in the afternoons so when I would arc up, it would work great, then the wind would blow the gas coverage. And obviously I don't have a steady hand at all because I kept dipping the tungsten into the work, soaking up metal. Then the arc was just wild and pointless.

But I can see what all the fuss is about with TIG. The control is amazing when it is working right. It is super easy to lift start an arc and I only had problems when the gas isn't covering well and the tungsten is all covered in crap. Obviously I am a novice...but wow. It is going to be fun!











Edit: I think the .040 is too small of a tungsten even for 20 gauge. It is hard to sharpen mainly. I am going to get some 1/16" stuff.

[bradnic]

friggin cool that you're trying this out.

[marshallnoise]

Thanks man! This is a journey for sure.

[CorvallisBMW]

Up your amps a bit, try a #6 cup and bump the gas to 20-25CFH. You'll get better penetration without blowing through, and better gas coverage.

[marshallnoise]

Up your amps a bit, try a #6 cup and bump the gas to 20-25CFH. You'll get better penetration without blowing through, and better gas coverage.

I am going to wait for a gas lense kit and a number 8 Pyrex cup. Plus I need to create a wind break cause that was really a problem. Thanks for the suggestion to up the amps. I definitely think I can do that since the metal really didn't get all that hot!

[marshallnoise]

I am, imagine this, questioning moving forward on the project. With my arthritis (waffles) every little bit of work I do on it becomes 3 days of recovery. I guess it doesn't help that I am strapped for cash too.

/pity party

[Ether-D]

Fuck man. I'm just starting to get arthritis in my thumbs. I don't know how advanced yours is, but if I take a pre-emptive Advil or two before a specially difficult day of grabbiness, it largely stops the ensuing inflammation. You can doit!!

[marshallnoise]

Fuck man. I'm just starting to get arthritis in my thumbs. I don't know how advanced yours is, but if I take a pre-emptive Advil or two before a specially difficult day of grabbiness, it largely stops the ensuing inflammation. You can doit!!

Thanks for that man. Yeah. I am 34 and was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis a year and a half ago. I am on a new drug for arthritis called Otezla and some hard core anti-inflammatory drugs every day. If I didn't take them or skipped on accident, I pay for it.

It's life and those are the cards I have been dealt so I am not complaining. But it makes me question my commitment level to massive project like this.

I am going to try and look at an e28 535i today. We'll see.

[marshallnoise]

If you ever wondered how stiff the e30 is, let this pic convince you. The whole car is on stands and this is the front of the car. It's been this way for 2 months or so.

[marshallnoise]

Up your amps a bit, try a #6 cup and bump the gas to 20-25CFH. You'll get better penetration without blowing through, and better gas coverage.

I wound up getting a gas lens kit with 6, 8, 10, and 12 with collets from .040 to 3/16". I am going to get the 12 out and dick around this week with it. I have no reason to think it won't help.

[864E30]

Followed this through. Progress? Looks like a good build thus far

[marshallnoise]

Followed this through. Progress? Looks like a good build thus far

It would be a good build if I could continue it. I have a lot of stuff going on in life right now, but the main thing that is stalling it is my arthritis. Far too young to have it, but I do and it is really hard to handle major tasks like this. One day working on the car = a week of recovery. And I just can't sustain it any longer. Plus, I have been having a hell of a time securing a MIG welder without just outright buying one. I want to sell my TIG/Stick set up first and that's just not happening.

At any rate, everything is for sale for the car. Not that this is an official for sale thread, but eventually, it will all go.

But, not all is lost. A good friend Josh1254 is selling me a 91 318i Sedan for a good price so I can just daily drive it. I will start a separate thread on that one when I finally take possession. The reason for getting the m42 car as a daily driver is to get me off my motorcycle while still getting over 30 mpg fuel mileage. I was very close to getting killed a couple of times and I have had a bad time with cops lately too.

I may keep the m30 part of the swap just in case I run into more money as well as get my arthritis managed better. You never know!

[marshallnoise]

Gone even farther away from the project. Everything is listed for sale.

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=366125

And I am going for a nicer DD now. Looking at e46s. I know, I know.