KI4UJO's 24v Build and M42 DD

[KI4UJO]

Well, I had some major problems since the last update. Basically, something shorted and killed the DME and engine harness. I have an OBD1 Harness & 413, so I'll be using it once I get the fault in the body side sorted.

Aside from that.....

I can finally shelve the diving boards.

IMG_4646 by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

Oh, and I bought something else yesterday (well, I technically co-own it, but I'm buying the other guy out once my e39 sells).

1989 750il. Set in a field for 5 years, so it needs a complete fuel system overhaul. Also needs the rear SLS repaired along with front shocks. Has a clean interior though.

IMG_4653 by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

IMG_4664 by Jonathan Martin, on Flickr

[KI4UJO]

IT FINALLY RAN PROPERLY!!

Thanks to Kevin from the e30 shop/dasgerman/whatever they're calling it now. I fought it for the last two months, and just needed someone else's input. Turns out, my catalytic converter is somehow stopped up. I'll be building a new dual exhaust this weekend, and will finally get to drive it for the first time since January.

Bottom line, check the not-so-obvious stuff as well. My cat was only a year old, so I figured that would never be a problem.

[KI4UJO]

I'm making slow progress, but regular updates should happen now. After doing a suspension refresh on my current DD, I;m now back on this. Today, I went ahead and built my m50 manifold swap hose. Myself, I chose to keep the oil separator.





Next up is wiring the motor, followed by installation of the intake.

[KI4UJO]

Well, it turns out that my M50 isn't worth fixing. After assembling it with the freshly machined VANOS head, it ran for around a minute... and then started puffing white smoke. Pulled the dipstick and found a milky mess. At that point, I bought an M52. Also, I decided to make the core support removable for a much easier install.

Management-wise, I will be staying OBD2. Kassel Performance flashed my MS41 unit. Unfortunately, the only usable harness that I could find locally is an e36 auto harness, so there will be some extra wires to remove.

Photo dump time:













e36 center console retrofit



Red Needle Mod:



Lastly, I rebuilt the internals of the car's old shift knob and threw it back on.



I'm hoping to have the M52 going in about a week.

[KI4UJO]

Finally, we're on the right track. The replacement head is now back from the machine shop and is awaiting reassembly. As noted earlier, I am adding VANOS (I just rebuilt the VANOS unit earlier today). While I have it apart, I decided to clean up the bay. It was functional before, but very ugly. Basically, I have converted to a late-e30 overflow tank, reinstalled the behind-the-headlight covers, reinstalled the washer tank, and will be lengthening/trimming the VANOS harness in order to get a relatively clean bay (Well, as clean as I can get without shaving it). In the next few days, I'll be getting the necessary parts in order to reassemble it.

Enjoy these horrible phone photos

[KI4UJO]

This isn't going well. I put it back together enough to do a compression test, and got some less than encouraging results. From 1-6. 140-150-140-145-90-95. These were dry. I decided to pour some marvel mystery oil in the last 2 cylinders - and it came back out. On a good note, I now know why it lost compression in the first place. So, I decided to fix this problem by adding VANOS! I managed to pull everything that I needed off of a wrecked e34 (except for the e36 harness). However, I'll be sending the head off anyway (needless to say, I didn't send the old one off to begin with, and am assuming that it is beyond the .3mm that it can be machined if oil was pouring back out. Besides, it's a good excuse for an upgrade)

Photo dump time. Also, I cleaned my garage.





My finished wheel, I am very happy with it. Would gladly recommend stitched's services to anyone.





VANOS head





Everything else (still need a DME, CPS, and trigger wheel)



Finally, the failed head. As for why I didn't send off the original head, it is because I never really got the car hot. Honestly, I don't know how it warped. I just know that it did.

[KI4UJO]

Yeah, I wasn't expecting that when I dropped the motor in last year. I now have photos of the finished wheel from stitched:

[2mAn]

Pretty cool, sucks that the engine has to get overhauled.

[KI4UJO]

Well, it died again.


This still makes no sense to me. I was basically driving down a small two lane road when it shut off. It had spark and fuel. Compression test showed (in order from 1-6) 90-95-90-90-50-140. All of the cylinders were fine when I checked compression before performing the swap. I took it apart and found nothing other than heavy carbonizing on the exhaust valves. I used some lapping compound and appear to have a good seal on each valve. Since I had it apart, I did valve stem seals as well, since the old ones were rather dried out.
So, basically, this is the car as of now:


As for the steering wheel, I am having it refinished by stitched. Others have given good reviews about his work, so I figured I'd give it a shot.
Also, I had noticed that the brake pedal seemed to have no vacuum assist prior to the motor dying, so a new booster setup was in order. I used: e32 booster
e34 master
e32 v8 remote brake reservoir
80s ranger clutch reservoir



Lastly, a photo of the KDC-X998 installed (before someone asks, I'm an amateur radio operator, therefore explaining the other radio below the HVAC panel) :

I'll begin to put it back together this weekend and go from there. Maybe this time I'll get to drive it for more than 3 weeks before it breaks down again.

[KI4UJO]

Yes, basically. Put a small amount of glue on it if it makes you comfortable. (Mine currently fits fine without it).

On a side note, I did not get the motor in today due to replacing the rear alternator bearing. It had made noise for a couple of months, and I figured I should replace it while I had the motor out.

[Codym42]

How did you make the knob with the blank? I'm sitting here looking at mine right now. I'm guessing u just took the screw out of the back and took it apart, then drill a hole in the blank and reassemble?

[KI4UJO]

Also, after making the last post, I made this





Subwoofer level adjustment built into a dash blank. It is a much better option than the ugly one supplied with the amp, and it only took 5min.

[KI4UJO]

Remember that leak free e36 rack?



As we established in the last post, that didn't go so well.

e36 rack out



Its replacement, along with some tie rod ends, brake pads, and a pan gasket (which failed to seal the first time... I don't recommend goteze pan gaskets)



This stuff is awesome, wish I knew what it was when I did the pan gasket the first time.



Also, I got my replacement amp in







The headunit will be in soon. Also, since I got a great deal on the headunit, I also ordered a SiriusXM SXV200. Since I hate FM radio, this should be a nice upgrade.

More to come tomorrow - I'll be dropping the motor back in.

[KI4UJO]

Well, I received my Planet Audio Amp today... and it had a dead channel. Its replacement should arrive on christmas eve. However, the working channels sounded great!

[agent]

in the south, its mandatory

QFT. All my cars have working AC.