Okay so not having a project and being E30-less for about six months I decided to rescue Burgy the 85 325e that had been sitting and waiting patiently for someone to show her some love.
My buddy Mike picked her up many years ago (probably at least 7 or 8) in non-op condition due to a bad clutch slave cylinder repair...the PO had tried to use some type of steel tubing and clamps with miserable results. Mike ordered some parts (including new lines and slave cylinder) got her running only to find out the trans wouldn't shift into 1st or 2nd. So she was parked and neglected...until I decided to bring her home.
How she sat for almost a decade (next to the Mike's garage):
She looked kinda ugly without her grille.
So I've been slowing trying to bring her back to life. She has a bit of rust in the passengers floor and trunk due to water sitting in her (at least carpets had been removed by Mike). He has a parts car that we'll be cutting the spare well, a few pieces from the passenger's floor and the battery box out of.
First thing was to replace the fuel tank. Both fuel pumps functioned when I tested them, but I am getting a blown fuse when the in tank pump is connected. I have the fuel pump assembly oriented 180 degrees out of alignment because the plastic filter/foot of the pump is hitting the baffle in the bottom of the tank (thanks Spectra). I am able to get the main pump to run, and it won't pop the fuse if the in tank pump is disconnected. Will have to get that resolved soon.
Car came with a spare Getrag 260, which I installed along with new shifter bushings that came with the car.
I tried to get her to start, and she fired off of the cold start valve a few times (loud as the exhaust is just a catless cut downpipe), but would not stay running.
No wanting to risk my luck I decided to address general maintenance before going any further (no desire for a snapped timing belt). Here's what I have done so far:
Timing belt
Water pump
Crank and intermediate shaft seals (could not get the cam bolt off...stripped the hex head)
V-belts
Intake manifold gaskets
Bitch tube o-rings
Valve cover gasket and plastic plugs
Intake boot
Vacuum hoses (ICV stuff)
Took me a while to remove everything, clean decades of caked on grease and reassemble. Will try to fire her up once I get the radiator and fan back in. Next on list is to drop the rear end and replace the trailing arm bushings, sub frame bushings and the little short brake hoses while I'm in there. I'll drop the fuel tank and figure out what is going on with the other pump and get it oriented properly. Then we'll throw the driveshaft and exhaust on the car. I have a full i-spec cat and rear exhaust to go in the car.
Future plans are to get it running, improve the suspension, add euro bumpers and euro weaves. At some point we'll paint her - she is sporting a real bad respray.
How she looks now:
My buddy Mike picked her up many years ago (probably at least 7 or 8) in non-op condition due to a bad clutch slave cylinder repair...the PO had tried to use some type of steel tubing and clamps with miserable results. Mike ordered some parts (including new lines and slave cylinder) got her running only to find out the trans wouldn't shift into 1st or 2nd. So she was parked and neglected...until I decided to bring her home.
How she sat for almost a decade (next to the Mike's garage):
She looked kinda ugly without her grille.
So I've been slowing trying to bring her back to life. She has a bit of rust in the passengers floor and trunk due to water sitting in her (at least carpets had been removed by Mike). He has a parts car that we'll be cutting the spare well, a few pieces from the passenger's floor and the battery box out of.
First thing was to replace the fuel tank. Both fuel pumps functioned when I tested them, but I am getting a blown fuse when the in tank pump is connected. I have the fuel pump assembly oriented 180 degrees out of alignment because the plastic filter/foot of the pump is hitting the baffle in the bottom of the tank (thanks Spectra). I am able to get the main pump to run, and it won't pop the fuse if the in tank pump is disconnected. Will have to get that resolved soon.
Car came with a spare Getrag 260, which I installed along with new shifter bushings that came with the car.
I tried to get her to start, and she fired off of the cold start valve a few times (loud as the exhaust is just a catless cut downpipe), but would not stay running.
No wanting to risk my luck I decided to address general maintenance before going any further (no desire for a snapped timing belt). Here's what I have done so far:
Timing belt
Water pump
Crank and intermediate shaft seals (could not get the cam bolt off...stripped the hex head)
V-belts
Intake manifold gaskets
Bitch tube o-rings
Valve cover gasket and plastic plugs
Intake boot
Vacuum hoses (ICV stuff)
Took me a while to remove everything, clean decades of caked on grease and reassemble. Will try to fire her up once I get the radiator and fan back in. Next on list is to drop the rear end and replace the trailing arm bushings, sub frame bushings and the little short brake hoses while I'm in there. I'll drop the fuel tank and figure out what is going on with the other pump and get it oriented properly. Then we'll throw the driveshaft and exhaust on the car. I have a full i-spec cat and rear exhaust to go in the car.
Future plans are to get it running, improve the suspension, add euro bumpers and euro weaves. At some point we'll paint her - she is sporting a real bad respray.
How she looks now:
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