lightened flywheels...

 If you want more acceleration, especially in lower gears, lightening crankshafts and flywheels is a good idea...it will NOT give you any more power, so top speed, will remain unchanged.  It WILL allow more power to reach the wheels under accelerating conditions because less energy is being wasted accelerating the engines rotating parts up to speed!...it may also result in a slightly lumpier idle, but will give faster throttle response when you blip the pedal!  Much like a motorcycle, because they have no flywheels....the gains are quite small and expensive but like all engine tuning you have to decide what you are trying to achieve....and everything should be a good balance of modifications that matches...The job of the flywheel is to smooth out firing pulses, stop vibration harmonics, and torsional twist. The most economical way for the factory to do this was to make the flywheel the weight it is stock.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 340i so the flywheel is weaker than it was before, but it will presumably be getting more abuse? is that safe? i dont want to freak you out, but have you seen what happens to flywheels when they break? byebye feet...

i wonder about this...and while a flywheel flying apart isn't my real concern...engine performance and engine longevity is...i have a new m10 rebuild and a fresh transmission rebuild but i have yet to put in the clutch kit and flywheel togther...i had the flywheel resurfaced but not lightened...i considered an aluminum flywheel but after talking with a lot of trusted friends...the conversation always turns toward comments about manufacture's proportions and engine balance, engine longevity, and the money spent on engineering and design by the factory...i know that the racing circuit has successfully lightened flywheels for years...but in the end i DID NOT lighten my flywheel YET...

i am seriously wondering what to do about it...should i...or shouldn't i...that is my question...i put a 292 cam in the engine so i expect that to increase some performance...but for a summer DD where is the "end point" of modifications is what i'm wondering...where does the line between performance enhancements and engine longevity meet?...is lightening a flywheel to much? if so...how much is too much lightening...what does experience say? i don't know these answers and i am not sure where to find them...i have discussed this with my machine shop and IE...and neither answer the question...at least the way i want them too...probably because there are so many possible variables...

any thoughts on this?

Consider The Following:   if we are serious about lightning bits and pieces to get a free revving engine what about a carbon fiber drive shaft?...it would rotationally flex more that the metal counterparts and reduce strain on the engine . . .if a metal drive shaft breaks parts can be thrown through the car!...a carbon fiber drive shaft is stronger but if it does break...it would generally only leave a 'broom' into 'harmless' fibers and little damage will be done to the car...and the same effect is achieved...lthough the uninitiated might only see the obvious lightweight advantage offered by a carbon-fiber driveshaft, there is areally a great deal more to it than simple weight reduction...along with being roughly 50 percent lighter than a steel unit, carbon-fiber driveshafts offer greater fatigue life, superior vibration damping and a much higher critical speed...the most obvious benefit of carbon fiber is its weight...unlike other weight-reduction measures, such as fiberglass hoods or ditching the A/C, carbon-fiber driveshafts actually aid acceleration, and deceleration...

this is just a theoretical question is am posing...i am highly suspect that using a lightened flywheel with a stock, non counter-weighted crankshaft requires using an equalizer pulley to dampen the harmonics, bending, torsional twist and vibration...without doing so would seem to cause premature case, piston, rod bearing and even possible crank damage...particularly, at high rev's which is the ultimate reason intended with lighten a flywheel...between a lightened flywheel, and lumpier cam in the 320i i am restoring...drive ability is my concern...while not actually increasing speed...it would increase response...but at the cost of consistent flow through acceleration and deceleration...not advisable for a summer season daily driver...

pistons, cams, and RPM's

6000 rpms...that is 100 times a second...i know that is nothing compared to chip speeds i suppose but .... we are talking cams, cranks, pistons...mechanical items those pistons above moving that fast...it is mind-boggling to me...this is a great example of the height of the mechanized society...and the beginning of the information based society...i love that....

"Before" Rear Differential, SubFrame, Rear Axle Support Arms and Sway Bar

Slotted Rear Subframe

Slotted Rear Subframe

Source: http://www.77e21.info/rearsubframe.htm

Parts: http://store.nexternal.com/shared/StoreFront/default.asp?CS=ireland&StoreType=BtoC&Count1=314663112&Count2=231803536

2002 tii front strut replacement vs 320i/323i front struts

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/search.php?searchid=16923105

the new passenger fender . . .

today the fender came the i bought from the the bmw forum....nice shape...no rust as the guy said...

bmw ///m paint

///M logo, the three stripes that make M branded cars even more recognizable. So, let’s see what we can learn about the “M” today.
The first Red stripe represented Texaco, the famous American oil retail brand, who had partnered with BMW during the early days of M racing. Blue represented BMW and Bavarian region. The purple was used to represent the partnership and to allow for a nice transition between the two colors, blending as some may call it.
Once the BMW/Texaco partnership ended, BMW had to buyout Texaco for the rights to the red.
For those of you that are in the imaging or graphics field, here is something that I dug out, the color names and codes used in the ///M stripes:

Pantone:
Blue — Pantone Process Blue
Purple — Pantone 268
Red — Pantone Warm Red

Paint:
blue violett GLASURIT-BMW 4000
light blue GLASURIT-BMW 5002
red GLASURIT-BMW 353

RGB:
Blue — 0 138 201 (Hex: 008AC9)
Purple — 43 17 90 (Hex: 2B115A)
Red — 241 26 34 (Hex: F11A22)

Pantone = color process (order) used by printing shops to define colors.
Paint = in this case it is refering to a GLASURIT paint code. Or a specific mix of auto paints.
RGB = Red, Green, Blue. The same process your computer monitor or TV uses to make colors.

nice paint . . .

Look at 0:10 nice paint idea . . . however, it may be a little to extreme . . .
 

the new passenger fender i need . . .

these are the pictures that were sent to me from someone on the bimmerforums . . . bionicbelly is his handle . . . he emailed me at 9:12PM and the fender looks decent . . . here is what he posted at 10:16PM after sending me the email with the shipping information and the pictures . . .

Funny story...
I worked on getting good sheet metal, trans, front sub-frame etc. off the car today. Got quite a few things done, My brother in law started working on it after I left (he bought my old e21) and while using the torch to get some bolts cut out, he torched the car! I guess the grass caught on fire, which caught the grease/oil under the car on fire, then the tires started on fire. A quick call to 911 took care of the problem though.
It occured to me, after talking to him, that had I known he would be using the torch, I probably would not have used starting fluid to kill the nest of wasps that lived in the car. Ya know, just as a precautionary measure.

Anyway, I am just going to take the whole smoking pile to the salvage yard, and if you did paypal money to me, you have received a refund.

G-Power

recaro seat change . . .

Source: http://www.my2002tii.com/recaro_seats.htm

Drive Safely: Model Year 2050 MAGLEV Mercedes Arrow

Visions of future urban living often involve the death of the personal vehicle in favor of widespread public transportation. While we might commute between work and home on public transport in increasing numbers, it seems unlikely that we’ll give up the personal vehicle altogether. Driving is, after all, one of life’s simple pleasures. Designer Felipe Palermo took that into consideration when dreaming up the Mercedes Arrow concept car.

Palermo suggests that by 2050 we’ll only be driving ourselves around on the weekends, with our transportation needs being handled by suspended rail systems. But when we need a leisurely Sunday drive, this MAGLEV-driven vehicle will let us take control and explore the world on magnetic wheels.

The main compartment of the two-passenger car shifts with turns to keep riders safe and comfortable as they ride along. Since the wheels are actually secured to the roadway with magnets, there is a much smaller chance of off-road crashes and rollovers.

The wheels on this futuristic vehicle are also quite astonishing. They allow for re-injection of rubber when the treads become worn or experience a flat. This feature would keep untold amounts of old tires out of the waste stream, which is a good thing for everyone involved. The retro-Mercedes-inspired concept is nowhere near becoming a reality, but the prospect of an agile sports car that’s safe and fast is a decidedly intriguing one.

Source: http://gajitz.com/drive-safely-model-year-2050-maglev-mercedes-arrow/

2010 International Concept Car Design Contest.

The Jetsons made us all believe that flying cars were the future of commuting, and in truth we’ve had the technology to create flying cars for quite some time now. They haven’t taken off, so to speak, for a number of reasons – most notably that air traffic control capabilities might be overwhelmed by a large number of personal aircraft flying around. With computerized air traffic control taking over, flying car ideas are again gaining traction.

This design is known simply as the YEE. It’s meant to be a futuristic mode of transportation that embodies the best of the flying car ideal. Designed by Pan Jiazhi, Zhu Wenxi and Lai Zexin, the concept car took the gold medal for Best Creative Future in the 2010 International Concept Car Design Contest. 

The YEE is geared toward single people or small families living in the suburbs who may face an unpleasant commute every morning. The vehicle would be able to get them to their destination quickly and pleasantly while avoiding the downtown traffic. But the car could be used for running errands around the neighborhood as well, because in its road mode it operates just like a regular car. When it’s ready to fly, the back wheels actually extend to become rear propellers.

The project information doesn’t mention how the transition from road vehicle to air vehicle is handled; the wings and propellers are used to propel and stabilize the vehicle when it’s driving on the road, so extending them before takeoff wouldn’t be possible. Of course, the design is only a concept at this point so it’s not worth tearing apart every one of its aspects. If the YEE ever goes into production those questions will have to be answered, but for now it’s an interesting and fun bit of futuristic car eye candy.

Source: http://gajitz.com/traffic-stopper-concept-car-converts-from-road-to-air/

nice wheels

Le Mans Series, Speedy Racing Team Sebah . . these wheels are obviously the trend forward . . . they are very nice! i love these wheels!!!

newer nice 325iX wheel i saw today in the giant eagle parking lot . . .

combined engine and transmission install . . .

this is an illustrated version of the install of both the engine and transmission with the shifter support...nice visual...notice the placement of the eye bolt...

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1383059&highlight=hoist

nice morning drive....

2002 tii restoration...and windshield install...

test

bumper diagrams...

notice number 4 in the diagram...this is the inserted rubber...item number 51121834876...sells for $93.52 on the OEM website...

in the front bumper diagram...the insert is item number 51111834874....and sells for $76.82 on the OEM website...

notice...in the forum sections for e21...there is a lot of talk about re-working the sheet metal for rear bumpers...apparently some holes require filling...and places where the federalized bumper fits there are spaces of some sort where the rubber fits...check fitment of rears before sending to body shop...

new stuff is so pretty!!!

ok so i'm not at the place where its zero to 60 mph in 2 weeks yet...but i have the engine set up-right and the plastic is off of it...sitting on its crate...i am ordering a sach's clutch kit this weekend...and hopefully i will pick up the transmission soon from anthony...i love working with parts that are clean!

last night i took all the parts i have assembled and put them aside...i need to inflate the tires move the car more towards the middle of the garage...and then assemble the clutch, transmission and engine...replace the shifter mechanisms, and then set it into the engine compartment...

i want to get the car back onto jack stands...i want to finish the remaining sanding and body work...(fender?)...i also need to install the heat resistant foil where the header is...