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...

i moved most of the parts into organized and layered piles...exhaust, intake, carburetor, headers, turn signals, side moundings, buffers, compound, valves, rocker arms, newly refurbishment valves, euro-bumpers, (rear & fronts), window glass plastic molding, and rubber seals for the front and back, NOS rear brake light lens, chromed door handles, right side view mirror, rear headrests, and a petreti steering wheel...

measuring twice before cutting once . . . some assembly required!!!

ok so i am working on getting the parts i have assembled over the winter months gathered together...by kind...resurfaced pressure plate, weber carburetors, bmw intakes (ported, refaced/trued), euro-bumpers (front-rears), side bumper moldings, side trim, fuel pump, electrical wiring, front clear turn singles, etc.

found this in the oddest of places...

moving...or not that is the question....

ok so i paid for the engine work done at the machine shop...i had a good idea tonight...last summer i had someone look at the timber on the land and i got an evaluation given to me...i want to have it timber this spring!! i have things to pay for...

the engine is being stored at someones storage trailer...i need to get it back so that i don't have to pay him...

1. i need to call a lumber amish type to cut this....
2. i need to have my blood tests....
3. i need to call dr after blood tests are complete...
4. i need to call AT&T...
5. i need to mail dr report...
6. i need to have the plasmapheris...
7. i need to have the colonoskpi...
8. i need to move the model "A"...
9. i need to move the BMW...
10. i need to semi move to my mother's...or somewhere else...

ok so . . .

ok so...a little late but finally finished...transmission is neary done but the front oil seal was the wrong one...so i am nearing a finished product...

pittsburgh auto show . . . 02.2010

this weekend i went to the pittsburgh auto show with some business friends...stephen, ed, and jim mings . . . when i walked in the door i immediately went to the bmw display . . . i discovered after a lack luster quickie . . . bmw was NOT actually represented . . . but rather instead . . . local pittsburgh dealerships brought cars to represent the bmw brand . . . NOT ONE ///M3, M5, or M6 . . . i was nearly ready to go home . . .american automaker chevrolet was represented by an amazing stingray . . .


despite some preliminary disappointment there were some note worthy products featured there . . . a corvette stingray featured in last summer's movie . . . TRANSFORMERS . . .

the all electric concept car was VERY attractive . . . despite my hesitance with full electric technology . . . ConverJ concept . . .

there were many things of interest at the show . . . i really liked this paint technic on a F250 the truck was featured by auto illusions in moon twp. (412) 264-2303 . . . the owner is rich martsolf rich@autoill.com . . . rich or one of his employees told me that the 3 step process of the paint job below involved the base coat of red paint . . . and then wizard airbrush of new middletown, ohio applied the effects . . . and the covered with clear coat . . .

Maserati . . . of course!

0 to 60 in about a month and a half . . .

i have had to recover financially before going on with this rebuild...divorce settled, new law suit on the horzion, septic failure, hot water heater failure, hardware/penalty with mifi, unexpected legal expenses...reduced cell phone pmts, reduced directv pmts, reduced general spending entire month...net $1.2k and only a week and payday...i have enough money saved to pick up engine long block from machine shop...assemble begins!!!

amazing....

the future...

alpina

its finished...but...i am out of money....

ok .... so after numerous obstacles...the engine is together...the problem? i am out of money!!!! but i have an engine block, cam, pistons, rings...all the "stuff" assembled...painted...ready to re-install back into the car...but i am out of money...Christmas, lawyer payments, a septic tank that went bad last month...etc, etc....the point? i am out of money!!

ideas??

http://www.cheftools.com/Bialetti-Musa-Stainless-Stovetop-Espresso-Maker-10-Cup/productinfo/07-0571+++10/


http://www.cheftools.com/Le-Creuset-Crepe-Pan-10-34-inch-Cobalt-Blue/productinfo/07-1575-30/

this is where some assembly required....begins...

is this a pile of shit...or...a christmas dream? well, that depends on your perspective...(read that as gender!)...the engine problems i have encountered have been...well actually mild...but aggravating...in a joyful sort of dysfunctional way...the pictures below illustrate the magnitude of obstacle the machine work has created...i have what seems like a ton of stuff to assemble but i can't because of something that relates to the engine rebuild...

the photo above is of a variety of parts...rear windshield rubber seal, rubber trunk seal, sunroof seal, 5 speed accelerator cable, and the plastic (chrome) piece that inserts and surrounds the front windshield...i have the rear and front windshield rubber seals pulled and ready for removal so that paint can be evenly applied...but i have NO room to store the glass safely in my small garage...

The photo above is Thermo-Tec Acoustical & Heat Control Mats are designed for keeping excess heat and noise from your vehicles interior... in addition to the polyethylene film, these mats have a foil surface that provides direct protection from radiant heat...these mats are great for use on firewalls, floorboards, and doors...the suppressor mats feature a high temperature adhesive backing and are easy to trim for an excellent fit...and the picture below is what i hope my engine compartment looks like after installation...installation pending*

these are the venerable dual 40/40 DCOE Weber sidedraft carburetors, converting my 320i to a more european 320 featuring carburetor aspiration, and increased compression with domed piston heads. The DCOE weber carburetor is a simultaneous opening twin-butterfly sidedraft design, and in my opinion the most reasonable, and sensible fit for an M10 engine, but in particular an M10 with a 292 duration cam. as the model name implies, the main throttle bores are 40mm. contrary to popular belief, this is not an unreasonable setup for the street...

The Steering wheel above and below is an absolutely gorgeous example of Gustav Petri Steering Wheel that was offered from the factory as an option on the BMW 3.0CSL/3.0csi, 2002tii & Turbo, and the 320iS, it was available in 350mm, 380mm and 400mm diameters. This steering wheel is very hard to find in any condition, what makes this one rare, is that it is the rarest 350mm diameter, but on top of that this steering wheel is in mint condition, it is hard to believe it has seen any use at all as it could literally pass for new, the leather is perfect, no a scratch that I can find! All the seams are perfect, the smaller rare center BMW logo is really nice.

this radiator is perhaps one of my favorite things assembled so far...this is a custom made polished aluminum radiator made by ireland for the BMW 2002...these have correct front mounting flange and correct hose locations...they are also wider than the standard radiators similar to the turbo radiator so you must drill a couple holes for the mounting bolts...and cut the actual radiator opening for some extra width....OUTSTANDING product...and i hope this will protect "Otto" from any potential cooling problems...and it looks really cool.

the picture above is evidence of the enormous amount of time, tape, wire conduit, and wire ties i have used on the existing wiring harness...

the pictures below illustrate a combination of front air dams/spoilers i have and am considering for the front end...my concern is that often...less is more so i'm not sure if both will be installed...we'll see...

e30 rear seats installed into an e21...

http://www.bmwe21.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9501

a fish hook in my finger . . .

i am not a virgin when it comes to restorations...and i suspect that if you are reading this blog about restoring an older bmw . . . you aren't a virgin either! . . . i have been down this path before...HOWEVER, i am at a point that is like having a fish hook stuck in my finger...

it will hurt to take it out...or solve the existing problems...

it will hurt to leave it in my finger...or abandon my project...

i spent money with a reputably considered vendor...the quality control of the rings manufacture is suspect...ireland engineering sold me deves piston rings...and (here)...as a part of the piston configuration there are two compression rings top and bottom with an oil sealant ring in the center...the manufacture shipped rings that are .0070 end gap instead of the more typical .0030 end gap . . . creating a potential oil consumption issue on a new rebuilt (read that as costly!). . . discussions of what is correct OEM specifications have occurred...what was delivered actually delivered...what was in the packaging...blah, blah, blah...add to all this the time and cost of this needless delay is..well like a fish hook stuck in my finger...

this engine has been a serious pain in my ass...

end gap spacing

excessive end gap spacing of the oil sealer ring the fits in between the 2 compression rings on the piston . . . this is am manufacture error . . . that is not within the manufacture's minimum tolerance . . . notice that the end gaps are also cut on an angle instead of a simple straight cut within the manufacture's minimum tolerance . . .

the last photo in this post is after the main crank shaft installed...the photo is without the connecting rods and pistons being installed...this is at the point of fitment, measurement, and alignment . . .

vinyl

i really like the graphic work done on this mazda miata...mx5 that i saw in the beaver valley mall parking lot yesterday...i would like to get some of these vinyls to put on the 320i

front valance saga persists...

i am sensing a hartge theme progressing...with ireland parts to mimic much of the performance issues born in the hartge organization...

245 & an NOS front valance...

the front valance has been one of the biggest decisions facing me with this restoration...color communicates a lot about the character of the car...i had to find that...the combined color scheme across the front is the logical application for this car...however, do i include the foho extension? . . . often less is more...i'm thinking...less is more is best??





i am near "some assembly required" phase...my absolute favorite part of any restoration attempt...

the engine assembly is happening, transmission is refreshed with new gasket kit, seals, bearings, bushings, syncs...outside case was washed in a caustic tank for 10 hours...rear differential is cleaned, lubed, resealed, synthetic fluid...









and as you can see i have front valance issues to decided about...i have the stock front valance in other places on this blog, but today it appears as though these are my best attempt at something aero-dynamic...in the back of my head i am thinking oil cooler...new aluminum radiator...channeled air...


Synchron ring for all 5-speeds . . . 245 gearboxes you need 5 for each gearbox