...washington, dc. daily commuter...

a friend of mine asked if i had the free time, and if i wanted a free trip to washington dc...i took him up on it and i spent 2 nights and 1 full day in the city...as i was walking around seeing the sights...i came across this gem sitting on the street...a daily commuter...

 Notice the rear spoiler...thin...small...not e30 but interesting...

February 1982

bimmer signature

posted pic for bimmerforums signature....

just for fun...i love dubstep...

Landen, Belgium for Eurosunday 2011

over on stanceworks.com they have posted some excellent european car photos taken at a gathering in Landen, Belgium for Eurosunday 2011

ho low can you go...over at stanceworks.com there are a large number of european tuners that attended a gathering and this e21 was included in the pictures...obviously the roads there are better than here in the US...this car wouldn't make it in a stuff-mart parking lot here..

 i love this 316...the photogopher captured the european rear valance and the euro bumper which pronounces the toe and camber issues this driver's tires suffers with...the oddity of this picture however, look at the width of the wheel and tire..amazingly thin...

 racing seats...i wonder if this 316 has an M10 under the bonnet...

the single len headlinghts, euro bumpers, and the low riding front valance is hot...this owner has also installed black accenting side view mirrors...clean car...i like it.

there are many car featured on the stanceworks.com site...and while i normally posst only e21's i thought this vw deserved an honorable mention...nice clean ride...the scirocco's are NOT available in the US markets...why...it would rape GTI sales...just sayin'

i have mixed emotions about the newer trends in paint...on one hand it looks like primer to me, yet the clean line and enlarged wheels and lower deck pulls it together really nicely...

source - http://stanceworks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17836

Euro crisis has slowed pace of Fiat's investments, Marchionne says

Euro crisis has slowed pace of Fiat's investments, Marchionne says

automotive lingo defined...

genius is often defined best in simplicity...i found this on facebook and thought that while it is simple, it is also very true...

'...Oversteer is when your TAIL hits the wall; Understeer is when your NOSE hits the wall; Horsepower is how HARD you hit the wall and Torque is how far you MOVE the wall....'

-  Unknown

disassemble, order parts, read installtion manual, reassemble...and then.

the once shiny surface of the newly machined and lightened flywheel had some surface rust on it when i finally got to put the clutch and pressure plate in place today....

this is the newly machined, resurfaced, and lightened m10 flywheel i sent to mule engineering to be reworked...

this is the flywheel view of the engine as it was about to be lowered into the engine bay...as you can see the finely re-surfaced flywheel had been lightened to a 13 lb. flywheel...

...the engine side of someone else's flywheel and a slightly closer view shows the effects of removing the 'excess' flywheel materials...revealing imperfections in the steel...this would NOT be the best flywheel to use under racing conditions...

this is an example of an even lighter flywheel...used for racing applications...it features an alumimun flywheel with a steel starter ring...the problem with these flywheels are with 'lumpy' cams these flywheels do not have the additional weight required to smooth out the idle and therefore these cars lump...lol...

normally, this is a good sight...after months of anticipation today i installed the throwout bearing, the new sachs clutch, and pressure plate...well not today...throwout bearing went easily into its place...a little extra grease for good measure..and the clutch and pressure plate...check...the problem...the flywheel bolts are only a little more than hand tight...think that might be a problem...ugh...i'll disassemble and reassemble later next week...

garages

this is a treasured picture i have of my son guiding me into the bmw's temporary home in canton, ohio in october 2010...the apartment i temporaily rented there had a nice 2 stall garage for storage...the caption below has nothing to do with my son in this picture but at times i certainly feel foolish looking back at this after dismanteling this e21 and moving in the middle of the restoration...

"There's nothing more dangerous than a resourceful idiot." 

                                                           -Scott Adam

Universal AM-FM Hidden Windshield Antenna

 

 

Description:
This is a universal AM/FM antenna that is easy to  hide in your automobile, truck, and even boat! Just hide it  anywhere, simple hook ups, peel, and stick, glass, roof, headliner, inside the  camper, mounts to any surface.
Features:

• New  proprietary design that enhances performance with unique MICO Screen  element.
• Small and sleek so you  can stick it anywhere in almost any vehicle
• Ground independent

Specifications:

• AM  radio - 535 kilohertz to 1.7 megahertz
• FM  radio - 88 megahertz to 108 megahertz
• Gain:  Unity
• Length:  24’’
• Output  plug: Standard car radio
• Cable:  9 feet of Low Loss 5Y-3P19M
• Patent  # DS 454862 Operates on all DIGITAL and Traditional AM-Fm Radios
• Weight: 3.5 oz

Carburetor: Carb Sync Airflow Meter

The Snail - Carb Sync/Airflow Meter Tool

For your Dual Carb Adjustment!

from Latest Rage 

This Synchrometer flow meter from Latest Rage is designed for synchronizing multiple carb systems.  It comes complete with a long nose cone for ram pipes.  The nose cone will fit throat sizes from approximately 40mm - 55mm.

How do you use this carb sync? 

First: place the sync over the throat of the right hand carburetor until the float rises to a graduation mark.  This is your reference point.

Second:  place the sync on the left hand carburetor.  Rotate the throttle adjusting screw on the left carburetor until the float rises to the same reference point as previously found on the right.

Third: place the sync over each carburetor throat in turn and recheck, noting the float level, and trim the throttle adjusting screws until the float rises to the same level for both carbs. When the level is the same on both sides, you are in sync!!! If idle speed has increased, simply back off on both throttle screws an equal amount.

- or-

...the same type of devise to measure graduation of carburetor throat pressure but different...this looks like an older version...this was made/advertised for classic VW owners as a must have for those running multiple carbs...

gauges

in the picture above are the typical backyard mechanic's attempt at oil pressure, voltage, and water temperature gauges in a bmw 2002...i like what this guy has done...but the reason i posted them is because as i am sitting at my desk tonight, this weekend is filled with activities, and i am anticipating a trip to the nation's capital next week, when i get back i plan on putting the 5 speed i've rebuilt back into 'otto' now that the parts arrived at the dealership this week...that means i will be able to complete the rear brake rebuild i've begun on the 323i trailing arms i swapped out...the new urethane supports have been installed, and i need to buy the rear shocks, and exchange the stock '77 springs for the bbs lowering...stiffer...springs i had powder coated this summer...and last but not least i'll install the newly rebuild and balanced drive shaft...THESE, 'finishing touches' will make the first start up of the rebuild engine possible...thus, gauges...measuring the oil pressure, water temperature, voltage output...i feel like i'm on the edge of greatness....

this is the gauge cluster in a 2000 m series z4 coupe...i like what the manufacture has progressed toward...this is what i have envisioned for in e21 area where the A/C delete is located...i have to say that the chrome bezels on the gauges are a nice compliment to the cabin temperature controls, and the shifter boot retainer they create an interior accent that has its own distinction...bmw styling is hot...

this is the type of VDO gauge i have in mind...something simple, not flashy or digital...backlite might be good...i don't think this happens to be a back lite gauge...

 ...this e21 was re-manufactured by Hartge H35 335i has a big 3.5 litre M30 engine and a matching gearbox from the 635CSi. The engine is slightly modified as was the e21 suspension to cope with the extra weight and power. Hartge reinforced the rear subframe, and included a 40% LSD with an extra differential mount that was fitted as well as stronger output shafts. The front brakes were upgraded from single piston to 4 piston Volvo/Girling caliper brakes utilizing a 271 mm vented discs. Further mods (compared to 323i RS): adjustable front and rear sway bars, front strut tower brace, deep front spoiler (again similar to the BMW Motorsport example), side mirrors sprayed in paint color...

NOTICE the set of 3 gauges was also standard equipment on the H35 335i.

Specs: 240 BHP @ 5.500 RPM, 320 NM @ 4.000 RPM. Top speed 240 KMH, acceleration 0-100 KMH 6.4 sec.

the dask in this car is remarkable...i know it difficult to see because my eyes are repeatedly distracted by those seats...but...the gauges in this dash are amazing...the gauges featured that can be seen through the steering wheel and those above the shifter ...i count 5...very nice.

bbs ra's

nice magazine cover

the wheels this guy has are my bbs ra's...but his are in silver, mine are black centers with polished lips...nice...

a similar picture of the bonnet above...

320/6

there is a very nice example of a euro 320/6 over at loonygarage.com its my first visit to there site...but the private collection is worth looking into...here's a teaser...

nice profile

the chic in this pic is admittedly distracting...however, the reason i posted this picture is because the white interior while not a stock option with a white shifter boot is really worth consideration particularly since my car is red...i'm not a big fan of the shifter boot however...

usually, chrome is best suited for american muscle cars, not there euro counterparts...but this radiator bottle, while featured in chrome caught my eye...

the reason i posted this picture of the 320/6 is it struck me how the photographer captured the color of the car, connecting it with the color of the airplane's propellor pulls the picture together nicely...i need to focus similarly on photos of my car...probably photshoped however...ha






source  http://www.loonygarage.com/

BMW 3/20

Designed by Alfred Böning, the BMW 3/20.. (1933 Type AM 4 pictured)..had an inline four-cylinder engine with a displacement of 788 cc (48.1 cu in) and produced 20 hp.

e21 cup holder

excellent idea...i posted a different version of a bmw made cup holder several weeks ago...that post can be found here...

http://the320i.blogspot.com/2011/08/cup-holder.html

1959 BMW 3200 Michelotti Vignale Roadster

1959 BMW 3200 Michelotti Vignale Roadster
An 8-cylinder (V8) engine with 150 hp (111kW) and a top speed of 127 mph (205 km/h)
Only one unit was produced.

weber carburetors

the fuel line connectors on this look like something i should use...they match the oil lines for the engine...very nice...also notice how the car's owner has utilized a similar hose configuration for the m10 valve cover...very nice idea...

Early BMW Factory Photos

alpine front spoiler

Alpina Front Spoiler