Messages

1

For Sale / FS-NE CT; 91 318is Alpine Slicktop

« on: May 23, 2013, 08:27:47 AM »

Well, I was hoping I wouldn't have to do this, but it's time to face the facts. With 2 other existing projects and another baby on the way, I just don't have the time/energy/resources to keep this girl. I purchased this car last year, with hopes of having a lowered put-puter, or eventually turn into a track toy, as I've always wanted an E30. Please read this ad carefully, as I will be as forthcoming as possible.

The BAD. Yes, I will list this first.
-No title. Car is NOT stolen. I did my research with CT DMV and state authorities before purchase. Needs to be 3 more years old to reg in CT without Title. I had investigated registering through the Staab agency in Maine, and that would work just fine.
-Head is off the motor (head is good)
-No radio (Let PO remove Aftermarket when)
-No Fogs. Missing upon purchase, hadn't gotten around to ordering new ones yet.

If you're still here after reading the first part, I'll continue with the good.
-Clean, rot free, Alpine White SLICKTOP. 3 more reasons I bought this car. A couple small dings here and there. What you'd expect from a car this age.
-Tan leather
-Interior is about as close to mint as I can think. Would require new glovebox, as I had to remove... forcefully due to being given wrong key for it when I went to swap out DME. One small tear in drivers seat. Passenger seat immaculate. Rear seats looks like they've never been sat in. Carpet is new, added by PO, also tan.
-Car is complete minus what is off right now for HG replacement. I took the head off a little while back and just have been too busy to invest any interest in.
-Car would come with spare parts (Good working order DME, Air control valve, Lower valance lip, brake duct bezels)


If you have any specific questions please ask. And NO, I will not part anything. If I wanted to do that I would, as I feel this car is worth far more parted out than whole, considering the discouraging title status. I simply do not have the time to deal with dismantling, cataloging, quoting, shipping, ect.

Car can be delivered upon request. Fee to be determined by distance.
I know I'll get flamed, but due to posting rules I'll start at $1,600obo.
Only pic I have to post at the moment. Day of purchase. Will work on uploading more.


Direct link if image doesn't work ---> http://www.imageshack.com/photo/my-images/94/e30gl.jpg

Thanks for taking the time to look!

2

Engine management / Re: Yes, another crank no start.

« on: March 25, 2013, 09:40:19 AM »

Speaking of Subaru's... I own a 2011 Impreza 2.5i. It's my 1st Subaru i've owned.
I always wondered if it is possible to squeaze a late model STi motor in to a Mk1 Justy or Brat. Is that even possible?

Yes, you could fit that motor in either of those two cars, the latter being the easier of the two to swap (obviously space-wise). There are people on forums who now make a living doing harness merges for people doing swaps. Send them your body harness and late model engine harness, couple weeks later they send you back a merged harness to plop into the car. The service on average will run you 600+, but from results I've seen it's well worth it.

3

Engine management / Re: Yes, another crank no start.

« on: March 25, 2013, 09:37:02 AM »

Just wondering...but how do you raise a Forester?  Is there some taller spring/strut option, or did you mod the suspension arm?  I'll tell you why I'm curious...my wife wants a sport-ute and I'd rather she didn't.  Not that there's anything wrong with that, but I'm not keen on a truck-like C-O-G.  Let alone that a Forester is so much more of a practical car than all the other station wagons out there.  They're cute & maneuverable, great for the rare occasions I must commute & parallel park them.

I think you misunderstood me, I had lowered mine substantially. However, raising them is just the opposite of lowering. Instead of cutting/removing the subframe spacers, you weld in taller ones and add a longer strut and spring combination. Then, just like a truck, you can add larger tires that tailor to your needs. My friend and I lifted one of his 92 legacy SS and he was eventually able to fit the equivalent of a 30" tire under it!

4

Engine management / Re: Yes, another crank no start.

« on: March 22, 2013, 10:18:20 AM »

Sad to hear that - the little BMW is a truly sweet driver's car.  It's a toss-up though.  With the title issues, likely head replacement and general unknowns, the BMW is heading well into the red.  If it was me, I'd procrastinate!      Fix up the Subie like you said, then reconsider where you want the BMW to be.

BTW - I'm pretty sure you can drop the glove box door by unscrewing the four little philips-head screws above it in the dash.  Sometimes that'll give you enough wiggle room to push the latch catches in with a screwdriver or long pick.  The catch has a cheap pot-metal actuating lever that tends to crack.  You can replace it pretty easily - the latch unscrews from behind the glove box door and comes apart into two pieces.

We've had great luck with Subarus as well.  I've considered an XT6 or SVX on several occasions...I love the oddball cars.   I very nearly bought an EJ22ET Legacy GT once...while they're not very powerful in NA-spec, it'd be fun regardless.  My wife drove a nice old Impreza LS automatic for years, perfect match for her.  I mainly recall it being terrifically easy to work on.  And oh-so-slow.  We sold it to my FIL and the little teal beast runs on and on.  I'm not even sure how many miles it has...but I'm sure it's over 200K by now.  I occasionally ask if she'd like a newer one with more letters on the trunk...

Thanks Dave. Believe me, I'd like to procrastinate.... and I usually do, haha. I have a DD 05 civic for the commute (83 miles each way), a 66 beetle that I've been re-doing, the 05 LGT wagon that I love and is almost complete once again, the e30, 2 motorcycles, and soon to be 2 sons! Enough to keep any man busy for a lifetime pretty much.

I HAVE actually have a 91 Legacy SS. Have that awesome little car for two years. Ended up going a TMIC conversion since stock they are non-intercooled. Did a 20G turbo setuo on it, as well as many suspension and power upgrades. I loved that car. I've also built a turbo-ed 98 forester that was about 2 inches off the ground (suspension, subframe, and body modifications to do so), turbo-ed/modified imprezas, and a wrx. I've been doing the subaru game for a while, and been able to enjoy a few oddball cars as well. I've always wanted an XT6 or a 4wd loyale!

5

Engine management / Re: Yes, another crank no start.

« on: March 21, 2013, 02:01:54 PM »

So as sad as I am, I may be forced to sell this toy. Haven't had time to work on it, as I've been working to complete my rotated turbo setup on my legacy GT wagon. Also found out that the woman and I have another little one on the way, so it seems sensible to scale back a project. So if anyone is interested in a good parts car pm me (even though she is way too nice to be called a parts car). I say parts car now because there are some issues with the paperwork for this vehicle that have surfaced. It's not stolen (CT Troopers VIN checked), or salvaged, but there's no title now. So even if I finish her she'd be an auto-x or track car.

6

Engine management / Yes, another crank no start.

« on: January 03, 2013, 06:34:30 AM »

Pulled the head off last night. Cylinders number 1,2, & 3 all were bright and shiny clean (piston crowns and clyinder head combustion area/valves) from the steam bath they were given for I-don't-know how long.

Won't be able to make it to the machine shop till this weekend at the earliest. Next weeks task will be to clean up the nest under the intake manifold.

I'll have to take a look around in some build threads, but does anyone ever build thier own intake manifolds for these cars?

7

Engine management / Yes, another crank no start.

« on: January 02, 2013, 12:39:22 PM »

Haha. Thanks for the kind words.

I'm no stranger to the chasing though. I used to be a Ford mechanic. Ever since working for the dealer I've vowed to never own another one.

Been playing with subarus for almost a decade now, and that's another fun car to put you through the ringer (granted none of mine have been stock at all).

Next time I'll make sure to do a compression check with two gauges though, learned my lesson on that one....

Hopefully pulling the head tonight. I don't have a straight-edge and doubt I'll make it to the machine shop before it closes tonight. Hopefully I'll be able to update on what the headgasket looks like though.

8

Engine management / Yes, another crank no start.

« on: December 30, 2012, 09:08:44 AM »

Well after all my chasing I believe I found the problem. Borrowed a brand new MAC compression tester. Cylinders #1-3 all have less than 45psi and #4 had 130psi. In addition to this, all cylinders except #4 had droplets on the piston crowns. I had originally thought it was normal residue you find on older engine components, but now appears to be water. After this I removed the brand new radiator and dumped it out into a clean 5 gal bucket. Nice new coolant then all of a sudden....... oil sludge! Whomp whomp. Everything is off and out besides the head itself as I didn't have the correct star sockets for the headbolts with me. I suspect this thing has been over heated badly and given a decent warp of the head.

Exhaust cam has a decent score on it as well as the corresponding #2 bearing journal it rides in. Machine shop flapper wheel may be able to clean it up, too soon to tell though. Debating what to do for cams and a headfasket as I'm debating a small Turbo setup since its all apart already.

Pretty upset now cause I've been chasing a ghost. Compression test was first thing done and now looks like the original gauge used was faulty.... at least I've learned alot so far though!

9

Engine management / Yes, another crank no start.

« on: December 29, 2012, 09:23:41 AM »

Bummer...is it possible the exhaust is blocked by a bad cat or something along those lines...
        Geoff

Bummer is right. Haha. Don't think the exhaust is plugged. When you put your hand over exhaust while cranking get strong exhaust pulses of air/fuel mixture. Maybe ill pull everything from the headers back off, just for the sake of ruling it out.

10

Engine management / Yes, another crank no start.

« on: December 28, 2012, 08:22:20 PM »

Have you checked the engine ground to the frame rail?  Sometimes the wire is completely rotten under its plastic insulation.

Also check the ground point near the ECU.  It's a bolt that has numerous brown wires attached to it.

I did check the engine to frame rail ground. It has a good connection and virtually 0 resistance when ohming out.

I did not see the ground by the ecu you're talking about though.... ill have to take another look at it tomorrow. At this point I'm really not expecting a ground issue as everything is functioning.

Anyone have known good afm, Bosch crank sensor or tps? Running out of ideas.

11

Engine management / Yes, another crank no start.

« on: December 28, 2012, 05:30:35 PM »

Welp..... I'm almost ready to give up on this car. Known good and correct puter and icv in her now. No change.

12

Engine management / Yes, another crank no start.

« on: December 25, 2012, 08:30:24 PM »

No updates to report. Haven't been to my garage where the car is stored. I did pick up a known good outer and icv on Friday after work. Might make it down to change them in next day or so. Hope everyone had a good Xmas.

13

Engine management / Yes, another crank no start.

« on: December 21, 2012, 08:16:54 AM »

Yeah I've gone over just about everything....

Have a few leads out for puters right now. Going to grab one as a spare if nothing else. Also have to try to find a ICV and fix all the vacuum hoses.

EDIT:Picking up known good puter after work. Hopefully I'll have time to instal on Monday and see if it helps.

14

Engine management / Yes, another crank no start.

« on: December 20, 2012, 11:28:52 AM »

Facet seems to be the popular CPS brand that I see the most.

BTW, the air gap spec for the M20 and M50 engine is 1mm +- .3mm

Good luck with the alarm removal.

I did notice the Facet branded one also.

Thanks for the gap spec. I'll try to hunt down the m42 one. I can tell you just from installing that sensor last night thought that it's air gap is MOST deffinitely larger than 1mm when installed....

Possible for CPS to see some signal to turn on the pump, but not see a clear enough digital signal to time correctly? Who knows.

I think I need as much luck as I can get with this one!

15

Engine management / Yes, another crank no start.

« on: December 20, 2012, 10:11:03 AM »

What brand was the aftermarket CPS?

Also, a dead ICV can cause a no-start condition because it is supposed to be open part-way to admit air during the cranking process.  You might be able to remove the ICV from the hose circuit and start the car.

My friend who is a mechanic always removes aftermarket alarms whenever there's a problem starting a car.

Think the brand for AM CPS was "Forecast".

I did exactly just that, and removed it from the equation just to see if any change at all, which there was none .

I am going to remove the alarm. Maybe that'll be my next project. I'm trying to keep from touching too many things at once to eliminate myself from being my own enemy and problem generator. Change one thing, put it back, move on.