Author Topic: Jscribble - Jason from WI (Read 8991 times)

jscribble · « **on:** June 17, 2010, 08:28:37 AM »

I recently had to sell my motorcycle and pickup, as my fiance and I are buying a house and toys = funds. In a moment of clarity, I decided to keep Betty, my 91 318is, and start down the long-ish road of restoring and repairing her. My goal is to make her into a street warrior, ready for light track use, and a blast to drive while still being as reliable as ever.

Just rolled over 262k miles, and still runs GREAT. ABS light stays on, and temp never likes to get above 1/4 (thermostat on the way). I have owned about 15 vehicles, and nothing has been as dependable, or as fun as my bimmer. I took her for a pass at the drag strip about a month after I bought her, 17.67 at 93, I had wheel hop at launch, and blew my shift to second, but still managed a very respectable trap speed from this fiesty 1.8 liter. The end result was a cracked head. One used head, a valve job, and $1700 later, I had betty back in top form. To be fair, I drove this car like it was stolen for about 2 years. She took it and begged for more.

In just over 3 years, I had one belt fail, my diff oil got a little low, and of course, the head crack, just a little bitty one, but serious nonetheless.

Some pics of the car in different states

Recently I have:

Installed Dinan chip - Love it!
Cleaned ICV - Idle dead set at 800
Recharged A/C - FR-12 works pretty well
Replaced exhaust - DO NOT run without a resonator!
Upgraded a few lights to led, more to come
Oil Change - Royal Purple always
Cleaned K&N filter
Temporarily treated rust - she needs a paintjob (P/O cheaped out)
Tinkered with the stereo tune - Eclipse av3423, boston g2
Installed e-brake cables - discovered no ebrake hardware at the wheels - WTB
Painted grill and kidneys
Installed keyless entry - $30 and 20 mins never felt so good
Repaired broken wire on OBC thermometer - no more -22 outside!
Heater plate delete - done - looking into upgrading icv hose to solid tubing
Changed fuel filter
New front brakes. I miss my slots

Left on the list:
ALL suspension parts/bushings/links
Clutch/trans input bearing/lighter flywheel?
Elec puller fan conversion
Timing tensioner
New timing chain
tires/rims
new windshield - pitted/small crack
New front valance/is lip/is skirts/rear apron
Paint
LSD - in the works
Abs? - light is on. Occasionally works when it shouldn't
Pull and clean interior
Headlight upgrade
Rearrange some switches on the dash as my dvd player blocks them
Smoked turn signals
LED conversion of marker lights + tie in to turn signals
Possible Turbo - collecting parts
COP kit

I'd like to find a spare motor to rebuild, as well as a trans and possibly a diff.

Here is the car as of last night, fiance in the pic 6/16/10

manchuk · « **Reply #1 on:** June 17, 2010, 08:16:48 PM »

hey man thanks for the compliments on the motor ur alpine is in nice shape, i see ur tryin to sell everything for the house but the bimmer, dont blame yah my wife tryed to talk me into sellin mine when i bought our house, needless to say it didnt happen

jscribble · « **Reply #2 on:** June 17, 2010, 08:41:47 PM »

Haha. I kinda worked it the way I wanted to. We needed x amount, and I said that I couldn't sell the car, since it had a few issues, so now I get to keep it, and fix it! She doesn't know that turbos, perf chips, and sticky tires weren't oem...

jscribble · « **Reply #3 on:** June 17, 2010, 08:46:48 PM »

I need some help. Stuck trying to figure out what to do for a respray. I still need to order skirts and aprons, but I think I am going to delete and fill the side trim, and possibly mold the side skirts in. I would like to change color, but I think it will look like sh*t if I don't do the engine bay/jams/sills. I think a good solution is a two-tone jobby. Does anyone have pics of good looking two tone bimmers? Also, if anyone has tips on the best looking front, side and rear aprons, please share. I would really appreciate input here.

jscribble · « **Reply #4 on:** June 26, 2010, 11:47:26 PM »

Updates. Did heater plate delete. Messed up my shoulder in the process, but I got it done.

After upper intake came off

SLUDGE

After lower got pulled and cleaned. All sludge removed. Denatured alcohol and carb cleaner

High temp black intake, next week I'll do the valve cover too.

I had a hell of a time plumbing the icv, all the hoses I tried wanted to collapse on the case side. Ended up putting it basically where it was. I need a new intake boot now, as I found a crack in the secondary (unused) vacuum port on it. Anyone know where to get a boot with one port instead of two? I know some had the port near the tb blocked off.

Mostly assembled

And finally, my ac recharge rig. Kits for sale soon!

Digging now for the part number for the lowest temp aux fan temp switch. Anyone know it?

manchuk · « **Reply #5 on:** June 27, 2010, 06:06:11 PM »

the side trim removal is a great idea im doin the same im also shaveing doors, rear emblems and siedL front apron and sides with reiger rear apron

jscribble · « **Reply #6 on:** June 27, 2010, 09:49:45 PM »

I can't wait to see it man, I'm pretty much planning on copying your car. I like the reiger rear too, although I don't know what front you're talking about. I might shave the lock cylinders, but probably not the handles. The side trim looks fine if it's body color, but not in white imo.

manchuk · « **Reply #7 on:** June 28, 2010, 10:30:50 AM »

this is the seidL front apron and sides

jscribble · « **Reply #8 on:** June 28, 2010, 11:59:08 AM »

Thank you for that. I think I'm going to stick with more "traditional" on those, but I bet the front is exactly what a turbo needs.

manchuk · « **Reply #9 on:** June 28, 2010, 05:41:29 PM »

wel if ur stayin traditional maybe th mteck2 might b ur thing

jscribble · « **Reply #10 on:** June 28, 2010, 10:25:51 PM »

Kinda what I'm thinking. Will have to see what the budget allows when the time comes. Hoping this fall/winter.

jscribble · « **Reply #11 on:** July 06, 2010, 10:28:07 PM »

After bleeding coolant, my bleed screw decided to leak. Wrapped some teflon tape on a new brass one, and it's holding. Expansion tank now wants to leak at the bottom. Bought Rtv to reseal it with, hoping I can scrape some cash to pickup a 4.27 lsd, and start accumulating turbo parts.

Pretty sure I'm going with the mtech II kit from dynotech. Hopefully painting this winter. Anyone got a beater bimmer I can drive this winter?

jscribble · « **Reply #12 on:** July 10, 2010, 10:10:04 AM »

Attempted to reseal expansion tank. It refused my help. Going with a stock rad, new expansion tank, hoses and temp switch (80/88) from pelican. Already ordered lower temp thermo, so parts total $240. This unfortunately puts off the fun parts I was hoping to pay for this week, but will allow me to thrash the car when I do get the new diff in. Talked to a friend who has a bunch of efans, gave him measurements so might do the conversion at the same time.

Things to tackle soon:

Rear diff - 4.27 LSD + trailing arm bushings
Valve cover paint + new gaskets
Timing tensioner
Delete P/S

Has anyone run solid trailing arm bushings on the street? I wonder how rough it would be. I'm thinking poly, but would love to hear any advice! Also, delrin/solid diff mount worth it?

longtallsally · « **Reply #13 on:** July 12, 2010, 06:51:40 PM »

Nice car. You are doing the right things for the right reasons.

In terms of the solid mounts and such, I would not recommend it. bmwman91 speaks to this a bit and he believes his car not only handles BETTER, but it is much more comfy. If you are keeping it as a DD, I'd stick with stock rubber or forgiving other materials. As near as I have read and been told, the M42 is a buzzy motor and you'll be wondering what happened to your fillings...

I think a 4.27 would be nuts as mine is silly quick with the 4.10 as well.

jscribble · « **Reply #14 on:** July 12, 2010, 09:57:03 PM »

NEWS! We will be closing on our first house on 7/23! Terms and offers and signatures and mountains of paperwork be damned, we're almost there!

Quote from: longtallsally;94584

Nice car. You are doing the right things for the right reasons.

In terms of the solid mounts and such, I would not recommend it. bmwman91 speaks to this a bit and he believes his car not only handles BETTER, but it is much more comfy. If you are keeping it as a DD, I'd stick with stock rubber or forgiving other materials. As near as I have read and been told, the M42 is a buzzy motor and you'll be wondering what happened to your fillings...

I think a 4.27 would be nuts as mine is silly quick with the 4.10 as well.

Thank you. I always value your opinion, as your car (and workmanship) are so very neat and tidy. My car has a long way to go, but I'm settled in for the long haul.

I drive a mini van for work between 600 -1000 miles per week, and when I get done, I want to know I'm DRIVING something, not holding on to a steering wheel attached to a pile of butter. I'm looking for track handling without utterly destroying mounts/perches, so at this point I'm looking at mostly poly bushings, still considering solid trailing arm bushings and likely sport springs. Motor mounts will definitely stay stock.

4.27 is on the list because I want some low down grunt, and an easier to find powerband when a stoplight racer finds me. My diff is tired, and is open anyway. No more one-wheel shame.

Fillings can be replaced. Incredible handling will do more for a smile than a dentist ever could anyway.