Dirty D

[DirtyD]

Well I have finally started to scratch the surface with my "little" project car so I figured I would start one of these.
A little background: First off, she is an e30 1991 318iS in diamondschwartz. Bought the car back in '06 when I was 16, neglected the hell out of her while I drove the hell out of her.. Not too proud of this... long story short I ended up snapping both ends of my shift rod (had one side welded, then broke the other side shortly after) and the car sat in place for a couple years. I thought I had to buy a whole new transmission, but my friend took a look at it and it only needed welded together again to get it back on the road. We did that a couple months ago and I have been driving her around ever since. Although I do need another transmission, been driving with out 3rd gear for a while. Anyway, the car is pretty beat up and needs a lot of TLC but it is my baby so I will give it to her I'll post a few pictures up but she won't be pretty haha

I will probably start a list of repairs I need to do, as well as pictures/updates on what I have done to her so far.

Right now she is my DD and I have just been focusing on getting her primed up and running smoothy. Just ordered a few parts for the mess under the intake delete, if they ship this weekend, I will be tackling that project.

This car sat for 3 years so there is a lot to be done, if anyone has some idea's of parts to check that go bad after a long sit, feel free to post them. I'm just now learning more about these cars and luckily I have a good friend who has been helping me learn.

Will post some pictures after work tonight


So much to do to this car I hardly know where to start...

[M3Philipp]

Welcome to the club!
Take your time with the car, I'am looking forward to the photos.

[deansweet]

Welcome!

who needs 3rd?! Drive on!

Seems like if she is driving around then what I worry about that goes bad after three years of sitting has already been taken care of?! Gas, Filters, Rodent damages, etc. How are the tires?

[DirtyD]

3rd is nice when in traffic and up big hills! hahaha

I need a new air and fuel filter for sure but they are doing fine for now (air filter wasn't in bad shape but idk about the fuel filter). Tires are awesome, bought the Potenza Pole Positions like a month or two before it sat. Put a new water pump belt, the other belts I took off.

I am kind of worried about the Timing components though, on a cold start it makes a loud knocking/tapping noise but goes away if I let it warm up before driving.

Suspension is a little sloppy, don't have the P.S. hooked up but still a little more loose then it used to be. Any idea's there(besides replacing)?


Ready, fire, aim, with suggestions about anything!!!

[DirtyD]

Here she is, in all of her neglected glory!




(yes that is duct tape >.< )


(next to my buddies saab 9000) The saab makes mine look HORRIBLE!! haha

[DirtyD]

She has developed cancer as well...

I obviously hit someone with my drivers side.. then someone backed into me on my drivers side... then i got pulled over for my turn signal blinding a cop (hense the tape). Waiting for a good size check to come in so I can get some body parts from DesktopDave. Then she won't be as crazy looking haha.

It is painful how long I let this car go.. Like I said.. she needs a lot of love.


Edit: I'll give a cookie to the first one who can spot my McGyver'd hood release!!! bahahaha

[bigred]

The deadliest item on your car is your timing chain.  If it breaks or skips a tooth, your engine is toast.  Depending on the last time the chain has been changed out, that would be the first repair I would do.

Tear down the engine and complete, new head gasket, timing chain, profile gasket, head gasket bolts, possible timing chain guides, oil pan gasket, new shifter linkage, upgrade fuel injectors (very easy to do and cheap), heater delete on intake.

Again, I don't know how many miles are on the car, but if the profile gasket has not been changed out, it will cause damage sooner or later.  The rubber gasket will break down plugging coolant passage ports.  Not to mention that it will start leaking coolant.  Mine was good one day, bad the next.

The oil pan should be taken off to check for loose bolts.  People are finding several  bolts from the upper oil pan gasket in the oil pan.  I found 2 bolts on my car. These bolts have been reported to starve the engine of oil.

I seen that you live in Indiana, if you live close enough to Joliet, Ill. ( NW Indiana) I can help you with some or all of these repairs.  Let me know.

john

[DirtyD]

How easy is it to take a look at the timing components? Is it something I should check out when I go to delete the mess under the intake? or is this a whole job within itself?

[keflaman]

Just pop off the valve cover (which is probably leaking anyway,right?) and take a look down in there.

I have a DS project with a paint job just like yours...faded, peeling clearcoat and all! Welcome to the club!

[bigred]

Take look like Keflaman said, but if your engine (timing chain) has allot miles on it, it needs to be changed.  Take a look and let us know what you see.

[DirtyD]

Not sure if my valve cover is leaking but I will check it out when i get a chance. If my parts don't come this weekend I will probably be doing that next week.\

Edit: My car has around 140k on it, odometer gears quit working so I don't know the exact but it isn't any higher then 140-145k

[bigred]

If you need help, let me know.

[bigred]

Just remember to take pics before taking anything apart.  Then bag the parts after you remove them.  You will think that you will remember how it came apart but you won't.  At least I can't.

[DirtyD]

Thanks. I have a good friend that will help me through it as well, but I will take your advice on that. I'll update tomorrow if my parts come in

[bigred]

Here is a tranny for 150 bucks

http://chicago.craigslist.org/sox/pts/3349102575.html

Not sure on the mileage