Another M42 engine build

[mabeer]

Okay, I'm probably just being paranoid but I thought I would ask.  On the oil filter housing, are the highlighted check valves able to be manually moved?  Do I need to check them or R&R them somehow?  Are they prone to failure?





Thanks

[romkasponka]

There is one bypass valve and two check valves. Check valves prevent oil flowing out of the block and filter housing to the sump. Bypass valve opens when filter  differential pressure reaches limit set by BMW.  Such situation can happen during very cold weather engine start when oil viscosity is high. You should be able to  open them all if you will get access. The one which goes to the block as I remember is possible to remove from filter housing.

[mabeer]

Should I be able to depress the center button on the check valves or do they push out (away from the block ).

[romkasponka]

I do not remember which but one of them you should be able to press and one  to pull.

[mabeer]

romkasponka - thanks, you're exactly right.  The check valves highlighted by the blue arrows pull out, and quite easily I might add.  Of course I didn't think to pull before I pushed and I boogered them.  The bypass valve (the one not highlighted) pushes in.

So, add the price of a new filter housing to the cost of my education.  I'm tired of breaking perfectly good parts (cam tray and now filter housing) kind of feels like child abuse.

[keflaman]

No such thing as a perfect parent.

[mabeer]

Don't I know it

[wazzu70]

Its all part of the learning process!

People ask how I learned to work on engines. I tell them....by screwing a lot of things up and learning from it!!

[mabeer]

Do you suggest dropping the front sub-frame and installing the engine from the bottom or lifting it in from the top?  Tranny attached or attach after engine in?

[wazzu70]

If you have access to a lift then going in from the bottom is easy. If not the M42 is short and easy to drop in from the top. I usually do it with the trans attached as its easier to mate the two out of the car and the extra weight on the back of the engine helps it drop in easier due to the natural hanging angle.

[bmwman91]

I also recommend leaving the tranny attached. It is pretty easy with a cherry picker and cheap Harbor Freight load leveler. It is highly recommended to NOT have the radiator in there when you do it since it is likely to get banged up. The extra 1.5" of clearance up front is also nice when shoe-horning the M42+tranny in!

[mabeer]

How's this for weird?   Throughout this rebuild, which started about a year ago now, I'd come to a juncture where I would ask myself should I do this or should I do that.  Every time I would pose the question I would answer to myself, "Well you better do it right because you're not going to be around to do it again."  I don't know why I thought it but it was starting to creep me out.  I even joked with Bryce about it.  Well, 4 weeks ago they found a malignant mass in my esophagus.  Ten days ago after all their test were done they labeled it stage 4 metastatic esophageal cancer.  It has spread to my lung, liver, lymph nodes, vocal cords and spine.  Amazing because besides difficulty swallowing (no jokes about Blunt) I feel better than I have in ten years.  I'm down 39 pounds and can unequivocally say that, at least at this point, fat is much worse than cancer  .  Chemo starts tomorrow.  It's not curable but the hope is to slow it down and buy some time.   Not knowing how the chemo is going to affect me  I've been burning the candle at both ends trying to get projects done around the house and a seasons worth of tax returns done in just a few weeks.  Right now I just feel like I hit a wall so I'm going to take it easy tonight and hang out with the kids and Mrs. mabeer and do nothing.

I did get the engine back together just have to mate up the tranny and drop her in.  Also have to put the interior back together, double check all suspension torque specs, put on front brakes, put on half shafts.  You know, now that I am constructing a punch list it really doesn't seem so bad.  I think it will be good to have something to focus on.   Doc says I'll be pretty sapped so we'll see how that goes.

On a positive note Bryce did get accepted to the Air Force Academy. (sorry if I already posted that news).  He's so excited and I couldn't be more proud.  Just gotta get this bad boy back on the road. 

Thanks for all the help and advice on this build.  I couldn't have done it without you guys.

[timothymcn]

Wow. Who knew that those words we tend to mutter to ourselves when working could be premonitions of such news. I'm so sorry to hear it. It's funny how you can know someone in some capacity through just some pictures and accompanying captions. I can say that just seeing the way you work on your little M42 car has been a pleasure. I haven't had any particular wisdom to add to your build, but I've loved following it. I think we all wish you the best, and hope we can see you finish up the project, but obviously your priorities are different now. Congratulations on your son's acceptance into the Air Force. Sounds like, he's well on his way to becoming the man he wants to be. Thanks for sharing that small part of your life that you spend in the garage with us! Hopefully the car can be a welcome distraction from everything, when you just need to keep your hands and mind busy. When you just need to be a man in the garage with his work, and nothing else. Best of luck with your treatments. Hopefully it results in as much time with your family, as possible. We are all rooting for you!

[wazzu70]

I have to say, thats not the update I was hoping for! That has to be one of the worst updates ever! Im really sorry to hear about your cancer

I guess in good news you and your son got to spend time together on a fun project. You also got to see him get accepted to the Air Force Academey. Thats a great achievement!

[thebrelon]

not easy to reply after such a news. by experience I can only tell you to hold on to your passions/hobbies, don't give them up even if you feel bad at times that will help you to go through this.
we stand by you.