P. Kennedy - Former member returns!

Author Topic: P. Kennedy - Former member returns!  (Read 6048 times)

P. Kennedy

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P. Kennedy - Former member returns!
« on: July 15, 2007, 11:16:36 PM »
After reading all of the Grassroots Motorsports articles beginning last summer on the supercharged 318is , my interest peaked, I found this site and hung out for a few months last year and early this year.

I had been casually searching for a 318is, and pretty much gave up hope of finding a decent one nearby.  As luck would have it, I discovered that an employee of local high-end used-car lot had a Diamond Schwartz Metallic over tan vinyl one as his daily driver.  He wants a older 540i, so I pried the E30 from his hands.  This one was bought new by a "mature woman" who traded it in on a Lexus 300is on his lot.  It's not in my possession yet, so photos will have to wait.  152,XXX miles, drivers seat has the usual wear, but I plan to re-do them anyway (maybe leather.)  Couple of dings, crack (I think, it's a perfect vertical line) in the dash, right where the passenger side air bag is.  Cracked front bumper.  Where can I get a front bumper?  Strictly German?  Runs absolutely perfectly.  Perfect basketweavers.  I have already ordered a SSK from BMA.  I didn't think I would ever want to maintain black paint, but in the sunlight, this color is more of a charcoal grey.  I'm diggin it.  The beginnings of a marvelous project.  I will check on the oil pan bolts right away, and do a timing chain and tensioner.  Is there a definite visual way to tell if the profile gasket has been done?

About me:  I have done some club racing since the late '80's.  Started in an 85 Honda CRX Si, then a couple of years in an E30 M3, moved onto a 944S2 and then a 944 Turbo S (faster than STINK!) had to give it up as it's a rich man's hobby, but day dreaming about a 928S4 track project.

I live about 1 hour south of Road America, just west of Milwaukee, but grew up a stone's throw south of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  Attended the race annually as my dad was a lifetime employee of Cummins Engine Co. which seemingly always sponsored a car.  As a result, I'm a pretty big open-wheel race fan, espescially F1.  Great to be back!
"If you think I\'m good...wait until you see my nephew." - Ayrton Senna

Vladi

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P. Kennedy - Former member returns!
« Reply #1 on: July 16, 2007, 04:11:45 AM »
Great to have you aboard! :D
I\'m here to kick ass and chew bubblegum...i\'m all outta gum :D http://www.e30.ro!


 

jpod999

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P. Kennedy - Former member returns!
« Reply #2 on: July 16, 2007, 09:29:45 AM »
Definately get some pictures when you get the car.  For a bumper, check the junkyards around your house.  You may be able to find something there.

Welcome!


Thanks to Brad at http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/7567/ticevalleysiggv7.jpg">Shutterflick.com for editing the sig.

gearheadE30

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P. Kennedy - Former member returns!
« Reply #3 on: July 16, 2007, 10:45:52 AM »
Welcome to the club! A 944s2 is on my list of "eventually" cars, wish Porshe had made a followup model with the Boxter S engine...

1991 318is Turbo
1989 Caprice Classic Wagon named Humphrey
1979 Suzuki GS750E

FL318is

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P. Kennedy - Former member returns!
« Reply #4 on: July 16, 2007, 11:01:13 AM »
WELCOME!  pics pls!

scottiesharpe

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P. Kennedy - Former member returns!
« Reply #5 on: July 16, 2007, 11:55:38 AM »
Super! I have some tan vinyl seats FS.
Scottie Sharpe
San Jose CA
www.bmwturboperformance.com

67 1600
68 2002 Dual Mikunis
73 Hardy & Beck tii
88 M5, Dinan Stage 4, M88, MAF
91 318iC, MAF

Do you BMW Wiki Wiki ?

P. Kennedy

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Took delivery today! No pics yet though...
« Reply #6 on: July 21, 2007, 11:21:28 PM »
Sorry, the digital camera was away from the homestead.  I picked up some 5W-40 Syntec & new oil filter and dropped the oil pan while changing the oil.  Dang!  I found two upper oil pan bolts in the lower oil pan.  Honk me off:mad:!  Even then, the upper pan was missing 3, so one is unaccounted for, but I dove into the hardware box and replaced it.  A few were loose, so I tightened them up.  Because of the soft metal aluminium pans, it feels like the bolts would strip if you really torque them down, so resist the temptation when doing this.  

There is a wee shimmy at highway speeds, a hole in the catalytic converter and a host of cosmetic & suspension issues.  But it was cheap & I'm looking forward to taking my sweet time, evolving this project over years to come.

One thing I must deal with immediately is the non-centered steering wheel while the car is going straight.  Either it's way out of alignment or the wheel is a tooth too far clockwise.  Tightens my colon.

GEARHEAD:  I have an older brother who lived in Fishers IN for many years, on Halyard Way if you are familiar, but he just recently moved to Carmel.  His neighbor is Tony Dungy:p.  Regarding the 944S2, imo you should bypass it and jump straight into a 944 Turbo.  The S2 is neither quick nor fast, and there are no modifications to change that.  There are, however, a ton of things you can do to a 944 Turbo to make them fly and handle even better.  Terrific cars.  Cheap too.  I'd get another in a heartbeat.
« Last Edit: July 21, 2007, 11:23:50 PM by P. Kennedy »
"If you think I\'m good...wait until you see my nephew." - Ayrton Senna

gearheadE30

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P. Kennedy - Former member returns!
« Reply #7 on: July 22, 2007, 08:24:08 AM »
Haha yea I know Tony. His house is MASSIVE!!! But of course, it could still fit in the basement of mine ;).

About the 944, I haven't given it too much consideration as I am still in high school and that kind of power would be way too tempting...

1991 318is Turbo
1989 Caprice Classic Wagon named Humphrey
1979 Suzuki GS750E

ose30

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P. Kennedy - Former member returns!
« Reply #8 on: July 22, 2007, 01:11:22 PM »
Nice to have here another who have also watercooled Porsche history. I own a 1988 944 Turbo and i am currently building a 3.0L turbo engine for it. I use S2 block & crank. It will have a higly modified 8V head.
I just bought a 1990 318IS from Germany, should get it home at the end of next week. It took almost 12 years without E30 :(  

Here's some of my Porsche parts i am going to install under my Turbo

Some newly yellowpassived parts


Some clear lenses


Big brake kit


These calipers will go under my new 318IS



I already bought these for IS


Bought also some tune stuff, don't know yet will i install these
 
« Last Edit: July 22, 2007, 01:17:36 PM by ose30 »

P. Kennedy

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Pics (before project gets underway)
« Reply #9 on: July 24, 2007, 02:52:30 PM »
I really wanted a red one, but this popped up about 5 miles from my house.  Besides, I've already owned an "Arrest Me Red" E30 M3.

This one needs a lot of work, but the price reflected that and I wanted a project car anyway.  Where can I source a gas pedal and Lemforder tie rods / control arms "cheap" (though that may be oxymoronic with Lemforder.)  How about a good price source for the M3 offset control arm bushings as well?
« Last Edit: September 02, 2010, 10:09:33 PM by P. Kennedy »
"If you think I\'m good...wait until you see my nephew." - Ayrton Senna

ose30

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P. Kennedy - Former member returns!
« Reply #10 on: July 24, 2007, 03:01:41 PM »
Looks like a nice project. What kind of mods have you planned?  I will get my newly purchased 318IS home within couple of days. I just managed to bought a M Tech II body kit for it. If you need any Euro spec parts let me know.

P. Kennedy

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Planned upgrades
« Reply #11 on: July 24, 2007, 06:30:03 PM »
Ose:  Just now noticed your from Finland.  If you look closely at the 2nd picture in my sequence above, you'll notice the name "Mika" written in chalk all over my driveway.  My youngest daughter's name is Mika and she's keen on leaving her mark I guess.  My spousal unit hasn't the foggiest idea I suggested the name base on the former 2-time F1 world champ :D.

Initially, I want to fix all things mechanical and then get to the cosmetic challenges.  With regard to upgrades, I will toss in a Mark D'Sylva chip, a homemade CAI, an M20 flywheel, decent exhaust, adjust the cam timing, upgrade the shocks, springs and swaybars, possibly upgrade the wheels to 15" or 16" (a tough call, as I need to stay a with mesh design and really not sure I want to add the extra unspring weight.)  And when all is said and done, I may just do the Downing / Atlanta Supercharger kit.

Immediate needs are:  Tie rods, control arms, M3 bushings, timing chain & tensioner, accelerator pedal (I keep trying to heel / toe but cannot reach), dashboard swap, full OBC swap, stereo upgrade (gotta have something that looks like it BELONGS w/amber digits), NEW carpeting and seat covers (maybe leather), one of the Tech steering wheels and shift knob.

Speaking of steering wheels, check out this photo of how mine is oriented.
One has to assume the car was in a fairly nasty crash.  The left front fender is not original, which tells us something, plus, when the car is going perfectly straight, the wheel is positioned about 15 to 20 degrees into a turn.  This could turn out to be more of a project than I bargained for :eek:.
« Last Edit: September 02, 2010, 10:09:33 PM by P. Kennedy »
"If you think I\'m good...wait until you see my nephew." - Ayrton Senna

P. Kennedy

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P. Kennedy - Former member returns!
« Reply #12 on: July 24, 2007, 11:38:06 PM »
Bump O' Rama
"If you think I\'m good...wait until you see my nephew." - Ayrton Senna

ose30

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P. Kennedy - Former member returns!
« Reply #13 on: July 25, 2007, 12:36:00 AM »
Quote
If you look closely at the 2nd picture in my sequence above, you'll notice the name "Mika" written in chalk all over my driveway


Yes i noticed it. Is there now a singer called Mika?
Mika is in Finland man's name which was quite popular in the '60's. For example former F1, now DTM driver Mika Häkkinen was born in September 28 1968.

Alpine003

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P. Kennedy - Former member returns!
« Reply #14 on: July 25, 2007, 11:18:34 AM »
Quote from: ose30;30342
Yes i noticed it. Is there now a singer called Mika?
Mika is in Finland man's name which was quite popular in the '60's. For example former F1, now DTM driver Mika Häkkinen was born in September 28 1968.


Don't forget the less popular Mika Salo driving for Ferrari in Lemans these days. ;)