MyE28.com

dat bish.

Dropped the engine/tranny on the 911.

Best pics I've seen of a 911 engine/tranny out of the car. Interesting, while as distant perhaps as a Ford Flathead V8 and Modular OHC V8, its still reminiscent of the aircooled VWs I played with back in the '70s. Actually probably more the tranny, but both to a degree. But I think Charlie is slipping, I mean you can still eat off the wheel wells, but I see some cosmoline on some of the body pics. Stunningly clean as I would expect.

But Charlie, what's that blue thing in the back corner in pic 3? Looks 4WD, but like some sort of a Mad Max configuration.

Mike W. wrote: Aug 10, 2024 1:29 AM But I think Charlie is slipping, I mean you can still eat off the wheel wells, but I see some cosmoline on some of the body pics. Stunningly clean as I would expect.

The real reason I dropped the engine is to clean that shit off. Doing a valve adjustment with the engine dropped is easier as a side-benefit

Mike W. wrote: Aug 10, 2024 1:29 AM But Charlie, what's that blue thing in the back corner in pic 3? Looks 4WD, but like some sort of a Mad Max configuration.

That's my Off Grid Trailers Pando 3.0!

cek wrote: Aug 10, 2024 11:34 AM

Mike W. wrote: Aug 10, 2024 1:29 AM But I think Charlie is slipping, I mean you can still eat off the wheel wells, but I see some cosmoline on some of the body pics. Stunningly clean as I would expect.

The real reason I dropped the engine is to clean that shit off. Doing a valve adjustment with the engine dropped is easier as a side-benefit

My bad, I should have seen that coming.

So, my new to me '02 530i/5. I paid too much and they guy I bought it from I'm sure feels like I stole it. Final test drive, months after the first one, it got warm, before it cooled down a half mile later. I figured sticky 'stat. Wrong.

New fan clutch. New aux fan, one of those PWM fancy ones with waaaaay to many electronics, a two sided PC board with a 48 pin CPU driving the thing. I guess I'm not repairing that one. And the seat twist. Same setup as E28s, that plastic housing that seems to stretch or whatever, but much harder to work on. Got it straight, put it back in, still not right. The whole seat bottom was twisted so even after I fixed the backrest to get it straight, once I bolted it down it twisted again. Some bloodletting, much time and swearing later I got the bottom straight, using the cables etc. But a bonus, I felt like I was sitting on the floor. After fixing it, now I can get it high enough I almost hit the roof! Funny how things work better when they work as intended.

One constant over the years, BMW seats, especially power seats, are heavy enough to double as boat anchors. Jeez those things are heavy.

The Mark VII has decided it wants to sink on the back corner, so there is something leaky in the air suspension. Tried to do the soapy water test, but it wasn't leaking last night. I did however notice one of the rear sway bar endlinks had come apart, looks like the nut came off and dropped the rest of the hardware. Had new ones in stock so I changed it. The other looked perfectly fine so I left it be. Maybe that was the random loud popping noise that I heard pulling into register at Carlisle in June. I thought it was the infrared thermometer that I found in front of the grille which must have fallen off the top of the rad support.

the leak continues to be absent and I continue to not be upset at this.

Washed, waxed, vacuumed it yesterday. I am reminded of how much I hate waxing cars. Old single stage paint, so it got old school carnauba wax. Definitely needed it though.

leak came back, still can't find it. Slow enough that its not blowing bubbles. I may throw a set of O rings on the solenoid and see if anything changes. I've changed them before but I don't know if they are actually the right ones. Internet wisdom is for some SAE dash size, but they are actually metric. I have the right ones now but I don't know if I had them when I changed the rings on it previously.

Several weeks ago, the 'Check Coolant' chime and notification kept coming on for the E39. The coolant level was continuously low every time.
After some investigation, I found a small leak in the radiator (side near the plastic tank).





For reasons of issues with my recent shop addition (the power unit on my new-to-me Bendpak lift crapped out and I had to wait for a new one), I had to delay the repairs by several weeks so I limped along with adding coolant/distilled water as needed (almost every time I drove the car). Once I got the power unit (motor & pump) and installed, I finally could tackle this project; that was this past Saturday. So I put the lift to use.


The cooling system was last overhauled about 6 years/+/-40K miles ago so I was little disappointed the radiator (a Behr replacement) didn't last longer, especially since these last 40K miles haven't been all that hard. I didn't want to do the whole system, but I wanted to be smart and replace those components likely to fail next, so along with the radiator: water pump, thermostat, expansion tank and the lower cooling temp sensor. All the belts and hoses looked great as did the tensioners. Ironically I was planning on a coolant flush the weekend the lift went off line, so I had gallons of Xerex and distilled water on hand for both cars.

If ever there was case to be made for installing a Fumoto Valve for block draining, the M54B30 moves to the top of the list. First off the drain bolt is up under cylinder #2 right next to to the front CAT and above the motor mount; you can barely get your hand in there let alone a wrench/socket. Once removed you are then deluged with hot coolant, most of what didn't soak me hit the shop floor and managed to miss the 5 gallon bucket (naturally). I couldn't find my spare Fumoto Valve during this (but I found it the next day, again, naturally), so the old bolt went back in. I have one on the M535i and it makes coolant servicing a clean (and more importantly dry) easy task: connect a hose to the valve outlet, roll in the bucket and open the valve and watch coolant fill the bucket.

If you've ever done cooling system work to an E39 (M54B30), then you know it's a PITA especially dealing with the radiator shroud. Once you remove this it's pretty easy to access the front of the block and components. The actual task of removal and replacement of water pump & thermostat (a combined unit) is fast. Even loosening the main serpentine belt from the water pump is fast as you only have to slip the belt off one pulley. I suppose I should have replaced all the belts on spec and while you can do it with the radiator in, it's infinitely more difficult.






I left the old expansion tank in place even though I had a replacement only because I couldn't figure out a way to remove it from the shroud without breaking shit (old heat soaked plastic). I still managed to break two pieces of clips trying to remove this. On this car, the large plastic shroud has several items clipped to it: two hoses, an auxiliary pump, and the expansion tank & overflow hose. You have to disconnect the hoses (along with an upper engine hose) and remove the engine fan in order to lift the shroud out before you get to the radiator. Likewise when reinstalling it all, you have to slip the engine fan into the shroud as you are sliding the shroud back in. It's a sequential thing. Ask me how I know.

[Driving experience immediately following this project is pointing to a possible leaking expansion tank and/or overflow hose, but the jury is still out. If so, then crap, I have to do half this project over.]

The actual refilling and bleeding is easy following the Bentley procedure. I ended up doing it twice: once upon filling and then again the next day. So far no leaks but I did get the 'Check Coolant' chime driving home that night and it was low the next morning. But the second bleeding and top-off seems to have resolved this. Hopefully.

vinceg101 wrote: Sep 03, 2024 12:41 PM it's a PITA especially dealing with the radiator shroud.

Yeah, that fan shroud is evil. I'm not terribly enthused about the way the Datsun (QX4) is put together, but one thing they did right is it has a 2 piece fan shroud. If only E39s had that.

So... already do the coolant pipes along the block? They're fun too.

Yah, My other cars are a pair of 2016'Camrys. A finer pair of appliances you have never seen. Had them since '17. Oil changes, batteries,and a set of tires. Had them for 7 yrs. The lack of constant maintenance is refreshing.

a wrote: Sep 04, 2024 10:51 AM Yah, My other cars are a pair of 2016'Camrys. A finer pair of appliances you have never seen. Had them since '17. Oil changes, batteries,and a set of tires. Had them for 7 yrs. The lack of constant maintenance is refreshing.

Yeah, but do they make you crazy? Never a Camry, and they might be better, but while they may, or may not, last forever, most of the ones I've driven just make me crazy. Corollas with autoboxes that have an amazing capacity to usually be in the wrong gear but constantly shifting up and down on any sort of hills. And they're electronic, they program that stuff in. Older Prius's, currently working on my Grandsons '02 Tacoma pickup truck replacing a starter, but just getting it home and in the garage etc it's got headlights that are always on, probably high beams, locks that lock as soon as you turn the key to run, before you ever start it. I know modern cars like to do stuff to you, not that you necessarily want, to you, not for you, but the Toyotas I've driven seem especially bad. Modestly powered, but over rated on power too.

Still, even with my ranting there is something to be said for just starting and stopping every time you want it to, but I'm not sure the price is worth it to me at least.

Had a rock take out the turn signal lens on my Mark VII yesterday, so I guess tonight I'm either finding the spare I'm sure I have someplace, or robbing one from the parts car. Annoying but better the turn signal I have vs the windshield I cannot get.

DId the lens thing like 2 weeks ago. The one I put in is actually in better shape than the one that got broken. The old one had some minor crazing going on.

Air compressor on the same car decided it was going to be stupid. It developed a leak that was larger than the volume of air the pump made, so instead of inflating the air springs it just deflated them until it timed out. Leak was an O ring on the vent solenoid and a slightly less than perfect seal between compressor and drier. The bigger problem was low volume. The intake "valve" had dirt under it and wasn't sealing correctly. Its basically a plastic mushroom shaped device that pushes against the metal in the head. Cleaned that out with a paper towel and gave it a quick flush with contact cleaner. Compressor sounds much better now and it seems to be working again.

Theotherotter wrote: Jul 29, 2024 1:25 PM The 911 got new wheels and tires and a new steering wheel

That steering wheel is sublime...

The journey with the E30 continues. It's been a seriously-crazy 8 months or so - I'll spare y'all the details, but one of them is a move to a new house in Raleigh, NC (I previously lived nearby in Cary).

In the midst of the chaos, I've managed to address some nagging things with the car. The refurb Z4 rack was leaking from one of the seals, so I warranty-replaced that. The billet oil pan also has a consistent drip, which turned out to be a slight gouge in the mating surface that was keeping it from sealing properly. Since it was nice and tight, I slapped 9 liters of Amsoil in the S52.  Yeah - the better part of a 2.5 gallon jug... (this is enabled by the oil pan required by the swap. Normally it's an M50 pan (which gains capacity), but the billet pan based on that design offers more clearance actually enables even more capacity.

I replaced all the lugs with new blacks ones too. The old ones were a bit battered and two wheels had slightly longer ones that were used when the car was running spacers. Then the car went to SouthEast SharkFest since my M635 decided to act up a bit...
I replaced all the lugs with new blacks ones too. The old ones were a bit battered and two wheels had slightly longer ones that were used when the car was running spacers. Yeah - the better part of a 2.5 gallon jug... (this is enabled by the oil pan required by the swap. Normally it's an M50 pan, but the billet pan that offers more clearance actually enables even more capacity. Then the car went to SouthEast SharkFest since my M635 decided to act up a bit...

On the way up, chasing my friend Greg's M635


Apparently four six-footers fit in an E30

(but not for long)

Post-SharkFest I had a couple issues where the car would stall and wouldn't restart. It turned out to be a dying in-tank fuel pump. Of all things a Chevy Vega pump could be hacked into the existing assembly and seems to be working great:


As the pandemonium settles a bit, I have a list of things to do to the car soon:

• I have a knockoff set of door seals to try out. The almost-certainly original ones are done, especially on the driver's side. I have a brand-new OE set, but I'm considering whether to save them for installation when I can figure out a paint job of some sort on the car. (no hard plan on timing yet)

• I have an OE trunk seal to install too, along with brake light gaskets which will hopefully solve some damp issues in the trunk.

• I've got a kick panel made of plastic from Race German that will replace a slightly-shabby original one - haven't opened it up yet - lol

• The interior door handle on the driver's side broke. I splurged and ordered the Leo Grande billet aluminum door handles, which might eventually wind up in the M635 if I like them and don't feel flush enough to buy them twice

• I need to adjust the cushions in the Scheel Mann seats

• ...and a bunch of other little stuff

I'm still kinda digging into the garage (and the house itself, for a variety of reasons), so this and other stuff might stretch out. I need to get a proper-sized battery for the car so I can get the battery tray in the car and a more-secured battery. I also have a Continental radio I need to install (or have it done for me).

Took care of some overdue maintenance on my 325iX. New ball joints and an alignment cured a clunky ride and shimmy at highway speeds, a leaky camshaft seal was replaced, a new muffler to replace the old one that had a hole in it, and finally it was time for an oil change. I should be all set for winter.

The Chevy Vega had an electric in-tank fuel pump? Would have never guessed that.

I'm surprised a Vega fuel pump is still available.

e24mpwr wrote: Oct 22, 2024 10:25 PM

Theotherotter wrote: Jul 29, 2024 1:25 PM The 911 got new wheels and tires and a new steering wheel

That steering wheel is sublime...

It's very nice! It was originally offered as an option in Corvettes in the early 80s. Finally the right combination of reach, diameter and grip size. And yet now I am tempted by a brown-with-bronze-hub Victor in the same diameter....

stuartinmn wrote: Oct 23, 2024 10:43 PM I'm surprised a Vega fuel pump is still available.

true

for yucks I looked it up on rockauto, sure enough its got an electric in-tank. Fits a ton of things from the mid 70s through the late 80s including Ford trucks. Thats probably the real reason its available. On those I suppose its the lift pump in the tank for dual tank models.

gadget73 wrote: Oct 25, 2024 7:50 AM

stuartinmn wrote: Oct 23, 2024 10:43 PM I'm surprised a Vega fuel pump is still available.

true

for yucks I looked it up on rockauto, sure enough its got an electric in-tank. Fits a ton of things from the mid 70s through the late 80s including Ford trucks. Thats probably the real reason its available. On those I suppose its the lift pump in the tank for dual tank models.

In my case my shop used the kit to just replace the pump in the BMW frame, but it was funny asking for a Vega fuel pump from NAPA.

stuartinmn wrote: Oct 23, 2024 10:43 PM I'm surprised a Vega fuel pump is still available.

I wouldn't be surprised if there were more Vega fuel pumps available then Vegas remaining.