Username

Password

Remember me
Forgotten your password??
No account yet? Create one
Home

Post new topic    BMW 2002 FAQ Forum Index > General Discussion
Jump to:  
Thread Topic: What would you do with $1,000? Threaded

   
Date: 7-24-08 08:12
From: devilspace View user's profile
Subject: What would you do with $1,000?

Here's the challenge, I've got $1,000 to spend on parts for my car next months and I would like to get some thoughts on the best way to spend it.

To give you some background:
I've got a 1973 auto square light in Chamonix that I'm currently getting beaten and resprayed (original colour).

Everything is completely stock.

I've already lined up a 5 speed to transplant, a 32/36 Weber and a set of Eibach sport springs to improve the ride height.


I'd like to make the car a lot sportier, hence the 5 speed conversion.

I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts.
_________________
1973 Chamonix auto squarie



Date: 7-24-08 08:31
From: esty View user's profile Send e-mail
Subject: Re: What would you do with $1,000?

toss the 32/36 and get a 38/38...you'll be glad you did
_________________




Date: 7-24-08 08:37
From: Albany02
Subject: Re: What would you do with $1,000?

The biggest improvement to my non-tii was the 5 speed and a 38/38 carb, from a 32/36. The 5-speed did nothing for sportiness, just slowed (and quieted) down the motor over 60 mph. The two barrel, non-progressive, carb made the car quick. Eventually you'll want to consider Bilsteins, fatter sway bars, excellent tires and improved brakes. Then I think you've got the basic issues covered. Obviously more than a grand, but something to think about. Good luck.
______________________
Roger
'72 Malaga



Date: 7-24-08 08:48
From: devilspace View user's profile
Subject: Re: What would you do with $1,000?

You're right, $1,000 won't get me the perfect street/sport car, but it will at least get me a starting point.

I was also thinking of a new step header and exhaust (my factory exhaust is nearly ready for the scrap heap).
_________________
1973 Chamonix auto squarie



Date: 7-24-08 08:50
From: Otis View user's profile
Subject: Re: What would you do with $1,000?

devilspace wrote:
I've got $1,000 to spend


That's really, really, really easy.

http://www.monsvenus.com/



Date: 7-24-08 10:28
From: Dave75verona
Subject: Re: What would you do with $1,000?

While you happen to have the tranny out...An aluminum light weight flywheel would be cool.

Helps with the rev'ing of the car...Makes the rid a little funner to drive around.

Swaybars are a must have...



Date: 7-24-08 10:45
From: devilspace View user's profile
Subject: Re: What would you do with $1,000?

Thanks for the advice Otis, I might need to save that one for my second $1,000... :)

I've been looking at the sway bars through IE, but until I put in some decent new springs, it's not really worth it.
_________________
1973 Chamonix auto squarie



Date: 7-24-08 10:51
From: bingbong in Sydney - Australia View user's profile Send e-mail
Subject: Re: What would you do with $1,000?

How about some new shocks and bigger sway bars, make it go round corners faster, or some lighter wheels. The 38/38 carb would go down well, personally I would go the shocks and sway bars as you already have the lower springs it would become a great ride.
_________________
I dont understand the german gauges!

'75/74 2002 Golf Yellow running!



Date: 7-24-08 11:01
From: tjones02 in Vacaville, CA View user's profile Send e-mail
Subject: Re: What would you do with $1,000?

I second the opinion on dumping the 32/36 for a 38/38.

Not necessarily in any particular order....

Make sure you get a good set of performance shocks to go with those Eibach springs. Bilstein Heavy Duties, or Sports are a good basic choice, I would also consider red Koni Classics or yellow Sports... they cost more but offer a better street ride while handling the same as the Billies.

One often overlooked thing is to have one of the fewer and fewer BMW shops that are still good at '02s look the car over and make a detailed prioritized list of current and future needs of the car.... Depending on the shop, around 1-2 hours of labor. Consider it a "Post-Purchase Inspection"

22mm ft and 19mm adjustable rear sway bars. ST (used to be Suspension Techniques) makes a good set that many of the Roundel and Bimmer magazine advertisers sell under their own names... about $300 these days.

A good professional detail job..... your local BMW or Porsche or Mercedes specialist should know a good one. The paint will never have looked that good in 20 years. Include a carpet shampoo and the engine bay in it... around $250

For a cheaper alternative to the professional detail a bottle of Simple Green, a scrub brush and some money for the coin-op car wash. Most of those places really frown on foreign chemicals entering their systems. So, spray and scrub some of the heavy stuff before you go. A Clean engine runs cooler and is easier to look at and nicer to work on.

A quality performance air filter assembly, adds power and good looks... about $75

A brake fluid flush and maybe the blue hoses between the reservoir and brake master cylinder.

Performance brake pads like Hawk HPS or equivalent. No big brakes necessary! NOT race pads but performance street.... About $75.

A Curt Ingraham Improved Radiator and all the rest of a fresh cooling system... Water pump, All hoses Thermostat, belt.... Peace of mind.... Priceless!

Fixed front camber plates like the ones Ireland sells. $125

You didn't mention what wheels you've got... I'd start with a set of E30 bottle caps 14x6 with 195/60-14 tires..... http://www.tirerack.com has wonderful Yokohama AVID H4S for $69ea right now. I've been using these Yokos on my daily drivers for quite a few years and have even done a Auto-X or 2 on them. Less than $150 for the wheels.

OK, I may have blown the budget but you now have some suggestions and ideas that you may never have thought of....

I've got more suggestions/ideas if you want 'em.

HTH
_________________
Tom Jones
BMWCCA Life 49246
Vacaville CA
a Wrench @ http://www.ipb-autosport.com/
& http://www.caseymotorsports.com
67 1600-2 Granada
+ 3 more 1600-2's
67 1800A stored
76 2002 F/S soon
86 528e 5sp Mine 365k
86 528eA Wife's
90 CRX HF 50mpg!



Date: 7-24-08 11:37
From: devilspace View user's profile
Subject: Re: What would you do with $1,000?

Some great ideas, none that I've really thought of.

Re. wheels, I'm thinking about moving from 13 inch steelies to 14 or 15 inch minilites.

It's looking like suspension upgrades are so far the overall leader.

Any other good ideas out there? Once I have all the votes in, I'm going to tally them, buy the parts and post on my project blog.
_________________
1973 Chamonix auto squarie



Date: 7-24-08 11:53
From: 74tiiGolf in Santa Rosa, CA View user's profile
Subject: Re: What would you do with $1,000?

Sway bars and new bushings. Urethane if you stick to nice pavement, rubber if not. New suspension bits will make you so happy. And I know something about happy.

Matthew
_________________
Chastity: the most unnatural of sexual perversions.
74 tii (resto on a budget?)
80 Honda CM400A (Hondamatic, baby!) sold *sniff*
85 Honda 700 Interceptor
94 Mazda Protege



Date: 7-25-08 05:43
From: mike in Beavercreek, OH View user's profile Send e-mail
Subject: My priority order for a "sportier" '02, given what you

already have:

1. Bilstein HDs all around
2. Larger than stock sway bars, front & back (if you're patient, you can find 'em used--they don't wear out), with urethane bushings
3. Replace front suspension bushings, ball joints and upper strut brgs (do this when you install the Bilsteins--another do-it-yourself job). Go with factory rubber bushings--much better for the street if you value you fillings.
4. At least new tires; for a better selection, go to 14" rims (used E30 wheels are cheap if you go for bottlecaps or steel wheels)
5. A smaller steering wheel (find a used one on the Board)
6. Oil pressure, volts and oil temp gauge

At this stage I wouldn't bother with headers or a fancy exhaust system, or bigger brakes; stock stuff is more than adequate.

Put what's left over (and there will be if you buy everything but the shocks, bushings/bearings and tires used off the board) into an engine rebuild fund, 'cause you'll have so much fun driving the car that you'll wear the engine out...

mike
_________________
'69 Nevada sunroof--"Wolfgang"--bought new
'73 Sahara sunroof-- "Ludwig"--mine since '78
'87 eta E30 coupe--"Johannes"
+ Fiat Topolini (Benito & Luigi), Renault 4CVs (Anatole, Lucky Pierre, Brigette)...
and Kermit, the Bugeye Sprite



Date: 7-25-08 06:24
From: OldSkool in US View user's profile
Subject: Re: My priority order for a "sportier" '02, given what you

I vote for nice springs + shocks (H+R's and Koni's), and a lightweight flywheel.

By the way, go to the Groupbuy section of Bimmerforums --- SPP is running specials on suspension items.
_________________
-Old Skool-



Date: 7-25-08 06:56
From: Mike_R View user's profile Send e-mail
Subject: Re: What would you do with $1,000?

for $1000 you can compleatly replace shocks, sway bars, springs, and maybe bushings. By far the best way to improve sport feel is to upgrade suspension/steeering.
_________________
75 2002


Picture 018.jpg
 Description:
 Filesize:  256.81 KB
 Viewed:  12 Time(s)

Picture 018.jpg






Date: 7-25-08 07:06
From: winstontj in 02129 View user's profile Send e-mail
Subject: Re: What would you do with $1,000?

$1,000 was about the cost of my 5-spd conversion (don't forget about shortening the driveshaft)...

If you are REALLY handy and frugal you could pull off a 5-spd swap and a megasquirt conversion for under $1k. I'd start there. Next I'd do suspension as others mentioned.

Or you could take that $1,000 and short commodities and double your money in a month...
_________________
BMW-Yachtsport
'07 Accord DD
'83 e21 - DD (work in progress)
2574356 - sleeping in need of restoration



Date: 7-25-08 07:19
From: Harv in Willoughby Oh. View user's profile Send e-mail
Subject: Re: What would you do with $1,000?

Billy Sports and IE swaybars.

John
_________________
"Chicken make no good house pet!"

"Less brake, more accelerator"
#1665778




Date: 7-25-08 07:36
From: devilspace View user's profile
Subject: Re: What would you do with $1,000?

So far, tallying the votes it looks like springs, shocks and swaybars are in the lead, 38/38 a close second.

Nobody's mentioned reground cams, forged parts, electronic ignition yet...
_________________
1973 Chamonix auto squarie



Date: 7-25-08 07:40
From: Mike_R View user's profile Send e-mail
Subject: Re: What would you do with $1,000?

Nobody's mentioned reground cams, forged parts, electronic ignition yet...


No cam or forged parts but petronix is only a $75-100 upgrade. That should be your first item on the best low cost upgrades.

Remember that ad line..... power is nothing without control.

Suspension & handling trump a hot engine.
_________________
75 2002



Date: 7-25-08 11:27
From: Paul7002 View user's profile Send e-mail
Subject: sways, or a nice 284 or 292 cam to go w/ the 38/38 (nt)

(nt)
_________________
Paul in Richmond
'70 Chamonix
'95 Lowe 1605 - Evinrude SPL48
'05 Genuine Stella



Date: 7-25-08 11:30
From: BarryA in Fair Oaks CA View user's profile Send e-mail
Subject: Might consider exhaust upgrades too - tii manifold or header

Ireland stainless exhaust or turbo plumbing from the headpipe back.
_________________
Barry Allen
'69 Sunroof
'82 E21 (daily driver)
'82 633CSi (wife's driver)
'65 El Camino (yard & parts hauler)



Date: 7-25-08 12:27
From: tjones02 in Vacaville, CA View user's profile Send e-mail
Subject: Re: What would you do with $1,000?

You mentioned buying a header for your otherwise stock motor...... There's an old Roundel article... I believe Ray Korman himself wrote it....

They did a series of dyno tests on various M10 engines to compare the effects of the various '02 exhaust manifolds and headers.... Basically a M10 motor needs to be making in excess of 150hp before a header makes more power and torque than a Tii manifold.....
_________________
Tom Jones
BMWCCA Life 49246
Vacaville CA
a Wrench @ http://www.ipb-autosport.com/
& http://www.caseymotorsports.com
67 1600-2 Granada
+ 3 more 1600-2's
67 1800A stored
76 2002 F/S soon
86 528e 5sp Mine 365k
86 528eA Wife's
90 CRX HF 50mpg!



Date: 7-25-08 02:34
From: 74tiiGolf in Santa Rosa, CA View user's profile
Subject: Re: What would you do with $1,000?

I have a 302 cam that I'll sell to you for a good price...

Matthew
rxringer@gmail.com
_________________
Chastity: the most unnatural of sexual perversions.
74 tii (resto on a budget?)
80 Honda CM400A (Hondamatic, baby!) sold *sniff*
85 Honda 700 Interceptor
94 Mazda Protege



Date: 7-25-08 03:57
From: Schweineback View user's profile
Subject: Re: What would you do with $1,000?

LSD
_________________
Keep on rolling in the free world!



Date: 7-25-08 04:30
From: jgerock in Alexandria, VA View user's profile
Subject: Re: What would you do with $1,000?

I'd replace everything on the cooling system including the hoses, t-stat and radiator.

BTW - I have a pretty good set of (4) E30 bottle cap wheels I recently removed from my car. I'll let them go cheap just to get them out of my garage. Your profile doesn't indicate where your are.
_________________
Jim Gerock
BMWCCA # 381868
73tii "Celeste" # 2764081
71 VW Bug



Date: 7-25-08 06:20
From: oz_tom in Melbourne - Australia View user's profile
Subject: Re: What would you do with $1,000?

jgerock wrote:
I'd replace everything on the cooling system including the hoses, t-stat and radiator.

BTW - I have a pretty good set of (4) E30 bottle cap wheels I recently removed from my car. I'll let them go cheap just to get them out of my garage. Your profile doesn't indicate where your are.


Hes in Australia ;-)

By the way Damon, Ive got a brand new Pertronix if your interested.

Tom
_________________

72tii - Whitey
74 - Blacky



Date: 7-25-08 06:29
From: Kidasters in Houston, TX View user's profile Send e-mail
Subject: Re: What would you do with $1,000?

New Curt Ingraham radiator.

IE swaybars - front and back.

Save the rest until something breaks and you need to fix it.

Ken
_________________
'73 2002, Fjord - "Deuce"
'04 330i, Titanium - "Smith"



Date: 7-25-08 08:39
From: oz_tom in Melbourne - Australia View user's profile
Subject: Re: What would you do with $1,000?

Factor in the "Australian Factor" and theres another $200 shipping on the sways and $150 on the rad which puts you at 1k very quickly.
_________________

72tii - Whitey
74 - Blacky



Date: 7-25-08 10:55
From: devilspace View user's profile
Subject: Re: What would you do with $1,000?

IF you've got a Petronix up for grabs Tom, put my name on it!

Yes, the Australian factor is a pain, but I'll put the shipping costs on top of the $1k.

Thanks for all the great suggestions so far everyone.

Suspension is still in the lead...
_________________
1973 Chamonix auto squarie



Date: 7-26-08 07:37
From: neanderthal View user's profile
Subject: Re: What would you do with $1,000?

MS that bad boy.

electronic fuel injection is better than a carb.
_________________
'O=00=O'
Long Live The Legend.



Date: 7-27-08 03:58
From: devilspace View user's profile
Subject: Re: What would you do with $1,000?

I thought long and hard about MS, but I want to eventually race the 02 in vintage race events. To do that, it needs to stay carbed.
_________________
1973 Chamonix auto squarie



Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic       BMW 2002 FAQ Forum Index > General Discussion All times are GMT - 7 Hours
Goto page 1, 2  Next
Threaded
Page 1 of 2

 
Forum HelpForum Help Forum SearchForum Search RegisterRegister Log inLog in