Finally getting around to posting the updates to my '02 that I completed during our brief but awesome warm season here in Michigan.
The first images are most current. Then the in-progress. The last images are the 'before'. I guess everything is in reverse chronological order. Really happy with the results so far, though I really really really don't recommend installing a carpet yourself like I did. There's also a photo of me installing the carpet, just so you can see what a stu
So I thought I would start a project blog on here as things are finally moving along with my project car so I can update regularly!
My Father and I bought a lovely 1975 BMW 1602 with an M42 engine, full Turbo body kit, Alpina wheels and steering wheel from Warrington. We went to see the car and paid the deposit in late January, intending on picking up the motor at the end of February.
The spec list as I bought her:
The car is originally a 1975 160
Old windshield was so pitted, cracked & delaminating, it was almost opaque. Vern's excited he got a new windshield & solid chrome Alpina lug nuts. The new lug nuts are just plain cool.
Tackling the bottom of the spare tire well. Several spots of rust... Circled with a marker.
So... had to fabricate sheetmetal with a groove pressed in for rigidity. I've got a lot to go in terms of shaping and cutting to size but wanted to post the first day of effort here.
Had a blast dreaming this process up. I used my arbor press, routered out piece of plywood and a piece of hardwood as the press. Came out pretty well.
This weekend I tackled what no sane person would ever do. I removed the tar undercoat by the previous owner (the carpet in the cover shot is long gone) from the inside of my trunk! Used Lacquer Thinner and Adhesive Remover and a plastic putty knife with much luck. VERY pleased to report very little body work underneath. Good news for when we strip the car - now I can have the trunk shot too.
When I get more braver I will tackle the rust on the fenders - not much but a few spots
It’s been awhile since I made an entry. Painted over the spots I’d tried John Deere Green on with primer. Then tried my hand at painting with the preval system trying a recipe suggested here using oil based porch enamel, thinner & Japan dryer. Followed the instructions to the letter but the results were awful and wound up wiping it off before it dried.
Pulled it out in to the sunshine to take pics of it.
W&N fenders came. Have passenger side one on and am curren
Car is done!!!...At least the Hot Wheels version is 🙃 (1/24 scale model coming as well)
I have been getting some things checked off the list. Some of the more time consuming and pricey things.
Things checked off the list:
Exhaust ✔️
Roll Cage✔️
Hood Louvers✔️
All that's left is to go hard on the last of the paint preparation, get it scheduled and in the booth. Then of course re-assembly, tuning, tweaking, changing my mind several more times, an
Hood installed - solo.
Not recommended but feasible by using header/exhaust manifold bolts as guide pins (placed in the top of the three attachment bolt Holes) AND a roll of painters tape (A metric shot ton) to avoid scratches! I also used a sleeping bag and some microfiber towels and some cardboard squares (as sliders for the torsion bar on top of the tape). Aligned the hood with it down and tightened from below through the grill openings.
in the time of COVID seemed lik
Now that the dolly is on I am stripping the car down to the shell to ready for paint. Most everything is off the car now. Struggled more than I would like to get that chrome off the doors by the glass. Some minor (I hope) rust spots and then to the paint shop for some 2 stage (?) Agave! This car was sprayed once with Agave darkened a bit. I will bring to original Agave. Have not found any bondo but I know there is some here and there.
A tricky rust spot under the left rear
Coated carpet with an entire can of dirt & stain remover foam and scrubbed it until my arms ached.
Carpet unfazed - he didn’t even have to ask anyone to hold his beer - didn’t change in the slightest 😂
Gave up and cleaned the floor mats instead. May need to save my pennies for one of @esty's carpet kits.
More pressing concerns atm though: Took a long time to start today and even after thoroughly warmed seemed not entirely happy when I took it for a quick i
I'm in hurry up and wait mode just now.
Expected soonish, but not here yet are:
Definite: THE TITLE - I'll finally be able to register it and DRIVE it!
Definite: Steel front fenders from Walloth & Nesch
Definite: Rear bench delete from Esty
Definite: Preval paint kit to close match my faded Mint Grun as I clear away the rusty bits.
Maybe: A hood. I keep waffling here between a rust free steel one and a fiberglass one
Maybe: a carb & intake
Howdy there to the massive following of 6 people. I hope you are well.
So the purge of the immense amount of crap is largely completed we are still trying to get rid of a washer/dryer and a couple bits of furniture and old tech. This is good news because I am able to get the garage cleaned out and sorted. It is taking a while to get things hung and plumbed, but I am happy with the results so far. Here is a couple of pics to give you an idea of what I am working with. The sh
Getting my car ready for paint. Thanks to Bart at TheRestoShop for recommending Tom at O2again for a dolly. Hats off to [email protected] O2again for the plans to make my dolly! All went well! Thanks Tom!!!
-got the plans
-ordered the materials from McMaster
-started welding!
-without the hard tooling I did some improvising too 🙂.
-done in a weekend - and a bonus- pulled the rear subframe...
-started the stripping down to bare shell for paint!
What seemed like a straight forward job turned into an agonizing long process due to COVID. First I waited too long before ordering parts. Then the piston manufacturer Ross took significantly longer than expected. Finally my local machine shop was backlogged by the time I had everything. So 6 months later it finally has come together. I didn't take as many pics as I should have due to wanting to quickly get driving
Hit with polishing compound and ospho’d some rusty bits. Pulled the Recaro LS out to see about reupholstering it and put a seat from a 73 in its place.
Additional: Pulled out the rear bench previously (it's in really rough shape) and ordered a rear bench delete setup & parcel shelf from @esty 👍
Got majority of trim back from shop - I like the way it came out.
Also restored e24 grill frame
Next on schedule bumpers and front mask which needed welding.
Well it’s been home for a few weeks and I’ve been progressing with plumbing and wiring.
I bought a Pipe Thread tap set and went crazy drilling out all the Honda press in fittings, now all AN lines instead, it won’t ad power but looks much more purposeful.
Thanks to Ireland Engineering for supplying a few e30 hoses to make the connection to the Honda S2000 hoses:
AN lines instead of hose clamps:
AN line back to the Brake
Previous owner poked holes in the tunnel to get wires through i guess. I just do not see the wisdom and did not want the fumes / sound in the cabin. Tried a trick I saw during my umpteen thousand test welds during my covid welding course. It worked! Butt welds are tough for sure. You make a piece to fit over the hole and tack it on. Then you take your trusty Dremmel thin cut blade and cut around the edge of your piece and push your piece in and tack it in flush.
Not a great
