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About this blog

My probable starting point is this 1976 BMW 2002 Mint Green (or Lime Sherbet as its owner described it to me) currently parked in a field in Northern California wine country.  It is a rolling chassis sans engine/trans/driveshaft.  Interior is mostly complete and intact.  Front seats and headliner need to be replaced.  As does the instrument cluster.  I've seen the interiors spaces as well as under the hood, in trunk and some of the underbelly by video call with the owner: With exception of drivers side rocker panel and drivers side front pillar, the majority of the rust is surface only from having lived most of its life a block from the beach in San Francisco.

It's part of a "kit" that I hope to soon make the trip to California (from Federal Way, WA) to bring home.  Also included in the kit are donor parts from the owners shop in Sonoma inclusive of engine, transmission, driveshaft and miscellany. 

 

I'd be lying if I said that first sight of the car didn't give me pause and cause to wonder if I even begin to possess the skills or resources to do this, but the seller in question is well known within the community and highly regarded.  He's a good friend to my brother and one of my sons - who worked for him briefly one summer - speaks highly of him.  So, I'm putting my faith in him, his enthusiasm and repeating my mantra "I think I can" ;)

I've never been a blogger, but I seems like a reasonable way to document the journey.   So, giving this a shot.  Input, suggestions, warnings, disclaimers, encouragement, jokes, wisecracks, any and all are appreciated.  Thanks ?

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Entries in this blog

Bulk update

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

Fletcher

Fletcher in Update

Carpet refuses to be cleaned

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

Fletcher

Fletcher

F Bombs

Random decal find on Amazon.  As frequently as these get dropped in the garage, I figured I had to have it ???  

Fletcher

Fletcher

Not much happening at the moment

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

Fletcher

Fletcher

Photo entry

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 ?  

Fletcher

Fletcher

Rust & interior

Removed trim intact to work on rust beneath.  Pulled rear seats looking for rust and really didn’t find any ??  Seats in bad shape and need to be redone.   Making these entries with my thumb on my phone necessitates brevity. So, this is mostly just a photo entry.  

Fletcher

Fletcher

Where to start?

It’s here!  Hand-delivered.  Thanks @rocketman !   Now where to start!? ?. What an exciting position to be in ???    

Fletcher

Fletcher

Out of the field!

My “Mint Grun” machine has made the journey out from under tarps in a field to Sonoma Raceway to begin its mechanical restoration!      photos!!

Fletcher

Fletcher

Welding 101 (again)

Got the Hobart out of the box at last and started work on Franken-cart to keep it on.  It’s going so well, I may just buy a cart.     I’ve never MIG welded before with steel wire & argon/co2.  I had an electric welder previously from Harbor Freight and weld with flux wire.  That POS always popped a 20amp fuse after a few minutes of continuous use.  I also have gas welded a bit before, but this MIGging is new to me.    I started off practicing on an old cookie sheet.  I must hav

Fletcher

Fletcher

Anxiously awaiting

Latest update on the car from Bill:   ”Brought the engine and drivetrain components from storage to the shop today. Will begin prepping them tomorrow. Once they're ready we'll fetch Mint Grun, probably this weekend. Tuesday start basic cleaning and prep of the body, later in the week, or early next, begin installation, likely running a few days later. If you haven't joined BMW CCA yet, dive in, along membership in the SIG(special interest group) for '02s. Sounds like you've alread

Fletcher

Fletcher

Slight change in plans, but full speed ahead

Slight ~ Major ?   So the original plan was for me to drive to California to get the car essentially in kit form:  Engine/Trans/driveshaft all to be installed by me (and i would have been winging that wholesale never having done any of it before). The new plan is for the car to be delivered to me mechanically complete and road worthy, but aesthetically challenged and in need of much love and sweat equity to be returned to a restored state.  ETA is mid August to early September. S

Fletcher

Fletcher

Oops

When I created the blog, I thought the following would be the first entry and not the about info.  Apologies for the duplication. My probable starting point is this 1976 BMW 2002 Mint Green (or Lime Sherbet as its owner described it to me) currently parked in a field in Northern California wine country.  It is a shell sans engine/trans/driveshaft.  Interior is mostly complete and intact.  Front seats and headliner need to be replaced.  As does the instrument cluster.  I've seen the interiors

Fletcher

Fletcher

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