So, what to do once you've pulled your motor...

[BigDog]

You know, what are those things that you look back on and say to yourself...

"Self, I really wish I would have [blank] while I had the motor out..."

Mostly for me it looks like some cleaning, finishing removal of the old battery tray support and a little cleaning up the wiring.

Ideas?

----------------

BigDog

'76 2002 Motorless

[Guest Anonymous]

Check the brake lines that run across the firewall, electrical stuff???

[jerry]

pedalbox rehab, suspension refresh, radiator boil, rust inspection of nosepiece, battery relocation, ....

... front subframe removal and beadblast, engine bay repaint, windshield removal, dash removal, headliner removal, interior removal, electrical removal, heck, paint the car too while you're in there.

so,... you removed the engine to change the oil....???

i started out just fixing the electrical gremlins and a door boo-boo and now i've got the car stripped, "while i'm in there". just a cautionary note. not to worry though, this is my 2nd time around (different car). i shoulda known better.

cheers

[BigDog]

Jerry,

You know me too well!!! You know I suffer from the while you're at its as bad as anybody. This time around, I"m unemployed, so the while you're at its need to be cheap, don't want the ol' lady gettin' too upset...

It's the stuff she can't see that's getting the $$$ if you know what I mean!

-------------

BigDog

'76 2002

[Mike Self]

climb in the engine compartment and peer down through the hole where the radiator goes. You're gonna find a lot of dirt, dead bugs, rocks etc in the crevice where the radiator support meets the nose sheeet metal. Also lots of surface rust. I've seen dirt four inches deep in there!

Thoroughly clean the crevice, open up (and enlarge) the drain holes and when dry and clean, paint with your choice of anti-rust paint. That'll keep the outer nose panel from rusting through below the bumper...and this is the best time to access the area.

Cheers and happy cleaning

mike

[BarryA]

side below the master cylinder - old brake fluid leaks had stripped all the paint off that area on both of my cars. By far the best time to clean that area up, remove surface rust and repaint is while the engine's out (it's an absolute BUGGER to get at otherwise, what with all the wiring, hoses, steering column and m/c bracket in the way). If there's any rust repair needed in the area, it's also going to be much, much easier to do with the engine out.

Check the driver's side motor mount bracket around the steering box for cracking and damage.

If both the engine and trans are out and you're thinking about a 5 speed conversion in the future, it's also a real good time to bump out the trans tunnel to make room for the 5 speed's slave cylinder.

[mattmcginn]

Nice.

It just depends on how much "scope creep" you want to put up with. Clean and paint the steering box, clean up and spray bomb the subframe, change or eliminate the firewall insulation.

[Arizona02]

Platic Kote and Dupli Color touch up cans selection at autoparts stores. Find a color real close match. Photo of engine bay

[/url]http://www.bmw2002faq.com/component/option,com_forum/Itemid,57/page,viewtopic/t,267377/

[jerry]

saw the comment from previous post on replacing or eliminating the firewall insulation. i hadn't considered eliminating it. is there a better (or less expensive) alternative to it. it seems to be a great oil sponge.

what is it like to drive without it? noisy, hot....or not really noticeable?

seems to be a good moisture trap too as i found out recently.

[wazzu70]

I usually replace all the hoses and stuff. On the M10 I dont think they are very hard to get at though. I mostly do painting and detailing when I take an engine out. just inspect for any leaks around the engine and gasket replacement is never a bad idea! The others have said some good things as well.

Where are you at in W. Wash again? I just graduated and moved to Kirkland. Would be nice to have some other BMW people to hang around.

[mattmcginn]

On a few cars we did that were full restorations (that is-engine out-totally stripped shells) that also did not have to be concours-correct-we used Wurth SKS underbody seal on the firewall-basically undercoat. I applied it just to give a light texture to the firewall area.

That insualtion is spongy and gets really brittle over time.

This is how it looks in my little hotrod:

Pardon the messy wiring. As far as increased noise, I doubt it would really be noticed.

[peteinjp]

things to change without the motor out..... aside from paint that is.