'Honu' #2588935

[stevebo77]

Teaser!! Guess what I'm building out tonight?

http://picasaweb.google.com/sthryniuk/1973BMW2002#5463605415067262434

That's right The rear seat delete + concealed & locked sub cabinet is well under way tonight.

This pic would be the rear parcel shelf (longer than you're used to seeing them).

More pics to come as I get things done.

[stevebo77]

Okay, progress made. I have to stop for a week or so and get some paying work done before my clients hunt me down and hang me.

Spent the weekend building the rear shelf, the seat delete, the internal support and framework, sub box, and center console. Spent today installing it all to get a sound test for gratification.

I tell ya, I've been driving this car for a solid year now just listening to the engine music.. adding real music totally changes the experience I'm in love.

The system is: Pioneer iPod/iPhone controlling headunit, 1" tweets at the top of the a-pillars (practically inivisble), 4" two ways behind the doorpanels (totally invisible). 6.5" on the rear seat delete, pioneer amp and infinity 12" sub under the rear seat delete.

Even with as loud as these cars are, I can totally enjoy the system as is- just great.. may need to turn down that bass a bit

Whats left to do? New carpet arrived and needs to go in; still need to put the blue vinyl trim on the seat delete cover, need to add the locking device, need to cover and install the rear side panels, need to clean up the install and tidy up the wiring.

Pics:

Newly rebuilt and recovered center console, I still need to build the pocket for that hole. The bmw patch is from tilux; just seeing if I could put it anywhere for fun..

http://picasaweb.google.com/sthryniuk/1973BMW2002#5464661766840307778

http://picasaweb.google.com/sthryniuk/1973BMW2002#5464661802200040914

Why pretty it up when it's hiding anyway

http://picasaweb.google.com/sthryniuk/1973BMW2002#5464661853245727106

http://picasaweb.google.com/sthryniuk/1973BMW2002#5464662003616207554

A shot of the locking mech for the rear lid.

http://picasaweb.google.com/sthryniuk/1973BMW2002#5464662055780604258

[Meintii]

Hey dude- Just an FYI. I ordered the carpet kit from them a few years ago and it is ... well... crap. I mean most of is OK like the back mats and the tranny tunnel etc, but the driver and passenger main floor pieces are already falling apart (2 years later).. The edging is falling off all of it (even with minimal use). The carpet is just a small step up from autozone roll carpet for speakers. . Not to rain on your parade though.. im sure your case is much like mine, the price was good, and its a hell of alot better than the nasty stuff already in the car .. Once I get some money Im going to order the two front floor pieces in black from Esty here on the board, I need something a little heavier quality for my ride.

BTW. Ive been following (email notifications) since day one of your blog.. back when it was still a budget build . Great work so far!

-Zac

Here are some pics from my install

[stevebo77]

Hey Zac,

Thanks for the heads up, maybe I should only drive barefoot or something to protect them haha! Damage is done now, I suppose; new carpet is sitting in a box in the driveway already. Ah well, if you critically eyeball my pics of what the roll-style carpet looks like right now, even this stuff that you and I have will be a huge upgrade if only for about 2 years

I've had my eye on Esty's front pieces too, that's definitely on the wish list for the next buying round.

Thanks for following man- yeah, that budget.. I just ignore the cost now and hide the receipts anymore I don't have the guts to pull the trigger just yet, but I have a full set of flares and bumpers sitting in my cart over at IE. Luckily the assumed shipping cost has made me slow down on that for now.

Hey dude- Just an FYI. I ordered the carpet kit from them a few years ago and it is ... well... crap. I mean most of is OK like the back mats and the tranny tunnel etc, but the driver and passenger main floor pieces are already falling apart (2 years later).. The edging is falling off all of it (even with minimal use). The carpet is just a small step up from autozone roll carpet for speakers. . Not to rain on your parade though.. im sure your case is much like mine, the price was good, and its a hell of alot better than the nasty stuff already in the car .. Once I get some money Im going to order the two front floor pieces in black from Esty here on the board, I need something a little heavier quality for my ride.

BTW. Ive been following (email notifications) since day one of your blog.. back when it was still a budget build . Great work so far!

-Zac

[Meintii]

hmmm like these?

Bumper is my newest edition .. got my flares from IE and LOVE them!

[stevebo77]

Man I nearly had a panic attack today!

Ran downtown to grab some party provisions for tonight, and as I pulled into the parking lot on a heavy (loud and fun) downshift the 02 stuttered and then blew a large plume of gassy smelling exhaust. Didn't think much of it except that maybe I had some blowby oil or something that would need some attention asap.

Did my shopping and then came back out; fired the car right up and pulled away- made it only 50 feet down the street before it completely died and I coasted her into the nearest parking lot.

Crank, fail.

Crank, fail.

Crank, start for a second, fail.

(repeat about 20 times)

Peek under the hood to notice that PO's ghetto fuse in slot #12 is gone (it was a wingnut between the spades). I rifled through the glovebox to find a replacement piece of something and cane upon the perfect sized screw; inserted that between the prongs and gave the key another try.

Bandaid successful: Fired right up and drove like normal all the way home. Now, I don't have a fuse block cover or label anymore so I had no clue what #12 was controlling.. I have a suspicion now!

That fuse also controls my electric choke on the 38/38 in addition to everything shown below.

Time to find a set of fuse replacements for backup somewhere.

Quoting CD from another post so I'll never lose this again:

[stevebo77]

Yes! Yeah I love those short rear bumpers without the long forearms. I probably will go with fiberglass though. As it stands now, chrome wouldn't look so great on my paint scheme and I really like the look of my white bumper with all the bolts smoothed off.

Nevertheless, I need to replace the current one with the long forearms and bondoed body with a new solid piece.

hmmm like these?

Bumper is my newest edition .. got my flares from IE and LOVE them!

[stevebo77]

More interior progress yesterday and today.

Removed the seats and old carpet + finished the rear seat delete area.

Installed new carpet, sidepanels, and attached the centerconsole to the tunnel so it wouldn't slide around.

I still need to finish up the parcel hole in the console. Meh, maybe next week.

Pics:

Gutted down to the sound deadener, getting ready for the first sections of carpet.

http://picasaweb.google.com/sthryniuk/1973BMW2002#5467965839804878754

http://picasaweb.google.com/sthryniuk/1973BMW2002#5467965876813484802

Bench riser carpet section laid in (still fits nicely over the extra height I added here)

http://picasaweb.google.com/sthryniuk/1973BMW2002#5467965920150746034

Tunnel section next

http://picasaweb.google.com/sthryniuk/1973BMW2002#5467965988449502306

Taping out the shape of the blue vinyl section for measurements.

http://picasaweb.google.com/sthryniuk/1973BMW2002#5467966013322928722

Blue vinyl will go around this plywood cutout, and then glued & screwed to the big black cover.

http://picasaweb.google.com/sthryniuk/1973BMW2002#5467966049365783314

http://picasaweb.google.com/sthryniuk/1973BMW2002#5467966073048905714

Bam! Installed and lock added to secure the cabinet. Currently the top flap of blue vinyl is only loosely stuffed into the hinged area there, so there is some slack until I finish it by pulling tight from underneath the lid and staple it up.

http://picasaweb.google.com/sthryniuk/1973BMW2002#5467966220118544722

A couple close ups of the Only02.com carpet.

http://picasaweb.google.com/sthryniuk/1973BMW2002#5467966149373493202

http://picasaweb.google.com/sthryniuk/1973BMW2002#5467966197000338066

[Guest Anonymous]

Kuddos to 'Honu' #2588935 who bought the $800 BMW in Pahoa too funny (our village) and did such a bang up job of restoring it! WHOWIE! I've done some auto body work in my day, replaced some floors, bondo, pop riveting, spot welding, grinding etc. too. So could REALLY relate he went 500% beyond. Great JOB!! I had SO much FUN reading it! YOU are TRULY VERY VERY TALENTED and SMART!

[Guest Anonymous]

Kuddos to 'Honu' #2588935 who bought the $800 BMW in Pahoa too funny (our village) and did such a bang up job of restoring it! WHOWIE! I've done some auto body work in my day, replaced some floors, bondo, pop riveting, spot welding, grinding etc. too. So could REALLY relate he went 500% beyond. Great JOB!! I truly enjoyed reading it. And viewing all your pictures! I hope you get this even though it is a YEAR later. We are going home next month in June 2010.

Antoinette (bigisle)

islandantoinette@comcast.net

[stevebo77]

Charging system update.

I had moved the battery to the trunk ages ago and used only the same gauge wire to the back as was used originally in the front. That was never an issue until a couple weeks after the sound system installation (odd that it didn't become an issue until 2 weeks of use, right?).

The issue was that on downshifts or some cruising rpms, the stereo would cut out for a moment.. as if gasping for power. Thinking with my easy cap on, I assumed it was time for a new battery since I've never replaced the one that came with this car. So I limp down to carquest and ask for a battery, since they just don't have a rack of them where you can grab your own here.

The usually awesome counter guys set in with some detective work and need to know exactly what car this is..

me: 'No no no', I say, 'I just need a battery, high cold-cranks and sustained output, 12v battery. This isn't a stock car, not a stock alternator, and battery size is irrelevant since it's not in the stock location'..

They stare blankly at me..

me: 'I just need a decent hi amp battery please, I realize there are a million sizes and variations based on manufacturer demands, but the vast majority of batteries are the same general dimensions and capacities.'..

them: 'What sub model is that 2002 again? You literally can't just stick any battery in just any car.'..

me: 'Literally ORLY? Nevermind, I know what I need.. just give me that Optima Yellowtop right there.'

them: 'You know how expensive those are brah??'

me: 'You don't like selling expensive things? Yes I'll take the $200 wonderbattery please.'

them: 'So, this isn't a stock car then huh? Optima ought to be perfect for every car.'

me: 'Yup.'

I die a little inside from this painful conversation and slide my debit card across the counter.

Run it outside and install it. Take off down the street and find that I'm still gasping for electricity at certain rpms!

Get home and check with voltmeter while running to find that I'm at 12.4v with no power load. Decide right then that I've got anemic wiring and I've been stupid for not upping gauges when adding accessories. Duh!

So today I:

ᐓ installed a new brass distribution block on firewall, above master cylinder

ᐓ installed a new 30 foot run of 0/1 wire from the trunk to the dist block

ᐓ ran 0/1 from dist block to alternator (surely overkill but since I have all that nice wire, why not?)

ᐓ starter wire and all other accessories now plug into dist block instead of all pigtailed on one stud as I previously had it set up.

ᐓ replaced stupid-small alternator-chassis ground wire with 2 gauge wire, sharing a terminal with the engine block ground wire, both now nutted down to a newly welded bolt on the frame rail

ᐓ now have 13.5v while idling with stereo blasting, HIDs lit, and wipers wiping. 13.9v at 2k rpms.

Phototime!

Optima yellowtop with its new hotpipe.

http://picasaweb.google.com/sthryniuk/1973BMW2002#5477259687957185730

Distribution block.

http://picasaweb.google.com/sthryniuk/1973BMW2002#5477259668236295682

Alternator heavy wire, and grounding point.

http://picasaweb.google.com/sthryniuk/1973BMW2002#5477259649340761954

[stevebo77]

Sad day! But it's time to sell. We're moving off of Hawaii back to Nevada and I listed the 02 today

http://honolulu.craigslist.org/big/cto/1980699880.html

Can't wait to buy another one someday soon!

And here's a video for fun:

[stevebo77]

Sold!

:'(

Can't wait to start a new project blog

[Guest Anonymous]

i think i died a little inside. it truly was a awesome build, to bad i can't go "all out" on a tii. well i hope you get an equally bad ass replacement

[kpna]

Just want to let you know I now own this awesome vehicle. the thread has been inspiring and work will continue. not all is lost.

part 2 begins! but in a different direction. the body needs a lot more work than im willing to pay for anytime soon. however the thing has serious sleeper potential. not decided what route to take but one of them involves a tranny swap and a high revving m10. only time and paychecks will tell.

as it sits though, man what a fun car.