'88 325i Touring #001 resto - 03/2012 rimz porn

[e301988325i]

Bought this coolant pipe ages ago and although the part number stamped on it is identical to the super rusty one off the car its slightly shorter and the mountings are in slightly different places. Hmmmm

Definte blast and powder coat, I got a quote for one about 4 years ago and had to sit down!

[capri_rob]

yeah they're silly money.

I'm gonna get them both blasted and see if the original one will scrub up OK for resale

[Simon13]

yours being an early facelif like my bronzit has the early style injector loom and the outlet for the fuel rail on the bulkhead side instead of by the pressure regulator.

Not that is matter but interesting to note

Did this have the old style non stretch head bolts on it still? if it did then it really hadn't been apart before!

[capri_rob]

They were the Hex head bolts rather than the star-head ones if thats what you mean.

What routing should the rubber fuel pipe to the rail take ?

Seem to remember on my bronzit it went up through the hole in the middle of the manifold via a clip which was completely inaccessible with the manifold on the car

The rubber fuel pipes on the touring didnt seem to follow any sort of factory "route" at all so guessing they've been replaced in the past as they're not too bad.

Still got the new-ish stuff off the bronzit which will be going back on anyway.

[capri_rob]

Head is done - told me the had to skim it but didnt have to take much off which is good.

Apparently its cleaned up very nicely so looking forward to seeing it.

Exhaust manifold apparently bent like a banana but they have now agreed to sort it despite saying it will be a pig to do in view of how much they will have to take off it to get it back to flat.

Bought these today :



NGK FTW
Bosch filter is a temporary fix whilst I run some thin oil through it on startup and for a few miles to clean the crap out of the engine - don't want to be running the thick black shyte thats currently in the sump through my new minty fresh head

Picking up all the studs/nuts etc from BMW tomorrow too.

[B7]

They were the Hex head bolts rather than the star-head ones if thats what you mean.

So probably the heads never been off if the hex bolts are still in place.

[e30topless]

yours being an early facelif like my bronzit has the early style injector loom and the outlet for the fuel rail on the bulkhead side instead of by the pressure regulator.

Not that is matter but interesting to note

is that Loom going spare Si ?

[capri_rob]

They were the Hex head bolts rather than the star-head ones if thats what you mean.

So probably the heads never been off if the hex bolts are still in place.

Wouldnt suprise me - the vast majority of the bits in the engine bay are genuine BMW and look every day of their 24 Years old. Its a double edged sword - all original rather than regularly and properly maintained

Thats sorted now

[capri_rob]

Parts collection day !

Picked this little lot up from BMW


Noticed when I got home they have "forgotten" to apply my discount



Ford RS engine mounts from Burton - we'll see whether these are any good
They can't be any worse than the floppy originals that are on there now

Fresh !!


And a lot cleaner than it was a few days ago !

New febi rockers, new stem oil seals, guides sorted, light skim and cleanup. Cant wait to get it back together.



Sorted exhaust manifold - no longer banana shaped

Also dropped off the inlet, rocker cover, and various other bits for soda/vapour blasting - hopefully ready Friday

[Kedge]

Good stuff their Rob, how much did the head cost to get sorted? I've got a spare head sat in my brother shed I ought to do something with.

Looking forward to seeing the vapour blasted parts

[capri_rob]

The machine shop work which was basically to strip, clean, pressure test and skim the head, sort the broken studs, sort the valve guides and then put it back together with the new rockers & stem seals I supplied was £155 then another £35 to get the exhaust manifold back to flat. That was a "cash" deal - if you want to pay by card it has to go through the books so would be 20% more with the sodding VAT.

Using the same guy diddler went to for the soda/vapour blasting.
Although he did say he's done a few m20 rocker covers and they don't always come up brilliantly - but its got to be better than it is now

[Kedge]

Think i'd just go for a skim and pressure test to prove it's good to sell.

I understand vapour blasting won't shift paint or lacquer and most M20s seem to have the horrid yellow lacquer on it, might be why he hasn't always had good results.

[Dezzy]

The machine shop work which was basically to strip, clean, pressure test and skim the head, sort the broken studs, sort the valve guides and then put it back together with the new rockers & stem seals I supplied was £155 then another £35 to get the exhaust manifold back to flat. That was a "cash" deal - if you want to pay by card it has to go through the books so would be 20% more with the sodding VAT.

Using the same guy diddler went to for the soda/vapour blasting.
Although he did say he's done a few m20 rocker covers and they don't always come up brilliantly - but its got to be better than it is now

I wouldn't give out the name of the VAT dodger, on an open forum now Rob

Nice to see someone going to these length to do a job right! Head looks great!

Nearly there now

[capri_rob]

Cheers Dez - hopefully gonna tackle getting it back together this weekend.

If anyone wants the details of the machine shop for head-work PM me.

They've done various stuff for town325i and I believe danthe has used them too - good enough recommendation for me

[Dezzy]

Cheers Dez - hopefully gonna tackle getting it back together this weekend.

If anyone wants the details of the machine shop for head-work PM me.

They've done various stuff for town325i and I believe danthe has used them too - good enough recommendation for me

Me too!

If you don't recognise who's asking for details, Air on the side of caution mate.
Its going to be HM revenue and customs!

[gooner1]

OT, I know Rob, but how is Mark ?. Don't see the old boy on
here now.

[capri_rob]

OT, I know Rob, but how is Mark ?. Don't see the old boy on
here now.

He's good mate - working lots of shifts.
I'm giving him a hand with his Touring on Friday hopefully getting the M50 in the bay - about bloody time too its been on axle stands for 2 Years !

[DanThe]

Nice head Rob
Ive used these guys for over 10 years now, I put town onto them a few years ago, they have done loads of non standard work for me and ive had nothing but perfect results, if you can get around the gaffer you are onto a winner

[Duke137]

Good work Rob it is definately getting there!

OT, I know Rob, but how is Mark ?. Don't see the old boy on
here now.

He's good mate - working lots of shifts.
I'm giving him a hand with his Touring on Friday hopefully getting the M50 in the bay - about bloody time too its been on axle stands for 2 Years !

Has Mark changed his number? Need to have a chat about a fuel tank and couldn't get through the other day? If you remember, ask him to give me a buzz at the weekend please

[capri_rob]

Nice head Rob
Ive used these guys for over 10 years now, I put town onto them a few years ago, they have done loads of non standard work for me and ive had nothing but perfect results, if you can get around the gaffer you are onto a winner

Cheers Dan - It was Les that I dealt with - don't know if he's the boss ? But he was really sound to deal with - I'd definately recommend them.

Good work Rob it is definately getting there!

OT, I know Rob, but how is Mark ?. Don't see the old boy on
here now.

He's good mate - working lots of shifts.
I'm giving him a hand with his Touring on Friday hopefully getting the M50 in the bay - about bloody time too its been on axle stands for 2 Years !

Has Mark changed his number? Need to have a chat about a fuel tank and couldn't get through the other day? If you remember, ask him to give me a buzz at the weekend please

I'll ask him to get in touch with you Ferg - he's having some issues with his phone at present so the best way to get him is via a Facebook message

[capri_rob]

Bit more progress today :

Collected my soda/vapour blasted bits :


Inlet has come up absolutely superb

Satin black


Fitted up with brand new BMW studs & Nuts


Throttle body coolant pipe delete option

Have bought a new continuous coolant hose from the back of the block to the stat housing.

Injectors back from injectortune

They were pretty fooked beforehand by the look of it

Also fitted my new engine mounts and the steering coupling from the Bronzit - another MOT advisory sorted

Cleaned up the face of the block pretty good - just need to make sure the pots are spotless before the head goes back on hopefully tomorrow

[Alex]

Good as always

keep the updates coming

[capri_rob]

Cheers Alex

Well impressed with the soda/vapour blasting - Throttle body & inlet are now like new

[Alex]

how much did that cost you wouldnt mind doing that with mine on the touring

[DanThe]

Looking at this soda blasted stuff makes me want to strip my engine down

[TouringMatt]

Superb result with the blasting

Def need to get my injectors done in the next few months

Your Tourings gonna make me green when its finished

[capri_rob]

how much did that cost you wouldnt mind doing that with mine on the touring

£80 all in

Not that cheap but a lot less fookin about than trying to prep and paint it - and better results IMO - would never have got the throttle body that good by normal cleaning.

This is the guy :

http://www.suttonsodablasting.co.uk/

Diddler found him last year

[capri_rob]

Superb result with the blasting

Def need to get my injectors done in the next few months

Your Tourings gonna make me green when its finished

Cracking turnaround from injectortune - posted recorded delivery monday night - done and back to me Yesterday

[Alex]

how much did that cost you wouldnt mind doing that with mine on the touring

£80 all in

Not that cheap but a lot less fookin about than trying to prep and paint it - and better results IMO - would never have got the throttle body that good by normal cleaning.

This is the guy :

http://www.suttonsodablasting.co.uk/

Diddler found him last year

You cant really moan at that

[Dezzy]

Looking at this soda blasted stuff makes me want to strip my engine down

My enlarged throttle body came blasted, It put my wire brush efforts to shame.

After seeing diddlers blasted alloy parts, I also wanted to strip my donk down. Fook that now though!

I never want to work on mine again....

Ha ha

[Simon13]

me too! oh.......

This blasting lark is epic. I hope it looks as good in the flesh as it does in the pictures. Its just the ticket. Do you need to give it some laquer to keep it like that?

[capri_rob]

Si it looks great - the rocker cover didnt come up as good as the rest but it was pretty fecked to start with and its good enough for now not to let the engine bay down.
I'll keep an eye out for a better one but its a low priority.


Don't know about lacquering it - as I understand it they were bare alloy from the factory ( apart from that horrible yellow factory wax ) so just gonna try and keep it all as clean as possible.

[Kedge]

Right, that's it. My throttle body is getting this treatment!!

[capri_rob]

Started today by giving the pulleys and front coolant pipe a second coat of satin black - these are now looking great and ready to go back on



Then dropped the horrible cheapshit 20/50 tar out of the sump

Genuine filter but you would never have got this off with a hot manifold in place it was that tight - would have been a fookin screwdriver through it



For people following the VDO Gauge thread this is the OEM sender - ideally you need a 24mm cranked ring spanner to get it off



This is the OEM plug to it - unfortunately this has to be chopped and fitted with a standard spade connector to fit to the VAG pressure sender


I've chopped it and left a bit of wire free so it can always be grafted back on and the OEM sender replaced if necessary


New VAG Pressure/Temp setup

Just got to run the sender cabling via the existing looms and tidy it up now


Inlet back on - head in place but stopped before bolting it down today.


As I don't smoke I don't need an ashtray and this saves me cutting the OEM console.

Just got to get a piece of black leather to trim it with before the gauges go in

[daimlerman]

May be an idea to do the 320i upgrade and delete that un-needed oil cooler!

Make oil filter swaps so much easier...