Beemerlad's M52 Chromie

[Daf318is]

I just packed a few of my usefull tools like some sockets and pliars etc. Can't be having us all fighting over the same tools now can we

[Gortour]

Hope all goes well guys.

[E30Gheko]

Good luck all. Hope you get the beast fired up!

[gooner1]

Well done to all volunteers and hope all goes well Lee.
Myself, i,m helping by staying well away.

[bss325i]

True zone spirit!

Well done guys!

[Jhonno]

Fingers crossed lads! I am sure it will be driving by the end of the day..

[Bob_S]

I'm positive this will be running tomorrow..
I have got the cable ties packed!!!

I am just having a chill before some kip.
I'll bring my HD extension lead ;)

Barry, 24v rightness spirit!!

[buster]

just having a few beers.Catch you all tomorrow.

[robbo86]

Best of luck, lets see lots of pictures as it gets manhandled over the finish line!

[E30Gheko]

Is it finished yet?

[Jhonno]

Is it finished yet?

+100

[E30BeemerLad]

It ain't gonna be finished, S50 manifold DOES NOT FIT

got 2 cracked front springs and no replacements handy

Fuel tank I bought has a hole in it near the filler

there will be other dramas

but the pish taking is legendary

[E30Gheko]

[old_skool]

It ain't gonna be finished, S50 manifold DOES NOT FIT

got 2 cracked front springs and no replacements handy

Fuel tank I bought has a hole in it near the filler

there will be other dramas

but the pish taking is legendary

I have a brand new tank on the shelf if you are desperate this weekend Lee - would need collecting from Gloucester though.

[leeparkes]

It ain't gonna be finished, S50 manifold DOES NOT FIT

got 2 cracked front springs and no replacements handy

Fuel tank I bought has a hole in it near the filler

there will be other dramas

but the pish taking is legendary

[bss325i]

Why wont the manifold fit Lee?

[daimlerman]

I still have some bits and pieces here if you want them,my 'manifold' attempt and at least one other three branch...

[Bob_S]

what a headache!
we got a lot done, and tbh I think the banter kept the spirit up. The tank on the car is ok, we cleaned it up and re-fitted it and got a lot of the running gear side of things sorted.

the 6th branch of the s50 has that nasty s-bend on which was fouling on the bulkhead stopping the mani from going back onto the studs in the head. Not much could be done with it today
Good day though and hopefully Lee is now spurred on to finish it!

[E30BeemerLad]

Big thanks to Bob_S, Daf, Omi & Andy for today, got probably as much done as would take me about 3 months at my usual rate of progress.

A few setbacks though. Will go into more detail later as I can't be arsed to type out loads at the mo.

The last primary on the S50 manifold won't clear the bulkhead near the steering column/ transmission tunnel.

Going to have to track down the guy I got it from to find how on earth he got this to fit. 2 snapped front springs, knackered front balljoint rubbers, couldn't get top covers off strut assemblies, replacement secondhand fuel tank had a pin hole in a rusty aera near the filler neck which got larger when sanding, welding it was too risky so the current fuel tank was given a refurb.

But sincere thanks go to the legends who travelled to give all the help, thanks guys

[Bob_S]

No probs Lee..
worth a mention but baz666 might have some cab/touring rear springs -40mm.. means you only need some 6 pot fronts?

[E30Gheko]

Where's the link to the you-tube vid of the donuts????

Och never mind guys, I'm sure it can all be fixed in time....

[Jhonno]

It ain't gonna be finished, S50 manifold DOES NOT FIT

What doesn't fit about it?

[Jhonno]

Oh right just read.. He probably 'massaged' the bulkhead..

[Bob_S]

Oh right just read.. He probably 'massaged' the bulkhead..

Even I wasn't up for "massaging" it THAT much!
even after having a wire brush on an angle grinder cleaning the crust off the tank!

[Daf318is]

Well we did get a load done backhalf of the car is together now. I think we did a fair few things that were on the list as well as eat and drink lee out of house and home!

Two things stand out from the day really.... "bash it" and "56.5mm"

[daimlerman]

Reckon that this saga just presses home the point that M50 conversions need a lot more work than the average DiY mechanic can cope with on his tod.For zoners like Lee and myself the fabrication of an exhaust pushes us to new boundaries,I tried and failed and bought my way out of this situation.Lee now has the task of finding a way to get that S50 manifold modded, I would guess that the experts helping yesterday would be able to see just what would be needed to make it fit properly and offer suitable advice.However,a load of progress does seem to have been made so this project is a lot nearer to completion.Well done all!

[E30BeemerLad]

I'm currently weighing up my options on the manifold front Malcolm. If the S50 manifold had any way of fitting without having to modify number 6 primary, then the bulkhead/driver footwell would need smacking back by about 2 inches at least.

[E30BeemerLad]

Thought I would update the list showing what has been done and still to do, plus there are some additions to the list now due to issues encountered yesterday.

1- Finish fitting drive shafts & tighen flange nuts & large collar nuts -DONE
2- Re-fit ARB drop links after I bodged it with bolts which are far too long - DONE
3- General check of tightness of any nuts I have had undone - DONE
4- Fit replacement brake fluid reservoir, fill & bleed full system (rear calipers could need a rebuild/free off) - RESERVOIR FITTED BUT UNABLE TO BLEED AS FRONT BRAKES OFF NOW
5- Fit new rear top mounts (not essential as will be getting some new rear shocks soon) - NOT DONE AS DIDN'T HAVE SHOCKS IN TIME
6- fit gearbox mount - DONE
7- fit prop - DONE
8- get engine sat on mounts properly as driver side is out and not sitting on subframe properly after pishing about trying to fit S50 manifold - DONE
9- fit nuts & bolts to modified steering column UJ - NOT DONE DUE TO MANIFOLD HASSLES
10 - fit clutch master cylinder & plumb in new flexi pipe etc - DONE
11- fit gearlever mechanism - NOT DONE - NEED TO MODIFY SHIFTER THINGY - 56.5MM
12- re-attach handbrake cables and fix/find handbrake light switch - DONE
13- check issue with brake pushrod mechanism as feels like it gets stiff and then lets go (maybe something to do with the clio servo or my ham fisted adjustment of bar - - NOT DONE, NEED TO SORT OUT SPACER
14 - re-fit interior - NOT DONE
15 - fit ECU under dash (but hole in bulkhead isn't big enough to fit ECU plug through) - DONE
16- try to find a way of mating 325 2 piece system to S50 cross-over pipe (welding needed) - NOT DONE DUE TO MANIFOLD
17 - I may throw caution to the wind and get a new fuel tank - DONE - REFURBED OLD ONE
18- general check over car in anticipation of getting an MOT in due course (after VIC check) - NOT DONE AS LOADS STILL TO DO
19- Fill cooling system and check for leaks - PARTIALLY DONE
20- Fit E34 throttle cable - DONE
21- laugh at the rust & general tramp theme - DONE, DONE, DONE

New Additions

22- refurb front calipers
23- new front flexi pipes needed
24- buy lowering springs & fit
25 - buy new front top mounts & fit
26- rew collar nuts/slieves needed for front struts
27- new wheel bearing on one front hub
28- buy & fit 2 new front arms

[daimlerman]

Item 11,I found that a 320 mount was the answer,£10 secondhand. Measure the distance from the gearbox mount to the centre of the tunnel hole,if this is around eleven and a half inches,this is the easy answer.A 325 part is shorter still,and 4 pots have a longer one. There's a piccy on my thread of several.

[Gortour]

Shame it wasn't finished. Still, at least it's a long way forward.
Top marks guys. Good effort by the looks of it.

[E30BeemerLad]

Here are some doughnut pics for the time being

[Gortour]

[E30Gheko]

Here are some doughnut pics for the time being

That'll do nicely for the time being!

[robbo86]

Well done chaps, was good to see that you all got loads done and it was a perfect day for it.

[buster]

it was a great day.Nice to meet Daf and Bob-S ( bob-Smash it ! )
Where the hell Omi got his 56.5 mm from i don't know
Shame about those manifolds.I think it would be easier and cheaper to mod some m50/52 manifolds.Number 6 ( last pipe closest to bulkhead) pipe was causing the greif.Theres no way with that pipe like that it would go on.On my s50 manifolds that pipe was totally removed and relocated.

Thanks to Lee and his missus for all the top grub , especially the chilli

Get the parts together Lee and im up for coming back down to get this sorted.

cheers
andy