Well it's nearly been forever… Thought I might do a little update.
Since the last one I have moved the servo over by 57mm, fitted that and the Audi master cylinder, done the under bonnet brake plumbing, re-fitted the front sub-frame, loosely fitted the Z3 steering rack, cleaned the engine bay, got hold of a starter motor and radiator and made a start on the engine mod's. I removed the B32 oil system and sump, fitted the ARP rod bolts, fitted the new oil pump and pick-up, modded the M50 sump to accept the oil return and gave it a clean. I then de-greased the engine and gave myself a small pat on the back for getting off my arse.
Here the servo and piping can be seen:
The new pipes are kunifer, with std connections. I tried to get it to all look nice and factory, with nice straight pipes. On the bit where it goes around the turret I am going to fit one of the longer clips so they are all nicely in line. A bit sad. It took me ages and gave me really sore thumbs but I managed to bend the original steel line to the drivers side so it goes around the servo, without having to replace it. Thinking about it I should probably just have made up a new one. I was originally going to move the ABS unit like Dameon did so as to use the original air-box; now I think I shall come up with something else. A double skinned aluminium heat shield and an HKS filter possibly.
I am going to remove the 325i support brackets that take the air-box and relays, grind it flush and re-paint the inner wing. I need to get some paint to do a few touch ups in there as it is so it wont be much more work. We want it all shiny shiny spec eh? I think I'll use the left over paint to do the rocker cover and air-box body coloured because I have become a right tart.. LOL
I also re-fit the front sub-frame, all freshly painted in stone-chip. If I were to do it again I'd use Rustoleum paint but the stone-chip was all I had to hand at the time and I'm officially broke as a joke so had better not start mucking around re-painting things now! The ZM steering rack is now loosely bolted in place. I need to fit the high pressure line Ian made up/sold me and get hold of an E36 return line. Are these expensive new? Might as well get one. I'll drop ZimmerBimmer1 a PM or something.
Next my attention turned to getting the engine ready to go into the bay (a big milestone). It has been upside down for an age, and the previous owner didn't seem to be very particular about his engine bay so the whole thing was covered with road grime, oil mist and general gasheyness.
I almost went out and bought some engine cleaning stuff, but I'm broke. Then I remembered something an old boy with a moustache once told me: The best parts/engine cleaner is 20% fairy liquid/80% paraffin mixed thoroughly. Oh my GOD. It worked brilliantly. It turns into a gel that you stipple into the dirt and it just turns into jelly. Very weird but a quick rinse and the engine was IMMACULATE. ALL of the oil and grime came off, even in the complex VANOS casting.
Before:
After:
Nice eh? It got all the gunk off of the wiring too, and out of all the plugs. Something that can be a complete pain in the rectum! I shall be using that stuff again. It seems best on the general oil/dirt found in engine bays and the like. I use it in the sump on the waxy brown deposits you get and it removed it, but slower than just paraffin I think, though it totally emulsified the oil and allowed it to wash away. Leaves the metal feeling totally dry to the touch with no oily deposits. I also used pink fairy liquid so my engine smells like a mix between gunk and petals.
I then fitted the S/A emissions blanking plate:
Next up was to remove the S50B32 sump and get to work on the internal mods. I removed the sump and was presented with a greeney/bluey/purpley crank. Cool! The engine was immaculate inside. No oil deposits etc, in fact it turns out it's a bastard; ie of unknown parentage! The block is stamped 2000, the head 2001 and the anciliaries match the original cars 1997. I think the guy had a new one on warranty or replaced it after blowing the original bottom end. That's handy, the original car only had 48k on the clock!
The oil pump and pick-up came off and I couldn't resist a look at the mains as they were un-done anyway…
They look to be barely run in. Tiny shiny patch, the rest still all satin finish. Bit of a crappy photo.
I then fitted the ARP rod bolts, oil pump and pick-up. I also re-torqued the mains after tracking down a decent angle gauge and lubing the bolts with the ARP moly grease that was left over. I used locktite 243 on the oil pump drive nut but over-torqued it before realising my shitty Clarke wrench doesn't work properly in reverse! LAME.
I then started on the M50 (E34) sump. It needed the oil return tapping in and a damn good clean. My crappy tap set only had one of those two handle arbors so I tapped a ring ratchet onto the tap. Bit lame but it worked a treat. I then went to re-fit the oil level sensor and found that I had to nudge the return pipe over to allow clearance. Que crappy photo's:
Right: I can't decide if the windage tray in the sump needs removing! It doesn't seem to hit the crank (though I find it hard to turn the engine over without a BMW tool.. very annoying). What did you S50 guys do? The tray can be seen here for comparison:
Also: At the top of the next picture, the fuel vapour recirculation thingy can be seen. Can this be removed and the wiring tucked away and plumbing blanked off? Does the ECU have a fit and/or need this in place? If so; what do I connect it to?
The vacuum pipe for the air re-circ thingy that goes to the exhaust can be removed and blanked at the MAF sensor too right? I am going to tuck the wiring for that behind the VANOS plug covers.
So that's where I am. I have to get the sump â€Ëaproblem' sorted ASAP so I can turn the engine the right way up and get on with bolting it all back together ready to be dropped in. The the real fun can begin.. The electrics (Ian, expect an email or tow and perhaps a stressed out phone call when that happens —a if that's OK? Lol).
Input much apprieciated guys…
Jai
