Alpina C2 2.7 touring. At the paint shop

[Simon13]

but they don't play CD's i broke the old faceoff unit i'd like something better for it more in keeping like a nakamichi but that can wait

[ShepsEvo3]

I recognise that can of lube!

Looks like delay spray to me not that I'd know lol.

Simon, the car is looking stunning! That interior really finishes it off

[SUMPCRACKER]

That is my favourite E30 this side of an M3. The nuts. Bastard. Well done. Bastard.

[Simon13]

Cheers crackersump

Well today PYF went to the scrapper farewell old turd!




So this cleared the drive to get stuck into the pina, starting off with giving the front suspension a well earned overall. So i've pulled the struts out, front roll bar and wishbones

Heres what we found



Front drop links out of their brains more than i thought! big reason why E30's drive like a double bed when these are shot



Alloy wishbones still fitted which i knew! All the boots aren't split so i hope there is life left in them as they feel fine. The same can't be said the the lolipop bush! Both sides originals with 92 stamped on them. They where really shot and saggy. These where a f**king bitch to get all the ball joints spit with out killing the rubber boots, sometime they fall off not today. WD40,Heatgun,splitter,large hammer and swearing prevailed today!



Original alpina front springs, part number is still on this one, but it's not on my alpina data sheet. But it's only 1 number out and the sheet only states saloon and cab part numbers. I've got the rears too.

I may get these powder coated in time



Some very new looking B8 dampers also. I can't see anything alpina on them so i guess they are stock B8 replacements



So this is what an inverted damper looks like without the casing on. It came off when i tested the damper rod! Can see the bump stop at the bottom. Really is a normal shock upside down

Hopefully get the new control arm bushes pressed in 2moro and get this puppy built back up and driving closer to how it should

[Colonel Sanders]

Looking good, for the brief time i saw it at yours, it makes me want a touring....

[E30BeemerLad]

Do you know what the crack is with the inverted type of dampers and what the advantages are supposed to be?

Saves me getting curoius and taking mine apart

[Simon13]

i don't know exactly Lee i've read about it before but i've forgotton tbh, they are good enough to be factory fit on mitsubishi evo's they don't handle bad!

They are fitted to a number of E30 coilovers, but think the B6's are used in them. Demlot, Everett know more than i do on the ins and outs

[Jon_Bmw]

I think its to do with less rotating mass. Imprezas have inverted shocks as well. You haven't got the big heavy part of the shock attached to the hub you see. Well thats my understanding of it anyway?

[Ant]

^ in a nutshell Jon

less unsprung weight as the bulky section is supported on the top mount not carried by the lower arm.

RIP PYF !

Looking Schweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet Simon

[Simon13]

Cheers Bert,

Well front end mini overhaul done now



Gay i know but i light buff for the ali arms! M3 solid bushes on also



Bolted up, strut in, Hartge 22mm 3 way adjustible bar on also. I like it on the stiffest setting although it gives the drop links a hard time! Drop links (bmw) are only a few months old of PYF



These cupkit springs have shrunk i swear!


Clears the speedhumps on my road by 20mm or so





The perfect ride height imo

I can't go for a real spin as the diff is only held in with half the nuts and it's not mine and theres no tax but feels bang on the money again

More council tat to appear v.soon!

[Theo]

That is looking so good, laden with morsels too.

What's happening with the headlight washers?

[powelly]

Lookin good Si, you still not back to work yet!!!!

I think i'm off next thursday and friday if you're about still.

[Simon13]

I'm about to address the headlamps....

Steve, should be back to work monday but the forecast is heavy rain monday, tuesday!

[daimlerman]

Take it you are on 'holiday' at the moment,Simon? Pleased that you are keeping yourself busy... and trust that 'proper' work appears soon.That touring is as low as a snake wearing a top hat,BTW.

[capri_rob]

That looks the absolute tits Simon - keep the pics coming

[ChrisiS]

This is an awesome machine.

[Simon13]

It's got a black eye!



You can see the white light





So now we can see where we are going at last! It's a boring job and nothing really to see

[B7]

Looking good mate. Ride height looks the nuts. I think I'll have to address my headlights to HID's.

[Simon13]

Cracked on today and it was nice and warm!



Engine ready to come out, some bad oil leaks and iffy clutch being my reasons. I know it could of stayed in but i've got my reasons



nearly ready!



nearly out!



large void



boat anchor



Nice oil leak, bloody gearbox is covered in oil it's coming out of every seal nearly!



Clutch still had life in it was getting close though!, flywheel is ok. But the slave looked a bit grim and leaky, master isn't better so we need to replace the whole clutch system imo. So thats what we'll do!



Another oil leak!



See this is where normally the pina engine number is stamped........not there



But this is the build number on another face, this is the same one written on the build sheet and written on the ecu



Here on this raised flat section is where alpina stamp the head, normally it's 4 numbers but this one has 5?! Who knows



Heres the weld then, runs from number 4 to 6. The engine was over heating in 2003. This is noted in the history and the refurb on the head came to £700 alone, new valves, valve guides, stem seals ect total overhaul on 130,000 miles



Nice and clean still



Now this i can 100% confirm has been fettled on the ports. Exhausts ports look a touch bigger but i'll come to that later. Now the inlet port side is bigger than the gasket stock ports are the same size, it's been smoothed out and they've smoothed it out around the bottom of the valve guide. The overall shape looks very similar to stock in my eyes



This is a standard 2.5 inlet port



This is an inlet port from a non BMW aftermarket 2.5 head and it's different again.

So very interesting so far, and more to come 2moro when the sump comes off. Hopefully the shells,crank won't be knackered and i don't have end up with a bottom end overhaul!

Engine came out with no dramas i deliberately over stripped it, and no mullering of the front panel either. The refit is more difficult though so fingers crossed.

[bss325i]

You pulling the head off to see if the combustion chamber parts of the head have been modded to a hemispherical shape?

[Simon13]

i'll eat my hat if they aren't, i don't really want to spend more on a headgasket + bolts to have a look really When nothing is wrong

[bss325i]

True, would be nice to have a look though, and measure the valves.

[B7]

When was the head done? Just wondering re stem seals. Agreed not worth pulling the head just to check the chambers BUT it would give you a chance to do the valve stem seals and give them a little lap for good measure.

[Jhonno]

Well I have to say I wasn't expecting that, but keep on it Si

[bss325i]

Well I have to say I wasn't expecting that, but keep on it Si

This guy doesn't mess about eh?!

[Simon13]

When was the head done? Just wondering re stem seals. Agreed not worth pulling the head just to check the chambers BUT it would give you a chance to do the valve stem seals and give them a little lap for good measure.

It's only done 40k since this top end rebuild, i'm just sniffing around on the bottom end. Cleaning up the rest.

It's tempting to take the head off as the gasket is leaking by the main oil gallery from the block on the exhaust side front corner. They all do it, but demlot told me a trick to stop it!

[d6dph]

Bloody hell! Didn't see this coming Si. Thought this one was just a thing to tool about in, not one that was getting the works too.

[Simon13]

this doesn't need a mig welding marathon like the 2 door Dave, just and inspection overhaul of some of the mechanics!

[B7]

this doesn't need a mig welding marathon like the 2 door Dave, just and inspection overhaul of some of the mechanics!

Which in turn will make a very nice usable c2. Well worth the effort IMO.

Good work Si.

[bss325i]

They all do it, but demlot told me a trick to stop it!

Do tell....

[Simon13]

just some special sealant on the edge of the gasket before torquing the head down thats all.

This thing has a 90amp alternator fitted? strange (but i'm not complaining) as it wasn't loaded with extras from new. My old optionmeister had one fitted too but all the other 325's i've had have had 80amp ones

[Jon_Bmw]

I'm quite suprised to see this, but if a jobs worth doing, do it properly! Fair play. As its warming up are you back to laying tomorrow? No more car time?

[Simon13]

yup back to work just as i finally get something done, this will keep me busy in the evenings!

[powelly]

They all do it, but demlot told me a trick to stop it!

Do tell....

Yeah!!! Come on share the love, mine does it even after a fresh head gasket

[d6dph]

this doesn't need a mig welding marathon like the 2 door Dave, just and inspection overhaul of some of the mechanics!

Ah right, I could see this starting as a "I'll just do this..... and that.... while that's out I'll do this" then going to full blown resto

I'll leave my old turd with you if you get bored easily, you can make that somewhere near nice