Worlds longest Resto, my C2 2.7 19/3/18 Vent guage action

[e30topless]

Nice one Si !

throw a crank in.. nip a head down on the top, and you could be diffin this turd before the snow has melted !!

[e30topless]

Last jobs are to get the block painted with some new core plugs? Any ideas here?

I use 2 or 3 coats of Hammerite satin black smooth finish ,and new core plugs after the Paint,
I then use a Heatproof engine satin Lacquer over the block and core plugs to keep em looking neat,

[Simon13]

the block is just black like any bmw block Glenn. Could you powder coat a block? Steve did that paint stick? that engine looks mint like i want mine! I'll have a go myself but i don't want it peeling after a year or two!

bmw want about £3 a core plug i thought that a bit steep! seeing as you need about 10 at a guess

[B7]

Biblical my man, Biblical. Loving the seat left for the liners to sit on. Makes perfect sense. They have made a superb job by the looks of it. Expensive but piece of mind costs money.

Top job!

[Theo]

Great work, has the cylinder head had similar attention or is that on the to-do list?

How much were the new gaskets for the A/C heater box?

[E30BeemerLad]

No messing or expense spared as usual. Isn't this going to be the finest C2 2.7 on the planet? I'd like to see better if there is.

[Simon13]

The heater gaskets, one was about £15 iirc and the other i got cheap off powelly who ended up with 2. they're the same for any type of heaterbox Theo i think

I don't have any pics of the cylinder head to hand, but its here basically ready to go, just need to get the valve guides checked for tolerance. Trevor has some pictures. Sadly its a modified stock 2.5 head from my much loved/hated PYF! As the Alpina head and camshaft were missing upon purchace replaced with stock 2.5 items

Who wants to run this engine in?! thats the biggy new camshaft and rings and bores. Plenty of time to think about that one i think

[Theo]

Cool, think I'll have to order those gaskets in my next visit to the dealers.

The tolerances for valve guide wear in the BMW repair manual are huge, far greater than one would reasonably expect.

[e30topless]

Could you powder coat a block?

I think it could be done, but use a scrap head, cam cover, and sump (to protect the internals) ?
trouble is if it doesn't turn out right you would have to have the block stripped/dipped in acid

Steve did that paint stick? that engine looks mint like i want mine! I'll have a go myself but i don't want it peeling after a year or two!
bmw want about £3 a core plug i thought that a bit steep! seeing as you need about 10 at a guess

I did one using engine block enamel it came off after around 10k..
Smooth Hammerite in a rattlecan is great, it sticks like shit and one I did 3 years ago still looks new

shit the coreplugs have gone up, they were £1.20 6 months ago !

[Simon13]

i see, theres a guy near me who did all the other powder coating and also blasted/replated my calipers and carriers. I'll give him a shout see what he says

The machine shop said acid dip the block first as it damages the bores. So i can't do that again! By luck i told them when i was there first i wanted that doing and they said no do it first. I thought sh!t i've driven all the way here for nothing but they said they get it done up the road much to my relief!

Valve guide wear is something like 0.8mm. i had to get 6 new exhaust ones for the tourings head. I expect this head will also need them doing. Inlets don't seem to wear, doesn't the valve rotate as its pushed up and down? i'm sure i read it somewhere

[e30topless]

I think the main reason for powder coating turning out bad is oil that's soaked into the metal over the years, it bubbles out in the oven when the powder is baked !

I dropped off all the beams suspension ect today for the H23, for a small extra cost he is Zinc coating everything before the powder, this should give a better finish,

this could be the answer for doing a block and making sure it turns out nice ?

[Simon13]

to replate proper it has to be dipped Steve so thats out of the question i'd say

[DanThe]

You wouldnt have a chance of powdercoating a block to a useful degree, the amount that would need removing so you could bolt parts to it would make it pointless.
Its all about the prep for a decent paint job, thinners, thinners and more thinners to clean the oil and grime off before any paint goes near it.

Liners only really play up in alloy blocks, and thats a very small percentage.

Yours will be perfect for the job in hand I reckon

[Blitz]

I think I've got some original sound deadening for the boot floor for free if you want.

[Kos]

Now alot of people have said don't go this route but its the original block. To me this the heart of the engine along with the head. If i had replaced this with a different one then to me its like oh the shell was too rusty too so i bought another and did a scuttle swap job.

exactly what i've said a few times

the engine will be spot on and be perfect matching nunbers car

[Dezzy]

Now alot of people have said don't go this route but its the original block. To me this the heart of the engine along with the head. If i had replaced this with a different one then to me its like oh the shell was too rusty too so i bought another and did a scuttle swap job.

exactly what i've said a few times

the engine will be spot on and be perfect matching nunbers car

I agree 100%. A car as good as this one, with all the effort that has gone in to it needs all the details to be correct imo

[Simon13]

Another day, another workshop, this time my old mans joint. GP precision grinders





Caught! lovely block on the side.







Bit better, my dad at the front, lots of ladies on the wall to help the day go by. You will never ever see as many burgers in one place as you will here. Worth a visit on its own. Strictly no munters. Anyhow here is what he's done. So we've gone from this






To this...................










Lovely, best finish in the business. Good enough for F1 engines,gearboxes,diffs good enough for me! once the liners were flush as such with the blockface then it was a further 2-3 thou off to get it like that. Not even a human hair thickness taken off.

He reckons the block was as flat as a witches tit, no high spots or twists which is good. You can hardly see the liners now really have to look at an angle with the light right to see them now.





The wise old men of the workshop recon its a bad idea to disturb the core plugs? I think we can leave these in and replace the other side as they are manky and rusty. They all think its a bit mad but they're old and experienced and what the f**k do they know?!




If your ever feeling down during a visit





The men are here for you!



Shameless plug but if you need a head skimming, block etc and local drop me a PM.

So next will be painting it and then onto bolting shiney bits back on. The postman has come literally as i typed this. My bottom end gasket set from CharlE30 thanks there.

[Theo]

Lovely job, good old Dad!

[Dezzy]

Nice work

[glenn]

mmmm.............
this is the 'money' shot for me

[Jon_Bmw]

Looks good Simon.

My old school engine builder says the same with regards to core plugs. It must be an age thing. If its been OK for 20 years... etc etc. They do look better with new ones though... Do you remember that blue Datsun 240z turbo (I can't remember if I showed you?), that had new core plugs and a blue block, it looked stunning.

I presume they used a surface grinder on that? They certainly look good, when they have just been ground. Short engines just look so good when they are all fresh. We are doing an evo 6 at the moment that looks stunning. 3 thou off both faces, brand new steel rods and forged pistons. Black block as well. If only it wasn't a four pot. Still it should be good for 600bhp although it will only see around 450bhp.

Grinding business must be good, if someone has a porker turbo

[Simon13]

i remember that datsun was lovely. Yeah surface grinder, the porker is the old mans business partner. Life long porka man worked his way up from a 944. That turbo is a 4wd also

I'll only like this engine when its run in, doing the ponies and not smoking! But i'll be on for a visit still to sort the exhaust situation at some point like i keep saying!

[Jon_Bmw]

Aye, does he want an exhaust for his 996(might be a 997?) We do a really nice one... We had one in last week, but due to the snow, I couldn't risk road testing it. Gutted.

Custom/ new product development work we are rammed at the moment anyway. Plus no one is around for 2 weeks so it puts it back even further.

The datsun is finally gone, at a very sensible 5psi it makes 210bhp ATW and pulls really hard from 25% throttle at 2000rpm. That was a fun but nerve racking road test.

[beemerbird]

You can smell the artisan pride coming off this picture. Lovely

[B7]

Good write up Si. I can vouch for Mr13 seniors grinding. My local machine shop (2 died in the wool codgers) has seen a few heads ground by Si's dad and they reckon it's one of the best finishes they've seen. It really is top notch.

[winx]

another vote for Si's Dad here, done 3 heads for me now I think
Tell Rod to get the porker cleaned, I told him at the wedding it was a disgrace!

[powelly]

Looking good Si.

Another big up for the 13 grindage from me.

[Martinaston]

Looks good, do we get a zone discount ?

Its worth having a look down the water jacket at the core plugs, i managed to push a screwdriver through mine because they were so far gone.

[Andyboy]

Good call on the liners. The original matching numbers engine will add more than 800 quid to the value of the car, plus you know in the back of your mind that it still has the proper Buchloe motor.
To paint the block, use aerosol etch primer and then satin black from Halfords. The engine heat will bake it on and it looks OEM.

[Simon13]

Look what the fatman in a red suit bought me, most kind! Prize engine morsels. The spray bar was bent which i think isn't on for something that used to be £11 but is now £40. Made me think back to last years crimbo list was bits of trim etc. Which made me realise this year gone i've made some good progress on this as the list this year was engine bling.

New thermostat housing is my particular fav





Picked this up off CharlE30 (thanks again) goertz bottom end gasket set. Saved me a small fortune from BMW just for the oil seals alone





Your thinking whats this? Me messing around. In my wisdom a while ago, i bought rather alot of nuts and bolts new. A big box full of bags and not knowing where it all fits. From BMW you have the odd bag of 10, or 5 etc so this actually took ages. As it throws you off trail. Checking with RealOEM along the way to make sure really helps. I shant do that again





Heres my treasure box, Trev thinks its sad but he gave me this box thing. I hoard all the shiney nuts,bolts,speed clips,washers,plastic clips, odd little bits that are often missing or broken on E30's. Taken from every E30 i've broken nearly. Comes in very handy all the time for when you buy new from BMW and they turn up and the bolts are silver or black. I hunt through here and often come up trumps. Its my favourite box in the garage and thats why it gets a picture and a whole paragraph. An essential thing for the OE restorer




Sourced me 6 ones like these for the lower cambelt pulley, instead of the black sh!te BMW gave me, they just go into stock for a lesser wagon. Normally the touring!


From bolting all the gear to the block i could see i'm missing a few bits so i'll get those ordered. Luck must be on my side as i was handed a brown envelope Crimbo day. Funds from my departed Grandfarther. They shall be put to good use to keep this ball rolling so off the BMW 2moro for a haggle on core engine bits and beat the VAT man!

[e30topless]

Heres my treasure box,

Every respectable BMW owner should have one of these !

I save every shiny nut and bolt I come across !

[B7]

Heres my treasure box,

Every respectable BMW owner should have one of these !

I save every shiny nut and bolt I come across !

I never said it was sad Si! Thats why I gave you the box. I have 3 on the go now but you are always too quick on the breakers for me to secure any.

Actually, we're both sad w4nkers really!

Loving the stat housing. Not cheap these I would suspect and not something I even considered on my lump. But thinking on it, it's a focal point on the engine. It'll make a good build the tit's!

[d6dph]

Some healthy progress being made Si, This is about the only thread that makes me pop back on here!

Congrats on the wedding too.

[Simon13]

Thanks Dave, have you still got the alpina tyre pressure sticker for this car?!

[d6dph]

I have indeed mate. Drop me a message in the new year and I'll print some off and send them to you.
(And the paintcode sticker iirc?)