This has been saved, red 325iASE finishing polish action

[darren_mk]

Top work, why not a good idea with the cut down studs for guides? - was the head way too high and getting stuck sliding over them?

[spook]

Put the Black leather in it and put 500 on the asking price.

[capri_rob]

Epic.

Think I'll bring the turd down to you for the head rebuild.

[winx]

looking forward to seeing this again on monday Si.

[Simon13]

the stud i dea would work but the f**king engine loom across the bulkhead was in the way. I just couldn't do it on my own and plus you do have the little dowls for this job. took them out and lowered it on. Its bloody heavy on your own. The motorsport way is to bolt the inlet and thermostat housing up for the even quicker refit!

Black leathers are sold but would of added an executive look to it!

Thinking back powelly did a headgasket test on this, to see if exhaust gasses were in the coolant. It was ok but then looking at where the crack was it wouldn't of picked it up innt?! being on a cam journal it was just mixing up

[Morat]

:salute: Really good to see a nice E30 saved, top job
I concur about the weight of the head and manifolds. Town/Mark and I lifted mine in with them bolted up and it definitely took both of us!

[B7]

Thinking back powelly did a headgasket test on this, to see if exhaust gasses were in the coolant. It was ok but then looking at where the crack was it wouldn't of picked it up innt?! being on a cam journal it was just mixing up

A worthy point and worth pointing out for others Si. A sniffer test will only detect a head gasket fail where the fail is from the cylinder to a water gallery. The gasket was obviously fine on this as it had been done not that long ago. It was purely oil mixed with water via the crack from the water gallery in the head to the cam journal. As the water pressure is higher than the crankcase breather pressure, not even any breather gases will be detected.

The test would also not pick up a leak like the one I just did on that 4.6 V8 p38 RR. That had blown from the cylinder wall to the side of the head and between 1 and 3. No coolant issues at all.

Its a common misconception that head gasket fail automatically means gases in the coolant.

[powelly]

Indeed Trev, worth a note, so many people are fobbed off by crap mechanics by being told that "we did a sniff test and it didn't show anything, head gasket must be ok" we did this test on the red turd as it kept puking coolant out, however on an M20 a HG failure is not the only thing that will cause this problem.

[Simon13]

Finishing touches, all seems to be ok and 95% finished i feel now







pimp flaps, for that excutive 80's look. I'm missing a front drivers but pacerpete is coming to the rescue here



Yesterday i went to powellys for some homo action with a machine polisher to get the paint looking its best. The rear quarters were the worst, now 50 times better


A few 50/50's










Amazing! well i think so






Both sides done, just needs the bonnet and roof and a sealant apllied for a lasting redness and the pink to stay away




Then the ugly on the way home it started getting hot. I thought a number of swear words with the heater on full chat going hot and cold. Got in pulled the bonnet and i hear it before i saw it.

So another coolant (in stock of course!) pipe and bleed up should sort it.

Doesn't like me does it? Apart from that seems to be running very well now and pulls much harder when pressed on.

[oguz327]

Looks sooo much better now Simon, first time I have seen the repair work you did in the flesh and I must say, very impressed dude!

[gareth]

That's coming together nicely How the hell do you find the time to be a married man?

Re installing the head, a M30 head in a E30 is such a tight fit that it has to come off with the inlet manifold attached, and it's pressing up against the bulhead loom as soon as it's 10mm up of the block... That's a backbreaker!

[powelly]

Yesterday was a real bumfest, I was hoping to finish off today but the weather is Shit. The polishing done yesterday has been temporarily sealed with optiseal, ultimately it will receive several layers of Zaino Z3, this is formulated for single stage paint and contains UV protectants, should stop it turning pink again within weeks.

[Alpina99]

Excellent thread & you've made a great job of all the work,
What next ?

[Simon13]

theres a certain zoner with a very nice spec 325iSE 2dr auto that needs minting! low milege and great spec. Its wasting away with him!

[Blitz]

Looks great. What a transformation on the paint.

[goosiegander]

Brilliant job dude!

[B7]

Looks good. Get the thing marketed now

[bss325i]

Shiny shiny!

[powelly]

theres a certain zoner with a very nice spec 325iSE 2dr auto that needs minting! low milege and great spec. Its wasting away with him!

Good luck prizing that from the certain Zoners grasp.

[powelly]

Red turd finsihed and waiting to be served.

[Dezzy]

Red turd finsihed and waiting to be served.

That looks cracking. Any more pics Si?

[oguz327]

Really did come up a treat this!
Will make a good sorted 2 door for someone

[Simon13]

no its at my mums house, need to go and pick it up. Bad day at the office.

[B7]

Looks good that don't it?

So whats the going rat for one of these now?

[Simon13]

A very nice man is picking this car up very soon! But i think it will be coming back for me to service/look after it in the future.

[powelly]

Benjamin and his new purchase are very happy, he even gave it a wash when he got home, you is moneyed now bruv.

[Andyboy]

init - u has dollar 4 anovva alpenis blud

[B7]

Hooorah!