E30 325i Rag-Top

Motronic is out, gearbox, flywheel, alternator, fan etc, all off ready to go onto L-jet motor in the morning. I have been comparing the wiring and the hoses to see how I can get this all to work. There seems to be quite a lot of differences in the coolant pipes in particular and I have the Motronic version of the radiator and the header tank so it will be interesting to see what sort of a mix-up I end up with. fun, fun, fun, .... not! Yeah I know, 2 weeks and counting, tick tock, tick tock. Only just finished in the garage now, and that's because I am totally knackered and need to save some energy for tomorrow and hopefully, putting the L-jet in!

Unfortunately not Grant - just a part I realised I don't have but do need! The re-built engine is all together and pretty much ready to go in but I have only just started taking the old one out and there are a few bits I need to swap over onto the new one - flywheel, alternator, etc. The scary part is the electrics and the million vacuum hoses that the l-jets have got that aren't there on the Motronics. The moment of truth will be when I try to fire it up I guess. Should be an interesting week-end, there is bound to be some stupid little part that I find I need but don't have...oh well fingers crossed.

Done. Feedback: Top Trader would recommend to all A+++++

Not too ashamed to admit that I have done that very thing, if someone wants to drive in such a way as to put my life at risk I am not going to back down..was in the UK though so I hope it wasn't you Graham.Also had my jaw broken here in NZ after a "discussion" with a van driver who tried to knock me off my bike. I guess my Anger Management lessons didn't work that well ! Will be interesting to see the outcome of this case in Auckland, be even more interesting to know the full story.

Hey Oli, the black car is the 323i you got off Dave yeah? In which case, yes that would be the right one. Any chance you can post it up to me (I'll pm you the address) and I'll sort you out some cash at Manfield next time your up?

I seem to have two of every single bit of a pre-facelift E30 except this bit, the plastic elbow that goes between the air-flow meter and the inlet manifold. Was sure I had one but the mess that is my garage seems to have eaten it. Anyone got one going spare for cheap? Or can swap for pretty much any other piece of E30 plastic, or metal...

Arrived & fitted - looks 10 x better. Chur!

Yup. A boat anchor is a boat anchor whether it is running or not! With all the other damage, I would imagine only a "trade" buyer would be looking to get it for parts or a paint it and flick it job anyways and they would now what is involved in cleaning out the fuel system.

Personally I can't see it really made much difference to the state of the car or it's value, it was a pretty rooted BA poverty spec Falcon anyways! Possibly the owner p!ssed someone off and they repaid him by modifying his bodywork and motor? Petrol filler covers usually lock, but easy enough to open if you want to!

I thought these came as standard on all Cortinas from the Mark III onwards?

From running DCOE 40s in the past I would add that x 10, there are three jets (idle, main and auxiliary) per choke on a webber so times that lot by 6 = 18 jets to keep tuned and running smooth, I hope you like listening to hissing tubes!

It's Ok Glenn I don't think the guy sitting on the air bag was the full shilling anyway by the looks of him, probably best that he did get castrated to prevent any chace of him spawning a child.I love the Russian First Aid response, laugh your ass off, then if he's still not moving, just give him his bottle of home made vodka to drink - that'll fix him!

Damn you and your timing James! MUST...... NOT.... BUY.... ANOTHER..... E30.....

Fastways - prepaid tickets, upto 2kg and 0.012m3, allowed up to 1m long I think, works out about $5.68 + GST and is track and trace, pretty quick too. Only downside is you have to buy a book of about 50 tickets, can't get one's or two's.

Coat hanger or no. 8 wire? Still think you should do the Warrior head though!

Go out one night when the dogs are barking, get as close as you can and record the noise on your phone or MP3 player or whatever. Then wait a couple of nights, put your stereo speakers out side, pointing at the neighbour's house with the yappy dog in question, then play the recording back on a loop. If they come round and complain - tell them, "it's not nice to listen to is it? Now, harden the f#$k up!" They might take the hint?

Have a good one, try something different on your B'day - DON'T buy a car!

In like Flynn. Cheers for organising this Ollie!

Can you still get the Warrior twin-cam 16v head conversions - they were the dogs whatsits when I was playing around with pintos. Theorectically you should be able to get a Cosworth 16v head to fit, but I don't think it's a straight forward bolt on jobbie like the Warrior. You should be able to do that in a week and a half without a garage - IF you can find one.

Diesel would come in handy for drifting - make sh!t loads of smoke before you even start spinning the back wheels, which I think scores you more points from the judges or some rubbish. Like the name of the team - Black Smoke Racing - very apt when you see what comes out the back of this when he boots it Now a 330d 6-speed manual for an endurance car - that could be interesting

OK Grant, you've got me to bite on your bait.. Not ALL beer is meant to be served at sub-zero temperatures like fizzy cheap lager, all that does is dull the flavours and make you want to piss more. All PROPER beer that is stored in a well run beer cellar does not need to be chilled, even in the middle of summer, merely hand pulled instead of pumped full of gas. It should not be "warm" just a few degrees below room temperature is all that is required. Fizzy, gassy, cheap crap needs to be chilled to hide the chemical tastes and stop the stuff exploding everywhere. It also makes it easier to store and last longer in the barrel, but does nothing for the taste. Most of the best beers I have tasted were served straight from the barrel by means of only gravity, with not a chiller or gas cylinder in sight. As for people drinking a good white wine staight from the fridge, or a decent red that hasn't breathed... I'm not a wine snob and at the end of the day, whatever people like, let them drink it. There is no such thing as "the best beer" it's all down to personal tastes and likes, so each to their own. Oh and Grant, don't be so coy, you're partial to whatever anyone puts in your hand!

Ahhh, S50B32 goodness , I wasn't sure it sounded like an S14, even with the Alpha N. Very, very nice M3, the pearl white is subtle and nicely done, lots of cool photos to show it off as well, oh and it "sounds tits" as they say! Still kicking myself for not buying the E30 M3 with S50 from the Uk , lack of cojones at the last minute I'm afraid , oh well, one day....

I'm never too sure with these "tuned" supercars, there is not much wrong with a Ferrari California as far as I can see, why these guys think they can improve on it by throwing carbon fibre at it is beyond me. Makes it look too blingy / ricer / trying too hard, not the subtle elegance of the original design. Personally I would rather take the standard car. Should that not prove fast enough for me, then I would maybe take the engine tuning mods and they can keep the exterior mods.

You can see the booster and fluid reserviour top left of the picture, with a long remote linkage going back to the bulkhead. Seems to be a pretty sizeable booster - can't tell what vehicle it's from but much larger than a standard E30 for sure.

Brown, smelly and does terrible things to your backside , in otherwise a strongly flavoured bitter.Being from Kent, the beers were always made with the best hops in the world - local ones.