cleanish_e46

On 10/19/2021 at 1:28 PM, BMTHUG said:

here is a pic as promised 

Clocked this on the shore last week, lovely looking and sounding! 

Adjusted the valve clearances. Spark plugs are in. Exhaust manifold and rocker cover studs are also in. Need to track down some inlet manifold studs as my go to guy doesn’t have any in stock. Is there anywhere anyone would recommend?

Started to give the manifolds a clean up this afternoon, the fuel injectors took some pulling out! 

Is it easier to fix the exhaust and intake manifolds to the head while it’s out of the car, and then just lift it all on together before bolting the head back on to the block? 

Cheers. 

On 12/2/2021 at 9:42 PM, KwS said:

Did you work out what was up with the retaining plate?

No. Checked it against another M20 and it was the same on that so figured it’s not an issue. Everything has been put back together correctly but there’s no way of getting the plate any lower as it’s sat on the rocker shafts. 

Cheers for the advice on the above @BMTHUG

Oil spray bar and camshaft sprocket back on. Just the valve clearances to adjust and I can close the lid on this bit.

1 hour ago, Olaf said:

Why is this sad?  The Classic Car market doesn't care about our feelings.   

Search 1970's Mazda RX, or late 80's Toyota AE86 or Supras.  35 years ago I could buy decent RX3's for $2500.  Can barely find one today in the same condition for $50k.  Am I sad?  No!  I'm happy for those that cherish the cars they like.

About 50 years ago one could buy all-steel Model A Fords for under $500.  Running.  With a bit of rust.  A former colleague of mine bought one - running, rego'd and easily WoF'd - for $50 in 1969.  How much must you now pay for a barely-complete, unregistered, non-running all-steel Model A Ford?  $25k?  More?  You've got vintage restorers, Rodders and custom car builders competing for steel tubs.

Classic car market candidates all feature advanced age, increased demand, diminishing supply, increased competition for the desireable parts.  This results in increased price.  Price fluctuates with overall economic sentiment and prosperity.

This.

You can’t be late to the party and expect to pay what you could’ve when you didn’t.

I’ve replaced the rockers and rocker shafts.

I’ve reinstalled the rocker retaining clips and the  retaining plate.

The notches for the retaining plate are lined up and I’ve tapped it in as far as it will go, but the plate is proud of the top of the head…

… which means the rocker cover doesn’t sit flush. 

What should I do / have I done wrong?

I’ve checked the re-ground valves are sealing properly by tipping a spoonful of fuel down each port. There are no leaks underneath so on to the camshaft. 

I had to make something to stop the camshaft spinning while I removed the bolt. 

Does the job. I’m ready to replace the camshaft end seal and o-ring, the latter appears self-explanatory, but the Bentley service manual mentions, “a service press or it’s equivalent should be used to remove the old seal (I just set it on blocks and drove it out of the retainer with a mallet and flathead screwdriver), and to install the new seal.”

I don’t have a press so I’m all ears if you’ve found a way that works? 

Reinstalled all the valves and springs.

2 hours ago, Sammo said:

'Boring Factory Look' is definitely in vogue now - that why 15" Basketweaves are $2,500 now.

I like the 'Coulda shoulda come from Factory Like this' look.

This!

I got a little bit more done tonight while juggling the house reno’ and baby.

Installed the new valve stem oil seals, valves and springs next. Going to try and stick to this little and often approach as I recover!  

Got back on the horse today, lapping valves.

On 11/5/2021 at 9:46 AM, BMTHUG said:

hahaha still doesn't give you the enjoyment that driving an e30 does. I'll be honest, there is just something about these old boxes that does it for me. I would sell every car in my fleet just to keep my e30. the e60, the e23, the e28 and the e46 can all go hahha

Dibs on the E23 😍

13 hours ago, Olaf said:

Sounds like you need to find a new GP, *stat*.   Part of your new health journey.  From your description, it sounds like they'd not been listening, for quite some time.

Good luck with your journey.  Much of this life can be filled with things you didn't expect to happen; don't let it twist you outa shape, remember that we're lucky to have the opportunity to make changes necessary!

I actually recently changed GP and she's a much better listener, but yeah, frustrating to say the least.

Sound advice Olaf!

14 hours ago, jom said:

I have type 2 - have to manage it but my doctor caught it early. Too much stress at work plus cakes every week (failing project needing support) did it for me. I'm now classed as pre-diabetic, and retiring has really made a difference. Keep on going!

That's great that you're on top of it Jo, good on you and thanks for the support.

I'll avoid turning this thread into a mental health journal, but I have not had a good time recently!

The missus convinced me to go to hospital last week, a place I stubbornly avoid. I ended up staying for a while... 

Long story short, I had to have surgery to remove my gallbladder, and I was diagnosed with type one diabetes. I've been feeling less than well for years, but recently it really ramped up with severe pain in my side. I'd been to my doctor, had all sorts of scans and tests, and it was chalked down to chronic back pain. I was always pumped full of painkillers and sent home, not good for the physical or mental health once they wear off.

I'd actually quit my job as a builder, stopped playing sport, stopped surfing, and was worried I'd have to stop working on cars because everything was just getting too painful to do. It basically felt like I couldn't do any of the things I'd worked hard towards and the things I loved doing anymore.

The diabetes thing, well, the doctor said I'd put up a hell of a fight and done well to avoid a coma with the blood sugar level I came in with, but my body had just given up, but it can all be managed well now. 

I'm actually relieved to have a diagnosis, and since the surgery my back pain has all but gone. It's honestly gave me so much hope. It's a six week recovery, with the first two doing very little, something I'm not great at. While I was laid up in bed I came across SOUP Classic Motoring on Youtube:

Might be of interest to folk. It's really kept me going, and I'm looking forward to getting back in the shed when I can.

The reason I've posted this here is that I've had a lot of support from communities of like-minded folk like Bimmersport, and I just want to thank the people that have reached out, offered to help and everything else. Hopefully I can get Mo on the road for Summer, not much left to do there, and then turn my attention to saving the 325i. Bit to do on that one! 

Josh

Great service. Contacted Gavin by email, and contactless pick-up available from his store. 

Hope so @Ghost Chip fortunately I had covered the block and taped up all electrics as I went. I think the carpets copped the worst of it. 

Long story short: a pipe burst at home and for five minutes a lot of water covered everything in the kitchen and garage below. 

The seats were out, but the passenger footwell was soaking. Carpets had to come out, can't have that foam underneath holding water in the car. .

Everywhere is solid, so there's the silver lining. 

Cheers @WYZEUP do you know how much a sheet of this goes for? 
 

Seats are out, but yes I think I will remove the sill trims and see how much more I can lift it up. 

Had a dehumidifier running in the car all day, certainly smells better than it did, but like you say that foam underneath will be difficult to dry. 

Floor pans look good and solid from what I’ve seen so far so there’s the silver lining. 

Long story short: a pipe burst at home and for five minutes a lot of water covered everything in the kitchen and garage below. 

The passenger footwell is soaking. I guess it got in through the intake vents under the windscreen.

Has anyone had success drying the carpet without removing it from the car? 

The car is on an angle as the front is on jack stands so the water has pooled towards the rear, in the rear passengers footwell.

Can I lift the carpet up from the rear to dry it? Just as much as necessary as it’s not all wet. 

Any advice appreciated. 

Thanks for the heads up @dirtydoogle

Where are people getting their steel during lockdown? 

Pulled the interior out this afternoon and found a wee hole in front of the driver's seat. Solid everywhere else, just spots of surface rust to be sanded. 

Will have to strip this back to find out how bad it is, but it's in a relatively flat spot so should be an easy patch.

6 hours ago, jon dee said:

Fretting corrosion will produce "powdered rust" in a dry environment. In a wet or oily environment it will make rust coloured mud. However for fretting corrosion to occur in that tapped hole the bolt would have had to be loose enough to allow some small relative motion between the male and female threads. Like loose enough that the load would come off the thread after a combustion stroke and then and then be re-applied with the next combustion stroke. Seems unlikely though as I would have expected the head gasket to have blown if the head was lifting that much.

Try finger threading a head bolt into several of those tapped holes and see if the dry one feels a bit looser than the others.

Cheers...

Cheers for that John, does seem unlikely as you say, but still haven't figured it out to be honest.

I'll try that.