update II…for one

Second issue besides running rich is the coolant temperature.  The engine temps like the creep past the halfway point after normal driving.  Sometimes reaching the 3/4 mark.  I’ve changed almost all of the cooling, except for the radiator and heater core.  On a good note, the past weekend I took apart the AC condenser in front of the radiator and guess what?  There was a wad of debris; almost like a nest.  Maybe there was a critter living there for a while.  I didn’t get to drive the car, so I don’t know if this was the problem.  I’m thinking it may be an inefficecient radiator or a tiny leak somewhere.  I’ll keep you updated.

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update…a very needed update

As you can see I haven’t been posting much.  Ever since the M hit the road a couple of weeks ago, my mind has been on an endless “get ‘er done” mode.   First, she drives good.  Not great, just good.  The suspension is tight and the steering is slopfree.  The tires are great too.  The tacho is possessed.  No noises from the tranny, clutch, or driveline; which is good because it was all out! What needs real attention now is the engine.  It starts fine, but idles high after warming up.  On the road it just doesn’t have that punch in the higher revs.

Last Saturday I took her to get a smog check-surprise, surprise it won’t pass.  Not even close.  Good thing I asked for a pre-test!  Back to the drawing board.  The tech said the engine is running excessively rich-at least not excessively lean!  So, what’ll make the engine run rich?   Easy list first:

• Fuel pressure regulator — Changed.
• Faulty injectors—rebuilt
• Oxygen Sensor—new (amendment to this below)
• Vacuum leak—checked out ok
• Air flow meter— slide mechanism checked for resistance linearity, ok.  Air temp sensor not checked.
• Water temperature sensor (blue plug)—new
• Wires? —new
• Weak coil—tested ok
• Damaged ECU—not tested
• Bad plugs—sooty and fouled plugs cleaned; new ones ready

Yesterday I removed the oxygen sensor to find a nice layer of sooty buildup indicative of rich combusion.  I cleaned it with brake cleaner and gave it a good wire brush scrub.  Put it back in and seemed like it started smoother.  I didn’t get the chance the drive the car, but maybe that was it?  If not, I have a feeling, or by deduction above, the culprit is the afm or the ecu.  I’ll report back.

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The M3’s First day out!

The M is finally out on the street and relatively comfortable.  I definately need to change the cats and muffler.  They sound like tin cans.  The exhaust gaskets need to go too.

I was planning on meeting Mariano and the crew at the Rose Bowl, but I was late for the drive.  Mariano was nice enough to stay after for a quick chat.  Here are some pics I took tonight, nothing fancy (and kinda blurry):

 

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the horizon, feeling better and no urgency

The previous post demonstrates how I was feeling yesterday.  But with work, and a good nights sleep today I feel much better about the tasks at hand needed.  First, Friday’s test drive slowed me down a bit.  I’ve been very anxious to get the M on the road, so the last few months I’ve been working on it every weekend.  It’s catching up to me.  I’m tired.  My arms are buzzing with soreness.

I’ve come to the conclusion that I will NOT get the car perfect before I get it permanently on the road.  It’s not happening.  It needs more attention, things will need replacement and/or upgrading.  Phase I is done.  I can slow down and get a plan going for Phase II.

I just want to get it running safely and reliable for weekend driving with fellow M3 enthusiasts.  Really, thats all I want for now.

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First drive in many years, the project deepens.

So, I’m feeling a little melancholy right now.  I’ve been working on the M off and on for 2 years now trying to get it back on the road.  This day was Friday.  

Last week I told my wife the big day was very soon since all of the major things were done.  As the great wife she is, on Friday she went to get a temporary permit at the DMV (it needs a smog check).   I was excited and hurried home.  Odds and ends were finished, dusted off the years of dirt, and re torqued the wheels.  I was ready for her first test drive in 7 years.  Man it was rough.  The engine buzzed; speedometer fluttered; power was down.  The temp started to go up right as I was nearing my driveway, then the engine quit.  My wife and I had to push it up the driveway into the garage.  I guess my expectations were too high.

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she’s alive!

she’s alive I say!

She needs a good lowering.

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brake caliper overhaul how to…soon

I’m pooped today!  The entire weekend was used up getting her done.   And she is…stay tuned.

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my (much loved) cramped quarters

You guys with the lifts and big garages have it made.  Look at my beloved space.  Any garage is better than no garage!

 

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February update; tranny in, shifter in, my shoulder out

Last last weekend I spent an entire day installing my transmission.  It went smooth until the las centimeter or so.  The tranny would not slide in completely.  I figured either the input shaft was contacting the pilot bearing.  Being that I was working in a cramped and confined space under the M, removing the tranny 3-4 times became frustrating.  I finally just tightened the four mouting bolt to close the gap.  There wasn’t any struggle in doing that, it just slid in.  Hope that worked.

 Clutch

New bellhousing bolts and parts; new slave cylinder too

E24 transmission mounts were also installed permanently.  The tranny support needed the holes to be larger.  Iused a file to do the job.

 

The old tranny mounts.  As you can see one was a hack job that made the other strain.  No wonder my drivetrain was wobbly.

 

Rebuilt shifter components installed. Oooh nice!

 

Finished product pictures soon.

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got the tranny in, rebuilt calipers

During our rainy SoCal weekend, I spent it in the garage getting the tranny in.  I also removed all of the brake calipers.  Today I kicked ass and rebuilt all four calipers!  So proud of me.  Pictures forthcoming.

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