It's been a while since I posted, but plenty has gone on. It's been stinking hot, which slowed me down a bit too.
I got some more Fjord Metallic on there, although it has been a real trial to get decent coverage without runs everywhere. The paint is really "thin" and the damn engine keeps getting in the way. Eventually, i just gave up and left it a little patchy. I'll sort it in a few years when I have enough money for a full respray.
It got a little better than this, but not much.
I got the exhaust on and it looks lovely. Hope it lasts. Couple of the nuts were locked on to the studs. I've ordered some more, so I've left them in the easy to remove locations for when they arrive.
Got the brake booster and silly long mechanism back on. Looks pretty good with a coat of paint. No leaks or issues, so no actual work went on to it.
Coolant expansion tank back on with shiny new cap.
Some of the paint looked pretty good. The Rust Seal paint looks and feels pretty tough, so it should last well.
While I was under the bonnet and waiting for other bits and pieces to dry, I had to investigate the awful smell coming out. Turned out to be some long deceased rodent (I think) as there was nothing left except a few lavae shells and some fur! It was all up in the vent cowl on the side of the wiper motor. It had to come out and get a good clean. Cleaned up inisde while I was there. Smell was 99% gone the next day, so I think I got it.
Dirty Wiper motor
Clean Wiper motor
I threw some more paint around on the bits that were rusty and lying around. Bonnet hold down, bonnet spring piece and vent cowl were easy and make a nice improvement.
I spent hours going through the wiring of the auxilary fan trying to work out why someone had bypassed it in the past. It appears that the low speed is not functioning and the temperature switch for the high speed is not working. I'm assuming this confused someone in the past, so they installed a very shoddy aftermarket temperature sensor and relay. Looked rubbish and the wiring appeared to have been done by a 3 year old! I re-wired it (luckily, they'd left all the old wiring in, just cut it) and got some new temperature switches. Unfortuantely, I need the lathe in our workshop (at work) and it is down for maintenance. I had to go with a temporary connector for now. That'll mean dropping the fluid again, but it's something I can live with to get the car mobile.
Wiring reconnected
Temporary Connector and Temperature switches
Since I had the wiper motor out, I took the opportunity to throw a bit of paint on the wiper arms. Never hurts to get some fresh paint on.
The list hasn't got much shorter, although I feel like I've just about rebuilt the whole front end. I guess that's the thing with e21s, you find another thing to fix for each one you finish.
Paint airbox -
done
Re-install intake system -
done
Re-wire connections to cold start -
done
Fix misfire
New tyres
Control arms
Front wheel bearings
Remove surface rust and paint under expansion tank/brake booster -
done
Fix indicator self cancel
Flush and replace coolant -
done
Stop exhaust rubbing on rear subframe
Fix rust spot under tail light
Bleed clutch slave cylinder -
done
New - Replace temperature switches -
done
New - Fabricate temperature switch connector
New - remove aftermarket temperator sensor and relay -
done
New - re-wire fan control relay and sensors -
Done
New - clean wiper motor -
Done
New - Paint wiper arms -
done
New - Paint vent cowl -
Done
Bleed brakes
Replace gearbox selector seal
Replace shifter mount bushes
Reaplce gear box mount
please!
