Lee's 82 e21 316 manual converted

[LeeLee]

I'm not to bothered I don't do lots of mileage and will hopefully be doing even less I just want that sound and look,love old fords bmw's and datsuns so have always wanted carbs hope they can be

[LeeLee]

Well I've bin after a quote for the rear arches to be rolled,and repaired and got a quote of £600 which isn't in my price range at the moment so I'm gonna have to think this one through,not sure what my options are.
But I've got this set of bbs rm's with spacers coming my way

Going to see how they look,but I may be getting larger lips on the front set and putting the back set on the front if you get me haha but excited to get them!!
I've had a problem with oil in the car keep finding cream on the cap,I've done a oil change,but keeps coming back loses a bit of water and smokes when first starting,but runs fine so gonna see how that goes and might have to do head gasket I believe :-/ I've done a compression test which was fine,asked some people they all believe it to be condensations but I'm not convinced

[e21-Mark]

Be careful rolling rear arches, as they don't like it if you're too aggressive and you kink the rear quarter.

[LeeLee]

I've rolled arches before and they turnt out prefect,but I'm not so sure,as I don't really wanna risk it on the bmw as she's my baby haha,so we will see what the options are

[LeeLee]

why do you hate me!! -_- getting tired of this sight and the smoke for the first 5 mins of driving

[Jeroen]

Clean it up, go for a 30 min drive and check if it's gone by then, short runs always cause a lot of condensation so it doesn't have to be any issue. In the meantime, watch for temperature issues.

[LeeLee]

Clean it up, go for a 30 min drive and check if it's gone by then, short runs always cause a lot of condensation so it doesn't have to be any issue. In the meantime, watch for temperature issues.

Will do,il let you know how it goes,

[LeeLee]

Getting the wheels Thursday.
Got my respect your elders sticker on my pop out

Visited a friend

And saw his new beast!
Heres a shot of my seats and wheel ;D

Cars bin using a bit of fluid smokes for first little while when cold,I always try and take it on longer runs everyday as it may be condensation,obviously sometimes I can't but always try

has this stuff in the cap and cover -_-

Need to sort it it's doing my head in,I've never done head gasket before.
I was quoted £600 and over to replace
Little concerned as to what my options are think it's a job for when it's a little warmer ether way but I really don't want to pay that much,I know of a place locally in northampton that skim and pressure test I believe that's about £230.but can't remember now

Random shot

[Jeroen]

Sadly starting to look like a HG huh? Usually the M10 heads cope ok if you don't run too long in this condition and don't run her hot, but with a new gasket set and perhaps do some valve grinding as well to make her all fresh it takes a few hours. No rocket science though.

[LeeLee]

Yes it is looking that way unfortunately,I'm now gonna try and do some research on how to do it,never done it before and this is my only car kinda worring worst comes to it get a mechanic in :-/ also need to get on finding a head gasket set,is a headgasket on my engine particularly different or harder than a average headgasket? My dad's done one but he doesn't sound to optimistic but says it can be done over a weekend :-/

[Jeroen]

A decent workshop manual is a must then imo, but some decent tools too, especially if you want to grind the valves and or replace the valve stem seals. Perhaps one of the iother fanatics here lives close and can help you? One hint: make sure the holes for the head bolts are clean and dry otherwise you might be tightening the bolts on water residue... then you can start over again and you won't know before you start her again.

[Bigmeat]

Shouldn't take a full weekend. I did one with my Dad when the HG blew on my brothers Mk3 Escort on the A38. We managed to pull into a garage and I rang my Dad he fetched a new gasket and we did it in the pouring rain with hardly any tools. Was dark by the time we finished but it was fine.
Till my brother stuck it in a ditch about 3 days later...

[Jeroen]

Just exchanging the head gasket is pretty simple, but I'd try the extra work described. You won't believe the difference after. More power, more fuel economy, more fun. But just the gasket swap is a few hours.

[LeeLee]

As long as the head gasket is easy enough then that leaves time and attention to doing the other jobs while were there,il try and read up on what's involved with doing the seals and grinding the valves I'm sure it's simple enough just wanna do some research before I start

[gazzab1978]

Hello Lee, just read through your thread and you got a lovely looking car there. im in northampton too,in kingsley and judging by your photos you must be on this side of town too as i recognize the shot from inside tesco express. I have the haynes manual for the e21 if you need to look through it regards the head gasket change plus i have done a few hg changes on other cars so if you need a hand give me a shout. need to get mine through its mot this month and on the road then maybe see if we can get a mini meet going.
heres mine