Well it has been absolutely ages until I've done an update. Partly because I have up until recently been driving a 2007 Audi A6 Le Mans (really was a lovely, lovely car).
With this now sold and driving my mums car as a temporary measure I really need to get my E21 on the road as a reliable daily driver. As well as having the rear wheel bearings replaced, all the fuel hoses have been renewed and for a long time it doesn't smell of fuel on a full tank - result.
Might be aware that I have an E30 gearbox in now. A Z3 2.9 linkage has tightened up the gearchange nicely. On full acceleration though the rear would vibrate. First thought it might be the propshaft coupling, then perhaps the exhaust twisting. Turned out to be the gearbox itself. My mate got me to have some longer versions of the original bolts made up, tightened them on and no more vibrations! The linkage does very slightly kiss the prop when in reverse, but I can live with that and moving the gear selector slightly stops it from happening.
Even though I've had so many compliments on how clean the bodywork is for the cars age, its never been quite perfect. Definitely couldn't grumble for how much I paid to have it done, but with the wrong prep the paint would just chip too easy, revealing the yellow primer underneath. That and the nightmare mechanic who changed the fuse hoses came back with the valence damaged on his watch meant it was time for a respray (thanks for the pristine replacement Dr Jim). I've taken a punt with a bodyshop in Manchester, eastern european workforce and just starting off, keen to do business and gave me a really competitive quote. They do Vauxhall main dealer cars too, so I thought why not. Windows still to come out as well as welding in a new jacking point and some general surface rust removal and then it's respray time.
I really am single minded now to get this car finally finished. I need to remind myself to take the car to BMTEC to have the final stainless brakehose fitted. The metal brake pipe it attaches to has corroded so they need to have it in for a couple of days to finish the job. New dizzy cap and a proper bracket for a new fuel pump to stop it resonating against the body!
The hopefully Murran will look at changing the loom to 1.3 motronic?
Trip to get some electrics and ICE fitted.
Take it to an interior specialist, then some new stainless back boxes, alloys refurbed, new tyres and it's finished!