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dale
Joined: 22 Aug 1999
Posts: 3087
Location: Seattle, WA USA
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 Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 4:07 pm Post subject: Pro3 Build, Day 18 |
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See previous posts in this saga:
http://www.unofficialbmw.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=31240
Sunday the 20th, in the morning I'll get the car back. in the afternoon I have a friend coming
over to help install the vinyl on the car. I picked up my number pads and class letters yesterday
and the car will start to look more like a real race car when those are in place.
Todo:
- install seat
- install belts
- install quick-removal adapter and new steering wheel
- remove steering column lock mechanism
- install new front brake calipers/lines/rotors/pads
- bypass the ABS system
- install exhaust, either header or factory cat-back for now
- install front/rear swaybars
- add aftermarket chip
- install battery cutoff switch
- install fire suppression system
- install AMB transponder
- add numbers and class letters
- install mirror class to drivers side mirror housing
- take it out for a test drive to see if it runs decently! 
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dale@unofficialbmw.com
 sold in 2016
87 325 5spd eta
Last edited by dale on Sat Apr 19, 2008 8:06 am; edited 4 times in total |
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dale
Joined: 22 Aug 1999
Posts: 3087
Location: Seattle, WA USA
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MaxxSpeed
Joined: 18 Apr 2008
Posts: 1
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| Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 12:09 am Post subject: Great looking cage work! |
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Hi Dale,
I got a chance to look at your car today at RaceTech. The car looks great and I'm excited because my car is next! After looking around I'm glad I found Russ's shop. His work is better than most and prices are great! I can't wait till my car gets done.
I hope all goes well with the rest of your car. Are you racing the first race coming up in Pro3 with this car?
See you on the track!
Calvin
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Calvin B. Lofton
SalesPartners NW
salespartnersnw@gmail.com |
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menuhin
Joined: 09 Dec 2007
Posts: 163
Location: Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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| Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2008 10:03 pm Post subject: |
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Nice looking metal work!
If only I'm in Seattle, I can visit Russ's shop to let him check and fix the floor pan rust holes of my car
_________________
My E30 101 finished: Red 1986 325es (103K miles only)
- completed: tbelt, h2o pump, rust holes, tie rods, ca & m3 cab, sports s&s, backup light, tranny seals, 3.25 LSD, short shifter
FAREWELL my 325es!  |
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dale
Joined: 22 Aug 1999
Posts: 3087
Location: Seattle, WA USA
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| Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2008 3:03 pm Post subject: |
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Hey Calvin, I'm sure Russ will do a great job on your car as well.
Did I pickup some parts from you over a year ago in the Montlake area?
Just got back from picking up my car. It turned out great but I've got a lot of work ahead of me. I'll post pictures later tonight, hopefully will have vinyl on it by then for numbers/letters.
Dale
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sold in 2016
87 325 5spd eta |
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dale
Joined: 22 Aug 1999
Posts: 3087
Location: Seattle, WA USA
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| Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 2:32 am Post subject: |
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Wazzu came by this evening and helped out by pulling unused levers off of the steering column, no need for turn signals or cruise control at the race track!! Also got the steering lock-pin out, can't have the steering wheel locking up on the track.
He also installed my new wheel and quick-disconnect setup, nice.
Ken and Wes came by and installed my vinyl numbers and the big pads for the numbers. It is really looking like a race car now!
I scraped rust and prepped the new cage for paint.
Started painting it with Por15 in black. Got a good part of the front done, we'll see what it looks like tomorrow.
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dale@unofficialbmw.com
sold in 2016
87 325 5spd eta |
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dale
Joined: 22 Aug 1999
Posts: 3087
Location: Seattle, WA USA
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85-325e
Joined: 30 Jun 2002
Posts: 4712
Location: Southampton, NY
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| Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 9:39 am Post subject: |
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That puppy is looking great Dale. The metalwork he did for the cage is amazing, especially that passenger door the way it fits to the cage.
The Vinyl Makes It Look Ready!!!
Congrats!!!
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Cosmo - 1985 BMW 325e, Single Owner, 265,000+ ORIGINAL miles and still going strong! But now on the East Coast and the salt air corrosion is eating my beautiful car alive...
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greenie
Joined: 02 Nov 2002
Posts: 420
Location: los angeles
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| Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 11:00 am Post subject: |
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| That is some cage! You're going to corner like a giant go cart. |
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dale
Joined: 22 Aug 1999
Posts: 3087
Location: Seattle, WA USA
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| Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 7:32 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks guys, I'm really looking forward to getting this car on the track.
This morning I finished the install of my power cut-off switch.
I learned how to splice a AWG#0 cable yesterday, it is easier if you have a vice!
I cut the main battery cable about 6" before the power block under the hood.
Put a new 3/8" end on it, connected to once side of the cut-off switch
mounted by the window, in the cowl vent.
Put another end on the remaining 6" piece of cable, then ran an short extension piece between the switch and the old piece.
This way I get to keep the factory power distribution block with all stock connections. Makes for easier troubleshooting down the road if I have trouble.
My Longacre 4pole cut-off switch has the 2 large poles for the battery cable, and two small poles to kill the motor.
I cut the NEG wire to the coil and jumpered in 2 extensions, 1 to each side of the cut. Ran these the 2.5ft back to the cut-off switch.
Now when the switch is thrown, the coil can't get grounded, so no spark.
If you don't do something like this the alternator keeps sending power to everything under the hood and your engine won't stop running when you hit the kill switch (aka cut-off switch).
Also plugged up the holes in my floor with fender washer sandwich, held in place by a 3/8" bolt and nylock locking nut. No open holes in the floor pan allowed.
You can see one of the holes here between the two bundles of wire on the floor:
Dale
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sold in 2016
87 325 5spd eta |
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dale
Joined: 22 Aug 1999
Posts: 3087
Location: Seattle, WA USA
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| Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 12:52 am Post subject: |
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Wazzu came by again tonight, we rebuilt some front brake calipers, installed them, new race pads, new StopTech stainless steel brake lines on the front axle. Bled the brakes all the way around with ATE Blue.
Got the front swaybar installed.
Installed the windshield.
The list is getting shorter...
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dale@unofficialbmw.com
sold in 2016
87 325 5spd eta |
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wazzu70
Joined: 26 Jul 2005
Posts: 838
Location: Issaquah, WA
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| Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 1:13 pm Post subject: |
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Car is really coming along nicely! It is starting to look and feel more like a complete car rather than a roller.
_________________
-Nick
1984 BMW 325e
1991 BMW 325i
1976 Honda CB400F Super Sport
"The bitterness of poor quality is remembered long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten" |
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dale
Joined: 22 Aug 1999
Posts: 3087
Location: Seattle, WA USA
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| Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 3:20 am Post subject: |
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Tonight I fabricated a battery hold-down, the factory setup isn't up
to racing standards, we need heavy duty all metal.
Installed the rear view mirror, I don't think what I have now will work
so I'll have to work on it more tomorrow.
Changed oil/filter, pretty old dirty oil in there, Napa filter.
Used a Mahle OE filter. Put in Castrol Syntec as I want an oil with
detergent in it for now, I may switch to a race synthetic later on.
Swapped out the oil filler cap and the gas cap for new factory ones.
These are surprisingly cheap, and they make a big difference for me when
working on these to have the newer, easy to grip style.
As I was filling with oil, I took a close look in my valve cover at the head
bolts. Ugh! Another surprise with this car, hex-head head bolts!
Well, they have lasted 180k and 19 years, they should last another week
until I can swap them out.
Changed the oil in the trans to Redline MTL. When I drained the old oil,
I was surprised (again!) at how fast the drain was done, then I looked in
the pan, less then a pint of oil! Another Ugh, no wonder there were
so many metal shavings on the drain plug.
Installed Vorshlag wheel studs, very nice hardware.
Friday:
- add sponsor decals:
* Toyo Tires
* CarQuest Auto Parts
* Griot's Garage
- setup video camera mount
- fix exhaust
- install fire surpression system
- load trailer and get ready for the weekend
- may do a tune-up with new plugs, cap, rotor, they only have 60k miles on them!
- drive to Portland at 8pm
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UnofficialBMW.com Webmaster
dale@unofficialbmw.com
sold in 2016
87 325 5spd eta |
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wazzu70
Joined: 26 Jul 2005
Posts: 838
Location: Issaquah, WA
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| Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 9:49 am Post subject: |
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Sounds like Portland will still be on then?
Good work getting all that stuff buttoned up in a short time.
_________________
-Nick
1984 BMW 325e
1991 BMW 325i
1976 Honda CB400F Super Sport
"The bitterness of poor quality is remembered long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten" |
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85-325e
Joined: 30 Jun 2002
Posts: 4712
Location: Southampton, NY
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| Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 4:29 pm Post subject: |
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Good luck you guys!
Dale, win one for the Gipper!
Oh, and Dale... take a can of Red Bull with you for the race... It's got Wings!!!
_________________
Cosmo - 1985 BMW 325e, Single Owner, 265,000+ ORIGINAL miles and still going strong! But now on the East Coast and the salt air corrosion is eating my beautiful car alive...
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