Back to some posts on mods and repairs....

Before my trip to Toronto yesterday, I did manage to do some work to the '82 and complete (okay, nearly complete) some work I started a couple of weeks ago.

Some of this was the long-awaited rear bumper fix, air intake mod and some touch ups. Now the rear fender will still need rewelding. The fix is starting to show signs of rust and it's just a matter of time before it gives out. I did manage to get the rear license plate lights fixed (see pic). This involved the install of a new wire and clip to replace the old clip that broke off. It works great!

The bumper needed some TLC with rust converter, undercoating and a new side piece to replace that broken mounting point. I've been saving the euro bumpers by cleaning off the rust, coating them inside and undercoating with rubber to help save them from the junk that builds up. The bolts that hold the sides are M8x1.25 30 MM minimum and you can take bushings used for wiper blade mounts to sub for the rubber washers. Every other bolt/ washer gets rust treated and coated for protection.

Next stop is to replace the drivers side wing panel (rusted) and install the power antenna! Of course that brings up the question of what to do with the hole made in my rear quarter panel made by someone who put an antenna in that location.....

The Nebelscheinwerfer and Kraftsoffpumpe circuits, oh of course!

Finally returned from my business trip to Toronto at 3am today. The '82 started acting strange after hitting those speed bumps they call seams on the Thruway. The engine shut off around exit 48 (the same location that my Solara engine blew, happy memories!). This time I got out, tapped, wiggled and poked around in the engine bay. She started after that and made it to Towne BMW in Williamsville. Fuel delivery issue, so I figured that the fuel filter (old and who-knows when it was changed) had sucked up enough bad gas and was either failing or starving the pump for gas.

Tom Antoniadis, Andy Ucci and Mark Huber helped me by not only locating a new fuel filter (and clamps!) but getting the '82 on the rack and installing it in under an hour. Kudos to those guys for helping out a Legionnaire and getting me on my way to Toronto! About 2 blocks from the meeting, the same thing happens! Not the fuel filter, but good that there's a new one anyway.

Gremlins. Let's see: 1) hazard switch is working, fixed that last week. 2) check dizzy and afm, no all is well and sealed there. 3) check for leaks in fuel lines, no but I do need some new fuel line clips! 4) check grounds, nope all seem good. 5) frayed wires? nope. Okay, whats' going on?

Bad gas? Don't think so. I stop into a Canandian Tire at midnight and poke around in the engine bay again. I pull the fuse box cover to discover a bit of busted-off fuse metal wedged in one circuit and able to move and touch another circuit. Short! The two circuits? Well, it's the Nebelscheinwerfer and Kraftsoffpumpe circuits of course! HUH? Okay, it's the fog lights and FUEL PUMP circuits! YOW! The bumps managed to move that bit of metal to bridge these two connections and short out the fuel pump! NO fuel!

After driving like a granny all the way back from Toronto, the '82 did just fine once that little bit of metal was pulled out.

Whew!!

Break out the Toothbrushes!!!

Getting to spend some time scrubbing off all that grime and grease from Trixie's engine bay. Nothing like wheel cleaner and some old toothbrushes to get things cleaned off! I'm still looking forward to Bimmerfest East in MD this August and doing what I can to get her preped and ready for a show.

I spent some time waxing, cleaning and swapping out one rear signal lense to get things cleaned up. The day was also spent cutting new floor mats and a trunk carpet from recycled commercial carpets. I have to say it was a good way to reuse some of this stuff.

Some Bits Completed... sort of.

Managed to find time this weekend to accomplish some delayed repairs and upgrades to the '82. Among them are the reswap of the plug wires, change of oil, replacement of the center console and radio, and modification of the air intake.

Oil change was quick. Plug wires was a result of a faulty set of "performance" wires that are just junk. Too many arcs and breaks in wet weather. The center console was a long-awaited fix for a broken radio and jimmy-rigged panel. I restored the original look and replaced the radio with a new Sony red display model with CD and MP3 inputs.

The new air intake took some fabbing on the mount with an aluminium plate and is at least functional for now. The final set up will have an extension tube to get the filter away from the engine heat.

Getting to Bimmerfest East!!!

Hey all! I'd like to get together and organize a caravan to Bimmerfest and MD this Summer. Let me know!

It's nearing Summer and all the wheels are coming out....

What the heck is with me and round things for the 323i??? I mean, really! I've got my claws into a wonderful set of wheels (15" turbines and rubber to match) for the car. Glad to have all this rare wheel sets come my way.

Free Engine Turns into Gem

The engine I acquired from a fellow Legionnaire turned out to be a 2.7 litre engine from an E30 325e with a modified 200 series head that is now an 885 head. All this gibberish means that this engine nearly 180 hp and is about 40 hp more than the one in my 323i. With the engine in my 323i running less than smooth, it's really an option that I am willing to explore if the original engine suddenly goes bad.
These shots are of the head being pulled of the block and prior to cleaning. The head has new black intake ports roughly .5" wider than the exhaust ports (just like in an 885 series head). The block, bore and stroke all confirm a 2.7 block.

The shot of the head has the ANSA header still on it. Man, I would really like to get that off the block.