Non-BMW Stuff on a BMW Forum

[gilber33]

straight6pwr said:

which RSMs did you get?

Meyle HD

[gilber33]

Worked on the car for a bit after everyone went to bed. Although it’s not much, it now means I can put in the new pass through tubing, the vent tubing, the rear seats, the gas tank, etc. So I am really happy to have this done. 
 

Patch started. 

Traced the tubing outline and drilled a bunch of pilot holes then went around it with the dremel. 

And fits nicely. Will put in a rivet with a washer on the tip of it to help keep it in place. 

[YoungCR]

Nice work!

[gilber33]

Heater core is back in with appropriate insulation. 

PS hub all back together. When I pressed in the DS hub I used the trailing arm to “pull” the hub instead of the backside of the bearing and I don’t know if that or just dumb luck but the DS hub had ALL SORTS of slop when it was pressed in. So I’ll have to get a new bearing and do that side over. 
 

The fuel vent lines are back in and the hose in. I need to get one of those covers for the lines. 

I also pinched one of the new brake lines on top of the subframe when I mounted it, so I am going to see if I can get this middle piece. It always seems like one step forward and a couple back. I have to remind myself it’s only December and there’s a long time until it’s nice out again. But there are so many little things that snowball into not being able to move forward. Without the calipers I can’t tighten down the brake lines because I need them for the like orientation. Without the brake lines done I can’t put the gas tank back in. Without the tank in I can’t put the bottom seat in. Without the rear shelf dyed I can’t put the rear seat back in. Etc. 

[B C]

I have come to learn that everything happens for a reason. Even if the reason is that I just suck at something.

Good fixes on those tubes

[gilber33]

B C said:

Even if the reason is that I just suck at something

Lol. That’s how I feel most of the time. 
 

FINALLY got the rear hub back out. My slide hammer only came with the shallow/wide hub attachment which means I can only get one bolt on it. After many attempts and using a big hammer on the slide hammer to help, my slide hammer broke. 

Rented a slide hammer and the right attachment from Oreilly and after putting the propane torch on the hub for about 10 minutes it popped off with only a few blows. New bearing gets here today. 
 

In the meantime, finished dying the rear shelf and sprayed undercoating on the vent pipe. I’m pleased with how it turned out.

And new evaporator compared to the old one:

[jc43089]

That evaporator is so shiny you will have to cut some holes in the dash and HVAC box so you can see it while driving!

[Jdesign]

I didnt know you could buy chrome plated evaporators.

[straight6pwr]

chrome plated? That looks like it was spray painted with nail polish in a 409 bottle by a blind person.

[gilber33]

I was thinking of putting it on a chain and wearing it as a necklace.

[Boris3]

Nice! How about building a plexiglass housing, with led light ropes to show it off? Not as much bling as your neckwear idea but easier on the wardrobe.

It does look sweet though. I kind of feel the same way about the Stromung stainless catback on my 318is. It's the cleanest thing on car and you can't really see in its glory unless you crawl underneath the car. Plus side though is you can hear it.

[gilber33]

The rear shelf turned out really good! 

[gilber33]

Got the new bearing in and the hub in on the DS and all it’s all tight. New rear brakes and pads and the new brake lines mocked up where they should be going. I ordered a replacement hose from Chase Bays and need that before I tighten down the lines to make sure there is enough slack to go this route. 

I have grommets to go in the hole where the factory brake line went through and that’s where this new line will go also  

[straight6pwr]

is that a one piece brake line from the body to the caliper? (removed the hardline from the trailing arms?)

[gilber33]

Correct. There’s a line from the front to a junction in the rear and then a single line to each caliper.

[gilber33]

Finally back at it for a little bit after Christmas. The AC evaporator is back in and it’s really cool to see how the interior is going to come back together with the console set in. 

Got these for Christmas from my parents and my wife got me the Chase Bays front brake lines. As of December 18th they were still filling orders from Black Friday, so I’m guessing it will be a while before I get those and my replacement section of rear line. 

I’ll get an adapter for the pressure gauge at the stock location, tap one of the plugs on the thermostat for the water temp, and then tap the drain plug for the oil temp.  

[gilber33]

Finally did something that I’ve really really wanted to do since getting the new engine it. Reset the odometer to roughly the miles on the engine. Now the odometer has some meaning to my ownership. 
 

[gilber33]

Alright, I have three questions I’m hoping you guys can give me some advice. 
 

1. I got the new vent line cover. But the end towards the front of the car would usually sit inside the pipe coming from the car. I don’t have that anymore so there’s nothing securing it. Any ideas how to do this? I’m thinking some type of strap across it? 
    

2. My AC lines have these Schroeder valves for servicing. I’m seeing replacement Schroeder valves on FCP and whatnot but these are not replaceable. Are there just various types of lines and mine do not need new valves? 
    

 

The replacement valve. Unless this is the one that goes on the compressor end of the suction line? 

3. I removed this trim piece and I’m not sure where it goes back. 

[straight6pwr]

3. i think that trim piece goes inside the glovebox, on the left side. the orientation is upside down in the photo.

[gilber33]

straight6pwr said:

3. i think that trim piece goes inside the glovebox, on the left side. the orientation is upside down in the photo.

I realized the trim is for the hood release area. 

I got No. 1 figured out and I need some r-12 to r-134 adapter valves for the lines. 

But the AC saga has hit a wall. The large suction hose I got did not fit my compressor. All I can deduce is that it is from a different variation of compressor and since there are a million variations of compressors and systems, it's hard to tell which system it is from. On top of that, I discovered there are a hand full of Bosch/Behr compressors built that are not compatible with R134a. Turns out the two compressors I have are both Bosch/Behr and both on that small list. I guess the seals in it allow for the smaller molecules of the R134 to pass through them. Now I also need to determine if I find a different compressor, have this one rebuilt, buy a rebuilt one, etc. 

The guy I got this suction hose from said he still has the compressor from the car that the hose came off of. Going to hope it's not a Bosch unit and will work with my setup.