87 535is - getting started

[merl]

A group buy a guy did with the manufacturer of the old BavAuto headers

[merl]

Been a while .. .work is being done but slowly ... 

[Brian.]

Where'd you get the two collector back pieces from and how much?

[merl]

All came as a kit from a group buy ... just under 600 without coating .. still need to get the headers ceramic coated.

[B C]

I made a thread a year and a half ago in the local scene section on here about ceramic coating which may have some suggestions for local places that will do it. Id be interested in a followup to see how they look, where you get it done, and what the rates are.

[merl]

Progress is picking up ... The car is now polished and waxed, shadowlined and re-finished the spoiler rubber with Plati-Dip (we'll see how it holds up) ... also got a little sumthin in the mail last weekend 

[B C]

I am happy to see this

So that means you should be driving the car around sometime later today then, right?!?!?

[Brian.]

Looking good!

[merl]

Ha ... I cannot wait to get this thing done ... i do enjoy the journey of working on the car but I just want TO DRIVE THE FREAKIN thing !!

Hoping engine assembly will start next week at some point ...

[Brian.]

merl said:

Ha ... I cannot wait to get this thing done ... i do enjoy the journey of working on the car but I just want TO DRIVE THE FREAKIN thing !!

Hoping engine assembly will start next week at some point ... 

I hated having my E28 down. But then again, it's my only vehicle. So I had more then wanting to drive it backing me up! haha

[KaiserRolls]

merl said:

Ha ... I cannot wait to get this thing done ... i do enjoy the journey of working on the car but I just want TO DRIVE THE FREAKIN thing !!

Hoping engine assembly will start next week at some point ... 

this nice weather must be tormenting you!!

can't wait to see this thing!

[merl]

Tormenting is an understatement ... going to be spending a bunch of time on it now that the parts are here to try to get it done. I am now seeing the light at the end so it is getting exciting.

[Brian.]

I'm excited. Coming along nicely Merl! Take tons of photo's. even of random stuff.

[merl]

Picked up the headers from the ceramic coater today ... will do pics later as I am going to leave them wrapped in the protective cover for the time being ... Miller stuff will arrive early next week. 

Painted the mirrors, door handles and other misc trim last night .... Ohh Boy getting excited.

[B C]

What size injectors are you going to run? 24#? 
Do you have a wideband o2 sensor / what are you going to do about tuning?

[merl]

24 lb injectors and i will be running a standard Bosch o2 sensor. I am going to have an extra o2 bung welded in the exhaust for a wideband on the Dyno but that is the only time I will use one. 

Tuning will be completed with Miller WAR chip

[B C]

Is there a local dyno that you know will work with the WAR chip since it doesnt have live-tuning capability? I have thought about street tuning and dyno tuning with a WAR Chip a bit. It could definitely be done but it would take longer than a conventional standalone system.  Did you get the TCM with it? that should help quite a bit with tuning.

[merl]

Yes, the TCM is part of what I purchased. 

Imagineering (pistons and cam) works directly with Brody at Miller so the maps I get to start should be very very close ... Dyno tune will be to verify afr and timing is correct. i have talked with a few different sources on this process including people that have gone through it and it looks like it should be pretty painless.

[B C]

Motronic 1.3 has a very good O2 feedback control system. I hope I can see your car and the interface sometime in the future.

[merl]

Some shadowlining, air dam is FINALLY permanently mounted. Going to leave it on for a week or so before paint..... and some port eye candy just because i can't get over how awesome that picture is ...