Alpine e30 progress/build thread

[Jdesign]

"Louder horns"

Priorities.

[m42b32]

Jdesign said:

"Louder horns"

Priorities. 

Lol, it sounds like a stupid thing on the list, but I guess the car is small/low enough that people may not see me on the freeway, especially around the downtown area (maybe the color blends in with all the concrete?). I was run completely off the road by someone changing lanes into me yesterday, and I seem to have things like that happen significantly more often in this car than any other one I've owned or driven. I've got stock horns in there now and they really don't make much noise so it's possible people don't hear it....or they're just complete idiots, which is also possible.

[KaiserRolls]

This is the exact reason we have Brooke’s launch control set to cut spark @ 1° BTDC @4k rpm.

Ever stand next to a shotgun without ear protection? The concussion usually gets people to get their face out of their phone and poo in their seat

[patsbimmer1]

Don't drive in their blind spot?

[KaiserRolls]

patsbimmer1 said:

Don't drive in their blind spot?

Obviously

But

This isn’t always avoidable

I’m all for defensive driving (many years on a motorcycle) but it comes to a certain point when you need to remind a shitfuck that they are driving a 5,000lb death missile and have some form of responsibility to point it where it doesn’t run into someone.

That being said, shotgun blasts and big fireball is by far and away a better tool than a horn to keep these dipshits from running into you.

Is it a douche move? Probably.

But at least you’re not calling a towing company to come scoop your hopes and dreams up from the ditch because sally home maker merged without looking because she was pinning a new fucking casserole recipe.

[jc43089]

Speaking of terrible drivers I passed a giant crane, like the ones with 7 axles and the moron driving is playing on his phone and occasionally glancing up at the road.  How dumb can you possibly be???

[m42b32]

patsbimmer1 said:

Don't drive in their blind spot?

In that instance the guy was on the far right while I was in the far left, didn't look or signal and came flying across all 3 lanes in one move, not much I can do to avoid or predict a situation like that. Staying out of blind spots is nearly impossible in rush hour traffic headed in and out of downtown Milwaukee. 

I want a louder horn not to be annoying or scare people, just to ensure that they hear me when they're doing something stupid that could result in a collision. I'm not looking to blow out eardrums or make people shit their pants (even though they sometimes deserve it), I just want something that's guaranteed to be audible even to someone vlogging about their mcgriddle in a well sound-proofed/modern car. 

Think I can fit this behind the grille?

[straight6pwr]

lots of room in front of your radiator

truckin'

[Jdesign]

Are you thinking Hella super/sharpe tones, or like some WOLO Trumpets?

[m42b32]

Jdesign said:

Are you thinking Hella super/sharpe tones, or like some WOLO Trumpets?

Was thinking Hella's (painted black so you can't see them) but there were some good options posted in my other thread too. WOLO trumpets would be a fun project but more than I'm looking to spend, I've got enough to do and buy this winter haha

[Jdesign]

m42b32 said:

Was thinking Hella's (painted black so you can't see them) but there were some good options posted in my other thread too. WOLO trumpets would be a fun project but more than I'm looking to spend, I've got enough to do and buy this winter haha 

WOLO's are cheaper than the Hellas. Roughly $40 for a pair with everything.

[m42b32]

Jdesign said:

WOLO's are cheaper than the Hellas. Roughly $40 for a pair with everything.

Haha oops, I was looking at the marine horns that are like an 18" trumpet and $70 a piece...

[GunMetalGrey]

KaiserRolls said:

But at least you’re not calling a towing company to come scoop your hopes and dreams up from the ditch because sally home maker merged without looking because she was pinning a new fucking casserole recipe.

I just wanted to draw more attention to this, because it is both hilarious and true.

[HipMF]

GunMetalGrey said:

I just wanted to draw more attention to this, because it is both hilarious and true.

And also sexist, but this is a BMW forum... I still laughed out loud.

[m42b32]

Got an engine! 

[B C]

Exciting!!!! What year/ how many miles?

Should be well worth it

[m42b32]

Snap said:

Exciting!!!! What year/ how many miles?

Should be well worth it

Definitely exciting! I'm so pumped to start getting into it. It's from a 2002 330xi auto (ms43, didn't want to mess with converting an ms45 engine), the car had 120k on it before it was hit in the driver's front corner. I'm going to do some minor work on it like vanos seals, disa rebuild, rear main seal, secure the oil pump nut, and clean everything up really well before I put it in the car.

[wasnt m3]

What oil pan do you end up using with this swap? I can't imagine using the xi pan.

[m42b32]

wasnt m3 said:

What oil pan do you end up using with this swap? I can't imagine using the xi pan.

The standard E34 M50 oil pan bolts right up and uses the same gasket. For the oil pickup, most people modify the rear-sump m54 pickup, as the m50 part will not bolt up to the oil pump. I have heard that the pickup for the E38 728i works with the front sump, but have not gotten a 100% confirmation that it is compatible with the e34 pan, still investigating this.

[m42b32]

Was out of town for two weeks and then didn't have any time to work on the car, but I finally got to my garage this past weekend and started tearing down the engine and got it on a stand:

Got a bunch of unnecessary stuff stripped off like the AC and SAP, and pulled off all the accessories to start cleaning things up and get access to the oil filter housing. The donor car was hit in the driver's front corner and it caused the power steering reservoir to crack and dump all it's fluid onto the alternator, hopefully it didn't damage anything and I can just flush it out with some brake cleaner. 

I also did a test fit on the shorty headers, might have a problem as the rear manifold contacts the block slightly. There must be a slift angle difference between m52 and m54 exhaust manifold mounting surface, so I'll have to do some massaging. It might be easier to just get some M54 specific long-tubes.