Refresh time!

[Peter Empson]

Over the last few drives I'd been troubled by a knocking noise from the rear of the car. This was different from all of the normal knocking noises and sounded somewhat more ominious. Pretty much without fail it would start after about 20 minutes, but there was nothing obvious. Well, that was up until the knocking noise became a banging noise.

Thankfully nothing serious, I guess the exhaust mount was stretching everytime it got hot, until it ran out of elasticitude (that's definitely a word). Only downer is I've not been able to drive it today whilst waiting for the replacement to arrive.

 

[Peter Empson]

I think I've had a very lucky escape. The wiring was rather butchered when the 'restoration' was done all those years ago - in fact despite some very good workmanship in the first few months it all turned to **** towards the end, and the bodgery I've discovered was one of the reasons I fell a little bit out of love with the car (clumps of filler in the rear arch, shoddy patched paintwork following an accident after it had been properly painted in the workshop (that still makes me mad), the list goes on).

Anyway, here's a pic of the passenger footwell, you will see the bonnet release was broken during the 'restoration' (still need to replace that) and wires were cut (to the doors, side repeaters etc) and just left hanging uninsulated - a real mess, and something I'd been putting off tackling.

The lucky escape was that when I went to move the battery cable (which looked fine from above) I discovered that there was no insulation left on its underside at all, a good two or three inches of exposed metal resting against the cars floor where it forms a T to go to the starter and fuse box. So the only thing that has been insulating the +ve of the battery from the chassis was the paint (I am so glad I always disconnect the battery after every drive). In the pic you can see I've wrapped it hastily in electrical tape, I didn't even think to grab a before pic, I was that shocked (not literally).

How this happened I guess I will never know, but very glad I found it when I did.

 

[CarreraRSR]

Lots of little jobs done this weekend, feel like the list is decreasing slightly now (but only slightly) although the costs for parts and tools is certainly not.

Success! The new odometer gear is fitted and working, so that was a start. Ok, success is a relative term - I didn't align the speedometer needle quite right so it under reads a bit, but as that had been damaged by the person that did the previous repair for me (many years ago) I am going to swap bits over from the much nicer spare one at some pint (I've already used the housing which wasn't as scratched). Oh and the trip reset isn't working, think it's the switch, but I can live without it.

When the engine was being done I had the seats changed from Cobra Imola 2 to the Suzuka Pro. This may have been a mistake as I'd been very happy with the former (the most comfortable seats I've found), but the drivers side one was looking very tatty and a nearly new pair of the Kevlar Suzukas was found on ebay from a chap who'd taken them out of his newly aquired Mini. They're supposed to be a much safer seat, which I can see, but the drivers one is much too high on the slider I have (I'm short and there was no way I could have worn a helmet, or for that matter read most of the gauges...). I've dropped it to as low as it'll go and added a bit more 'gangsta lean' so will see how that works for me. Fitting the bolts against the transmission tunnel is a sod of a job...

I also had the Suzuka Pros. Great seat. I had to drill new holes in the mounts to get mine lower. The rear bum of the seat was almost touching the floor. No room for a slider. They had to be fixed. I'm a short arse too. Probably like you I had to fit the mounts to the floor first and then fit the seat. Getting the bolts in the tunnel side was a bitch. My current Recaro's are much easier to get low and fit in and out versus the Cobra's.

 

[Peter Empson]

Thanks Steve. I think you're right, I hadn't thought of drilling the mounts, might give it some thought.

On top of the height and overly upright position I can’t get it close enough to the pedals to fully depress the clutch comfortably (not without removing my one nod to luxury and getting rid of the transmission tunnel trim) as they are so wide at the front. I also find it strangely uncomfortable around my ribs, so even if I get it lower and more raked I am still not going to be really comfortable. I'll refit the Imola if I can and see if it's as nice as I rmember.

The exhaust mount failed because it’s not sitting correctly, and is being cut away by the surrounding metal. Pic below, please excuse the weird two into one tail pipe and sooty leaks, it’s the hanger on the left that’s rubbing/cutting. I just can’t work out what the garage can have done differently when refitting it, unless it was just had a different shape of hanger before. Looking at the pics it does appear the exhaust is canted over slightly, I didn't see that at the time.

The exhaust fumes do seem to be gone, but my clothes still smelt of the car after a 30 mile drive. There does appear to be an oil leak developing (from the cam cover gasket possibly), so it might be that.

The doors have been becoming really difficult to close, I presumed they've dropped but I can't find any guides on how to realign them, so any ideas greatly appreciated. Could it be that it's not the doors and that it's the striker plates have dropped? Not sure why I've not thought of that before.

To top it all my BMW E61 525i has lost a cylinder (suspect valve/ring issue), so now I need to find a cheap replacement. Grrr, really bad timing!

 

[Peter Empson]

Swapped back to the Imola seat today and am much happier, I find it more comfortable, it's lower (I can see the speedo!) and allows me to get it closer to the pedals. Looking at the side mounts I should be able to drill some extra holes to lower it a bit more at the back- good idea Steve, so that's another job on the to do list (just need some shorter bolts for the slider underneath first, to stop them hitting the underside of the seat).

Had a go at aligning the doors, the passenger one was a success, the drivers side has too much play in the hinges, so needs a bit more investigation.

Couldn't find another exhaust hanger that fitted so went with the same type again, it lasted 50 miles :-(

Running in now complete, so hoping to get it back to EMC shortly.

 

[Peter Empson]

It never ends, clutch slave cylinder has decided it has taken a distinct dislike to fluid. Inevitable I suppose!

 

[Peter Empson]

Bit off topic...
I managed to unbreak my E61 Touring, but not before buying its replacement (sight unseen, there's surely no other way that's as much fun). It's an E46 325ti Compact Sport with looks only its mother could love, but to be fair it's really grown on me already - the Sport really has a hint of a modified car about it and from what I can see they are rather undervalued at the moment.

It will be a running project, it didn't cost much although I've already spent almost half its purchase price on service items (including a cooling system refresh). I think I'm going to like it even though I've only moved it a few metres so far. I'm certainly enjoying the challenge of doing it up on a budget.

The 944 is back to Brum next week, so the Compact will be taking its place in the garage whilst I tackle the jobs and list the E61 for sale. I've managed to convince myself that it would be cost neutral to change, and a lot more fun to drive, so fingers crossed!

More 944 content soon hopefully!

 

[vitesse]

Well they are a track day favourite with that 6 cylinder smooth motor??

 

[Eldavo]

If you put an M3 engine in then they are a SWB riot []

 

[924Srr27l]

SWB ??
The E36 and E46 Beemer Compact have wheelbases much longer than the 924 / 44 / 68 & 928 / 911's / Caymans / Boxsters etc..

For example the E36 is (11.81" / 300mm) longer than the 924 @ (2400mm), and the E46 Compact is 12.8" more @ 2725mm...

R

 

[Eldavo]

**** right off you pedantic ****


SWB in comparison to the rest of the E46 platform, not in comparison to a completely different car from a completely different manufacturer you absolute melt.

edit: Hi Peter/John - missed me?

 

[924Srr27l]

**** right off you pedantic ****
SWB in comparison to the rest of the E46 platform, not in comparison to a completely different car from a completely different manufacturer you absolute melt.
edit: Hi Peter/John - missed me?

No, the E46 Compact Wheelbase is the same as the E46 coupe, saloon and the M3.
In your own words " I know what I am doing and why I am doing it but I don’t always understand the technicalities behind it."

R

 

[Eldavo]

Wodger - you are a grade-A berk.


I genuinely look forward to meeting you one day and seeing what you have to say to my face. I could sell tickets.

 

[Waylander]

HE HE, here we go again, cant someone change his password and not tell him

 

[Eldavo]

I can give you a Wrexham phone number to put into insurance comparison websites so they don’t contact you?

 

[Waylander]

ha ha, can you add Double glazing and domestic appliance care to that list

 

[924Srr27l]

Bit off topic...
I managed to unbreak my E61 Touring, but not before buying its replacement (sight unseen, there's surely no other way that's as much fun). It's an E46 325ti Compact Sport with looks only its mother could love, but to be fair it's really grown on me already - the Sport really has a hint of a modified car about it and from what I can see they are rather undervalued at the moment.

It will be a running project, it didn't cost much although I've already spent almost half its purchase price on service items (including a cooling system refresh). I think I'm going to like it even though I've only moved it a few metres so far. I'm certainly enjoying the challenge of doing it up on a budget.

The 944 is back to Brum next week, so the Compact will be taking its place in the garage whilst I tackle the jobs and list the E61 for sale. I've managed to convince myself that it would be cost neutral to change, and a lot more fun to drive, so fingers crossed!

More 944 content soon hopefully!

I had an E36 Compact 1.8 Ti Twin Cam which was quite good, but then I also had after a 200bhp 2.0D E46 Compact and the chassis was not as good and for a relatively small car it's so heavy!
I wouldn't of thought your 6 cylinder 2.5 would be similar or more? than the 2.0 diesel lump but this car was 1600kg!! my stock 2.5L 924 Porsche was 350kg less than this before It lost 250kg!

For sure it was smooth to drive and comfy for journeys but it did not handle well at all....So i sold it and bought a 2.7 Porsche Engine from the USA with the money!
The rest is history.....

R

 

[Peter Empson]

There was me thinking this forum was a bit quiet, it's certainly livened up now.

Having great fun working on my new toy. I have the luxury of not needing to use it for a couple of weeks or so (and an empty garage), so I'm experiencing some 'project creep' as I am not likely to get the chance again - I might even get the wheels refurb'd which is not even remotely necessary but I can't see when else I'm going to get the opportunity. That's assuming I can get them off of course, one was finger tight (to think I nearly drove it 100 miles home!), the other three have been done up by an ape with a gun and are beyond my existing breaker bar.

I've driven an E36 compact that my garage uses as a courtesy car, I suspect that just happens to be a really nice example as apart from the crude engine (not sure which 4 cylinder it has) it's a fantastic car to drive that always made me hate the E61 for a few miles, so am hoping that with the 6 cylinder it'll be even better.

 

[Waylander]

Ah there is life sometimes, you want really dead try the 968 section, I’m the only one who posts there

 

[924Srr27l]

Ah there is life sometimes, you want really dead try the 968 section, I’m the only one who posts there

968 cars and owners ! getting rare now according to "How many left" for 2019

924 - 694 (1255 in 2010)
944 - 2056 (3686 " ")
968 - 443 (634 " ")

I could post in the 968 if you like ? Something Interesting like what's the differences between a 1976 924 and a 1995 968 []

R