Time for an overhaul of my 1.9 '98 BMW Z3 Individual

[Althulas]

It’s all in the details to not have to go back there again to rinse and repeat, may as well do a proper the first time around Matt. which I quite enjoy as I’m ocd or just f’ing nuts as the better half calls it.

 

[Matt Barnes]

well here we are again..... lovely sunny Saturday and should be out enjoying a trip... but ..it was cutting the grass and diving under the arches again.

First up, top coat on the strut towers and valance..... now you could say my masking up was a bit.........pants..

and again, Tristar Color paint never let me down......however, I let myself down.... forgot to cover the underneath of the coilpack...

so I'll have to take that off and clean it up

I'll let that go off for a week then a light coating of 1k lacquer...

Then.... it was the turn of the connector box studs.... the sheared off studs were really fighting me and i couldn't drill through them.. ended up digging out a Dremel cobalt bit, and drilled a hole that way...

Then widened them with a 4mm drill bit.... then set about with the tap

then as per @Mazza , found an appropriate size bolt, cut the head off, cut in half and screwed in. Test fit the newly painted box.

I haven't got the plastic nuts, so I'll need to get those then spray the studs to finish it off.....

same again on the offside

Can't believe those studs took me hours....... mainly I think through blunt drill bits until I found my cobalt bit !

 

[AntStark]

Do your neighbours not say anything? .working on your car with no pants on

 

[Matt Barnes]

Do your neighbours not say anything? .working on your car with no pants on

they've seen worse mate

 

[Mazza]

How many do you need ?
want them tapped ( let me know what size ) they go on easier if already tapped, rather than having to cut the thread

 

[Matt Barnes]

View attachment 358761
How many do you need ?
want them tapped ( let me know what size ) they go on easier if already tapped, rather than having to cut the thread

thank you Malc!.. 4 if you don't mind !.. I got the bolts from "ye olde sweet tin of bolts and screws" so not sure of the pitch as the head just says A480 FS...I can just grab another one, put it in the vice and wind each one on to cut a thread.

 

[Mazza]

Might give the 2.8 a run in the sun later and drop them off

 

[Matt Barnes]

Might give the 2.8 a run in the sun later and drop them off

be good to see you and the 2.8!

 

[Matt Barnes]

well that's a weekend wrap ... clear coat applied to the valence and the strut towers... it's amazing the difference it makes to the engine bay...

Factory Fresh !!!

and it was topped off by a visit from @Mazza , who graced me with the plastic nuts for the wheel arch connector boxes

good long old chat and great to see the 2.8 on the road.... looks great, sounds great !!!

so I tapped the thread using a spare bolt in the vice, just wound it round with the ratchet to cut the thread

tidied up a bit more under the frame for when I get the new wishbones on with the new lollipops...

ground back and primed, then spread on some seam sealer.... next weekend I'll give that a bit of top coat

whilst waiting for things to dry, I segwayed onto the under trays.

Addressed my pet peeve of overspray. I can't remember making this much mess doing the arches, but I must have done..

so took to it with a scotch pad and a mixture of meths and white spirit... and we get this

same with the wheel arch lining, now I know for a fact the bright strip at the top wasn't me, so someone's been there with a can before.

no after picture I'm afraid but you get the gist. Scotch pad, white spirit and elbow grease !!

so that's this weekend done... I plan now on taking a week off work soon... and maybe...just maybe, get this puppy on four wheels !