Touring International

[Earl]

You have made impressive progress. Looking good.

Thanks bud=)

[R. Jani]

Thanks bud=)

Glad that somebody is motivated. Should take some example form you and start my own air suspension project.

[Earl]

I got a little done Saturday.
I started the day by tearing into my motor a little more. I removed the upper timing cover and water pump. I tried extracting the water pump using two bolts to push it out, but ended up breaking the ears off. Then I just shook the crap out of it until it popped out.


Then I got working on my rear subframe yet again.
The hardest thing was getting the handbrake cable ends out of the trailing arms. They were basically fused together. I used a pneumatic chisel on one, and had to drill the other one out. I didn't get any pictures. I then degreased everything, washed it, and dried it with an air nozzle. I then threw down a coat of Rust Reformer to try and prevent rust in the future. (These pictures turned out horrible)



Then shenanigans ensued and come skating was done. I managed to snap the tail off of my board and continued to rid it until I snapped the nose off. Then I focused it.



I then finally got actual paint on the parts. The diff, hubs, and dust shield will be black. I did not have any black at the time. I will also be clear coating it all. The color is a champagne tinted silver. The picture of the subframe is the most accurate portrayal of the color.




Wednesday I will be pulling the head off of the motor and taking it to get resurfaced. The flywheel will be getting done too. I need to start ording a lot of parts. I need a ton of little things for the motor, as well as brake lines for the rear.

[Earl]

Tiny update this morning=) My Hankook HR2's arrived yesterday morning. I went with a 205/40 up front and a 215/40 for the rear. I definitely shouldn't run into any clearance issues.







Today I'm heading to the shop after work to get the head off. Plan on seeing pictures of it off tomorrow. I'm really hoping that the gasket just blew out somewhat on cylinder 4. That would explain my very infrequent white smoke I was getting last year. It only did it when I would really be getting on it. The head might be able to go without resurfacing. It should only have about 20,000 miles on it. I got a hold of the owner that was parting it out, and he claimed to put a new head on at 140,000 miles. If it does end up needing resurfacing, it will only be around $30 anyways. Win win situation for me.



Updates tomorrow=)

[Earl]

I was very successful yesterday.







It came off without any issues. The headgasket is still on in that picture. I checked over it and cannot find any blowouts.

Every pistons does look like this though.







I'm not sure why there is so much carbon buildup. The car ran excellent before I parked it.

The head looks excellent.









It definitely looks like it only has 20,000 miles or so on it. Should I still get it resurfaced? I can wipe it clean and it'd look brand new.

That was my goal for yesterday so I left the shop. On a side note, I made this badass crossbow at work yesterday.







Hopefully the subframe parts will be all done and painted Saturday so that I can assemble them=)

[Nick crx]

I really like this project and the way you're handling it.
Probably going to do the same kind of colour on my crx only a bit brighter.

[Earl]

I really like this project and the way you're handling it.
Probably going to do the same kind of colour on my crx only a bit brighter.

Thank you. Are you planning to use paint or plastidip it like I did? My car is back to black and will be resprayed after the bay is done, and the wheels are fitted.

[Nick crx]

Thank you. Are you planning to use paint or plastidip it like I did? My car is back to black and will be resprayed after the bay is done, and the wheels are fitted.

No i am planning to paint it myself for now so i can save up for a good paint job.

[bimmerbabe]

That was my goal for yesterday so I left the shop. On a side note, I made this badass crossbow at work yesterday.







Hopefully the subframe parts will be all done and painted Saturday so that I can assemble them=)

hahaha you silly!!
by the way, hubby said you should get it resurfaced... safety first
Oh, and he's forcing me to tell you that he respects ths entire build a lot!

[Earl]

hahaha you silly!!
by the way, hubby said you should get it resurfaced... safety first
Oh, and he's forcing me to tell you that he respects ths entire build a lot!

I'm getting it checked out by a friend who works at an engine rebuilders=)
Tell Jorg thank you very much. He needs to get on here. Is he afraid of the internet? lol

[Mexican]

Good work. Keep it up

[Earl]

Good work. Keep it up

Thanks a ton bud

I just went to look at my tail lights and found that one got a nick in the paint now. There is a small patch gone. I tapped it off and filled it with paint. Ill sand it smooth when it dries. I hope it color matches

[Earl]

Absolutely nothing productive is going down today. All I did was grab my rear subframe parts from my friends shop. The tail light repair is also giving me a lot of trouble. I may need to strip the light and redo it all over. Not the worst thing in the world.

[Earl]

Just got two pictures via Delaware



I cannot wait to see how they look covered in powder and clear=)

[Earl]

I got a little done yesterday. The carbon was CAKED on. I had to let the alcohol soak in multiple times. I ran out of scotch brite pads so I will be finishing up Saturday.



Before:





After an Hour:







I'm trying to think of an easy way how to get the rest of the carbon out of the reliefs.



Here is how I had to leave off yesterday:





It was way too cold and rainy to try and paint anything on my rear subframe too=/



In excellent news, the wheels got their first coat of powder yesterday. They would be done, but Shaun ran out of clear. Not a problem. They should be all done next week.