Another BMW E28 - This Time From Australia

[Queef|Chief]

Engine work looks fun! Keeps getting closer and closer

[epearce]

Looking pretty sick dude, well done! i've got a 528i with a high compression b34 - thing is so much fun, you'll love it

Sh!t yeah! Can't wait.v

[DoABarrelRoll]

Looking pretty sick dude, well done! i've got a 528i with a high compression b34 - thing is so much fun, you'll love it

[Brad.]

beautiful ~^.^~

[epearce]

Cheers for the positive comments guys


Sent the crank to the machine shop so i could fit 0.25mm oversize bearings and correct the main bearing clearances. Got it back and it looked mint!



Plastiguaged each journal and to check the clearances, all perfectly in spec

Finally got rid of the 7 series from the driveway and put it in its temporary position in the paddock.


The next project i'm super keen about!
Removed the front strut assemblies from the old wreck in the paddock:




Then pulled the springs and shock absorbers out and cut the strut tube off, now i just have to wait for some parts to arrive so some welding can be done





Also started rubbing the front lip back ready for painting



So many projects on the go at once!

Then fitted the crankshaft, with new bearings, assembly lube and torqued to spec.

Then fitted the conrods to pistons, and fitted new rings to the pistons.



Made sure the ring gap of each ring was spaced roughly 90 degrees apart. Compression will be effected greatly if they were too close, or at worse lined up. Also fitted new genuine conrod studs and nuts. $13 per bolt and $5 each per nut x 12. Ouch... Cheaper than putting a rod out the side of the block though.



Then fitted the pistons in their correct position and orientation.




Compressing the rings and getting it to slide in nicely was fiddly to begin with, got the hang of it by the end

Plastiguaged the big end bearings before turning the engine over or lubricated these bearings. The journals had been measured before so i expected them to be perfect.



Luckily it is on the tight side of spec, exactly what i wanted.

Big ends were then lubricated and torqued to spec. Turns over nicely, which is a relief.



Also tapped in the new rear main and crank seals, and measured oil pump clearances. Just have to clean it now before i can install it.





Nearly time to cover up the bottom end for a while and start working on the head

[VanDamage]

Can't wait to see that new front lip on there!

[edmandcars]

i like this, sub'd

[dvious]

Clean E28 sir, makes me want one even more.

[epearce]

A bit of a photo dump showing what's been happening recently.

Ready for the machine shop to be hot tanked and honed.


Genuine Pebra M528i front lip.


Block cleaned.








Block painted.




Parts arriving.

[Khalil]

Nice work man, can't wait to see more.

[epearce]

Didn't get much done this week as i had to go a BMW training course in Melbourne. I was lucky enough to see their first electric car the i3 get released for the first time in Australia.

However i made great progress yesterday!

Removed timing covers, chains, flywheel. Then removed all seal and whelch plugs.

Measured crankshaft endfloat before removing it. Well within specs, which was good to see.


Then removed the main bearing caps and crankshaft. Forged crank from factory FTW!


Never really stripped a block down before so it was a good fun.

Then rolled the block outside and degreased and pressure cleaned it. Came up so much cleaner.




Next step for the block is to measure each cylinder bore and make sure everything is within spec.

Also bought a dremel and had some spare time, so i cleaned up the piston crowns.


Also gave the transplant victim a wash for the first time in ages.

[epearce]

Today a mate and i pulley the motor out of the e23. Simple job with the right equipment!






We then wasted no time in removing all the auxiliary's/attachments. And of course the engine couldn't go in the e28 without a rebuild. So next step was to start stripping the engine down.







Blown headgaskets sure make a mess


Everythings gone smoothly so far and all the internals are in better condition than expected. Still heaps more to do, more updates to come.

[epearce]

It didn't rain saturday so i made the most of it and got the engine ready to pull out. The head had been pulled off by the previous owner which made it easy for me. The only worry was that it has been sitting for over a year outside without the head. I turned it over with a spanner for the first time on the weekend, luckily it spins nicely and all the bores look good.



Wet gravel driveways suck..



All ready to lift out,


Now the wait for the time it get it out

[xDirtye30]

Wow awesome job dude, super clean.

Subbed

[epearce]

Nice!!

Id say drop the e28 heart in the 735i and then you'll have two

That thought has already crossed my mind.

I'll have to see how the conversion goes first.