Blue Collar Ballin'

[logyt]

Looks real nice!

[kittenpuncher]

I like this bagged.

[Dave-ger]

Thanks lads.

Finally fixed the clutch!






had to build a starwars droid out of my pressure plate after setting the clutch disc wrong. it's a self adjusting clutch plate, so there is a ninja star thing you take out to unspring it once it's on the car, so I re-sprung it with the puller and then built a clutch alignment tool out of a socket and some electrical tape




home made tools!



broken tools!



my alternate means of transportation. The bike inside brings up my combined MPGe rating



Fixed!!!

[Zic]

Looks good man, some different wider wheels would be tits.

[Dave-ger]

E46 california trip V2.0. went down the 101 to fairfield with my girlfriend and did some camping inbetween. had a smashing time! I love this car.























I even took a drive down low court in california:





Then on the way home it all went wrong on the 199. I was cornering at an average speed for once, and the car came loose much like it would have if I had hit ice, and all I could do was keep it on the road as long as I could and then hit the brake before it went for the road shoulder. nobody was hurt, but the car is. Pretty sure I hit a patch of oil in the road or something.



It was first rain there (just outside of crescent city), but it wasn't anywhere else we were in the area through out the whole trip, and there were like 7 wrecks on the same road in that 24 hour period that we knew of.

really glad this didn't fall on us, because it could have:





This nice guy saved the day and showed us a fine example of the human race.



and another wreck:



on the way into grants pass, someone rear ended someone at the traffic light too.


after some delicious pita pit in grants pass, it was smooth sailing



this is all I've done so far with my small amount of energy left over from the trip:



if we wouldn't have high centered and smashed up the bottom of the car, we would have gone down the hill into a creek or something. it will be a hassle and expensive to fix, but I can't complain too much.

the good news is that I noticed this, so I will fix this too.




stay tuned for more from the blue collar baller chronicles


one page into the thread, and it's already broken.... hmmm.

[Bronzit]

Oh shoot, I didn't know you had a thread for this, Dave.
I know you'll get this all sorted out and in tip top shape.

[Dave-ger]

thanks chief.

I spy my poor old car in your signature by the way.

[Dave-ger]

Ordered a new electric fan, power steering pulley, power steering pump, tie rods, radiator, the piece that holds the coolant reservoir and has hoses hooked up to it, and I'm going to buy a new serpentine belt from The Fit Garage today. I think that's virtually everything I need and ordered. I do have a bad power steering line, but it was already bad. rather than buying a new one as it's a low pressure one, I am going to cut off the crimped on clampy deal and run a hose clamp. I'll post pics of that when I do it. it will probably save me at least $40.

I'm also not replacing the smashed AC condensor for now. Pretty sure that it already has no fluid, but I plan to just hammer it back into shape, and throw it back on if it looks like there is a chance that there isn't a break in it. I hardly use AC as it is, so I figure it's a safe gamble. worst case scenario is that I pull the car apart later when I feel like spending money on the AC.

[Dave-ger]

crappy pic of my tie rod situation:



and a shot of my new progress, new tie rods, power steering pump and pulley installed!!! :



The steering is done once I get a new piece of line sorted for the return. I should be able to do that tonight. other than that, I think the only part I am waiting on is a piece that holds my coolant reservoir on and also fits some coolant lines. Pretty sure I have everything else besides that and the belt that is on the way from TFG

[Miroteknik]

Dayum, sucks about the wreck, but you're looking it with the right attitude. Keep it up!

[Dave-ger]

Thanks man, the car is drivable again finally, so that attitude of mine paid off!


here is what I did to make things affordable, power steering return line that goes to the cooler:






had to give a heater hose the same treatment. There wasn't a hose that fit the heater hose fitting just right, so I had to heat the hose with my halogen work lamp and use anti freeze as lubricant to re-use the stock fittings.

Now I just have to do some work to make the sway bar fit again. I also plan to make some air dam/skid stuff underneath as all the plastic stuff under the car is broken and sitting beside my house. the radiator and radiator fan are a bit vulnerable for my taste. I figure I can make the steering stuff and oil plan worry free while I'm at it.


I also broke my toyota and had to rescue it this weekend





had to leave it behind and ride into town to get my tow rig. Next time I plan to just tow it in the first place, just in case.




I can likely easily fix my toyota, but I am going to probably sit on it and get some other things in life figured out before I mess with it. my bmw still needs attention, and my tow rig does as well, plus I need to be an adult and build a career and all that.

the good news is that I have my bmw back!!!!

[Dave-ger]

drove it to work, and I cleaned it up a lot afterwards.






I did however end up with the car getting really hot. Discovered that it is more than likely air in the coolant. I waited for a roomie to bring me coolant as I got swole at the gym and let it cool down. I made it most of the way home before having to stop and fiddle with the cap and let more air out. by the time I got home it started overheating again, but slower than before, and the lower hose started getting warm. I then googled how to bleed coolant and managed to get an extra gallon or so in the system. I feel a little like a dummy, but I'm used to old school coolant systems where you can get away with filling the radiator, making sure the reservoir has enough, and calling it good. we'll see how she does on the way to work today, fingers crossed.


Feels great to have this back, especially since I just gave it an "executive wash" at my work. Ballin'.

[Bronzit]

All this broken fixingness pleases me.

[Darkyoshi154]

If the international was a diesel, you sir would have my dream fleet of vehicles.

[Dave-ger]

thank you sirs.

I do want to diesel swap that International real bad by the way, some day I hope.

I have one more fleet vehicle too.

I also drove my car with no overheating issues today, looks like I solved that problem.