every project has this scary point....

"michael bleggi" (mikalbleggi)
12/18/2014 at 23:42 • Filed to: None

I'm at the point with my project car that i'm deep enough into the engine that the amount of nuts, bolts, vacuum lines, and sensor wires that are disconnected is vast enough to pose the serious threat of her not getting back together for a while... and the deeper I go, the more I want to clean up and refresh... ugh. 100s of little parts that could/should be replaced come up, and it adds up quick, especially on a BMW. I'll stay as motivated as I can, but i've never been this deep into an engine before! wish me luck oppo!

The project, as some of you may know, is my e34 530i. My water pump seized this past weekend on the notorious m60b30 v8 engine. I decided to refresh the whole cooling system (hoses, radiator, water pump) and started at least 10 other while-you're-in-there kinda projects... all the intake system gaskets, service injectors, replace poorly-designed factory PCV system with a catch can, valley pan and valve cover gaskets, and so on, because all these things regularly fail on this engine.

The intake system on these engines are sooooo overly complicated. It makes the best induction sound of a v8 I've ever heard....... but it is a bitch. It's finally out after 2 days, and i've finished the start of the long process of cleaning up the bay. Doesn't she look prettier already?

On a forward-thinking note, I think i've decided to pull the trigger on running a ~125 hp wet shot of nitrous oxide. I know people hate it and it's considered the lazy/easy way out, but these engines respond to supercharging and nitrous very well and reliably. I, however, know nothing about nitrous, other then what i've learned from various internet sources over the past few days. Any NOS heads out there???

Ugh, don't really know what the point of this post is lol, just needed somewhere to take a break. Hopefully very soon she'll be ripping around town, in a much more clean and functional state!

DISCUSSION (21)

Cherry_man1 > michael bleggi
12/18/2014 at 23:46

No NOS only Turbos. Your block will thank you in the long run.

michael bleggi > Cherry_man1
12/18/2014 at 23:47

does that bay look like there's room for turbos? i wish there was.... ):

Cherry_man1 > michael bleggi
12/18/2014 at 23:49

I see plenty. Maybe if not go Supercharger. SOMETHING THAT ISNT NOS.

Remember DANGER TO MANIFOLD!

YOUR FLOORS WILL FALL OUT!

Nibby > michael bleggi
12/18/2014 at 23:51

<3 E34

ReallyColorful > michael bleggi
12/18/2014 at 23:51

Time for rear-mounted turbos! >:)

michael bleggi > Nibby
12/19/2014 at 00:07

i really need to get pics of it when it's clean and sorted out instead of sketchy garage pics. here's an interior pic

Kinja'd!!!

and the only media i have of it on it's new lowering springs/winter tire setup, a little clip from when i had first modified the intake for more airflow/audibility.

Nibby > michael bleggi
12/19/2014 at 00:18

what

how does that passenger seat go so far back?!

Frank Grimes > michael bleggi
12/19/2014 at 00:39

Its really scary isnt it?

You think about all the what ifs? like what if I can't get it back together etc. a mountain of parts and bolts all around.

Just take it one step at a time and eventually it will be back together. It s great feeling when fanially all the parts are gaskets are around and you reach the point when you are making things better by putting that new gasket on or bolted something back on and then it only gets easier and the mountain of bolts and parts gets smaller.

I went through this wierd experience I describe above recently with a head gasket change. I love the part when I realized I wasn't taking things apart anymore and was making progress and making things better.

banjo cat ghost of oppo past > michael bleggi
12/19/2014 at 01:14

Doin an an intake an exhaust furst? There's gotta be cheap options. Maybe an m60b40 throttle body and rear swaybars as a start...

michael bleggi > Frank Grimes
12/19/2014 at 02:15

thanks man, that's super helpful.

crowmolly > michael bleggi
12/19/2014 at 05:02

First rule of using nitrous: Don't call it NOS. NOS is a brand name owned by Holley.

Second rule of nitrous: Have safeguards in place, especially in case of fuel stoppage. If you go lean you go boom. Fuel pressure switch, arming switch, and WOT switch are all basically necessary IMO.

How do you plan on supplying fuel to the fuel solenoid? Assuming you tap into your existing fuel system is it up to the task?

What made you decide on a 125? Do you have forged pistons? You will be spraying fuel mixture into (what appears to be) a dry composite manifold, have you done your homework regarding compatibility?

Frank Grimes > michael bleggi
12/19/2014 at 09:33

I am glad you could understand it with all the typos.

Louros > michael bleggi
12/20/2014 at 21:35

what year is it? I just bought a '95 myself

michael bleggi > Louros
12/21/2014 at 01:46

it's a 95! is urs the 530i? so many bad things about the late model paired with the small v8 ):

Louros > michael bleggi
12/21/2014 at 08:16

Yup, it's a 530. So many bad things yet so many good things. Can't wait to modify the exhaust, it's going to sound amazing.

michael bleggi > Louros
12/21/2014 at 12:59

have you listened to all the e34 530i exhaust videos on youtube of the muffler delete? they sound perfect. this is one of my favorites www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDjcgoUHsL0

Louros > michael bleggi
12/21/2014 at 13:40

Of course I have lol. I'm thinking I just rip off the muffler (since it's already falling off) and have an exhaust shop fab up 2 straight pipes to the bumper

michael bleggi > Louros
12/21/2014 at 13:52

yeah, i've just been delaying taking mine to the local exhaust shop for the same thing. shouldn't be too expensive..... exspecailly considering the prices i've been spending on her lately with the cooling system overhaul

Louros > michael bleggi
12/21/2014 at 15:02

Something is up with my cooling system as well... I suspect my thermostat is stuck open as the car never fully warms up. I have a new one in the mail.

michael bleggi > Louros
12/21/2014 at 17:12

hah. this is such an odd coincidence. just spent the day messing around with the coolant system. For just the T stat, you should be fine... but for the water pump.... i had to remove the harmonic balancer, that super annoying secondary air injection pipe, as well as a bunch of other annoying things... only to have half of the water pump bolts break. sweet. make sure you got the new t stat o ring, as well as the new rad upper hose, both are cheap, and will need to be replaced, as they will become useless upon removal.

Louros > michael bleggi
12/21/2014 at 18:01

I believe the o-ring comes with the thermostat. As far as the hose, I have some old service records stating it was replaced at some point in the past few years so I think I'll be ok reusing it.