MaineCourse

Catching Up

BMW UPDATE

This is the last week of auto mechanics class and on Friday we have to drive the car back home. Without an inspection sticker. Dan and I believe creative story telling will suffice if we’re stopped, Diane claims she’ll take Matt to the Vineyard as planned, whether I’m in jail or not.

This week Matt will change the tie rods, having already worked on the distributor, ignition wires, alternator, coil, and battery leads. Surprisingly too, it passed both Matt’s compression and oil pressure tests and that leaves only the clutch to repair. I wrote to David Stochl seeking his advice about whether we could do that work ourselves. His diplomatic reply:

“The clutch is a tough question. It involves taking the driveshaft out, the transmission out, and then the clutch pressure plate and disc off the flywheel. The flywheel also should be taken out and resurfaced, as it most likely will have heat cracks. If you don't resurface the flywheel, it may chatter. Not good.

That is a lot of work for anyone with little experience. The job isn't impossible, but just little stuff like making sure the clutch is aligned with an alignment tool (need to buy or rent one), and then actually lifting the transmission into place is a pain in the back.

My advice would be to get some estimates for a clutch job, then decide whether you really want to dive into that job, ot just pay to have someone do it with a warranty. Sometimes with stuff like Transmissions, it is nice to have a warranty to take it back if it acts up.

Case in point: I was selling my 1964 Ranchero this year. The 4 speed transmission lost third gear, and I had two more transmissions in my garage. Supposedly one had been rebuilt, so I was told. I spent a day pulling out the old one, putting the new one in, making all the adjustments for the shifter, then crawling out from under the car to take it for a drive. It growled in first gear, slipped out of second when I decelerated, then could not get it into third gear. The moral of this story was that I pulled the transmission out after replacing the shifter twice (thinking it was a shifter problem), took it down to a friend's transmission shop, and $580 in cash later, had a rebuilt unit to put in. It worked like a charm. As much as I hated to spend the money, it was done in a few days and was done correctly.”

As much as I hate to spend the money and as much as I’ll miss seeing that transmission sitting on Matt’s chest, we’ve decided to take it to our local mechanic. After the clutch is repaired, Matt and I will start the body work, and begin investigating ways to add head rests and some kind of after market shoulder belts.

ENDINGS

Thursday is Diane's last day at Emerson. Monday, August 25th, she'll again be making that familiar drive to Mclean Hospital.

REWINDING

These images should have accompanied Rewind. They present the scope of Adam's dilemma, to begin again, or not. Click here for more photos.


The old floor... .

I told you he was a motorhead!

Posted by shinydome.

But not just any ordinary motorhead.

Posted by M.

It sounds like much progress is being made on the BMW, but is it being made in the right direction? It could be my oversight as a reader, but I've not read of the main problem with the car being addressed. As the story goes, the car was finally put to rest in a garage when no one could figure out why the car was overheating, which may not matter driving it to and from school, but would certainly matter when Matt took a trip to show the restored car to his grandfather.

Posted by travis.

I share Travis' concern, though I'd heard the thing blew oil and smoked....... And I wouldn't take on a clutch, myself, but I'd have no end of respect for Matt and his class if they did. OTOH, David's caution seems to me like the far better part of valor here -- plenty for which to feel proud and accomplished without tilting at such a windmill. As to my own windmill, arguably inappropriately tacked onto a long overdue BMW update, all I can say (in relation to the BMW), is geez, two parallel mountains where once were molehills.........

Posted by two left thumbs.

One comment about the seats. I bought a used set of 2000 Honda seats for one of my Falcons for $125. I am sure you could find something similar that would fit in your BMW. I seem to recall the original seats in that car are low and wide, and most newer import car seats should fit. I liked the Honda seats, inexpensive and comfortable. I also had a pair in my Ranchero that I sold, I paid $100 for those. Look on eBay, and in your local wrecking yards.

The shoulder belt idea has been done by someone before, try to find info on the internet for advice.

Try here:

http://www.bmw2002faq.com/talkshop/forum/

Seatbelt links:
http://www.bmw2002faq.com/body_and_interior/seatbelts.html

http://www.bmw2002faq.com/talkshop/forum/messages/11745.html

http://www.bmw2002faq.com/body_and_interior/02_seating.html

Don't reinvent the wheel if someone has broken ground and done the research for you.

Good Luck

Posted by Dave Stochl.

Too late, Travis, we jumped out of the plane without our parachutes and we've got but one way to go. Friday, we drop the car off at a shop up the street that specializes in BMW's. They'll tell us the how much the clutch will cost and perhaps why the car overheats.
Love your email address.

Posted by Null and Void.

Posted by Michael at July 28, 2003 06:23 AM