Phill Posted March 12, 2022 Posted March 12, 2022 (edited) Well, it's all very well but the Golf is not my car and I cant just jump in it and go for a spin. It's mostly done now and going for a respray next month and my itch is not being scratched - owning my own classic. I had narrowed down what i wanted to a front engine rear wheel drive sleeper of some sorts. It then came down to a Lancia Fulvia, Datsun 120Y or a BMW '02 series. The Fulvias are beautiful cars but not very, easily tunable. The Datsuns are pretty much non existent and vastly over priced for what they are. The BMWs are very expensive........................until now................. This car popped up on Facebook for £12k back in September but I was on holiday and not in a position to do much about it, it disappeared pretty quickly. A couple of weeks ago it popped up again with the same seller, this time at £10k. I made contact and went to look. Apparently the original buyer faffed about for ages and then decided to spend the money on having his teeth fixed ??!!?? So following a week or so of negotiations and the seller wrestling with the prospect of losing his pride and joy (we've all been there), today, it became mine The owner bought the car in 2008 and then spent £11k having an engine and gearbox transplant, welding and a respray. He then drove it for a year or two and since 2010 its been in storage with the occasional drive/start up and tinker. He didn't even get around to putting the bumpers and trim back on. It has an M42 engine from a 318is and is chipped to 147bhp. To do this conversion mods have to be made to the subframe, exhaust, steering, prop shaft, and whole list of other stuff. It's been lowered with Spax shocks and lowering springs. What needs doing? Well the brakes don't work hence the trailer. It seems there is a known issue where the brake fluid drains past worn seals in the slave cylinders and into the servos (yes two remote servos ). Indeed the fluid reservoir was completely empty. This will be the first job and I'm not messing about. I have been recommended a specialist and I will be sending the servos, master cylinder and calipers to them for a refurb. £840 to return them all to their former glory. Needless to say that meant no test drive. However, it starts on the button and I have driven it onto the trailer. The gearchange is stiff and feels like it needs some alignment. The wheels are knackered and too wide so I shall probably change them for something more period, narrower but stick with the same width tyres so they are not stretched as they are now. All the trim needs to go back on and a few bits of remedial paintwork are needed. It has Cobra bucket seats which definitely need to go and I have been eying up BMW 1 series seats which are nice, would suit and are cheap as chips. Inside, a clean, new carpet and dye the door cards black (currently blue). of course there will be a whole host of rubber to be renewed, hoses, seals etc etc So plenty to be getting on with but the best bit is no bodywork, its solid (or so it seems at a reasonably good inspection ) Edited March 12, 2022 by Phill 6
topcarrera Posted March 12, 2022 Posted March 12, 2022 1 hour ago, Phill said: a front engine rear wheel drive sleeper of some sorts. It then came down to a Lancia Fulvia, Datsun 120Y or a BMW '02 series. Fulvias are front wheel drive ?
Phill Posted March 12, 2022 Author Posted March 12, 2022 44 minutes ago, topcarrera said: Fulvias are front wheel drive ? Quite right, good job I didn’t buy one then
Roy M Posted March 12, 2022 Posted March 12, 2022 Really like that and a good buy in the current market. Best thing is that it's already a bit of a bitsa so you can do what you like with it without worrying about value, originality etc. 1
Nige Posted March 12, 2022 Posted March 12, 2022 Least looking sleeper I've ever seen. Looks great fun. 😎 Bet it'll go like a rabid whippet. 1
Phill Posted March 12, 2022 Author Posted March 12, 2022 1 hour ago, Nige said: Least looking sleeper I've ever seen. Looks great fun. 😎 Bet it'll go like a rabid whippet. I plan to make it look a little more standard. Not sure how to hide the mahooosive exhaust though. Should be quick enough at 940kg.
World Citizen Posted March 12, 2022 Posted March 12, 2022 That looks like a fun project to finish off 😎 1
jellyfishfields Posted March 13, 2022 Posted March 13, 2022 I really like the look of that, good luck with getting it finished. 1
ALEX P Posted March 13, 2022 Posted March 13, 2022 Super jealous. I've been hankering after one of these for ages, albeit a roundie. Good work Phil. 1
Fuchs915 Posted March 13, 2022 Posted March 13, 2022 Great choice Phil. Looking forward to the updates as this progresses. 1
Lesworth Posted March 14, 2022 Posted March 14, 2022 Nice find Phill - I hope you're going to start a project thread in the splitter section? Will make a nice change from all these beetles 1
hagarep Posted March 14, 2022 Posted March 14, 2022 Nice Phil! Glad to see you have another project. 1
Phill Posted March 14, 2022 Author Posted March 14, 2022 6 hours ago, Lesworth said: Nice find Phill - I hope you're going to start a project thread in the splitter section? Will make a nice change from all these beetles Thanks Les, I will indeed keep you updated. Just bought a new battery, boot seal (can’t wash the car without it) and a Haynes manual.
Jonny Hart Posted March 14, 2022 Posted March 14, 2022 Nice buy, not too precious to do what you want. 1
sopor Posted March 14, 2022 Posted March 14, 2022 Big soft spot for the 1600 - in roughly 1978 one of my brothers bought a 69 1600 which he drove for a few years until it rotted out. I helped him rebuild the cylinder head - my first foray into the oily bits of a car. That car was one of the catalysts for my lust for BMs which morphed into a lust for BMs and Porsches. Another was that the object of my (unrequited) affections' father drove a Bavaria and her Mum an early E21 320i. 🤣 The local BMW dealer was owned by a school friend which didn't help. Those were the days when car dealerships were owned by individuals who were firstly marque/car enthusiasts and secondly salesmen/businessmen. RIP Jiri. 1
Baz Posted March 16, 2022 Posted March 16, 2022 That would be very nice with the trim back on it and something that looks like the original wheels. Definite wolf in sheeps clothing and getting rare now, enjoy. Baz 1
Phill Posted March 16, 2022 Author Posted March 16, 2022 Thanks everyone for your comments and support. Some work has begun. I’ve refitted one gutter trim, relatively easy once I had straightened it up. The other is going to be a different story I think. I took the day off work today to get the brakes off for refurbishment. It is the most convoluted, over engineered braking system ever! All came off quite easily except the MC. I’ve never known two nuts so badly rusted on, I had to dremel them both off. To rebuild 2 servos, 2 four pot calipers and the MC is £900 and a 4 week turnaround. But then look at this……. Gratuitous engine bay pic. I’ve found that at least three of the cam cover bolt holes are threaded. I presume that will be a helicoil or timesert repair. Plenty more to Be getting on with 4
Phill Posted August 30, 2022 Author Posted August 30, 2022 (edited) Many many things have been done with the BM and it now looks presentable. New Minilite wheels in anthracite, brakes all refurbed, all trim and bumpers back on, front seats from an E91 on custom subframes (made by me after chopping out the original runners) , new custom SS exhaust among a lot of other stuff. Much more to do including change the diff to one that will allow sensible revs in each gear and possibly some brake upgrades. Still some body work to polish and sill trims to go on. I've booked it in for an engine go over to try and sort some running issues, mainly very rich (see my enquiry in general). https://photos.app.goo.gl/DtpPx5vnPtscDfo79 https://photos.app.goo.gl/2YiQczv3PTtRwbTe6 Don't think I can insert pics anymore Edited August 30, 2022 by Phill 2
zoot Posted August 30, 2022 Posted August 30, 2022 28 minutes ago, Phill said: Many many things have been done with the BM and it now looks presentable. New Minilite wheels in anthracite, brakes all refurbed, all trim and bumpers back on, front seats from an E91 on custom subframes (made by me after chopping out the original runners) , new custom SS exhaust among a lot of other stuff. Much more to do including change the diff to one that will allow sensible revs in each gear and possibly some brake upgrades. Still some body work to polish and sill trims to go on. I've booked it in for an engine go over to try and sort some running issues, mainly very rich (see my enquiry in general). https://photos.app.goo.gl/DtpPx5vnPtscDfo79 https://photos.app.goo.gl/2YiQczv3PTtRwbTe6 Don't think I can insert pics anymore looks absolutely lovely🥰 1
sopor Posted August 30, 2022 Posted August 30, 2022 (edited) Looks fab! 👍👍 Edited August 30, 2022 by sopor tipo 1
Beaky Posted September 6, 2022 Posted September 6, 2022 On 31/08/2022 at 15:29, Fred said: Superb car. Love the old BMW. Exactly, one on Phil 1
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