What did you do to your 2002 today !

[its55]

10 hours ago, d.hitchcock said:

Autocross action shots!

I finished 37th in the index of all 118 drivers. Not my finest driving moment, but I have tons of handy "autocrosser excuses" ready to go! lol

Thanks to photographer Jeff Fudge.

 

 

I'd be proud of that effort!  Car looks great.  I've done a lot of autocrossing and hope to do more in the future ... with my M3 though, probably not the 2002 since its bone stock, on pitiful tires and the sway bars rubber needs renewal ...

 

 

 

['76mintgrün'02]

I did this

 

to make room for this

 

A previous owner installed a trailer hitch and removed the rear exhaust hanger in the process.  They added one to the hitch, but I removed that due to scabs on my shins.  You can see the mounting holes under the sooty bumper.  (I'm heading up to scrub that stuff off shortly).

 

Here's what's left of the original hanger, although I ground it down a bit more.  The 14mm bumper shock bolt is what I used to hang the bracket(s) I made.

 

 

There's quite a bit of surface rust (and dirt) under there, but I'm putting that stuff off until I remove the subframe for new rubber bits. 

 

Here are the three rear hangers I made.  The one on the left was a recent attempt that used the original hanger (on this muffler).  The one on the right was what I made to hang the original muffler and the middle one is what's on there now.

 

 

I added some adjustability to the last one and wound up moving it up as far as I could, because the hanger at the front of the muffler was doing all the work.  I had to cut the bottom of the bracket off to clear the top of the hanger on the muffler, (which was one I added).

 

 

 

I also added a second hanger to the front of the muffler, to utilize the stock mount under the car.  Center exit and side exit mufflers have the hangers on opposite sides and they're diagonally opposed to encourage it to hang level.  So, this muffler has four mounts now.    

 

 

 

I spent about an hour looking for the plastic hanger insert I misplaced before finally giving up and making a new one out of UHMW.

 

 

I really like the BMW muffler clamps that have a flattened U to keep from crushing the pipe, but those aren't available locally, so I added some flat to this one with a drum sander.  Hopefully that will make it easier to take apart next time.

 

 

This project took a really long time.  Largely due to indecision.  I am happy with the end result though and only feel slightly guilty about snipping the tail piece.

 

The passenger floor got two coats of paint and the Masonite panels got a coat of shellac, so I can finally install them and put the carpet back in.

 

Tom

[Lorin]

Nice work Tom. 
 

Love those shears. Actually, I love all the tools you post. 

[Conserv]

On 8/23/2022 at 10:17 AM, '76mintgrün'02 said:

I did this

 

to make room for this

 

A previous owner installed a trailer hitch and removed the rear exhaust hanger in the process.  They added one to the hitch, but I removed that due to scabs on my shins.  You can see the mounting holes under the sooty bumper.  (I'm heading up to scrub that stuff off shortly).

 

Here's what's left of the original hanger, although I ground it down a bit more.  The 14mm bumper shock bolt is what I used to hang the bracket(s) I made.

 

 

There's quite a bit of surface rust (and dirt) under there, but I'm putting that stuff off until I remove the subframe for new rubber bits. 

 

Here are the three rear hangers I made.  The one on the left was a recent attempt that used the original hanger (on this muffler).  The one on the right was what I made to hang the original muffler and the middle one is what's on there now.

 

 

I added some adjustability to the last one and wound up moving it up as far as I could, because the hanger at the front of the muffler was doing all the work.  I had to cut the bottom of the bracket off to clear the top of the hanger on the muffler, (which was one I added).

 

 

 

I also added a second hanger to the front of the muffler, to utilize the stock mount under the car.  Center exit and side exit mufflers have the hangers on opposite sides and they're diagonally opposed to encourage it to hang level.  So, this muffler has four mounts now.    

 

 

 

I spent about an hour looking for the plastic hanger insert I misplaced before finally giving up and making a new one out of UHMW.

 

 

I really like the BMW muffler clamps that have a flattened U to keep from crushing the pipe, but those aren't available locally, so I added some flat to this one with a drum sander.  Hopefully that will make it easier to take apart next time.

 

 

This project took a really long time.  Largely due to indecision.  I am happy with the end result though and only feel slightly guilty about snipping the tail piece...

 

Ouch, Tom! You did what my dealer did, without disclosure or permission, when my ‘76 was only 18 months old. It still hurts! ?

 

Of course, the dealer’s tech failed to actually fit the earlier side-exit exhaust, but the cut-out ghost exit on the rear lower valance was not repaired until 2015! 
 

The first photo below shows how the rear valance appeared from 1978 to 2015. The second photo shows the restored ghost…
 

Soon you’ll be ripping out your #5 “Prius-beater” camshaft! ?

 

Best regards, 

 

Steve

 

 

[John76]

1 hour ago, Conserv said:

Soon you’ll be ripping out your #5 “Prius-beater” camshaft! ?

And deleting the snorkel!

['76mintgrün'02]

 

13 hours ago, Conserv said:

Ouch, Tom! You did what my dealer did, without disclosure or permission, when my ‘76 was only 18 months old. It still hurts! ?

 

Of course, the dealer’s tech failed to actually fit the earlier side-exit exhaust, but the cut-out ghost exit on the rear lower valance was not repaired until 2015! 
 

Soon you’ll be ripping out your #5 “Prius-beater” camshaft! ?

 

Why did the dealer want to put a new muffler in such a new car??  I'll bet the difference in hanger location on the mufflers caught them by surprise.  That was a very rude thing to do to your car without your permission.  I gave myself permission to cut mine.

 

I'm keeping my #5 camshaft until the nubs rub off.

 

 

11 hours ago, John76 said:

And deleting the snorkel!

 

No way!  Although, I could see notching the firewall over the timing h0le.  I've got the snips!

 

 

I've up-graded to the '74-only side-exit under big-bumper exhaust.

 

I've got Sputter's '74 Tii manifold feeding my original downpipe that now runs through Andy's old Ti resonator and muffler; so it's officially a rusto-mod now.  

 

They want over $300 for OE mufflers now.  The current center-exit option at W&N isn't nearly as pretty.  Not that I'd be $hopping there.  Hand-me-downs suit me just fine. 

 

 

"What did you do to your 2002 today?"

 

I scrubbed the soot off of the underside of the bumper (for the first time in 46 years, I'm guessing). 

 

Rubbing compound + elbow grease worked really well.  I didn't realize how much that showed, until Nathan shared a photo of my car from behind and it looked like it'd shit its pants.  It's finally shiny back there.

 

 

 

 

I used the rubbing compound on the bumper's rubber strip and followed that with "Back-to-black" and most of the dull oxidation went away.  I may do that to the front one too some day.

 

The shellac made the masonite a little shinier than I might like, but it will be hidden under the carpet.

 

 

I cleaned out the puddle box and lubed the pivot points.  The hole in the bottom is handy for hosing it out.  I'll put a fresh piece of aluminum foil tape back over it and poke a little hole in it, just in case it needs to drain (again).

 

 

I took a test drive last night and it sounds great.  The overall tone is a bit lower.  I prefer the 13 lb. muffler to the 17 lb. one I removed.  I'll bet that one would last a while longer, if it had new pipes welded to it.  The same's true for my resonator.  I have a hard time throwing old parts away.   

Tom

[M3This]

On 8/22/2022 at 7:51 PM, AceAndrew said:

Carbs mocked up!  Running into road blocks, and there is a long way to go,  so it’s far from the final.   However, it feels great to see them sitting there.

looking good dude!!!

[M3This]

Got my wheels back from blasting and started painting the inner barrels I’m reusing for the front wheels. 

[slowbert]

Started laying out the shiny new powder coated suspension pieces.  

 

In the living room, of course.

 

 

[Jonagon]

Oh the list is long...

In an attempt to find the location of the oil leak something was disturbed in the engine bay and now it will not idle.  Vacuum leaks, distributor, carb the list goes on, once I find it the solution will be obvious.  I love these simple little engines. 

 

One of the larges task I have been doing today is researching this site.  Right now I am on the cusp of going through the engine, and either keep it natural aspirated, add a sniper 2300, or doing a turbo with sniper.  There is no way I would be doing any of this on my own, and have two very experienced mechanic friends that want to help me out. 

 

I want to thank everyone in this community for all the post and discussions regarding this little car.

 

[d.hitchcock]

On 8/23/2022 at 5:08 AM, its55 said:

 

I'd be proud of that effort!  Car looks great.  I've done a lot of autocrossing and hope to do more in the future ... with my M3 though, probably not the 2002 since its bone stock, on pitiful tires and the sway bars rubber needs renewal ...

 

 

 

Options are good! Two seasons in a fully prepped e30///M3 completely ruined me for autocrossing "normal" cars. lol

[JohnS]

14 hours ago, John76 said:

And deleting the snorkel!

I wonder how much $$'s it would cost to have the snorkel deleted from my '74 tii?  Every time I look at it, it reminds me of the time I rear-ended someone on HW1 back in the day ? I clearly remember the very pretty girl that I hit who was driving a brand spanking new red 325 is.  I felt and still feel so bad about it.  What a dumb ass I was. ☹️ Stop and go traffic on HW1 on a rainy day...

Edited August 24, 2022 by JohnS

[John76]

2 hours ago, Jonagon said:

something was disturbed in the engine bay and now it will not idle.

First thing I would check is the idle jet, solenoid wire (for +12v with ign. on), corresponding fuse, or if no solenoid, just clean the jet.

[Conserv]

3 hours ago, '76mintgrün'02 said:

 

 

(1.) Why did the dealer want to put a new muffler in such a new car??  

 

(2.) I'm keeping my #5 camshaft until the nubs rub off.

 

(3.) I scrubbed the soot off of the underside of the bumper (for the first time in 46 years, I'm guessing). 

 

 

 

(4.) I used the rubbing compound on the bumper's rubber strip and followed that with "Back-to-black" and most of the dull oxidation went away.  I may do that to the front one too some day.

 

 

Tom,

 

(1.) Pennsylvania, 1970’s: you could expect any exhaust component to last 18 to 36 months, no more. I can’t keep track of how many exhausts I bought back in the day! Why? Photos below should explain — I suppose… (first photo is February 1977; second photo is March-ish 1978)

 

(2.) ?

 

(3.) Much of what I removed from the underside of my ‘76’s rear bumper in 2015 was factory-applied cosmoline. I suspect some (most?) of your rear bumper residue was the same. Looks like your car acquired and lost a bumper-mounted trailer hitch! ?

 

(4.) I used Back-to-Black on all my big bumper trim — rub strips, accordions — and it still looks great 7-ish years down the road.

 

Best regards,

 

Steve

 

 

 

[John76]

On 8/23/2022 at 7:17 AM, '76mintgrün'02 said:

I did this

 

to make room for this

 

 

Tom, did you curl the edges after the snip?  Without disturbing the Mintgrun paint?

You do awesome work!!! Love your creative talents!

John