Another 02 Intro

[RD02]

Hi everyone, my name is Robert, I have '73 2002A, 2533241, that I've owned since 1988. It was the daily driver for about 6 years. As the kids got bigger the car went in the garage where it sat for the next 20 years. Thankfully I kept it.

 

The car's build date is October 16, 1972 and was originally bought December 1972 from a BMW dealer called Weber Motors on Washington Ave in San Leandro,Ca, by family friends Al and Ina. They were my mom's best friends, and would commute to work together from San Pablo to San Francisco. They also took weekend and vacation road trips all over California. One year all the way to New Orleans, and some national parks on the way back.

 

My uncle bought the car around 1986. Barely drove it, put it up for sale and we bought it for $3500. 

 

So, it has sat in the garage covered with dust, used as a shelf, never moved. Every few years I'd open the door and sit inside. Being always garaged since new, the interior is in nearly perfect condition, the driver's side carpet the only thing worn. Oh, and the horse hair. The color is Chamonix. Paint and body are fair with surface rust here and there

 

Two years ago, I needed a new project. It was the right time for the 02. It has 122,000 miles on it. Didn't want to jump right into the engine. Figured I start with the brakes, especially since it didn't roll so easy. Not doing the engine first was a good incentive to keep at it. Thanks I.E. for the booster swap. Plus I got to buy lots of tools! What's that saying? Women have their shoes and men have their tool, err, tools.

 

Learned a good lesson on the booster. My brother told me if there's fluid in it, it's probably bad. Well smart me, I pulled a vacuum through the port and it held, it's good! Wrong. After getting the engine started and stepping on the brake pedal, and the engine didn't like it, I knew I goofed.

 

Next was suspension, steering, bushings, seals, bearings and running gear. Pulled everything, cleaned and repainted. Kudos to Driveline Service of San Leandro for the 2 day turn around on driveshaft.

 

The engine. I knew it would be in good shape because it was so well cared for and I loaded the cylinders with oil when it was garaged. Wrong again! I pulled the plugs, didn't like what I saw on number one. Squirted WD40 and oil in the holes, pulled the radiator and fan. Put a socket and ratchet on the driveshaft nut and gave it a turn. Half a turn it came up against something solid. Slowly back the other way, same thing.

 

Started disassembly. Pulled the head. Number one piston had been sitting about an inch down all this time with water on top of it, rusting the cylinder. Took a full 1mm to clean it up. Pulled the engine and trans, separated them and disassembled the engine.

 

So, to make a short story long, a few months ago I got the car running and driving. With 500 miles done now, I gave it a full service. Can't wait till I get a few more on it so I can take it on a midnight speed run across the San Rafael Bribge to see what it will do. Noooooo!

 

Thanks to Steve at Moran Motorsport in Emeryville for help finding pistons and all related goodies. Special thanks to Shawn at Star Machine also Emeryville for all the inspection, recommendations, machining, balancing and head work. He's a neat guy, very smart and likes to talk. I learned a lot.

 

I've done all the disassembly and assembly, including the engine, my first complete one, and enjoyed it. I've learned a lot and a lot from all of you here.

 

After so many years of driving cars that do everything for you and practically drive themselves, what an expierience it is driving this car. Yes it's an automatic, but, you have to drive it. It's noisy and hot and you can feel the engine through the steering wheel. I love it.

 

Thanks everybody, I'm happy to be a part of this. That's all for now, my finger is getting sore.

Robert

 

The picture above is from a drive a week ago, Lucas Valley Road to Nicasio Reservoir.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 16, 2017 by RD02

[NickVyse]

Great story, great car, now enjoy it at last!

[Simeon]

Beautiful car, looks like a pristine survivor on the outside.

 

Welcome and hope you stay awhile. 

[Tommy]

Great looking car and nice to know the full history.

[BarneyT]

Welcome to the group, what a great ownership story, good looking car...Barney

[saaron]

Cool story and cool car.  Have fun with it.  You should take it to that Cars and Coffee 02 Princess goes to - meet the gang, if you haven't already.  

 

Scott

[joysterm]

Nicely done, a great looking car and welcome.

[beammmer]

Beautiful job on all parts.  Congratulations and welcome to the insanity.

 

Don

 

[arminyack]

Nice! I bet you're glad you kept it all those years! 

 

I see you are located in Point Richmond...I have a buddy who lived there for a long time...near the intersection of Western and Marine Streets. Nice area, yet just to the east of you is the scum of the earth!

[OriginalOwner]

So this is a genuine always-in-Kali and always-garaged 2002 ??  FANTASTIC !!!

 

Cheers,

 

Carl

 

[2002newb]

Welcome to the family! Gorgeous car

[RD02]

Thanks everybody for the nice comments and welcomes, really appreciated. 

 

As I said, the paint and body are fair at best. The two pictures do look nice but the car does have some pretty good dings and chips on it. I did buff and wax it. All the chrome and trim is original, very decent shape, buffed and waxed too. 

 

Several years ago, some guy had a can of white Rustoleum and spot painted the little rust spots coming through the paint.. So, yeah it looks good from a distance.

 

I do have some questions about ignition and some parts needed so you'll here more from me.

     Robert

 

one of the interior

 

[worzella]

Bellissimo!!

 

Per Googlioni.....

 

We don't capitalize nouns and adjectives in Italian (unless they come after a period). "Bellissimo" is the absolute superlative of the adjective "bello" (there's nothing better at all)...

 

Also, I *finally* see why my 1975 exhaust manifold has two bolt holes at about 2 and 4 pistons.

 

  Randy 

 

 

Edited August 15, 2017 by worzella
Wrong pisione refernce

[2002Targa]

Looking really sharp!  I've never seen an exhaust shroud like that, gotta say I like it though...

[Greg R aka Big_Lebowski]

What a beauty!