Researching a '74 Tii

[TodB]

I'm helping a friend with his new-to-him '74 Tii, trying to track down any historical info on it. It is VIN # 2782888, originally Fjord, but now is silver. He purchased it out of the Atlanta area about a year ago. Appears stock except it has had Euro bumpers retrofitted. The PO did not have any prior maintenance or modification info.

 

Based upon the block being painted blue and a phone call to Korman, we suspect (hope!) that the motor is a Korman stage 1 rebuild but Korman did not have records. Any known info on this car would be most appreciated!

[02Les]

Here's what I have:-       If you let me know where it is now, I'll add it to my database.

 

Sep '05 Ebay Carrollton, TX

Dec '05 Ebay Bedford, TX (Mike Kuhn)

at Mar '11 in Whitesboro, TX (Glen Poe)

May '14 Ebay Mansfield, TX

Aug '15 thru' Sep '16 Ebay Alpharetta-Conyers, GA (Muscle Car Jr. Inc)

for sale Aug '17 Conyers, GA

 

No detail on engine or suspension specs.

 

I had it noted as Anthrazitgrau (orig Fjord) with Tan interior from the Dec '05 auction, but later as Polaris (orig Fjord) with Tan interior from the May '14 auction. Below pics is from May '14 & May '15 auctions

.

 

[TodB]

Yep, that's it. The Carellos are still with the car but not mounted. Suspension includes Bilsteins, HR springs (I think) and IE sway bars. New 15" Panasports. Stock other than that.

 

Its been in Saint Augustine, FL now since ~11/2017.

 

Most importantly, after resolving a bit of deferred maintenance and a fresh tune up, the car runs great.

 

If any of the POs are on this forum and have any further maintenance info to share, please reach out!

 

 

[TodB]

I've been in touch with Mike Kuhn this morning who only owned it for a short bit, now trying to track down Glenn Poe. Somewhere along the line, the motor was swapped out as the VIN does not match. 

[Cruzr]

Would you mind sharing the VIN on the motor you do have?

 

Thanks

[Conserv]

3 hours ago, 02Les said:

Here's what I have:-       If you let me know where it is now, I'll add it to my database.

 

Sep '05 Ebay Carrollton, TX

Dec '05 Ebay Bedford, TX (Mike Kuhn)

at Mar '11 in Whitesboro, TX (Glen Poe)

May '14 Ebay Mansfield, TX

Aug '15 thru' Sep '16 Ebay Alpharetta-Conyers, GA (Muscle Car Jr. Inc)

for sale Aug '17 Conyers, GA

 

No detail on engine or suspension specs.

 

I had it noted as Anthrazitgrau (orig Fjord) with Tan interior from the Dec '05 auction, but later as Polaris (orig Fjord) with Tan interior from the May '14 auction. Below pics is from May '14 & May '15 auctions

. The

 

 

Very impressive, Les!

 

Best regards,

 

Steve

 

Edited February 12, 2019 by Conserv

[TodB]

1 hour ago, Conserv said:

 

Very impressive, Les!

 

Best regards,

 

Steve

 

Indeed, I forgot to thank Les!

Edited February 12, 2019 by TodB

[TodB]

3 hours ago, Cruzr said:

Would you mind sharing the VIN on the motor you do have?

 

Thanks

The engine VIN is 2763440

[Conserv]

1 hour ago, TodB said:

The engine VIN is 2763440

 

So, the car, VIN 2782888, was manufactured in December 1974. It was one of the last U.S.-spec tii’s produced, VIN 2782927 being the last U.S.-spec tii.

 

And the engine came out of a tii, a 1973 model, probably manufactured in February 1973. I’d expect the casting date for the block to be in the four months leading up to February 1973.

 

If you email the two VIN’s to BMW Group Archives and request their data (info.grouparchiv@bmwgroup.com), they will provide you with the precise manufacturing dates of both cars. They will also confirm the original exterior colors of both cars. There is no charge and you generally receive a reply within two business days.

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

Edited February 12, 2019 by Conserv

[TodB]

1 hour ago, Conserv said:

 

So, the car, VIN 2782888, was manufactured in December 1974. It was one of the last U.S.-spec tii’s produced, VIN 2782927 being the last U.S.-spec tii.

 

And the engine came out of a tii, a 1973 model, probably manufactured in February 1973. I’d expect the casting date for the block to be in the four months leading up to February 1973.

 

If you email the two VIN’s to BMW Group Archives and request their data (info.grouparchiv@bmwgroup.com), they will provide you with the precise manufacturing dates of both cars. They will also confirm the original exterior colors of both cars. There is no charge and you generally receive a reply within two business days.

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

Thanks, Steve.

The BMW 2002 Tii US VIN 2782888 was manufactured on December 06th, 1974 and delivered on December 17th, 1974 to the BMW importer Hoffman Motors Corp. in New York City. The original color was Fjord metallic, paint code 037.

 

I'll ping them on the motor's donor VIN.

 

What we're really interested to determine is if the motor is a Korman one based upon the block color and what the internals actually are. Based upon the performance from one brief drive, I would say its a warmed over stock motor though its silky smooth and much more refined then my '75 weber carbed motor. I've spoken with both of the prior owners listed in the info Les provided, and they were unable to recall prior or future owners or if the motor swap was done under their watch.

 

Kind of a fun research project. Many thanks again to Les and Steve.

 

Les, any info on VIN 2763440 that might lend some clues?

[Conserv]

The problem in identifying Korman engines is that they’ve been in business since 1978(?), meaning records might be lost or discarded by now and the components they’ve used have changed over time. I believe Jimmy, their engine builder, however, has been there for years.

 

Does the blue match the blue block color shown on their website?

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

Edited February 13, 2019 by Conserv

[TodB]

I know the owner has spoken with korman who is pretty sure it’s a korman motor but no records exist. 

[mac]

Don't know what color  Korman painted his motors, but 

Miller & Norburn painted theirs BLUE. 

 

Mac. 

[Conserv]

From their website. Although this looks lighter blue than other Korman engines I’ve seen...

 

Maybe even their blue has varied.

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

[TodB]

8 hours ago, Conserv said:

From their website. Although this looks lighter blue than other Korman engines I’ve seen...

 

Maybe even their blue has varied.

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

 

A fascinating group of sites you have open in your browser focusing more on the last one