One rod journal had a larger clearance than the others. But only 0.0039 instead of 0.0018. Doesn't sound like much but maybe it is enough. One piston has a worse wear scar than the others but all measure within tolerance allowed. The info in Bentley about the crank says it is heat treated by BMW and should not be ground unless it can be re heat treated. I suspect it could be ion nit
Forum: Technical Forum

Here are a few pictures of the disassembly. The wear scar on the #1 piston measures the correct diameter but the measurement at 90deg to the scar is 0.015 inches smaller. Seems veery odd.
Forum: Technical Forum

I will get my real camera out and get some pictures of the pieces all over my garage. I have some cell phone pictures but they are difficult to transfer to my computer.
Forum: Technical Forum

I have the pistons out already so can measure them direcly. The cylinders have only the slightest wear ridge showing. They slid out easily. Hone marks are still lightly evident on the cylinder walls. I am studying the oil galleries to see if I can determine why one connecting rod my not be getting proper oil. There are a lot of deep drilled holes that must intersect to form them .
Forum: Technical Forum

End float was pretty tight. I could not really get enough movement to tell that it was moving. Probably should have use a feeler gage. So far have not found enough damage to say what the cause was. I never get oil light flicker no matter how hot the engine is. I run 20-50 oil. wanted to check the oil pressure with a gage but the pressure switch does not have the type threads I can adapt any
Forum: Technical Forum

The motor was leaking oil from the head gasket so much it was difficult to tell if it was burning any oil. The gasket I had put on last did not have any sealant around the edges like the one before that which did not leak. Did not do a compression check prior to disassembly but it ran fine once it got warmed up. The knocking noise sounded like a connecting rod bearing. Once it was apart, I co
Forum: Technical Forum

Rick, I changed the head due to a cracked original about 18 months ago. There was some coolant leaking into the crankcase. The replacement head gave me 180 psi on compression test after it was all back together. I had notice a knocking noise on cold starts for some time. It was quiet for about 5 seconds and then gradually got louder for a couple of minutes before quiet again. When warmed up
Forum: Technical Forum

Have been tempted to modifications for increased power but have resisted so far. Planning only piston rings and bearings. Hopefully will not have to have the crankshaft worked on. I sure enjoy driving this car and hope to drive it until I cannot drive any more.
Forum: Technical Forum

Yes a complete rebuild is probably what it needs. I plan to replace all the bearings and piston rings. Hope the pistons can be re used. The fluids are all drained today and most wires and tubes disconnected. I hope I can remember where they all go when it comes time to connect them all.
Forum: Technical Forum

It has come to the point that I can no longer ignore how much more noise I hear from my M20 motor. After 243,000 miles, I think it must be time to take it apart and put some new bearings in it. My concern is that just bearings will do the job. The noise goes away after a minute or so of running. So maybe my crank is still ok. Anyone have advice of what to look for when it comes apart to exp
Forum: Technical Forum

There has to be a key to keep the gear and cam properly related. If the gear had become loose it could wear the key away and allow the gear to become loose. I friend had that happen to his M20 motor on the gear on the crank. The key was worn nearly through and the timing was so far off that the valves were all touching the pistons.
Forum: Technical Forum

Jose, Your realization that money is required to run a war of any kind raises the question about "who benefits?" from all the turmoil. Many will say that there could not be a conspiracy that could do this. Why not? Someone is benefitting from the conflict and are willing to pay for those new trucks.
Forum: Community Forum

Ove, You have correctly observed the large problem in the middle east. Sharia law is a pollitical system masquerading as a religion.
Forum: Community Forum

Jose, The craziness did not start recently. I will quote a commentator I just saw online... "Terrorism is both a complicated subject and a simple subject. It has its complexities, but there are also really bright red lines of moral differentiation that we must not blur. The recent events in Paris have made this clear. I have a number of Muslim friends. I admire most of them. I respec
Forum: Community Forum

And last weekend where the news is not so instant.
Forum: Community Forum

There are several who have been on video challenging us and cutting heads off captives. I am just guessing here but they may be giving us a clue. They said they intended to conquer us. They did not intend to integrate into a democracy. A dictatorship is what will result. A dictatorship is great as long as the person in charge likes you but when he does not, you have no recourse to his demands
Forum: Community Forum

Wow, what luck. I was surprised how large the boat is. Good thing.
Forum: Community Forum

They have declared that they are at war with us. Just that most of our leaders have not been willing to admit it and do anything about it.
Forum: Community Forum

We are planning to trade the wife's 740 to one of the kids for his E-30 so she can have a track car. He has a baby daughter that needs car seat capacity so the larger car fits them better. That will give me 3 E-30s in the fleet.
Forum: Community Forum

That is a very nice car! The new year must be looking good for you. Hope so anyway.
Forum: Community Forum

Peter, Same for you as well. Merry Christmas and Happy new year. Good luck with your search for a replacement for an E-30. I have found that one cannot go all the way back home most times. I have other Bimmers to drive but am staying with the E-30 for a while. I want to drive it until I cannot drive anymore. The spouse likes her more modern cars but they are so heavy and expensive that I c
Forum: Community Forum

You must have a very big tree if those will fit.
Forum: Community Forum

I agree with you. Also just bought some larger diameter wheels so I can get some decent tires. I have had my E-30 for 10 years and am still not tired of driving it.
Forum: Car Talk

Good that you had time to stop and take the picture. Must be a story in there somewhere. Too bad there was none of the owners nearby to converse with.
Forum: Car Talk

There are some iX cars of various models on the BMW CCA website in the classified section. Even an E-30.
Forum: Car Talk

Sometimes it is because one's spouse wants a new car.
Forum: Car Talk

That must be the reason I have an F-15 X-5. Has to be something like that anyway.
Forum: Car Talk

The problem could be a transistor switch. One failure mode of a transistor is that it can seem to work perfectly until it gets warmed up. Then it does not turn on the switch like it is supposed to. It can sort of heal up with being left unpowered for a while. Not sure which one it might be but there is one that turns on and off the current to the coil. Since the black smoke is fuel unburned,
Forum: Technical Forum

I saw that episode when it aired originally. I sure was disgusted that the destroyed some very nice E-30 convertibles. They do not make them like that any more. Shows what tough and versatile cars they are though. Bob
Forum: Car Talk

Always satisfying to have repairs complete and on the road. A great sense of accomplishment and well deserved.
Forum: Car Talk