The Fleet (SFW)

[vinceg101]

Rock on, Charlie.
See you on the flip side and don't be a stranger.

[lizard]

As an older gent. Embrace single-hood and go out there and meet women (or your preference; not judging). Lots of them! I’ve been divorced for awhile and have met so many wonderful women.

[RoyW]

Great thread Charlie.... terrific pics of an awesome fleet!!

-RoyW

[muleskinner]

Speaking of @cek, where's Charlie?

[vinceg101]

Last I heard he was in Kiwi-land contemplating switching over to Volvo's.

[tig]

Back in the USA!

On my way to Princeton NJ right now... and to see @ahab!

Vlad says hi. When a homeless guy needs to quickly detail his car before a hot date, he does it in an auto parts store parking lot. LOL.

[

[vinceg101]

Hey, my wife's old stomping ground (and sometimes mine when I was living in Pennington).

There are some nice drives up and down the Delaware on both sides of the river (on either Rte.32 or 29) above Washington's Crossing up through Milford.
I'm sure ahab knows a few also.

[tig]

The fleet (sans Minerva which is still in CA; free storage , and the Datsun Roadsters which are still with @ahab), is on its way to Durango.

I am also on my way; at Denver airport now waiting for my flight to Durango.

Fleet is supposed to arrive tomorrow, so that's groovy.

I drove Maytag up to my storage facility in Cle Elum, WA where the transport was meeting me. It's about 90 miles on I-90. Lovely day, and the car was brilliant (as usual) at 90+mph. When I pulled into storage property it stalled. Wouldn't start. Typical. With the help of @ahab, @kohler, etc... I got it started again. No idea what I fixed. But something ain't right. But all's well that ends well.









I have found a temporary 15x50 storage unit (14' high door) in Durango. It will serve as a place to keep the cars that I'm not driving around Durango and all my parts/tools until I can figure out my new shop situation there.

[tig]

The fleet has arrived in Durango...



The storage is going to work out fine. But I really, really, really need to find my own storage/workshop space. Anyone in the Durango area reading this with a line on a honkin big shop/storage space for rent/sale please let me know. Ideally, I find something ~5000sq feet nearish to Durango proper.



Home is where you hang your hat. And park your Cruiser.



It's also where you go to Cars & Coffee and meet cool new car peeps.











AND, it's also where you go wheeling (up by Lemon Rez):









See video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdvFPkK70Xg

She performed like a champ. The Walbro fuel pump must go; insanely noisy. I still have some fuel smell. Not sure the Sniper tune is right still; power seems lacking.

Had to be in 4L most of the time given my 373 gearing and big tires. But that's no biggie.

[Karl Grau]

That's great the fleet made it safely to the new home. I wish you all the best on this new chapter!

[tig]

Uglina's top is off for the first time since 2013!



And, I was able to get TEQ in Colorado!



Vlad will be getting either "VLAD" or "ZINNO". "E28" is either already taken or can't be had in CO (like Utah).

[sprouting]

So glad to see an update, and that your doing well.
I may not know you or even live in the same country (England) but just from reading all the running reports I feel like I do and was sorry to see you'd disappeared from the forum for a time. Not had an E28 since the 90's but it was the same light green as the e12 in the last post. Not had an e34 since 2010 and miss all the old time BMW's from this era. Currently in a 2004 X5 which is as old as I could get away with to keep the wife happy
Good luck with the future, have you secured a new job.

[tig]

So glad to see an update, and that your doing well.
I may not know you or even live in the same country (England) but just from reading all the running reports I feel like I do and was sorry to see you'd disappeared from the forum for a time. Not had an E28 since the 90's but it was the same light green as the e12 in the last post. Not had an e34 since 2010 and miss all the old time BMW's from this era. Currently in a 2004 X5 which is as old as I could get away with to keep the wife happy
Good luck with the future, have you secured a new job.

Thank you for your support. This community is amazing and I am grateful to be a part of it.

[Ordnator]

Colour Matched body and plate

Best regards,

Mick

[tig]

A few teasers of what's next for a workshop/storage here in Durango....

1) Note the sq foot label on this thread now (it *was* 1way less than 1200sq ft)
2) Search the interwebs for the definition of the word "Gruntled"
3) A draft drawing:

[tig]

Today (Oct 20) is my 911's 34th birthday! 43,884 miles.

This week she got new trim for the rear glass. The old trim had shrunk, causing the two metal trim pieces at the top and bottom to no longer hold the trim in place; this caused the old trim (which, apparently, is plastic bonded to aluminum) to delaminate.

The new OE trim I got from Pelican is all aluminum.

Pretty gnarly job, but we got it done (I re-installed the brake light later).

[CYoung]

Wish we could get customized classic plates in Wisconsin, perfect match. Nice job on the rear glass, looking forward to following another garage build from you as well.

[tig]

I've revived my Garage Journal thread and am posting updates on my new storage/workshop space in Durango (aka Gruntled HQ).

Czech it out here:

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/thr ... st-9844267

[1st 5er]

I've revived my Garage Journal thread and am posting updates on my new storage/workshop space in Durango (aka Gruntled HQ).

Czech it out here:

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/thr ... st-9844267

It's lovely.

[tig]

I've revived my Garage Journal thread and am posting updates on my new storage/workshop space in Durango (aka Gruntled HQ).

Czech it out here:

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/thr ... st-9844267

It's lovely.

Tons of updates in that thread. Getting closer to being able to use the shop in anger for reals. Yesterday I got all the cars moved out of mini-storage for the last time! This weekend I move all my shit out of mini-storage. Lots of organizing and finish work left to do, but that's kinda the point of a space like this, no?



Here's what's left in storage to move:

[tig]

Fleet update...

First, my new workshop (Gruntled HQ) in Durango is now no longer a project but a place where projects happen. Had an awesome party to celebrate. Travis even showed up in his 533.







In 1990 @ahab bought two Datsun Roadsters to restore into one. Last week I flew to PA and we exposed them to the environment for the first time in 23 years. They are now packed up and ready to be transported to Gruntled HQ where I'll do my best to make him proud. The project is named "Penny" and if you care, you can follow my build on www.3112.org here.

[tig]

My GF's son said "You now have 10 cars".





















The intent on winning this BaT auction was to get a "driver" that would also be a parts donor for Penny. IOW, "3 to make 1". Of course, I bid on a non-driving "driver".

Initial inspection yesterday indicates I scored big-time. The engine appears to have brand new internals and does, in fact, turn over. The body is rusr-free (well, at least it has no massive rot and no signs of major bondo or fiberglass repair). The chassis is sweet. Almost all the parts are original.

So, likely this car will be a bit like Maytag...

[tig]

Turns out there's nothing fundamentally wrong with the engine. Took some work getting the ignition & fuel deliver sorted, but I've now put about 20 miles on her, and she's just a joy to drive. Motor pulls strong (even if it insists on idling at 2k) and wants to overheat when not moving. Brakes are good enough but SS lines a bleed, and new rear shoes will help. Gearbox is Right, but a new slave is going in. Steering is suprisingly tight. Goes straight-ish. Suspension feels fine.

She likes being seen around town...









I've achieved my goal of getting her running well enough to get the certified VIN inspection I need to convert the title from a Builder's title to a real title (the Sheriff's office was super nice).



Now I start really pulling things apart to make her mechanically "tits". Without TOO much mission creep (ha!).

• R&R cooling system. 4-blade fan, new hoses, temp sender, water pump, etc...
• Radiator is mounted too high. Lower it by ~1cm so cap doesn't touch underside of hood.
• New exhaust.
• Refurbished SU carbs (I was going to do it myself, but I don't have the means to fix the shaft-play myself).
• Replace throttle & choke cables.
• Brakes. Rear shoes, fix e-brake cable, SS lines.
• Clutch slave.
• Reverse light switch.
• New LED headlights.
• Figure out why speedo seems to read WAY high.

Given the new exhaust/headers, and the fact that the carbs will come off, I'm tempted to pull the engine & transmission.

This will enable me to deep clean the engine bay and will make replacing the water pump etc... easier. While in there, is the rear main seal leaking? What about the PO report (and evidence I cleaned up) that the head gasket was seeping coolant? Why not just pull the head, get it re-decked, and put a new head gasket in, while there just to be sure?

Of course, there's tons of cosmetic stuff to work on. Especially in the interior. But I'm working REALLY hard to not just start ordering stuff like new carpet, seat covers, vinyl until the mechanical stuff is sorted.

[CanadianMiniFan]

I’d have a close look at all the suspension pivots. Recently did one of these, ball joints are often worn out but especially the control arm pivots. They aren’t rubber bushings, but threaded bushings on a pin, and it’s hard to tell how much play they have when everything is together. If you drop the spring out, you can reef on them and I’m sure unless this was greased reigiously, you’ll find play. Steering linkage is easier to check. As for how far to go on the engine, I’ll leave that to your judgement. I know how “while you’re in there” goes, and with the head off, if there’s some wear in the bore are you just going to put the head back on? If the heads off I’d get a valve job done, or at least do a cylinder leakage check before removing the head. This is an era of engine where top end refreshes were semi regular service, not like a “modern” 80s bmw engine. Have fun!

Edit: I see this is a 2000, I have worked more on 1600s, so if the 2000 got rubber bushings disregard my suspension comments, but I believe it would have the same set up.

[tig]

I’d have a close look at all the suspension pivots.

Edit: I see this is a 2000, I have worked more on 1600s, so if the 2000 got rubber bushings disregard my suspension comments, but I believe it would have the same set up.

After I get the drivetrain sorted, next will be suspension. I plan on replacing it all with aftermarket components that have been modernized. I have read up enough (and talked with friends) to understand what you've noted about the bushings (they are not rubber).

As for how far to go on the engine, I’ll leave that to your judgement. I know how “while you’re in there” goes, and with the head off, if there’s some wear in the bore are you just going to put the head back on? If the heads off I’d get a valve job done, or at least do a cylinder leakage check before removing the head. This is an era of engine where top end refreshes were semi regular service, not like a “modern” 80s bmw engine. Have fun!

Who knows what I'll find with the head off, but remember: a) the head appears brand new, b) with the bore scope, I could see what looked like newish cross-hatching in the cylinders...

[CanadianMiniFan]

As is usual you’ve done your research, carry on!

[tig]

Peggy's (https://www.311s.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=37943) twin sister (s) have arrived from Pennsylvania!











That dent was not there when they started their journey. Arrrg.