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OK so here is the latest! I seem to be in the middle of several things and in danger of completing none of them!
Clutch MC is ftted and i am really pleased with it. I have trial fitted the pedal box so that I can start the plumbing.
[IMG]http:// IMG_0574[1] by oldpropuk, on Flickr[/IMG]
I have two problems. As I said earlier, I didnt strip the donor and just have several boxes of bits. Some bits I am having trouble identifying and some I cant find! I need the pulse counter for the diff and it looks like I need the whole of the innards of the rear handbrake setup, I have an incomplete box of bits!
Hopefully you'll find your speed sensor in the box of electrical bits, maybe?
It's a round white plastic 'thingy' with two prongs, one longer than the other. And a metal plate to hold in the hole in the diff.
I mounted my steering rack with some tubes and bolts supplied by Marlin like this....
It's to drop the steering wheel down a bit to give a better driving position. (but it was a subject of much debate amongst builders on the forum a few years ago!) You may have the tubes in your box-o-bits?
Actually I do have the tubes I think. I didnt put any thought into the steering column because its just stuck in to see that it all fits. Thanks for that.
Believe it or not I am toying with the idea of buying ANOTHER E30 525! I know it sounds crazy but if it has the BBS alloy wheels and with all the other bits I need it would probably pay for itself plus, I could fit the running engine and gearbox which would speed things up and I could take my time with the rebuild of mine (and, if I am honest, have a pattern to copy - a bare engine and a big box of anonymous bits is bloody daunting!). So, the hunt is on for a sub £500 car....!
I thought I would move my discussion re my halfshaft problems etc to this thread for continuity!
Right, here we go! I fitted both halfshafts (with some effort to get the splines to engage far enough to get the nut on to pull them in) only to find that the outboard gaiters and clips will not fit in the wishbone casting
[IMG]http:// IMG_0607[1] by oldpropuk, on Flickr[/IMG]
Now, this is a pain in the ass. the halfshafts cam with the secondhand kit i bought and had already been rebuilt, obviously with a "will fit" kit. As I see it the options are either to remove the halfshafts and source and fit the correct gaiter or to fit one of the stretch gaiters that can be fitted without stripping the halfshaft like this:
I would prefer to fit a proper BMW gaiter but I am a bit reticent about pulling the inner CV joint off. I am sure to wreck it...has anyone done this successfully? Any help welcome!
Another small issue is the large gap between the chassis lugs and the large rubber mounting on the diff. Have i missed a spacer or something?
I assume it's down to the fact that the diff is at a slight angle, Marlin have just welded the hangers either side of the cross member above, and that to make a spacer correctly for it you need what would be a thick angled washer...
It won't move forward or aft due to the mounting at front.
Another small issue is the large gap between the chassis lugs and the large rubber mounting on the diff. Have i missed a spacer or something?
As I recall I actually packed mine out with some thick washers. I don't remember there being a need for them to be tapered in any way. But it was about 6 years ago.....
I agree that it is pretty solidly mounted, its just bad practise to leave a big gap. I might measure it carefully and try to fashion a stiff rubber spacer?
As I recall I actually packed mine out with some thick washers. I don't remember there being a need for them to be tapered in any way. But it was about 6 years ago.....
Robin
Me too!
I think the gap is to suit the different types BMW diff's available.
Sorry to keep banging on about this but its a worry! Here is a better pic of the "rebuilt" outer CV showing the boot and the gap between the casting and the CV that it plus some sort of clip has to reside in.... clearly this one won't!
[IMG] IMG_0623 by oldpropuk, on Flickr[/IMG]
Hi John, If you ave a look at the photos in these links, you'll see how my boots are located on Vikki's drive shafts. The boot Is secured to the smaller diameter portion directly behind the largest diameter portion - basically where the edge of the boot is in the picture you've posted.
I think you're going to have to take it back out and get a made to measure boot from BMW or somewhere like GSF and fit it in place of the generic one on there.
Jason, thanks for those, I should have searched your blog more carefully! hmmmm there is something wrong here. In a hurry this morning but I will have a good look at mine compared to yours later or tomorrow. it looks to me like the whole outer CV joint is different.....ARGHHHHH!!!
Just had a quick look before dashing off and there is definitely something amiss. Does anyone know if the halfshafts are standard E30 parts or are they modified by Marlin? I have another pair on my "other" donor....
John - the shafts are unmolested by Marlin... Standard BMW parts.
Looking at your photo again, you may be able to cut the boot off at the correct place for it to be connected, and then use a stainless tie to clamp it on to the shaft.
If you cut off the portion that has the larger diameter that was incorrectly clamped to the top portion of the shaft, it should fall to the same place as where my original boots are
I can't see that your shafts are different to mine. But if all else fails, whip the ones off your other donor and have a look.
You are right. Shafts are the same. I am of the same mind about trying to cut down the old boot but I am not sure it will play ball because its an odd design. Worst case is I remove them and fit proper boots. I want to avoid this because unlike most of you it seems mine were hard to pull into the hub splines. If I DO take them off I might drill and tap a small hole in the end of the shaft to make a small puller up
Easter woes! Halfshafts and another wretched car....
Well, not much achieved this Easter and I had such high hopes! the halfshafts continue to annoy. I tries cutting the boots down but they are not designed for it and the min diameter is not small enough. So, the halfshafts will need to be removed. The ones on donor II look ok so I will make use of them, or their boots. Problem: donor II is in the wrong place and I don't want to immobilise it until I have it in its final resting place so halfshafts on hold temporarily.
Another distraction is yet another car! I have bought a very sad Toylander Geepstar for my Grandson! it is in terrible condition but with a new body (all wood) it will be like new. Toylander are the "Rolls Royce" of childrens electric vehicles - take a look at their website. It was a brilliant £100 buy. Oh dear, so much to do, so little time!
Good timing that man!
I've just finished my Sammio i was just starting to look at one of those toylanders as my next project for the summer for my two young sons. I'd be interested to hear what you think of it and how you get on with it
That would certainly do it. I have been looking at others on ebay but the dimensions of this one are ideal.
Looking at my outer CV, there is the large diameter (where my current boots are incorrectly mounted) then it steps down to another (about 62mm) which does not look flat enough to seat a boot on, then down again to about 52mm which is not a flat either but sort of "troughed", ie a concave surface. I am oing to wait until I pull the original ones out of donor 2 to compare...
Looking at my outer CV, there is the large diameter (where my current boots are incorrectly mounted) then it steps down to another (about 62mm) which does not look flat enough to seat a boot on, then down again to about 52mm which is not a flat either but sort of "troughed", ie a concave surface. I am oing to wait until I pull the original ones out of donor 2 to compare...
From this FirstLine diagram in this eBay advert the 52mm diameter 'trough' looks like the right sealing point.
For what its worth, I've bought many FirstLine parts, for various family cars, from my local motor factor and they are good quality products and come with the correct clips.
I've recently changed my steering rack gaiters with FirstLine parts which were very high quality mouldings and fitted perfectly.
Hello all! This is a kind of "holding" post just to reassure you all that I have not died or fallen by the wayside!
Yesterday I visited Marlin and collected all the proprietary bits that I will need to finish the build, ie all the aluminium and composite parts from their kits 2 & 3 and a windscreen. I also got the front wishbones to replace the ones that GOO had. There was a used Sportster there that they have just re-sold
[IMG]IMG_0028 by oldpropuk, on Flickr[/IMG]
I am in my office in Warrington right now with my car stuffed with Marlin bits!
I am still a bit stuffed by building the Toylander for my Grandson which is blocking access to the Marlin but that should be complete this weekend.
I have decided to resolve the halfshaft gaiter conundrum by pulling the halfshafts off donor 2 and tidying them up or at least using the gaiters from them.
In this pic you can see the Toylander and donor 2! I will take some pics of the Marlin bits at the weekend!
[IMG]IMG_0023 by oldpropuk, on Flickr[/IMG]
