My 1981 320/6 Work Very Much in progress !

dazed · Post by **dazed** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 1:44 am

Hi all,

Well here is a breakdown of how I came to own an e21.

A friend of mine's uncle was moving house and has a garage on his land that had a e21 in it. He 'forgot' about the car since 1994 and needed to move it before he moved out which was today. He really did not want to see it go as he had it from nearly new +1 owner.

I was asked if I wanted a project as I love classic cars and I had a quick look and said yes. I said yes not even knowing what I was looking for to be honest

I just hated seeing her sitting in the garage and just wanting to be brought back to life.

So I paid £50 for her as a goodwill gesture and she is now outside my house.

What I need to do and what order I need to do it is really where you all come in. I have friends that are good mechanics (I am ok myself too) and also have a friend with his own spray shop. My dad is an ex rollys royce welder and he has a pit and garage of his own at his house (which is 50 miles away) so they can all help me.

What I want to do is restore her back to her original self. Maybe I will change the colour ? The interior is brown. I will post more pics in daylight tomorrow from all angles.

what I would require from you all is HELP and lots of it

What would you do ? What order would you do it in ? How much does it cost ? etc etc

I will post pics and update whenever I can. I am here to share her and learn at the same time.

I thank you for reading my ramblings and maybe soon I can post the finished girl and see how she is after the hard work is done.

Facts:

model: 1981 320/6

colour: dusty green

interior: brown

Mileage: 73000

Owners: 2

Known service history: Full and also had a top end rebuild 1 month before going into the garage.

When she was pulled out of the garage it the brakes were not seized and the handbrakes works fine.

I have not had a chance to try and start her yet as the keys are in his new house in boxes somewhere.

Should I start her or wait ? See I don't know what is my plan at present so thats why I am here

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Happy New Year.

Dave

Here is a pic of her in the garage before she was moved to my house and a new life.

Thanks again

--ALPINA-- · Post by **--ALPINA--** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 3:06 am

i would start her, but put in fresh petrol in tank as petrol goes off if left in a tank for many years, take the air filter off and feed petrol in car also to help fire up BUT before all that, turn the crank shaft over at leat 10 revolutions as to hear and let the bearings ease out of siezure if anything, you will hear clicks when doing so, the with full power of battery turn over and feed carburettor with juice.... cant see why it shouldnt fire up.... its fun turning the key to hear it fire after so many years in storage.......

before you do anything to car, 100% check the side sills for hollowness noise.. basically rust... i would start on them first, cut em out cos rust starts on the inside sills and eat outwards, like exhausts..... then go for it do what pleases ya..

Jimi

dazed · Post by **dazed** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 3:13 am

--ALPINA-- wrote:i would start her, but put in fresh petrol in tank as petrol goes off if left in a tank for many years, take the air filter off and feed petrol in car also to help fire up BUT before all that, turn the crank shaft over at leat 10 revolutions as to hear and let the bearings ease out of siezure if anything, you will hear clicks when doing so, the with full power of battery turn over and feed carburettor with juice.... cant see why it shouldnt fire up.... its fun turning the key to hear it fire after so many years in storage.......

before you do anything to car, 100% check the side sills for hollowness noise.. basically rust... i would start on them first, cut em out cos rust starts on the inside sills and eat outwards, like exhausts..... then go for it do what pleases ya..

Jimi

Thanks Jimi

LRP I presume too ?

I was thinking of stripping her down and getting the shell and floor welded if necessary then completely resprayed. Will have a proper look tomorrow after she has had a GOOD clean out.

I need a list of some kind

ronaldo · Post by **ronaldo** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 1:03 pm

I wouldn't start her up before cleaning and removing/checking all the oil/water/gass etc. It hasn't run for that many years and it would be a shame if you ruin your engine

dazed · Post by **dazed** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 3:12 pm

ronaldo wrote:I wouldn't start her up before cleaning and removing/checking all the oil/water/gass etc. It hasn't run for that many years and it would be a shame if you ruin your engine

I am going to clean the fuel lines, replace oil, load water and AF etc new fuel filter, oilf filter etc before trying. I have not got the keys yet so will clean her tomorrow and do the usual bits.

Is it bedt to use LRP ?

drjim · Post by **drjim** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 3:34 pm

Is it best to use LRP ?

Depends what they did when they rebuilt the top end, LRP won't do any harm either way though.

Any more pics yet?

Jim

dazed · Post by **dazed** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 3:37 pm

drjim wrote:
Is it best to use LRP ?
Depends what they did when they rebuilt the top end, LRP won't do any harm either way though.

Any more pics yet?

Jim

Will have tomorrow mate as its raining here like heck ! and son is ill and wants to help me so will wait till tomorrow when she is cleaned

drjim · Post by **drjim** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 3:38 pm

Chucking it down here in Manchester as well. Anyway it's nice to have another North-West member.

dazed · Post by **dazed** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 4:49 pm

drjim wrote:Chucking it down here in Manchester as well. Anyway it's nice to have another North-West member.

Indeed nice to be here too

gerrit323 · Post by **gerrit323** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 3:24 pm

If I where you to be honest I would do what Ronaldo said + change the timing belt

before firing it up. I had the experience a few years ago with a friend who became the owner of an e30 that had been put away for 8 years. As soon as the car was at his place he wanted to try firing it up.

I told him the same thing "wait a little and change timing belt first" ... he didn't ... fired it up and the belt snapped

Costed him 500 euros to rebuild the head

Gerrit

dazed · Post by **dazed** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 6:35 pm

belt changed today

here are some more pics too.

What else should be done before trying to start her ?

Thanks for your help guys

Appreciated

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drjim · Post by **drjim** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 6:49 pm

From looking at the colour of your carpet, I can understand why you want to dye it!

If you've done the belt, oil, filter, plugs, water etc, you should be ready to go. Probably best to crank it on the starter with the coil lead disconnected to circulate oil for a bit. Don't try driving until you've changed the brake fluid!

dazed · Post by **dazed** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 6:57 pm

drjim wrote:From looking at the colour of your carpet, I can understand why you want to dye it!

If you've done the belt, oil, filter, plugs, water etc, you should be ready to go. Probably best to crank it on the starter with the coil lead disconnected to circulate oil for a bit. Don't try driving until you've changed the brake fluid!

Yeah carpet is horrid !

so take the ht lead off the coil and turn her over or do it manually ?

I am a bit confused I need step by step sorry for my ignorance

gerrit323 · Post by **gerrit323** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 7:27 pm

Disconnect the main wire (middle one) from the rotor cap (where all the spark plug cables come together) then you can cranck it around with the startermotor but without ignition

after a few tries connect the main wire and give it a go .. good luck

Did you pull the old fuel out?? If not maylbe best to do this and give it a bit of new juice

.

Then I think your ready to go

Rgds

Gerrit

dazed · Post by **dazed** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 4:49 pm

ok thanks Gerrit.

I have done all that has been said on here and she will not fire. Only tried for a couple of hours though.

I took the sparkes out and fired them off and all 6 fire against the block. I did not pour any fuel down the carb though so this is where I probably am going wrong ?

Any thoughts ? I will put a recording up of what she sounds like when I can if that helps ?

Dave