T-build.SHE'S ALIVE!!!!!!!

M. Holtmeier · Post by **M. Holtmeier** » Jul 11, 2011 2:11 PM

Do you still have the valve cover off? If the valves are bent your lash will be waaaaay off. Not to mention the horrible racket the engine would make just turning over. I would think the thing would lock up if the valves were open very far.

grey ghost · Post by **grey ghost** » Jul 11, 2011 2:27 PM

M. Holtmeier wrote:Do you still have the valve cover off? If the valves are bent your lash will be waaaaay off. Not to mention the horrible racket the engine would make just turning over. I would think the thing would lock up if the valves were open very far.

The valve cover is not off but its no problem taking it back off.
I was making a knocking sound yesterday but I would not call it a racket by a long shot.
The lash was a little tight on 10 of the valves and very loose on the other 2.
Tight to the point were I could not get the .012 feeler in.
The loose ones were about twice to tripple the space.

turbodan · Post by **turbodan** » Jul 11, 2011 2:32 PM

If you're lucky you'll just need a head. Mine actually dropped five valves just during cranking. Towing the car around the block with the timing that far off is about as extreme as it gets.

grey ghost · Post by **grey ghost** » Jul 11, 2011 3:01 PM

Its officially over.
I just took the valve cover off and I have two broken rocker arms.
#1 and #3 on the intake side.
How the hell did that happen?????
I just adjusted the valves and double checked them yesterday.
Does that mean that the timing job I did today was incorrect???

I'm lost here...

So I had no compression, a bad valve adjustment, timing was off and now I have two broken rocker arms..........

The slippery slope has claimed another.

Duke · Post by **Duke** » Jul 11, 2011 3:06 PM

Sorry Dude................I feel for ya.

Take a big step back. It’s just mechanical and can be fixed.

Wrench Fest?

Neil22 · Post by **Neil22** » Jul 11, 2011 3:12 PM

I'm a devote follower of this thread. This isn't how the story's supposed to end. Don't give it up.

grey ghost · Post by **grey ghost** » Jul 11, 2011 3:22 PM

Duke wrote:Sorry Dude................I feel for ya.

Take a big step back. It’s just mechanical and can be fixed.

Wrench Fest?

I do need the help. But I'm way done here in NC and no-one with the skills I need is close enough or has the time to get me going....
I'm so screwed..........

Neil22 wrote:I'm a devote follower of this thread. This isn't how the story's supposed to end. Don't give it up.

You have no idea how I feel right now.
Its rather painfull.
I don't know if I have it in me to attempt another head jod after royally screwing this one up.
I'll sit back for a day, try to mellow out and decide if it will all end up on the "parts for sale" board.
I have a lot of time and money invested and it all feels like a waste at this point.

skip535i · Post by **skip535i** » Jul 11, 2011 3:26 PM

Man, I feel terribly for you. Like you said, it is a slippery slope that not all can climb!

I think if you relax for a few days and then go back to the drawing board with a renewed sense of energy having learned some lesons that you will be fine.

Neil22 · Post by **Neil22** » Jul 11, 2011 3:40 PM

Not sure if this helps but there's a completely refreshed B35 head $500 in Atlanta. Bought from TCD apparently with zero miles on it.

http://www.mye28.com/viewtopic.php?t=91733

grey ghost · Post by **grey ghost** » Jul 11, 2011 3:52 PM

Neil22 wrote:Not sure if this helps but there's a completely refreshed B35 head $500 in Atlanta. Bought from TCD apparently with zero miles on it.

http://www.mye28.com/viewtopic.php?t=91733

Thanks.
Not sure if I'm spending anymore money or walking away. More likely than not I'll be walking away.
I think I can handle the turbo build, the head job was way over my head, even with Bently.

grey ghost · Post by **grey ghost** » Jul 11, 2011 4:34 PM

Can someone please explain this to me. I know this is a tech question, but it refers to my build.
I have the timing set exactly like this.

And I have the OT label on the vibration damper tuned into the mark on the lower timing chain cover....
So how do I have 2 broken rocker arms now that the timing is correct and not yesterday when it was off.

jim325 · Post by **jim325** » Jul 11, 2011 8:59 PM

Your timing chain isint broke I assume?

How is the shape of your tensioner and spring? Is the chain tight or is it pretty loose?

I just rebuilt my M30B34 and had the timing set up just like you say you had yours. I set it up just like it says too in the bentley. I didn't install a B35 cam tho, but I can't see how that would make enough of a difference to throw the timing off that bad. Maybe, umm. Somebody else chime in but did you use the cam sprocket off the B35 or the B34? I really am not sure if they are different but maybe???

My only helpfull advide is, DON'T GIVE UP!!! I was at the point where you are right now. Ready to throw in the towel. I took a few days off from my project, then went back to it and thought a few things over with a cool head. Now I got a plan and im executing it. Altho I did drive my car which kinda slapped me in the face and I said to myself "You can't sell this fucker, you got WAY to much time n money into it already and it's WAY to fun to drive!"

I wish you the best of luck. Keep your head up, if enough things go wrong there's always a few gimmies in the future.

grey ghost · Post by **grey ghost** » Jul 11, 2011 9:11 PM

jim325 wrote:Your timing chain isint broke I assume?

How is the shape of your tensioner and spring? Is the chain tight or is it pretty loose?

I just rebuilt my M30B34 and had the timing set up just like you say you had yours. I set it up just like it says too in the bentley. I didn't install a B35 cam tho, but I can't see how that would make enough of a difference to throw the timing off that bad. Maybe, umm. Somebody else chime in but did you use the cam sprocket off the B35 or the B34? I really am not sure if they are different but maybe???

My only helpfull advide is, DON'T GIVE UP!!! I was at the point where you are right now. Ready to throw in the towel. I took a few days off from my project, then went back to it and thought a few things over with a cool head. Now I got a plan and im executing it. Altho I did drive my car which kinda slapped me in the face and I said to myself "You can't sell this fucker, you got WAY to much time n money into it already and it's WAY to fun to drive!"

I wish you the best of luck. Keep your head up, if enough things go wrong there's always a few gimmies in the future.

Timing chain is not broken.
The tensioner moved in and out smoothly.
The sprocket is the same as per realoem, b34/b35.

cvillebimmer · Post by **cvillebimmer** » Jul 11, 2011 9:39 PM

So sorry to hear this. For what it's worth, I did 3 head gaskets during my F/I journey. The first head gasket is 10 times harder than the rest. I'd get that newly refreshed head from alpinacsi, slap it in there, double check your timing like this: http://www.mye28.com/viewtopic.php?p=569727 and crank it up.

grey ghost · Post by **grey ghost** » Jul 11, 2011 9:46 PM

cvillebimmer wrote:So sorry to hear this. For what it's worth, I did 3 head gaskets during my F/I journey. The first head gasket is 10 times harder than the rest. I'd get that newly refreshed head from alpinacsi, slap it in there, double check your timing like this: http://www.mye28.com/viewtopic.php?p=569727 and crank it up.

Sounds good and dandy, but I had a low compression issue before I found the timing issue.
That was the left followed by the right cross to the temple.
Thats my car throwing rocks at me.

cvillebimmer · Post by **cvillebimmer** » Jul 11, 2011 9:48 PM

There were many days I thought about pushing my car down the hill behind my house to turn it into a creek crossing

grey ghost · Post by **grey ghost** » Jul 11, 2011 9:58 PM

cvillebimmer wrote:There were many days I thought about pushing my car down the hill behind my house to turn it into a creek crossing

I have a lot on my plate and this would have been a nice success for me and a real boost.
I'm just bumbed out. Stress is a MF.
I feel like I got hit by a car and the f**ker backed up over, not enough to kill me, but enough to make me suffer.........

M. Holtmeier · Post by **M. Holtmeier** » Jul 12, 2011 3:41 AM

This is the part of the project that many of us (subconsciously) crave. Believe it or not. Why else would anyone in their right mind disassemble a perfectly running machine engineered by the greatest car manufacturer on the planet? Because it's the incessant need within us to make it our own hot rod. It's like Soaps for car guys. We get our highs, our lows and all in betweens. We shed a few tears and a lot more blood. And when all the obstacles are overcome and the thing finally runs; that, my friend, is the most rewarding feeling in the world.

Lather, rinse, repeat.

SilverBullet · Post by **SilverBullet** » Jul 12, 2011 6:46 AM

Chin up mate, the second time you do it is alot easier and quicker, trust me

Next time you do it, once everything is back on just wind the engine over a couple of times to make sure everything lines up when it comes back to tdc and to check that nothing is hitting/everything spins freely.

shocka · Post by **shocka** » Jul 12, 2011 9:30 AM

I've been going back and forth trying to decide if i would share my PAINFUL story with you.

Its time, during my b35 swap i decided to have the head rebuild with a reground cam and reseal the motor. This included a major cleanup of the motor and paint. I took some of the parts like the intake mani and oilpan off and sandblasted them, cleaned them up and painted.

Nice right? Well what i did that was incredibly dumb was not clean the oilpan off well enough, there was sandy oil below the baffles that i couldnt see. I got about 30 kms on this engine before it popped, the oil pump got clogged with said sandy oil. I was shattered to say the least, at least 100 hours and 1500$ or more.

So, when i say i know your pain its true. Im really embarassed about my stupidity, but i got right back on the horse. I bought another b35 and had the car towed to my friends shop on a sunday. I had this shattered engine out, and its replacement (bone stock) in and running in 8 hours myself. My tech friend said he saw a look of determination
in my face he never had before. Dont give up, learn the lesson and move on.

cvillebimmer · Post by **cvillebimmer** » Jul 12, 2011 9:46 AM

Great story, thank you for sharing!

Chalk it up to the learning process.

Lurker27 · Post by **Lurker27** » Jul 12, 2011 11:21 AM

M. Holtmeier wrote:This is the part of the project that many of us (subconsciously) crave. Believe it or not. Why else would anyone in their right mind disassemble a perfectly running machine engineered by the greatest car manufacturer on the planet? Because it's the incessant need within us to make it our own hot rod. It's like Soaps for car guys. We get our highs, our lows and all in betweens. We shed a few tears and a lot more blood. And when all the obstacles are overcome and the thing finally runs; that, my friend, is the most rewarding feeling in the world.

Lather, rinse, repeat.

Worth quoting.

grey ghost · Post by **grey ghost** » Jul 12, 2011 11:54 AM

Thanks guys.
I'm still a little blue today.
I've not even gotten out of bed yet and its 11:30am.
I'm just trying to re-eval what went wrong, and if/how I can fix it.

What I need is for a very generous board member to show up here with a head and the know-how to get me back on the road.

I'm currently driving a friend's second car, but that can't last forever.
I need to either get this thing rolling or part it out.
I may be stepping down into an e30 if I can find one fast. If that happens this thing is gone for sure.

I'm not saying its over, but here is the list of what I can think of at the moment.
Something good needs to happen soon......

- 100% complete k27 kit w/custom exhaust. Would like to sell the kit intact if it goes that route.
- 18 style 5s
- BBK w/rotors
- perfect condition drive shaft
- HRs/HDs
- ST 25/19mm sway bars
- trunk battery kit
- 2.93lsd
- 535 5spd radiator
- paint grade euro bumpers
- custom US-Euro front valance
- fogs and turns
- brand new motor mounts
- 059 ecu w/TCD turbo chip

This is just a list, not a feeler. I'm just lisitng it to see how far a part-out will dig me out of this hole I've dug.

johnnye23 · Post by **johnnye23** » Jul 12, 2011 2:25 PM

Just buy a used B34 and run it,way cheaper than another vehicle.Check with Alpinacsi he has my old motor it may be for sale.

grey ghost · Post by **grey ghost** » Jul 12, 2011 2:30 PM

johnnye23 wrote:Just buy a used B34 and run it,way cheaper than another vehicle.Check with Alpinacsi he has my old motor it may be for sale.

I already screwed this job up, I'm kinda worried about doing it again.
There are so many things that can go wrong........

johnnye23 · Post by **johnnye23** » Jul 12, 2011 2:32 PM

I am suggesting you purchase a complete motor and install it,not another head assy.

clongo · Post by **clongo** » Jul 12, 2011 2:37 PM

johnnye23 wrote:I am suggesting you purchase a complete motor and install it,not another head assy.

I actually think that is a great idea. My stock b34 runs just fine boosted. And installing a motor in these cars is pretty damn easy.

Have you talked to the machine shop yet? I think you are due for some compensation due to their half assed work.

johnnye23 · Post by **johnnye23** » Jul 12, 2011 3:01 PM

clongo wrote:
johnnye23 wrote:I am suggesting you purchase a complete motor and install it,not another head assy.
I actually think that is a great idea. My stock b34 runs just fine boosted. And installing a motor in these cars is pretty damn easy.

Have you talked to the machine shop yet? I think you are due for some compensation due to their half assed work.

Ya no, I mean put a stock motor in it and drive it.Save your beans and rebuild the B35 as you get caught back up.

grey ghost · Post by **grey ghost** » Jul 12, 2011 3:10 PM

johnnye23 wrote:
clongo wrote:
johnnye23 wrote:I am suggesting you purchase a complete motor and install it,not another head assy.
I actually think that is a great idea. My stock b34 runs just fine boosted. And installing a motor in these cars is pretty damn easy.

Have you talked to the machine shop yet? I think you are due for some compensation due to their half assed work.
Ya no, I mean put a stock motor in it and drive it.Save your beans and rebuild the B35 as you get caught back up.

Again, another job I've never done. I'm in a hole at the moment.
Walking away seems to be my best option.
I'm not quiting, just cutting my losses........
Still undecided...

Post by **Brad D.** » Jul 12, 2011 4:42 PM

I am really sorry to hear that this is the result of your hard work. I think most of us have been there are one point or another. It sucks and it's hard to bounce back from.

It sounds like the e28 was your main transportation. At this stage it would suck to sell off the whole project. Is there any means to pick up a cheap beater to drive in the mean time and fix the e28 as time and money permits?

MyE28.com

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T-build.SHE'S ALIVE!!!!!!!