The Bimmer Basement

[Skellyii]

Nice!

But, you're making me feel guilty. There's a couple of things I need to get done on my 944, but I've got several other vehicles with pressing needs I need to finish first.

 

[fouckhest]

Couple of small updates.... I looked at the price of a battery for this thing, and decided to go with an Odyssey pc680 since I get them cheap at work.

I am guessing you know this, but just have to post it for common knowledge, those batteries are great, but getting a trickle charge meant for AGM's that has a de-sulfating feature is key to keeping them happy in my experience.

Car is coming together nicely, looking forward to seeing your first C&C or trip to get an Xmas tree with it!

 

[Mpower5266]

I am guessing you know this, but just have to post it for common knowledge, those batteries are great, but getting a trickle charge meant for AGM's that has a de-sulfating feature is key to keeping them happy in my experience.

Car is coming together nicely, looking forward to seeing your first C&C or trip to get an Xmas tree with it!

Yep, I have a few of them kicking around the shop.

 

[Mpower5266]

I finally did a garage thing. I kinda got fed up with having to roll my dehumidifier/ac unit of of the garage every couple of days to drain it. I also never really like where I had to place it due to electric and window locations, its been venting out of a window on the front of the house.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

Quick trip to Lowes for some supplies and two burnt up hole saws later, I installed a dryer vent.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

I had to adapt the 4" duct to the 6" hose.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

And moved to its semi final location, I want to make some adjustments and see if I can get it sit closer to the wall.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

I still want to find a way to drain it. I may tap into the drain from the water heater, or just drill another hole and make a pvc drain.

As for the 944, we started on the brakes. I think it might need some work.....

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

Rotors are trashed, so they are on order.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

Calipers are pulled and I shipped them out this morning to be rebuilt. They should come back zinc coated with new lines.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

After that, I need to find some wheels. I like the cookie cutters but there arent many tire options for that the size, so might grab some boxter 16's or some 17 inch twists. We also need to replace the cross member, a bunch of bushings and shocks/struts. I may be able to test drive it by the end of the year.

 

[cccoltsicehockey]

Glad to see the car fired right up now.

Does the unit have a pump? If not, just grab one of these and tap into the overflow line right behind it as you mentioned. Put a T in the line with a coupler on top and a barbed connector for the hose.

https://www.amazon.com/Little-55441...e-Removal/dp/B00BYFQQ8U/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Vette60]

Thanks for the updates. I always have enjoyed your posts. Look forward to seeing your 944 cruising around again!

 

[Mpower5266]

Glad to see the car fired right up now.

Does the unit have a pump? If not, just grab one of these and tap into the overflow line right behind it as you mentioned. Put a T in the line with a coupler on top and a barbed connector for the hose.

https://www.amazon.com/Little-55441...e-Removal/dp/B00BYFQQ8U/?tag=atomicindus08-20

When I opened the plug, I felt air blowing out of it so it is forced in some way. I have been draining it into a old washer fluid bottle and that is working great, so I am just going to run a piece of pvc out of the house an hook the hose to it.. I think its going to work.

 

[Mpower5266]

I have kind of lost track of updates on the 944, so forgive me if any of this has been previously posted. The center support had a chunk missing so we sourced another one. It was cleaned and painted, before installation. All of the rubber on the suspension was also replaced at this time.

The by Nick Wood, on Flickr

Installed the rebuilt half shafts and new shocks and struts all around.

The by Nick Wood, on Flickr

We had the brake calipers rebuilt and zinc'd.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

And then the brakes wouldn't bleed correctly so the master cylinder was replaced.

The by Nick Wood, on Flickr

The by Nick Wood, on Flickr

I also sourced fabric for the seat inserts.... I think its going to come out awesome.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

All of that lead up to driving it for the first time in 20 something years on Saturday. The brakes and clutch were very weak(they both need to be bled) so I just putted around the neighborhood with my co-driver. Over all it was successful... It ran fine, got a little hot but not too hot, and from what I can tell all of the gears worked. The tires were awful but that is to be expected. Hopefully I can drive it more in the next few weeks.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

Other than that, I have been basically daily driving the Grand Wagoneer and I have been complaining to my dad that it doesn't have cup holders or a place to put my phone. He and I slapped a center console together.

The by Nick Wood, on Flickr

I added some of my wife's vintage fabric to one of the compartments.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

My wife and I have a little weekend trip planned to a cabin coming up, and 4X4 is recommended. I wanted to take the GW but the tires were old, so I picked up some slightly more aggressive Goodyear Wranglers.

The by Nick Wood, on Flickr

I think it looks a lot better and the handling has been much improved. It has a hint of offroader now but it still keeps the classic look, I am very happy with them.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

Hopefully my next update will involve leaving my parent's neighborhood in the 944.... and returning.

 

[cccoltsicehockey]

Glad to see more updates on the 944. That had to be fun driving it for the first time in so long even if there are more things to do

Wagoneer looks great with the new tires. I have had those tires on my Suburban for the last almost 8 years, soon time to replace them, and they have been wonderful. Countless gravel roads in VT and PA with zero problems while not being all that noisy. They have been good to the point that I am having trouble not doing them again, but I also want something more aggressive looking like a set of Duratracs.

 

[Mpower5266]

I got the interior back yesterday...... Its loud, but I like it.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

I dont know if I am going to use this but it was so cheap to have made. I have a black one as well.

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I really just need to get the interior back together, buy some tires, and start doing shake down runs. I have a ton of travel coming up so it might be a few weeks before I get to it.

 

[loganb]

Looks awesome!

 

[fouckhest]

Seats look great, who did them? Curious since you are local ish, I know of a couple shops down near ATL.

 

[cccoltsicehockey]

Really liking the seats. They are loud but I think in a good way.

 

[Mpower5266]

Seats look great, who did them? Curious since you are local ish, I know of a couple shops down near ATL.

Crawfords here in Newnan. The owner is 80 something and doesn't take on much work now days but he likes my dad. He charged us $200 to all of the seats.

 

[fouckhest]

Crawfords here in Newnan. The owner is 80 something and doesn't take on much work now days but he likes my dad. He charged us $200 to all of the seats.

Oh wow, that's awesome! I was wondering if it was that T&S shop that is up in Ball Ground, they seem to do nice work.

 

[Mpower5266]

Oh wow, that's awesome! I was wondering if it was that T&S shop that is up in Ball Ground, they seem to do nice work.

Its definitely not a show car quality job but its much better than a $200 job. Haha.

 

[fouckhest]

Its definitely not a show car quality job but its much better than a $200 job. Haha.

From the photos, they look way better than I'd expect for $200!! I'd be stoked on that quality for the price!

 

[burger]

Crawfords here in Newnan. The owner is 80 something and doesn't take on much work now days but he likes my dad. He charged us $200 to all of the seats.

That seems like a crazy good price. What was included?

 

[Mpower5266]

That seems like a crazy good price. What was included?

He sewed in the new inserts on the front and back seats and added some new vinyl panels to repair holes.

Last night was a late night for me, and I am exhausted.... but worth it. I was supposed to meet up with a guy from FB marketplace to look at some wheels around 8pm at the Harley dealer about 5 minutes from my dad's shop. Around 7:50 he told me he was running late..... 8pm turned into me driving 30 minutes away at 9:15 and getting the wheels back to my dads shop around 10:30. It was pretty annoying and I came close to just moving on, especially since I was lead to believe that the offsets were incorrect for my car.... I am glad I didnt... The offsets were perfect and I love the wheels.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

They are mint, and the perfect fitment for the car.... I was really worried that I was going to have to mess with spacers but now all I have to do is buy a set of tires.

 

[davidstutler]

Oh man! Those are going to look amazing! Worth the trouble, no question.

 

[cccoltsicehockey]

New wheels look great. This project is coming along nicely.

 

[fouckhest]

WOW! You are on the car game this week, I am a sucker for 5spokes and those make that car!

 

[Mpower5266]

I popped my tire sizes into AI and this is what it should look like. I am probably going to have to lower it a hair.

Gemini_Generated_Image_howk0howk0howk0h by Nick Wood, on Flickr

 

[Johnny Generic]

Any center caps?

 

[Mpower5266]

Any center caps?

Yes but they are ugly so I may not run them.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

 

[fouckhest]

They look good without, have a skinny Work Meister s1 vibe to them

 

[cccoltsicehockey]

They look good without, have a skinny Work Meister s1 vibe to them

I was thinking the same thing.

 

[Mpower5266]

I made a little more progress on the 944. The rear seats are pretty much installed.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

The front seats are done and will probably go in soon. We did find that the speedometer cable was bad, and to replace that the cluster has to come out, which means the steering wheel has to come off.... Since it was coming off anyway.....

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

I picked up a silver prototipo to match the bezel around the gauges.

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We also, mounted tires on the wheels.

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Wagon things.....

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And of course I did a quick test fit.

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I just put them on the drivers side and didnt move the car around. I am hoping that the rear will settle down a little but if not, I will look at some options for lowering it. I am leaning towards cranking the rear torsion bars down two clicks and getting new springs in the front. Either way, I am happy with the fit and offsets.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

After that, I took the wheels back to the house to clean them. I was hoping that I could just hit them with a quick hand polish and coat them, but they are raw aluminum so its going to be a little more involved. More soon.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

 

[fouckhest]

Wheels look fantastic, a little altitude adjustment and that thing will be

 

[cccoltsicehockey]

Wheels do look great on there but I agree a drop is needed to finish it off. Love the classic Momo wheel.

 

[Mpower5266]

Played around with AI a little, and I think I like the centers in black. What say yall?

Gemini_Generated_Image_cxjd3vcxjd3vcxjd by Nick Wood, on Flickr

 

[fouckhest]

I vote YES for black centers!

 

[burger]

Those wheels look fantastic! Good choice! I like them as they are without center caps. They are perfect for the car. Tire size is good too. Could see it being a tiny bit lower to close up the gaps.

 

[zanyad]

+1 on tires wheels looking good and a slightly lower stance

 

[gearhead1960]

I think you should go more for this look....

 

[cccoltsicehockey]

I like the centers polished but doing them black doesn't look bad. Could do the entire wheel black except the polished lip.

 

[Mpower5266]

I did a little polishing on the wheels over the last couple of nights.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

They arent perfect but they cleaned up pretty nice. Some day I might sand them down and give them a full polish.

Untitled by Nick Wood, on Flickr

 

[fouckhest]

If you do decide to open up that can of worms, there are two companies (Renegade and Zephyr) that make really nice polish kits that use wheels/rouge that work with a standard buffer and they do a great job.

 

[runit]

Man....I think the black/silver wheels looked so much better, especially if running the polished wheels with no center caps.....looks incomplete

since I was asked!

 

[Mpower5266]

If you do decide to open up that can of worms, there are two companies (Renegade and Zephyr) that make really nice polish kits that use wheels/rouge that work with a standard buffer and they do a great job.

I have had really good luck with the Nuvite stuff. I used to polish my dads plane with it.

Man....I think the black/silver wheels looked so much better, especially if running the polished wheels with no center caps.....looks incomplete

since I was asked!

The stock wheels?