What makes modifying a car so much fun is the possibility before you begin throwing parts at your project. When it is a blank slate and you’re deciding which route to go is the time to enjoy before you look back on challenges bested and modifications finished. Unfortunately, I’m at that point where my project car is a finished project car. It isn’t in need of anything except regular maintenance and fixing things I break at shows like the European Experience incident. Or the other European Experience incident. Or the Riverside incident. Incidents aside, my next project is some extensive bottom-end maintenance this winter as well as finishing up this Volvo for a friend. After that, I think it’s time to decide on a new project. For now, though, let’s take a look at what I have to do.
My E30 has been a fairly stout little weekend warrior. It has everything I’ve ever wanted from an E30, looks the way I want with the late-model body update, fresh top, and clean interior. It drives the way I want with the M52 swap, M50 manifold conversion, 3.73 LSD, and all the fun polyurethane bushings, mounts, and KONI suspension. If you haven’t seen, I have plenty of little articles that detail many of my upgrades, but right now, it’s time for some maintenance.
Since my last maintenance/upgrade when I re-did my rear main seal, clutch, flywheel, pressure plate, and starter, I have developed a little oil leak from my pan gasket. Unfortunately, that pan gasket is brand new, but still leaking a bit. However, I knew this was going to happen. I knew this because one of the bolt holes in the block for my oil pan was pretty wallered out and could not receive a bolt. This being the case, and everything already put back together, I could either take everything back apart to tap that hole out and fix it, or just bolt it up and get the last bit of the season out of my car. So, I bolted it back up and got some great use out of the car for the remaining weeks of the season. Now, though, it’s time to fix this once and for all.
I know what you’re thinking, too. “But Craig, why didn’t you just fix it then!” Well, several reasons. Mostly time reasons. I knew I was going to replace the rod bearings, timing chain guides, VANOS, and reinstall the power steering system this winter, among other little things. I want to do a few things that also require the engine to be out of my car. SO. With that in mind, I decided to wait since the pan will have to come back off anyway then when I pull my engine in a few days. With that covered, let’s move on.
As I mentioned, I have a lot planned. This is where ECS comes in. No, I don’t get free parts. I have to pay for them just like everyone else. So it makes sense that I waited for the holidays to take care of these maintenance parts. With the ECS holiday sales going strong, I have pulled the trigger on all the parts I need to tackle all the services I have in mind. Since it is winter, and the perfect time to knock out all this service while I can’t drive the car, I need to get on it. The Volvo has gotten some priority, but not for long. Soon, that M52 is coming back out of my E30 and moving into its temporary home in my kitchen (despite the cries of protest from my girlfriend.)
If you are also at that stage where all you need to do with your car is maintenance, or you need to keep your daily in tip-top shape, this is your chance. Save on your service kits (or upgrades) with our holiday sale. Now, if you need me, I’m going to be in Nashville for the weekend and then back here taking my engine out and being beaten up by a Volvo.
