So good news, great news, and some bad news.
I did indeed find and fix the vacuum leak. Fantastic. I was able to warm up the car to operating temperature and take it for a quick drive. During the drive, I discovered my janky trailing arm repair didn't take. Then I parked, and my radiator promptly blew up. Yikes. Lots of smoke.
Gonna order arms and a rad.
Oh, I FOUND THE FRIGGING TITLE! Gotta go find a notary at some point now
So glad you found and fixed the leak that’s amazing. When you get a radiator are you getting the original one or are you getting a better quality one, I found a forum on here a while ago that found a better performance radiator that fits the car.
So I was planning on tracking down one of those fancy direct fit all aluminum units I've seen floating around. Then I went on Rock Auto, and they had a factory close-out deal on Spectra units for $66. So, more plastic it is. Eventually, I'm gonna end up yanking the stock intercooler and piping and replacing it with something beefier. Probably shortly before I have Rocketman fiddle with my ECM. When I'm in the bumper building mounts for that, then I'll probably end up shoving a bigger radiator and fan in too. In the meantime, I'm gonna clean up the OEM fan shroud, re-paint it, and make a way to seal it tighter to the radiator. Gotta make sure everything looks pretty, yeah? (I mean, now that everything in my engine bay has a fine green mist on it. Even the ribs in my hood are still dripping coolant. Heck of a mess, let me tell ya)
When I ordered the Rad, I also ordered a pair of trailing arms for the rear. I also ordered a new set of trunk struts, new radiator hoses, and a new gasket for the thermostat housing. I won't need the RR trailing arm, so if anyone needs it it'll be available. Also, if someone could send me pictures of how the bottom of the trunk struts are supposed to mount to the car, that'd be super helpful. Took the broken ones off like 2 years ago, can't recall where to bolt the non-ball end.
Anyways, all the bits should show up this week. Shouldn't take more than an afternoon to install. I have tentative plans to visit a notary with Rocketman next weekend.....and then that's it guys. The resto part of resto-mod should be done, assuming no more parts decide to implode after further testing. I'll probably spend the rest of the summer enjoying her in stock form, then this fall we will begin the modification part.
I'm planning on selling my daily driver once the Capri is on the road, and using those funds towards getting the Capri painted. (The daily is a 220k mile Altima, is probably worth like $15)
In somewhat related (but not really) life news, there's a reason the progress has been a bit slow lately. Up until a month or so ago, I was working for Nissan as a senior specialist technician. I had a 30 mile commute each way across the Appalachian mountains, so I was leaving home at 5:30am and getting home around 6pm. Well, I left that job and that manufacturer for something closer to home. I now work 5 miles from home, as a BMW tech. I took a little pay cut....but I leave for work at 7:45am and get home at 5:10pm. The shop is air conditioned. I get a ridiculous discount if I decide to lease a vehicle from them, and said discount reaches into ludicrous territory if I want to lease an electric vehicle. The shop is air conditioned. I get to regularly drive vehicles worth six figures. Did I mention the shop is frigging AIR CONDITIONED?!! Anyways, I bring this up now to let you guys know I've finished up moving just -all- of the tools across the mountains, and I'm re-established in my new shop. Progress should be more regular from here on out.
Oh yeah, one of the best perks of BMW....access to BMW paint. Ever hear of Dravit Grey?
https://g20.bimmerpost.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1957835&d=1545327157Color shifts- it's a dark grey until its in direct light, then it turns gold. I'm on a mission to convince our paint guy to do the Capri in this color. Whatcha think?
