Z4M full strip down and rebuild project

[john-e89]

Driveshafts are stuck solid, really struggling to shift them.

Mine where but had to give in and a garage got them out I gave them a swinging arm hub and drive shaft they gave me a pile of bits back
If you do mark up the drive shafts as they are handed for rotation they will snap if fitted the wrong way round

I did not notice any vibration with the polly bushes but had not driven it for 6 months when it went back on the road
Why anyone would fit race type suspension and then leave sloppy rubber joints in is not my idea of an upgrade, my westfield was rose jointed so the movement was the linkages not compressing rubber first just my thoughts

I've bent my half shaft puller feet trying.... Need a more robust one.

My thinking with bushes was have a standard but new set then rely on the coil overs to take up the slack. Its not going to see too much track time, but as I say, if the consensus is polys don't give vibration I'll go with them.

[Mr Tidy]

That looks like a fantastic project John.

It will take some time but you'll get massive satisfaction from seeing the end result!

[john-e89]

I will be following your progress closely, I'm planning to do something very similar to my Z4MC this fall, I only have a home made vapour blaster and my shop is nothing compared to yours.

Yes but I've spent tens of thousands on kit Granny and it's a business. I'd be very interested to see your vapour results.

[john-e89]

That looks like a fantastic project John.

It will take some time but you'll get massive satisfaction from seeing the end result!

Cheers muchly Mr T.

[craig3.2]

Bonjourno,

With the new vapour and ice blasting workshop pretty much finished it's at last given me an opportunity to start a long planned strip down and rebuild of my M Roady. Its previous owner was an RAF sea rescue pilot and so the poor car has suffered with tin worm on its suspension and undercarriage components. Its currently on 39k miles but looks twice that underneath, engine and box are silky sweet and the bodywork is excellent but it's in dire need of attention to the running gear.

The plan is a full strip down and as concours rebuild using as many current parts as possible but realistically that's not many. So it's going to end up pretty much a nut and bolt refresh. The floor pans etc, are fine, no issues. It'll be dry ice blasted to the whole underneath as well as the gearbox and engine bay. Other parts will be either soda or vapour blasted back to as new.

The rebuild is going to see a few performance upgrades as listed:

KWV3 coil overs
AP 6 pot front 4 pot rear stoppers
VT engine mounts
New OEM bushes throughout
RTAB's
Remus back boxes
OEM CSL wheels in hyper silver with new MPS4's
New seats, not committed to any yet.

If anyone has ideas or advice please come forward, I'm always open to suggestions.

A couple of pics of the start of the strip down, it's in my own time so progress may be slow....

Thanks for looking in.

Looks like an excellent choice of stuff,and a full on list of work.nice one

Re the Vibratechnics Engine mounts ...it's a reasonably noticeable improvement,I liked it alot. Was doubtful if I'd feel any difference or improvements with them,but did,and well worth it,John

As for the Poly bushes,I'm not a fan, personally.
Did them on my 3.0, and found it too stiff,and a bit of noticeable extra vibration.
Not done it on my M as a result,but each ti their own. Just my opinion. (Some people say they noticed increase in nvn, with the VT engine mounts,but I don't, as others don't).

Looks like you won't be parting company with the M for a while now then.
Guess I will have to look elsewhere in the future for Remus back boxes,when I have the cash,lol

Looking forward to your updates and seeing the finished article John.

[markplant]

Wishing you every success

[sars]

I'm really hoping that by the time you've finished you can actually drive it

[enuff_zed]

Not on Google yet Zed, but type Prescision blasting .co.uk,

I'm another one with serious workshop envy, and also impressed with you taking this on. Well done.

(As a well-known pedant, proof reader and technical author, I do see a great irony in you spelling 'precision' wrong. )

[firebobby]

You've been a busy boy John, will it be ready for Zedfest and are you going this year.

[Vanne]

good to see you doing your own work mate

cant wait to see it when your done

[john-e89]

You've been a busy boy John, will it be ready for Zedfest and are you going this year.

No and no Fred. Even if it was ready which it won’t be, I’m not allowed to drive until next January.

[john-e89]

Many thanks all.

[john-e89]

Not much done today but whilst the soda blaster was running I dropped the cross braces in which were pretty rusty on the ends. The soda blast gets rid of every scrap of rust, leaving a smooth finish ready for spray painting.

[john-e89]

Front end is being stripped, very glad to see zero rust on the body, all nice and factory fresh in the arches and suspension tunnel etc, it’s all on in-boltable parts so just a case of undo, clean, paint and reattach or replace. Having the usual issue of cutting rusted bolts and trim fixings, then drilling and tapping the threads back but that’s always the case on a project like this.

[john-e89]

Looks a mess like this huh…