Alpina Restoration

[rogbmw]

Update 5-5-2014
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I was able to get everything put back on and torqued back down. the only things I have not torqued back is the top of the sway bars and the ecentric bolts, which will have to be set when the alignment is done. Note the red marks on the bolts - when I torqued them back to their settings I marked each bolt with a red mark. Brakes have been rebuilt and the calipers done in Alpina Blue. MWrench Stainless Steel Brake Lines (which I have had new sitting in a box for several years) went on. New rotors and pads are now on as well. I will be replacing the rear end fluid as well as flushing the brake fluid with ATEBlue fluid. New bleeders were placed on the calipers as well. I still have to crimp down the collar nuts....did you guys know that those are torqued to 300 Nm!!!!!!

[MHambrice]

Eye candy. I like the blue calipers.

[CaifanSC]

Eye candy. I like the blue calipers.

Alpina blue

Seriously, i'm disgusted by the quality work...so envious

[rogbmw]

Alpina blue

Seriously, i'm disgusted by the quality work...so envious

All it takes is time,,,time....time,,,more time....beer....time...time....scraped elbows,,time,,,,beer....time

[CaifanSC]

All it takes is time,,,time....time,,,more time....beer....time...time....scraped elbows,,time,,,,beer....time

There's the secret! hehe

[TxGR8White]

Roger,
You forgot to mention the case of Band-Aids as well....

[BruceM6850750]

Most important items to me when working on any of the cars are beer, band aids, dawn dish washing soap to wash hands off before applying band aids and opening another beer and regretfully now.......reading glasses.

[MHambrice]

and regretfully now.......reading glasses.

+8

[rogbmw]

and regretfully now.......reading glasses.

Agree...mine sit right on top of the radio in the garage....

[rogbmw]

5/31/14 Update
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More small steps. I have been working on getting the car ready to put the exhaust back on....cleaning, cleaning and more cleaning...
Maybe it seems like not much, but the exhaust with all replated bolts and hangers went back on the car today. It is amazing that something can cause one to smile. It has been off for many months. Yesterday I repolished the tips and touched up any areas that needed it after sitting for almost a year off the car. Got to get this thing ready for Eurofest......
Here are some pictures:

Alpina rear mufflers:




Underside of the tips:





On the car after being off for over a year!!









Refinished hanger with high temp coatings, new bolts with copper nuts, and replated nuts.



More to come.......

[Koizumi]

Looking great Roger! Speaking of the little things that make you smile... I smile every time I see my Alpina wheels on my 8 that came from you Cheers my friend!

[silversunbeam]

Hey Roger,

I am SO glad to hear your statement...Got to get this thing ready for Eurofest...We all are looking forward to the grand debut of the fruits of your labors, and what better place to present your masterpiece to the world than 8@25 at EuroFest! OK, all you 8er's, who wouldn't want to be a part of BMWCCA E31 and see Roger's car in the flesh at the Zentrum in October--sign up NOW! This WILL be a historic event!

BTW...Ed Lyerly and I both can identify with your polishing of the exhaust tips.

[Linwood Mingis]

Hey Roger,

I am SO glad to hear your statement...Got to get this thing ready for Eurofest...We all are looking forward to the grand debut of the fruits of your labors, and what better place to present your masterpiece to the world than 8@25 at EuroFest! OK, all you 8er's, who wouldn't want to be a part of BMWCCA E31 and see Roger's car in the flesh at the Zentrum in October--sign up NOW! This WILL be a historic event!

BTW...Ed Lyerly and I both can identify with your polishing of the exhaust tips.

And.....I enjoyed watching you guys re-clean them in the shade at the"Vintage" last weekend!!!

[X5X]

Amazing work! Well done for being able to put in all this hard work... Its not an easy task, But I'm sure you enjoy it Especially when you get to see the final product!

[bbrutschy]

Looking good Roger I can't wait to see it in person. Thanks for all you've done for the E31.

[B10 BITURBO]

These muffler were not CHEAP........... i guess

[rogbmw]

These muffler were not CHEAP........... i guess

Those were the ones on the car. I just cleaned them up, repainted the entire assembly, then polished the tips.

I also got all the splash shields put back in both rear fenderwells. The lips are rolled on the Alpina from the factory, so the left side was pretty tight. Also got the rear bumper brackets put back on. I noticed that I had left two small plastic pieces off the sunroof when I reassembled it, so out came the panel, I put the plastic pieces on, and reassembled the panel. Was not bad, but the alignment took me almost an hour........

[M I C H A E L]

nice.... so when do you project to have this up and running?

[rogbmw]

6/7/2014 Update
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I was able to finish out the center console and start on the doors today. I also finished the new fuel filters and lines. Almost 2 years ago I had the center console refinished because in Japan they took out the front console piece and put the black piece in for some strange reason. I have had everything boxed up since I had it done, and was able to put everything back in today. In the pictures the MID is not pushed in all the way, but other than that it is finished !!!!! Also started putting on the side trim around the windows and beltline - hope to have them finished tomorrow.

Here are some more pictures:

[scottym]

Absolutely awesome Roger - looks like you're in the home stretch to start driving your new 8. Need to get some hours on the clock before October. Are you going to trailer, ship or drive her to Euro-Fest?

[silversunbeam]

Why don't you guys drive up together? See 'ya In Atlanta.

[MHambrice]

We'll be coming through Atlanta as well.

[Max Lumens]

You maintain a nitrogen environment in the garage to avoid oxidation, right?

[rogbmw]

You maintain a nitrogen environment in the garage to avoid oxidation, right?

Bill - you know her well It misses that Northwest Cool air. It was 94 degrees working on it this weekend, and you could cut a hole in the humidity. 3 fans going in the garage trying to keep cool, along with 8 bottles of Gatoraid!

[Chillax]

I can sympathize. I can simply go stand in the garage and start drippin'!