Project Igor- Europa Content

Highly recommend one of these lifts  as they are cheap and can be purchased with various lift capabilities. Mine does 800 pounds which is perfect for my small sports car bodies, would lift the Spitfire on and back off the frame. I'll use it this winter to do the same with the TR4A so I can work on the chassis upgrades. They come in various lift capabilities up to 2000 pounds. I installed 2x10s up in the rafters to support the weight  across the ceiling. Ignore the poor drywall issues, that was well before my time and not caused by my lift install!

dherr said:

Highly recommend one of these lifts  as they are cheap and can be purchased with various lift capabilities. Mine does 800 pounds which is perfect for my small sports car bodies, would lift the Spitfire on and back off the frame. I'll use it this winter to do the same with the TR4A so I can work on the chassis upgrades. They come in various lift capabilities up to 2000 pounds. I installed 2x10s up in the rafters to support the weight  across the ceiling. Ignore the poor drywall issues, that was well before my time and not caused by my lift install!

 

Ooooo, I like. Got a link with details?

That'd double well as an engine hoist!

https://www.harborfreight.com/880-lb-electric-hoist-with-remote-control-62854.html

dherr said:

https://www.harborfreight.com/880-lb-electric-hoist-with-remote-control-62854.html

Speak of the devil!

I think this will do the trick! Thanks for the tip!

In which I set about building a brick E36 M3house:

One part this:

Plus one part this:

Plus one part: shoddy carpentry, unpictured.   A couple 2x10s in the ceiling and the necessary supports.

Mix together and I should have a hoist in the ceiling with trap door access (as yet uncut).

I will say, it's been a while since I got to burn up some TIG filler.. it felt good, but I'm definitely rusty.

What heresy is this?

Time to mark where I need to make a couple of anchors on the hoist mount, weld, paint and get back to the task at hand.

Do you even lift, bro?

I'm still alive, but I need to rethink my approach for reinstall.  Need to seriously clean the garage first.  The clutter made some stress, also think this is a 2 man job.

The operation was a success. Time to enjoy a beer and clean the garage.

So what's next for Igor?

Recon1342 said:

So what's next for Igor?

Finish welding, guessets, finish the brake pedal setup, cleaning everything, rebuilding the front suspension and steering rack, paint, install brakes, plumb coolant tubes, timing belt, water pump, turbo oil drain, figure out what serpentine belt I need.

So, it's a really long list, but a lot of them are couple hours tasks that hopefully won't require a ton of creativity.

Cleaning is cathartic... I purged about 10 years worth of used oil and antifreeze, several large bags of junk, and tomorrow will be a trip to get my $5 in scrap metal cleaned up.

I even posted some holiday cheer to the Europa group with some free parts that are just too good/hard to find to throw out.

With my renewed sense of accomplishment, it was time to get the car in the air and pick up where I left off.  Started finishing the master cylinder mounts and measured up the serpentine belt.  Cut the evening short to put the lass to bed.

In reply to Brotus7 :

She looks to be 4-ish? It's a good age. My youngest is now 5, and my oldest just started driving. Enjoy while you can, they're not little forever. In the meantime I'll check back and enjoy the little updates...

In reply to Recon1342 :

Yup, she'll be 3 next month and she's a riot.

Slow going this morning... I wasn't too happy with the Swiss cheese going on at the master cylinders, so it's time for a patch panel.

I made a beefy backing plate with threads on the inside of the frame, so this piece is mostly cosmetic.

Success. 

Tomorrow -  I'll clean up the welds, set up the linkages and cut a better access hole for the clutch rod.

Mint.

Clearance is close to the steering rack, but the compact wilwood MC fits fine.  I left the relay rods a little long so I can trim to fit once I drop the body back in.  All in all, I'm pretty happy with how it came out.

In reply to Brotus7 :

Nice!

I see you’re following Chapman’s suspension advice quite literally with your current shocks & springs - “Any suspension, no matter how poorly designed, can be made to work reasonably well if you just stop it from moving”. ;-)

Serp belt win. AC/PS delete complete.

I have a little time off from work, a little car progress, plenty of family time, and a long delinquent house project.

Car: welded up transmission mount.  Coolant tubes are installed in the chassis, and I welded up the tube that runs into the water pump.  

Family: went to the aquarium and had an awesome time! 

House: we tore down the wallpaper in the bathroom 7 years ago, got tired of trying to remove the glue and stalled.  We've since decided to gut it, install the mold resist drywall, and fix the leak in the shower.  Step one: demo.  

I've never done a real house project, so this will be a learning experience.  Luckily a buddy of mine actually knows what he's doing and owes me some favors.

PPE and GRM shirt. 

Rubble:

Brotus7 said:

I've heard of hard water in a shower before, but that is ridiculous.  

In reply to Brotus7 :

For the record, a respirator is not considered appropriate protection for plaster removal.   Silica. Wet removal , negative pressure, or a HEPA vac is what is recommended.  When  that is not possible, a respirator is next best, WITH  a fit test. You can’t fit test a respirator with a beard (and I think you are bearded). 

Having said that, I’m proud of you. I’ve done it hundreds of times with no protection at all.  I’m a dumbass- I’m glad you are making an effort. 

Carry on...

In reply to SVreX :

Hmmmm....my first and only plaster walled house refurb involved a crowbar and a case of beer in the middle of the room.

Times have changed!

I did not realize that plaster dust was so high on the toxic waste scale. I have a kitchen to do and the walls are plaster... since I want to move some outlets and plumbing, have been on the fence as to re-doing in drywall or leaving as is.

Anyways, don't want to hijack thread, will start a new one when I get ready to demo!

In reply to NOHOME :

Yes, times have changed. 

OSHA ran out of traction with asbestos, so they needed a new whipping boy/ profit center... SAND. 

SVreX said:

In reply to Brotus7 :

For the record, a respirator is not considered appropriate protection for plaster removal.   Silica. Wet removal , negative pressure, or a HEPA vac is what is recommended.  When  that is not possible, a respirator is next best, WITH  a fit test. You can’t fit test a respirator with a beard (and I think you are bearded). 

Having said that, I’m proud of you. I’ve done it hundreds of times with no protection at all.  I’m a dumbass- I’m glad you are making an effort. 

Carry on...

Thanks for looking out for me.  I'm hoping this will be the only bathroom on an old house I'll ever bother renovating.  This E36 M3 is hard work!

I am indeed slightly bearded.  I can pull a vacuum when I cover the air inlets of the respirator, but don't know if that qualifies as the fit test.

Relatedly, I've started wearing a mask in the garage when sanding, grinding or welding.  No more sneezing black boogers for me!  I do wish the garage mask sealed better (Miller mask that fits under my welding helmet).