That is some nice work. I have to admit, I'd have pulled the motor to do it if I couldn't find a place to do it on a lift.

You guys definitely need your own show. ;)

And Carmudgeons wouldn't be a bad brand name.

Heh. I’m throwing new belts on mine this afternoon.

Yeah, a lift would make this project a million times easier. With the car this high on jackstands (and my amazing arms), it wasn't too difficult to torque the rod bolts...but about halfway through it, I started to think about engine hoists and stands.

:lol: I would be a horrible on-air personality, although I'm sure we could nab a spot on Horsepower TV if we really tried. I guess there's always YouTube.

Video record it in Nick's new garage home (when it's done) and I think you have a hit on your hands. ;)

Starting tomorrow, I will relinquish (possibly forever) the five-day work week. So I spent a little more time in the garage.

Look ma, no engine brace!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4107/...844a4fae_b.jpg

Which means, of course, that I reinstalled the subframe. The control arm bushings are a real bear to get onto the control arms when the car is on jack stands. I'm exhausted.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4022/...2b517b3f_b.jpg

I kind of lost the will to do much more after that, but while I was cleaning up, I took a moment to replace the steering coupler guibo. The old one wasn't in horrible shape, really.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4269/...ddd5ec28_b.jpg

Finally, interesting bit of trivia. The original front control arms were stamped with the ///M logo. The Lemfoerder pieces that I bought don't have them; I wonder if the genuine BMW ones do. :dunno: The control arms are actually in good shape after all this time; if I hadn't torn one of the boots I would've just reused them. Can I source some replacement ball joints and refurbish these?
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4270/...4d073e09_b.jpg

With the subframe back on the car, I can see the end in sight. The rest of the job -- reinstall steering rack, replace tie rods, replace tranny mounts, etc. -- are not going to be huge deals, I don't think. Those stupid metal shavings are really bothering me, though, and I'm thinking about taking off the valve cover to inspect and doing an adjustment. Which, of course, opens the door to doing some VANOS work while I'm in there.

Just waiting anxiously for your head to pop out of the engine bay. ;)

Yeah and post it next to the E36 engine bay picture from years ago. :D

I though it was the E30.