Midweek Throwdown

In preparation for the weekend of extra help that some local FAQers are giving me, Grice, Jay, Dudley and I tackled dropping the subframe and drivetrain out of the 1600. Saturday, we'll clean up the engine bay and swap in the 2 liter M10 from the `76 2002 along with the 5 speed. We got it out in record time, or so it seemed to us. After a few hours, we slid the subframe out and Dudley made sure that we got enough pictures of him.

Window Seals and Such

After removing the 250 or so binder clips I trimmed the headliner edges to fit under the new seals. I actually managed to get the rear windshield in by myself, sans lockstrip. Grice and I then did a little cleaning and prepping before pop-riveting in the rear 1/4 window and B-pillar trim. Then we carefully stuffed the new seals in. We also managed to get the front windshield in, again sans lockstrip. We'll get the door seals in later, because we first have to clean off the old adhesive.





Overall, it was quite a progressive weekend.

Today, the Headliner. Tomorrow, the World!

Jay and I attacked and conquered the headliner installation today. I've always heard that this was a job only for those with the patience of the Dalai Lama and the dexterity of a brain surgeon, but it was not nearly as bad as I suspected. It does require patience and a steady hand, but it's very much an achievable goal for an afternoon with a helper....just save the beers for when it's done. This headliner is the older style that gets glued in underneath the window seals (that must be removed prior to installation), unlike modern cars that just have a fabric-covered piece of molded cardboard that is secured by plastic trim.

We glued 1/2" upholstery foam in over the QuietCoat to help with even more insulation.



Here's how to do the install:

First, install the bows across and slit the fabric loops to hang it properly. Then start from the rear and clamp 1-1/4" binder clips every 6" or so at about 3/8" depth with no glue. You'll see how it's going to fit. As you go, cut slits in the material about a centimeter apart at the curves. Cut the slits to just where the lip will meet the headliner.




Then, add more binder clips until you have all the wrinkles stretched out. I have heard of people using hair dryers to make the material more pliable, but ours seemed to work in 75F temperature. Once you have all the wrinkles out, begin with the contact cement. We worked with Jay undoing 6" of binder clips at a time while I brushed the contact cement on both the headliner and the lip. Jay would then re-stretch the material and place binder clips along the entire length.



We worked across the rear window, then the C pillars, then the tops of the rear 1/4 windows, then moved to the center of the front windshield and moved back. The whole process took us an afternoon. We left it to dry overnight. Tomorrow, I'll install the new window seals.







Not too shabby. I have to admit that I expected it so be a lot more painful. I bought 540 1-1/4" binder clips and used less than 300 of them. I suppose that I'll save them for the next person that needs to do a headliner.

Countdown

By the way, I'm attempting to have this car done and driveable in time for Vintage at the Vineyards.

Sound Deadening

After a bit of research, I found that I could buy two gallons of QuietCar for about the same price as Dynamat impostors. QuietCar is a liquid sound deadener that is actually lighter than the Dynamat-esque, stick-on mats. After a shameful, argon-less welding job to replace an inexplicably mangled seat mounting bracket, Jay and I began brushing on the first coat of QuietCar. We'll furnish a second coat later this week, but the fisrt is going on nice and thick.

The stuff is kind of goopy, but it's really forgiving.

Next step: Headliner and carpet from Esty.

Good Saturday

I've got the car at a house of a local 02 guy, Grice Mulligan, in Arlington, VA. Between the two of us, we're trying to get my 1600 ready for Vintage at the Vineyards and his `76 2002 ready for whatever Deathrace that he plans on running it in. He and Jay Swift spent the day chipping the sound insulation out of his gutted interior. There must have been 25 pounds of the stuff in there.

The 1600 got it's headliner pulled out and I've cut and prepped some small welding projects that need to be done before the Quietcoat sound deadening stuff can go in. I'll update with pictures next time. So much to do!

Arrival!

Today, I finally took delivery of a 1967 BMW 1600-2. She was manufactured on March 30, 1967 and delivered to New York on April 14th of the same year.

I certainly have my work cut out for me. The car has almost no interior but is 99% rust free and STRAIGHT. I'm going to try to have at least the interior done by Vintage at the Vineyards. I'll also be swapping the drivetrain and suspension from my totaled `76.

For now, here's what she looks like:









The seats are a pair of aftermarket Recaros from the 1970s. They're really comfortable and I kind of like the fabric upholstery rather than vinyl.

Waiting for the new car......

     After a few somewhat stressful few weeks of searching, I sent payment for a 1967 BMW 1600-2. It was supposed to arrive via truck last Thursday, but, ala, here we are on Sunday with no car.

     For now, images that the previous owner took will have to suffice:

     She lacks an interior, other than a single-crack, three=piece dash. More pictures to follow when I actually see the car in person.