The site has been quiet the past few weeks!
Well get ready because as spring comes around, there’s going to be lots of action from all of us trying to get our cars ready for the summer. Jeff and Chris’ first lapping event will be in a couple of weeks at Shannonville, and because of car prep delays, my first event will be on April 30th at Calabogie. Jeff also has an announcement to make for this season, but I’ll let him do the honours.
Over the past few weeks I’ve been ordering several parts for the BMW including: front control arm bushings, stainless steel brake & clutch lines, full swaybar kit, rear trailing arm bushings, electric fan, and a performance thermostat. My goals for the spring were to overhaul my cooling system (install the fan & thermostat plus removing the heater core) and the brake system (changing all hard & soft lines, and removing non-functional ABS system). Because of shipping issues, I have been a bit delayed in my build so I won’t be able to make the event on April11th. With the extra time, I’m also considering removing the rear subframe to add reinforcements (known failure points on these BMWs) and 
replacing the subframe and differential bushings.
I did receive the FCABs and I was able to install them this weekend. The OEM bushings are rubber and press-fit into a lollipop bracket, with a collar that is pressed onto the control arm. The UUC bushings that I purchased were pre-pressed into a new bracket and are a true rotational bearing with a high-durometer bushing for a more solid feel. To intall them I unbolted the brackets from the frame, and then pulled them off the control arm using a three-jaw puller. I had to use it in tweice for each side – the first pull to rip the rubber out of the bracket, and the second to pull the collar off the control arm. The UUC bushing fit nicely and slid right on. The brackets were a bit tougher to line up as the suspension had shifted, however with some help from my brother and a prybar, they were installed in no time! As always, I took a few pictures and added them to the build journal.
This week I’ll be starting the brake system. I should be getting my hard lines tomorrow, and the overhaul will begin!
Shawn