BMW 2002 Restoration Project Plan
This is the most basic of plans for my brand new 1975 BMW 2002. I know that I’m generalizing in some areas and being way too specific in others. It is important to have a plan though. I’m sure I’ll revise this along the way… to the point where you might not recognize this plan in a year’s time. For now, it will start as my road map. Comment away if I’ve completely overlooked something. :D
Analyze: What the heck just landed in my driveway? What are the huge problems?
Stabilize: Fix the stuff that will cause the car to deteriorate fast. Get a car cover.
Fire it up? See what kind of effort it will take to just fire up the car. Certainly replace all the fluids, belts and hoses before doing this. See if the tires hold air. In a perfect world I’d drive it for a month and see what is REALLY wrong. Nothing shakes out problem like putting it on the road.
Strip it down: I’ll start with the interior. I’ll sell what I can and junk what I can’t sell. This will help find stuff like rust holes. My guess is that I won’t have to look too hard to find them. I honestly don’t know.
Plug it: Fix the major rust holes. Stabilize the floors. Shore up the frame rails if they need it. Make sure this is a worthy chassis to build upon.
Cage it: Take it to Mike’s friend to put a roll cage in it. Primer it to keep it from rusting.
Pull Motor and Tranny: If they’re worth keeping, GREAT! If not, source a good candidate for a motor to go in.
Hardcore Body work:
Cut and replace: I’m sure the rocker panels will have to be cut off and replaced. I’ve looked at how2s on this and that seems like a serious job. I’m sure I’ll have to fix or replace the doors. Fender wells are also typically problems.Clean up Underbody: I’d like to sand blast it and really clean it up. I want to address all the issues with this car if I can.
Rhino Line Underbody and interior floor: That stuff is really tough! It’ll make good floors and underbody coating.Flare fenders: There are some nice ones out there. I’d like to be able to run wider tires. I think I like the blister (Alpina?) flares better than the turbo flares. That is personal preference. I have no idea on functionality.
Replace Bumpers: The big bumpers are not exactly pretty. I don’t know yet if I’ll put the small, European bumpers on it or if I’ll shave them entirely. Most of the bumpers for the 2002 are decorative at best.Remove glass: There’s going to be rust issues around the bottom of the windows. I’ll want the glass out to paint even if there isn’t. I’ll want to prevent any future issues. I’m sure I’ll get a pro to do this.
Paint: I don’t know what color yet. Alpine White? There’s a cool metallic silver color that looks awesome on an 02.Replace glass: Get that pro back in here!!!
Replace Hard Lines (Fuel and Brake): I might as well do it right. If there are not kits with pre-bent hard lines, I have a tube bender and can bend and flare my own.
Wire it up: Painless wiring makes a generic wiring harness that should work well for my purposes. My guess is that the original wiring will be toast. I’m going to replace the gauges with aftermarket stuff, so I’ll need to make sure those all get the correct signals.
Overhaul or replace motor: I know this is a huge topic to lump into one line. I’m gonna do it though because I don’t know what I’m dealing with yet.
5 Speed Swap: This will help the car on the street a bit.
Overhaul or replace Diff: Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds!!! I'll probably take this from an E21.
Replace all bushings: I don’t care about squeaking, so poly bushings will be my choice
Put it all back together: Another of those huge projects shoved into one
line.