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Randy Forbes sub strengthening kit

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  • #46
    Dave, Tony, Jon, Pete,

    Thank you all very much for your positive comments
    I'm glad it's been well received.
    As I'm sure customer James will tell you, it's been an interesting project.
    Stressful at times (when the 'exhaust specialist' cocked it up https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNhK9wdb-c0 ), but still enjoyable none the less.
    "If you want something doing, do it yourself" has come to my mind several times
    The exhaust part of it has almost been as much of a project as the entire Dual Diff Cover boot floor work!

    We sent the finished Rear Silencers to our powdercoaters who we use regularly for our Underside Restoration work http://www.redish-motorsport.com/E46...storation.html
    They use a specific high-temperature powdercoat which is designed for exhaust systems (not manifolds).
    It can withstand 350'c on the data sheet (although should be stable higher than that).
    It's a Satin Black finish.

    They mask the polished tailpipes in an OEM fashion, mask the entry pipe, and use grommets to plug any machine thread connections.
    They media blast them with a fine media (usually glass bead), then powder-prime them, then colour application (in this case high-temp satin black).

    We collected them today and they do look fantastic.
    There are 2 strange patches identically around the tailpipes which have glossed slightly compared to the rest of it being a satin finish.
    They couldn't answer why this has happened but assume it did so during the oven baking process.
    The 2 theories we discussed were something either inside that end of the silencer (not the end we opened up by the way), possibly the wadding in chamber 5 holding the heat?
    Or perhaps the heat build up being able to escape better from that section as it is effectively the tail pipes?
    Either way, we discussed it for a while and checked the finish and it's durability, concluded that it was a sound finish and had adhered properly, but was likely to re-occur if we blasted it and started the process all over again as it was likely to be something to do with BMW's design of the tailpipe end of the silencers.
    Plus with the Easter bank holiday weekend upon us tomorrow we wouldn't see these back until next Friday (after the car is due to be collected).

    Here's a video to show them:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LI4xDG2htbA

    The good news is that he reduced the price a bit.
    Plus, once fitted, it doesn't seem to notice much at all:




    We fitted them today and used either new BMW copper coated lock nuts, or superior A2 stainless bolts.
    Checked alignment again, and are happy that it's probably as good as we're going to get it considering it's on flexible rubber mounts.

    I did some final measurements and also included the previous 'exhaust specialists' attempt in pictures below.

    Here is the full video of them fitted:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZVH8lo_jpM





















    Oh and some new tyres fitted for the front wheels (which were freshly refurbed whilst with us too, as well as Brake Calipers & Carriers):

    We also fitted some of the BMW Camber Correction Bolts in the Front Shock Absorber Pinch Bolt location to change them from an M12 shoulder bolt to a M12 set bolt:
    No. 5 http://bmwfans.info/parts-catalog/Z3...hock_absorber/

    This gains approx 0.3mm (0.15mm per side of the bolt) gap which allows the strut to be moved inboard or outboard.
    The car is lowered and had previously worn the inside edge of the tyres.
    Without wanting to immediately change suspension or go for adjustable top mounts, we agreed this would be a sensible and inexpensive thing to try first.
    So we set the strut in it's most outboard position to try and reduce negative camber to help prolong the front tyre life.
    0.3mm at the strut pinch bolt is unlikely to do much, but once that is amplified via the length (read height) of the strut, once it gets to it's other connection point (read top mount), it could make a desireable effect.
    Who knows? We'll see next week when it goes for it's digital wheel alignment.
    I'll try to remember to report back so others can gain info on this method and if it works or doesn't work.

    That's it for this week.

    Digital Wheel Alignment Tuesday, along with in house vehicle cleaning (myself), then MOT Wednesday along with some final road testing and quality control checks.

    Have a nice bank holiday weekend everyone.

    Thanks for reading,
    James
    Last edited by Redish; 14-04-2017, 04:58 PM. Reason: Video link

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