North Broadway Speed Lab

The new e21 project in our extra car-hacking space

Some of you have seen a lot of social media posts in the past week and a half about a new work space and a new project. To make it official, here it is. I picked up a project BMW e21 and an extra garage space to help with my project sprawl. No, we're not abandoning the Mustang! We're still banging away, no way we're stopping now. Things just fall in your lap sometimes. I figured the new bimmer will make a cool track car with some time and effort.
The space? It's name is the "North Broadway Speed Lab". It came with it's own Facebook page to which I now post. It's about 1000 ft. sq., has a long history of hotrod projects and is going to go a long way towards freeing up much space here at the home garage (the '59 Chevy is going to the new space for engine/air ride mods).

Move-in day

Let's get that v8 outta there and start over

The e21 came complete with a Ford 289 V8 (now I have 2, amazing) that had been part of the "ZOMG awesome V8" plan of some earlier owners. It wasn't working, and had many interference problems, or as I call it "10 gallons of shit in a 5 gallon hat." So before we go back to the Mustang, I decided to pull that engine last Saturday morning so we can sell it and get on with better plans. As cool as V8 power is, this car needs to be reimagined with a small, powerful engine. I'm thinking a turbocharged 4 cylinder Lima engine. More on this later.

There will be some challenges, like the logistics of tools moving between 2 separate garages, but it'll be fine. Back to the Mustang, the fuel injection just shipped, so I'll be back on that this week.

More pics

This brake booster and master cylinder was in the way

ok, brake stuff removed, let's get that motor

easing the engine and trans up

Had to jack the trans up a bit to get it here

almost out!

Blank slate, ready!

extra C4 automatic, will sell

extra 289, will also sell

Basic Fabrication

Cutting, grinding, drilling, and voila!

Before I start fabricating larger, more complicated things (and there is a list already lengthening on that front), I figured I should start with a simple project. I had just the thing: a block-off plate. Since I am going with electronic fuel injection, there will be no need for the Ford mechanical fuel pump. And the engine timing cover has a mounting flange for the pump we don't need. So you can buy flange block-off plates all day long for about 10 bucks, but why would you if you could just whip one out? Plus, what a great opportunity to make sparks with an angle grinder! WWTD Tim would definitely never pay money for something so straightforward. Also, I can now brag about how super-duper custom one-off this Mustang is! See more pics below.

Alternator gyrations

This one is still good, but doesn't make enough power.

I hauled out the alternator and had the guy at the parts store test it for me. To my surprise, the thing tested good, 14.8v. It looked like hell so I spent some time disassembling and cleaning it. It looks great, but after all the work, I started thinking about all the new accessories I'd be adding, and how much amperage I'd likely need. Realized the stock 50A Motorcraft alternator probably would get stretched thin running everything it used to, plus stuff like air conditioning, amplifiers, electric fuel pump, and so on. I ordered a new 1-wire 100 amp alternator, it looks great, and will supply enough juice for us to jamalama.

M-Sport blackout

Masked off, painting in progress

Looks like something Darth Vader would pilot!

Took some time this weekend to focus on the BMW and rehab the M-sport rims. I had noticed some curb rash that had progressed into the finish flaking off in sheets at the car wash. Turns out they had been powder coated before, and that's what was coming off. Regardless, they weren't looking as smart as they could, so I decided to take a wire wheel and some black peel-coat to them to see how that would turn out. They look pretty good. Don't however get me started on how much of a pain in the ass it is to grind out all the crevices. It was a little involved but the car looks a whole lot more sinister, so there's that. I decided to do the fronts next week. Not sure how well the peel-coat paint will hold up, we'll have to just see how that goes.

More pics

Open fuel pump flange

Used a fuel pump gasket as my part template

Time to cut this out of the 1/8" mild steel

Outside shape done, drilling out the bolt holes

Test fit, plate looks good