NG 15 Last minute vehicle prepping checklist!

I thought I would make a quick thread and see what everyone is doing last minute to get their car ready or what they are bringing in case something happens:

Here's my list of what im doing to prep the car:
Fresh oil change (I don't want any spun bearings, although the I6 isn't famous for spinning bearings)
Fresh brake rotors, pads, brake pad sensors
Spark plugs

Here's what I'm bringing:
Helmet
Spray bottle (spraying the radiator/oil cooler in between heats)
Air dam fan (for cooling engine off)
Socket set
Spark plug socket
Ratchets
Meguiars Compound, Polish, Ultimate Wax
Porter-Cable DA with 3 pads
Leather cleaner
Cigarette lighter power automotive vaccuum
Microfiber towels

Gotta do an oil change, new plugs and wires, new rotors and pads and I've got some new pillar gauges to install and wire up. Also, a lot of little detail things I've been doing and still need to do. I did get my AC fixed a couple of weeks ago, so I won't have to sweat my ass off driving north through Florida!

You know I didn't even think of plugs, mine are probably getting old. The car seems to be running really well though. Not perfect (still needs a bit of tuning) but pretty damn good.

Changed the plugs today and when I fired it up, it was smoking like crazy! I guess I had a lot of unburned gunk built up. Took a while for it all to burn off and start running clean again. I guess it's a good thing I don't live in Cali anymore. No smog tests in Florida!
Did the oil change too, so now I just have the pads and rotors and the gauge pillar to do tomorrow.

We're heading out Saturday to enjoy Little Rock, Memphis and Nashville. New wipers, just to get thru of TX & AR. Tuned the e-brake. Using RP 10W40 oil. Hoping everything stays cool with larger radiator. Put on a Greatful Dead Sticker on the back window. Gives the 3K that new car feel.

This will be 1st cruise over 500 miles with Kooks N/A headers, so I'm bringing earplugs. Don't forget a camera, cooler and a seat.

Is there an old guy - tie die contest? Still have the peace metal, but can't find the shirt....

I think I brought everything I need? I hope so cuz I'm already 850 miles away from home :)

When do you expect to get to Bowling Green Nate?

Monday sometime. Getting to stl on saturday and hanging out till then

I'm going to buy a pop up awning and bring an umbrella and cooler full of water and gatorade. Also hand tools, timing tensioner tool and extra belts. Converted to 1G TT brakes and replaced clutch disk less than 500 miles ago.

I changed my Trans and Engine oil the other day. Put on the new tires. I still need to bleed the clutch, maybe change the "clutch" master. Pressure test IC system, added spark plugs to to the list, then just clean it up real nice.

The only car prep I have to do is a vacuum, interior clean, windows, wash, wax, tires, wheels, engine bay clean. Working on all of that today because it's going to be way too hot down there and I won't have time. ;( Gorgeous day here today, though.

Had a flat tire repaired this morning, I changed oil and topped everything up including a brake fluid flush earlier this week. Just gotta cram all of my crap in the car tonight, go to autocross tomorrow and unload it all, then load it all again, haha. Sunday I'll be at JasonY's, and I'll throw on my track rotors/pads then to avoid the hassle on late Tuesday or Wednesday. Besides fitting all of my stuff in the car, I'm all set.

Change Oil, check trans and transfer case fluids......check :headbang:

Install new rotors and flush the brake system.........check :headbang:


Get rear ended on the way to the shop to replace leaky radiator drain valve..........check :Tantrum2:

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...pskfi6lhan.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 95gto

Change Oil, check trans and transfer case fluids......check :headbang:

Install new rotors and flush the brake system.........check :headbang:


Get rear ended on the way to the shop to replace leaky radiator drain valve..........check :Tantrum2:

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...pskfi6lhan.jpg

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OMG dude that sucks! :dejection:

Ughhhhhhhhh

many feels given Levi, that is horrible.

Oh, Levi! That's horrible!! I'm so sorry!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 95gto

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...pskfi6lhan.jpg

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I've got a picture somewhere of my car looking just like that.

I did the rotors and pads yesterday, and of course, one of my wheel studs decides it's time to call it a day. Had to spend an extra hour swapping out the stud. With very little off time between now and when I hit the road Monday, I don't know if I'll get to the gauge pod.

I swapped the spark plugs out this morning and took it for a spin, the engine really smoothed out. I was getting erratic misfires and "tics" throughout the powerband. Cylinder 3, 4, 5, 6 were all very lean looking, so swapping the plugs out did help out immensely. The only thing left is brake rotors/pads/sensors and I am ready to go.

PS: I checked the intake ports for the coking that happens with the N54 engines, and they are severely coked, when I get back from NG, it will be time to pony up for the compressor, media blaster, BMW tool, wand, and walnut shell media and just do it on a weekend.
The more and more I work on this car, I actually am beginning to enjoy it. Everything is easy to get off because the bolts are clean, the injectors are on top under the engine cover, the plugs are on top, and it's all coil on plug. The intake piping is a little weird and it has two Blow Off Valves so that part is strange, but overall, really not as bad of a car to work on as most make it out to be.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 95gto

Change Oil, check trans and transfer case fluids......check :headbang:

Install new rotors and flush the brake system.........check :headbang:


Get rear ended on the way to the shop to replace leaky radiator drain valve..........check :Tantrum2:

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...pskfi6lhan.jpg

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damn, that sucks!

Holy shit Levi! That sucks! Are you still bringing it?

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o...psjmphlpbv.jpg


Lets tear the car apart right before the meet :awesome:

Got the clutch bleed and spark plugs changed. Need to clean stuff and pressure test and I'm ready to go!

I wonder what the drags will be like this year? I was glad I didn't do it last year. It was packed and I think peeps only got 3 runs. I'm thinking of doing it this year though.

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o...psf8tyqehs.jpg


Pic with new tires, I went a little taller.

I got about 6 runs in.

Only cuz I kept winning lol

Quote:

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Originally Posted by green-lantern

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o...psf8tyqehs.jpg


Pic with new tires, I went a little taller.

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Wheels look sex

I just finished the brakes on the BMW. Man, what a chore they are, the rotors that were on the back were really bad and the pads were close to gone. The rotors in the front were heat cycled too many times and warped when hot that is why they needed to be replaced. I got rotors, pads, and brake pad sensors all around for 280 shipped. I will be getting another kit as they are pretty good quality.

Damn I had a hell of a scare this morning. When I was pulling out of the store my oil light came on. I could rev it and it would go out. The stock gauge was showing pressure but I know the stock gauge is slow so maybe it was dropping rapidly. Since I just got done working on the car I hoped it was a loose wire and decided to go ahead and drive it to work. On the way to work every time it got below about 1500 RPM the light would come on. This was really worrying me now. Anyway after I got to work I went out to check the wiring on the plenum and all the wires on the plug was missing some insulation and appeared to be somewhat twisted. I pulled the wires apart to make sure they weren't touching and started the car. It appears to be OK now (no light) so hopefully that nonsense is over with. If not that would be a fine kick in the nuts after all the shit I've done to get ready for NG. Not to mention it's my only car I can drive at the moment.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by green-lantern

Holy shit Levi! That sucks! Are you still bringing it?

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Still waiting to hear from the insurance company.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 95gto

Change Oil, check trans and transfer case fluids......check :headbang:

Install new rotors and flush the brake system.........check :headbang:


Get rear ended on the way to the shop to replace leaky radiator drain valve..........check :Tantrum2:

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l3...pskfi6lhan.jpg

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Damn, Levi...:sad:

Well no more pesky oil light so I think I'm all good.

Got the tires rebalanced today. It was very strange that the balance was off, but that makes sense since I was cleaning the wheels this weekend. A few of the wheel weights disappeared. This morning I was getting weird vibrations, not anymore. I will probably shove off here from home around 3-4AM tomorrow morning and try to make it in before drags, but I am not sure I will make it, we will see. If I can beat the Chicago traffic, I should make it to the hotel on time, shower and run up to the drags.

Cleaned the shit out of the car inside and out, polished the wheels. I don't think the car has been this clean and battle ready, I'm so tired.

Apparently I should have included a spare set of bearings....

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DocWalt

Apparently I should have included a spare set of bearings....

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or 2 3, your a trooper Kenny

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DocWalt

Apparently I should have included a spare set of bearings....

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That doesn't sound good.

Dropped a rod bearing somewhere in the middle of a 3-4 pull on the bay bridge tunnel. We swapped it in an abandoned gas station parking lot in Virginia Beach after finding a set of bearings for $18, lol