Operation .5 liters per cylinder.

Micrometer or digital caliper? A digital caliper is good for what it's intended for, but you can't get a precise enough measurement on a crank with one. They're usually only good to half a thousandth ( 0.0005"). You need something that will measure to one ten thousandth (0.0001")

These are what you need (if you buy from HF):

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-piece...set-66512.html

The listing says it goes to one thousandth, but the pictures shows one ten thousandths graduation (what mine is, the same set).

Thanks, Ken, I was hoping I could get away with the HF ones and your vote of confidence makes me feel better about cheaping out . I'll probably be making a sizable purchase from them in a couple days because I need a torque wrench and assorted othe goodies.

Sent from my FroyoEris using Bimmer

Yeah, I guess I bought a digital caliper and not a micrometer.

Be sure to read the reviews on those tools, however. Sometimes they're inaccurate and/or hard to calibrate. I didn't look at the user reviews for those particular tools, but it's worth looking into before buying.

I have a Fowler and my buddy who currently runs a few CNC machines says they're pretty good its like a sub brand of Starret.

Okay, sorry for not updating this in a while and double sorry for this update not involving the engine so much as general build nonsense, and this seamed better than popping into OT every few days and asking a question and then going back to the boonies where internets are hard to catch.

I recently procured an entire E46 M3 interior because I wanted the front seats (if you know some one looking for other E46 interior bits point them my way).

Here are the seats as they currently sit:





The impressions and stains in the leather are because the towing company took the front right suspension which had been ripped off and put them in the front seats.

Now obviously I can't have gray seats because gray is a stupid color so my options are dying or reupholstering, dying is obviously a good option because of cost and time, but it won't do much much for the impressions. If I decide to reupholster them than I'll be borrowing a sewing machine and buying recycled leather so the cost won't be as bad as it could be, but it will be time consuming. Reupholstering would have the added advantage that if I wanted I could make a two tune interior similar to the Club Sport ti, which I'm in constant debate with myself over whether it's awesome or juvenile.

Here's the club sport ti interior for those of you unfamiliar:


Any feed back and things I haven't considered are welcome.

I'd go with suede or cloth middles, but not in a bright color like above.

Yeah, I was definitely thinking a little darker, but I still like leather more than cloth.

just remember ed's interior....

And I thought I was a prick...

You're forgetting I've been on once a week or less this year, what about Ed's interior?

How I was without for 18 months or so.

Got me a lovely Modena set now kudo's to Joe and Frank

OOOOH yeah, I just thought you'd been hanging around with Honda guys and took it out to save weight .

No, it was to maintain the 50/50 ratio with my overfed arse in the car

lol, that is important.

Originally Posted by miles_trail

Okay, sorry for not updating this in a while and double sorry for this update not involving the engine so much as general build nonsense, and this seamed better than popping into OT every few days and asking a question and then going back to the boonies where internets are hard to catch.

I recently procured an entire E46 M3 interior because I wanted the front seats (if you know some one looking for other E46 interior bits point them my way).

Here are the seats as they currently sit:





The impressions and stains in the leather are because the towing company took the front right suspension which had been ripped off and put them in the front seats.

Now obviously I can't have gray seats because gray is a stupid color so my options are dying or reupholstering, dying is obviously a good option because of cost and time, but it won't do much much for the impressions. If I decide to reupholster them than I'll be borrowing a sewing machine and buying recycled leather so the cost won't be as bad as it could be, but it will be time consuming. Reupholstering would have the added advantage that if I wanted I could make a two tune interior similar to the Club Sport ti, which I'm in constant debate with myself over whether it's awesome or juvenile.

Here's the club sport ti interior for those of you unfamiliar:


Any feed back and things I haven't considered are welcome.

Miles I would take the leather off the seats and work the impressions out and dye them since you want to keep them leather anyway. It wouldn't hurt to try this before going the other route.

Originally Posted by petriej

Ask any one, it's common knowledge .

Update:.....



I'm broke and am spending what little cash I have available to me on school. If I can work/ sell enough parts in the next week or so to buy the gaskets, piston rings, and cooling system I think I can still have the engine built and back in the car by BFE, other wise I'll be showing up in a truck .

Went on Craigslist looking for an engine noise, couldn't find one for less than $60 and I'd have to drive 140 miles round trip to get them, went on harbor freight and got one for $60 plus s&h. Also got mad torque wrenches (1/4" & 3/8"), and an engine leveler. Borrowing a hoist from my room mate's step dad, just bought an M54B30 intake camshaft from a guy on bf.c and ordered an M50TUB25 worth of gaskets, head bolts, and a couple gallons of OEM coolant from bavauto.

Now I've got to decide if I should replace the piston rings (probably yes, but I'm poor so any good justification for not doing so would be apreciated) and if yes if I should go ahead and assume I need oversize ones or not, I want to have the engine open for as short a time as is physically possible so I want to have every thing ready to go, but obviously I can't mesure the bore until I open it up.

**** is getting incredibly real on this project and my bank account is getting incredibly empty.

Nice!

Do rings while you're in there, but you'll need the specs, knowledge, and a ring file most likely. They can't be too expensive.

Git er done, Chip!

Guess what I'll be doing this weekend.

Sent from my ADR6300 using Bimmer App

Damn, is there a picture attached to the above post?, I can't see it, but there's supposed to be a pic of an upper and lower engine basket set, head bolts, and 2 gallons of fancy BMW coolant

Sent from my ADR6300 using Bimmer App

oh dang! That reminds me that I have a butt ton of work i need to do on mine and the weather isn't getting better.

Can't wait to hear how you fared.