Black & Tan 332iT

[Casa de Mesa]

Slon brace is installed. More details later after it cures up.

Cant wait to hear your overall impressions on this once you've had a chance to drive with it. This is a piece I'm highly considering. It looks absolutely fantastic in your engine bay. Thank you for sharing the detailed photos and thoughts about it thus far!

I know people thought it was too "swoopy" when he first announced it, but the more I look at it, the more I think it looks right at home in sitting in that engine back. Especially with the CSL intake.

Also, I'm another mountain biker. Have a similar bike to Gt4 (we've discussed this previously!) - a Santa Cruz Megatower. The wagon looks fantastic with the bike out back!

[Bry5on]

Slon brace is installed. More details later after it cures up.

[Bry5on]

I’ve had 26’’ until 2017 than switch to 29’’ than got my mullet in 2022. Would not go back to a 29’’ rear wheel. I should of ride 27.5’’ bikes all those year instead (never had a 27.5’’). 29’’ are fun to roll over stuff but IMO it takes too much energy to accelerate with them vs a 27.5’’. I think mullet is best of both world.

Well I’ll have to give a mullet a shot then! On the same theme, and also in the theme of the thread, two of the most fun drivers cars of the era:

[Gt4]

Nice! Yeah my Ripmo is an XL also, thing is a beast. I’ve never ridden a mullet setup but I loved how nimble my old 27.5” bikes were! Definitely curious to try one some day

I’ve had 26’’ until 2017 than switch to 29’’ than got my mullet in 2022. Would not go back to a 29’’ rear wheel. I should of ride 27.5’’ bikes all those year instead (never had a 27.5’’). 29’’ are fun to roll over stuff but IMO it takes too much energy to accelerate with them vs a 27.5’’. I think mullet is best of both world.

[ARCHBID]

Well it was rainy all day today, so that means house and car work. The 6001 bearing at the bottom of the pinion shaft didn't feel so great, so I finished off the rack rebuild other than replacing this bearing (which arrives this week). I didn't bother replacing the PTFE seals as I don't have tapered tools to stretch/install them properly. Yet another concession that I hope I don't regret down the road..





I also got to painting the ground control lower control arm replacements. I haven't been able to get camber in spec on either side (maxing under 1.6 degrees on both sides), and I figured I'd try a set of arms with a ball joint a la CSL. The ground control arms are a nice shade of red, but I'm not exactly jazzed about having some red arms showing from underneath my car as folks follow me. It just screams 90's Honda Civic to me. I also found it a bit odd that the two arms are using what appear to be different brand ball joints.

I am in awe

[Bry5on]

Get an older bike on 26’’ wheels with steeper head angle and it will be 1’ shorter, problem solved!

My 2022 SC Bronson XL also have a 50.5’’ wheelbase, at least I save 0.75’’ on my 1up hitch rack cause it’s mullet!!!

Nice! Yeah my Ripmo is an XL also, thing is a beast. I’ve never ridden a mullet setup but I loved how nimble my old 27.5” bikes were! Definitely curious to try one some day

[Gt4]

Get an older bike on 26’’ wheels with steeper head angle and it will be 1’ shorter, problem solved!

My 2022 SC Bronson XL also have a 50.5’’ wheelbase, at least I save 0.75’’ on my 1up hitch rack cause it’s mullet!!!

[Obioban]

Don't know how I missed your journal till now, but this is great. Subscribed!

[Will]

...
Also, in the full OCD effort to chase every little rattle noise down, I also stripped apart the HVAC controls and felted the buttons to keep them nice and quiet.

Wow! I didn't know the HVAC buttons rattled.

I love the build. Thanks for sharing the updates.

[tlow98]

That is a big bike! looks fun tho. I need to get another one of those...

[Bry5on]

Did just fine with the big bike on the highway, no noticeable wind noise even though the bike is a solid foot and a half wider than the car. Trailer hitch is the way to go!

Also, in the full OCD effort to chase every little rattle noise down, I also stripped apart the HVAC controls and felted the buttons to keep them nice and quiet.

[Bry5on]

I almost forgot, I had my inaugural e46 window regulator! And I also put in new front wheel bearings chasing what's probably just worn tires groaning. Oh well, now I've got the peace of mind at least. Thanks mrgizmo04 for the loaner tools

[Bry5on]

And one more crappy job complete! This weekend, with a helping hand from heinzboehmer, I finally tackled the black headliner conversion. I opted to go for it myself using the veteran co material and it actually came out pretty well. This was my first time doing a headliner, and I think I'd opt to have a professional do it next time.

After removing, the first step was stripping off the old felt and plastic bristle brushing the tattered foam. This makes a huge sticky mess, I did not tarp off enough of the garage floor, and I ended up trashing the tarp AND my shoes after I was done.


Then spray foam, work it down, and trim


Then pop it in, complete with all the black euro touring bits


And we're back to regular duty, the longroof party

[jrgatfh]

I went with Amazon for these, they come as a pair: EVIL ENERGY 2.5 Inch Exhaust Clamp,Narrow Band Muffler Clamp Stainless Steel 2PCS https://a.co/d/dStpJ07

For the strap in between them, just make this guy here: https://cad.onshape.com/documents/93...2d931a9bf2f482

You're awesome. Thanks dude.

[Bry5on]

how does one go about getting one of these clamps?

I went with Amazon for these, they come as a pair: EVIL ENERGY 2.5 Inch Exhaust Clamp,Narrow Band Muffler Clamp Stainless Steel 2PCS https://a.co/d/dStpJ07

For the strap in between them, just make this guy here: https://cad.onshape.com/documents/93...2d931a9bf2f482