New E53 Owner - Let the Fun Begin! - Page 7

Attacking Mid · #1 02-06-2019, 04:27 PM

Scored another Westfalia e53 trailer hitch. This one is complete down to every last piece of hardware! I also scored a pair of xenon headlights. They need the lenses sanded/cleared, but figured I better grab 'em while I could. This wasn't quite the steal I got a couple weeks ago, but as hard as these hitches are to find, and as much as they're going for on ebay (!) I figured it was worth grabbing a spare.

I got an alert from the local U-pull lot and planned to run down this afternoon later. Since snow was predicted to arrive at noon (it did!), I ran down first thing this morning.

I also nabbed a few odds/ends like the bolt covers for the engine beauty covers (mine were missing), one of the little lights in the bottom of the door (tab broken on my drivers side).

I was tempted to take the heated seats as they're the right color. Unfortunately, they're pretty worn. Decided it wasn't worth it.

AM.

Bdc101 · #2 02-06-2019, 04:40 PM

Have you driven it with the Rock transfer case fluid yet? Any feedback?

Attacking Mid · #3 02-06-2019, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bdc101

Have you driven it with the Rock transfer case fluid yet? Any feedback?

Only about 30 miles or so. I don't anticipate any trouble, but if I do, it is likely to be many miles down the road. It's not like it's going to blow up in a few miles.

Rock is a well-known oil company in Europe. They're relatively unknown here in the US only because they haven't done much exporting to us. I'm quite confident it will be just as good as the BMW or Ravenol products.

AM.

Attacking Mid · #4 02-08-2019, 08:11 PM

Installed one of my OEM hitches today. So that I can sell one hitch complete, I still need to manufacture two of the bumper mount brackets and modify my bumper carrier to work.

Now I'm really going full redneck as both bumpers are off for a while!

I installed the junkyard headlights and they work like a champ. The lenses need refinished, but they're not nearly as bad as the ones that came on my vehicle. Before I can put the front bumper on, I'm waiting for the used ebay ballast to show up tomorrow. I'll install the original lights to make sure they're now fully functioning. Then I'll sell them and keep the "new" ones. I won't bother refinishing the new ones until spring when I'm ready to do some painting. I want to clearcoat the lights with 2K clear rather than spraycan clear for better longevity.

Had my college student son crawling around this morning in the garage attic trying to run romex for my welder 20 amp circuit. The good: my garage walls are insulated. The bad: my garage walls are insulated making it much more difficult to drop romex down the wall to mount an outlet. Hmmmmm.... conduit on the outside of the wall is looking more and more likely.

AM.

crystalworks · #5 02-08-2019, 08:36 PM

Wire fish will get it through. What I use to push romex or cat 6 through fiberglass insulation. Now if you have foam... outside conduit painted to match the house looks really good.

Attacking Mid · #6 02-08-2019, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crystalworks

Wire fish will get it through. What I use to push romex or cat 6 through fiberglass insulation. Now if you have foam... outside conduit painted to match the house looks really good.

Not something I own, but I see Hazard Fraught sells them really cheap. I may swing by and pick one up. I'd really prefer to have a clean & permanent circuit installation. Thanks for the idea.

AM.