The story behind "Tweetie".......
Along came Tweetie�.Since my first experience with a 2002 had turned out so sweet, I decided I now had to have one for me. A local search turned up another �74, this time a theft recovery that had been sitting for two years while they were trying to settle.
Although I had planned to do another complete body restoration from the get-go, this engine was supposed to have been rebuilt just prior to the theft - No way � it was shot. So I now decided to go back to Metric Mechanic for a 2L motor with a five speed of course. I didn't go FI this time, just one Weber
This completed the mechanicals...
Now for the body - several years earlier while still working on Lil Darth I had met Wade Faustmann, a bodyman who at that time worked at Classic BWM in Richardson, TX. He now owns and operates Wade�s Rod and Custom AutoBody in Wylie, Tx. http://www.wadesrodandcustom.com (that Camaro was a feature article in Hot Rod several years ago) Now, Wade is a perfectionist in the true sense of the word, don�t even ask him to do something if you don�t want it done right. Actually, he might even ask you to leave. i.e. Classic also happens to own the one Ferrari ONLY dealer in Dallas and while he worked there, he was the only one allowed to touch the Ferraris or the owner�s Red M6. Now I have gotten to know Wade very well over the last 15 years and I can highly recommend his work on �anything� with or without wheels. First, Wade likes a challenge � if is different, can be modified to be different or �improved�, he is up for the task. That is why he does what he does � he loves his work. He recently completed 3-D mono-color flames on a �34 roadster (Viper-Red) for a customer who was thrilled.
Anyway, �we� (and Wade did 99%) painted everything that was removable, including the block this �bright yellow-green� color. I even put two electronically controlled rear view mirrors from a (sorry) Ford Escort on this car and they were painted to match.
I was not that fond of the thin molding BMW had used on the upper band at hood level or the wider version used at the lower belt level. I decided to leave the upper off completely and replaced the lower pieces with a newer adhesive version trim similar to today�s �rub strips�. I then collapsed the accordion bumpers to the body and yes they were also painted - of course. For the interior I used the leftover sport seats from the 320is with matching material for the rears. This worked out nice. However, one thing that I had not been happy with on the first car � was the steering, just too sloppy. So this time I had planned to fix that problem � I replaced the steering box and pitman arm with the rack and pinion and the complete steering column from my 320is. (I forgot to mention I had also put power steering on the 320is as well � this was not available on US models).
Finally, after two years - it was completed!
This time EVERYTHING was Amazagruin green � this was a bright yellow-green color that BMW only used for several years. There are very few of these compared to the more popular Amazon green ones.
Please - If you ever see a bright yellow-green 2002 with rack and pinion steering and Ford Escort mirrors running loose, call me - it has to be mine. There can�t be another one like it.
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Then you must build a second, even better than the first - and this one is for ME of course!
The first chore is to find one and get it home...
Now tear it apart to get rid of the bad stuff - all rust must go, now! The front nose cones all rust - so its the first to go.
Next find the missing parts and see if runs...Nope! Oh well....Jerk it out!!
Figure out how to replace sloppy steering box, now fabricate with rack and pinon and steering new column.
Now build a new motor and paint it the same color as the car - Amazgruin Green.
Weren't they simple back then!!!!
Then you need an interior - my old 320 seats -
Finish the bodywork and paint it.......Look Ma' NO chrome (or al u mainium)
Shake it all up - go out and enjoy!!!
