Major Progress on the 2002 Thanks to Ken Blasko at Vintage BMW Racing!
Took the car to Ken Blasko at Vintage BMW Racing in Long Beach. Ken worked his magic and tackled a list of critical issues to get my car running like it should—and then some. Here’s the breakdown of what was done:
🔧 Valve Adjuster Fixed: Ken discovered a bad valve adjuster causing the #4 cylinder to be WAY out of spec. I initially thought the loud noise was an exhaust leak. The valve adjuster has been replaced, and the engine is back to firing smoothly.
🔧 Alternator Replaced: A faulty alternator was identified and replaced. No more charging issues, which is a huge relief.
🔧 Dual Weber DCOE 40s Installed: The pièce de résistance—Ken completely stripped, media blasted, rebuilt and installed my Italian made Weber DCOE 40s. The throttle response and sound are absolutely incredible. This was a long-awaited upgrade, and it’s finally complete!
🔧 Brake Maintenance: Ken replaced a bad wheel cylinder and bled the brakes, ensuring the stopping power is as reliable as the car’s performance.
🔧 Broken Motor Mount Replaced: Ken discovered a broken motor mount during his inspection and replaced it, restoring stability to the engine and drivetrain.
🔧 Tuned for Perfection: After completing the mechanical fixes, Ken tuned the car to ensure it’s running at its best. It’s smoother, faster, and sounds amazing.
🔧 Steering Work Identified: Ken also found that the center track rod was in bad shape and noted that the tie rods might need replacing soon. It’s on my to-do list to get the steering dialed in further.
After all this work, the car feels like it’s in a completely different league. It’s running stronger, smoother, and safer than ever. Huge thanks to Ken for his expertise and attention to detail. Every time I drive the 2002 now, it’s like falling in love with it all over again.
