The other day I posed the question, “if every part on this car is replaced, is it the same car?” And my pal AJ Richter pointed out that what I’m referring to is the grandfather’s axe paradox.

Naturally, just as I got back on the road after replacing the fuel tank and rebuilding the Weber 32/36 carburetor, my coolant system sprung a leak and another project was born.

Last summer I had purchased a new set of coolant hoses from Ireland Engineering with short term plans to replace the 50 year old hoses. Last week the old BMW let me know the time had come to drain the coolant and get to work.

Draining the coolant was very messy. So it goes. Removing the old hoses and their crusty old clamps was a true pain in the ass. I worked at one hard-to-reach clamp for over an hour. It was hard on my knuckles and lower back.

In time, I got them all removed. I took a Dremel or sandpaper to some of the mineral deposits on the hose nipples before adding the new hoses and finished it off with a new radiator cap.

Once I got the system re-filled and inspected for leaks I gave the engine bar a healthy bath in engine degreaser. I also masked off the engine bay around the brake booster and gave it a quick hand sanding and coat of black spray paint.

The engine bay is looking much better these days, but that doesn’t mean everything works how I’d like it to. Soon I’ll tackle a bad brake switch and a gremlin living in my tachometer wiring that’s causing the engine to continue running after being shut off.

A note for my future self — when replacing the hoses connected to the water separator, I discovered some corrosion on the water separator itself. Whenever I inevitably replace the water choke with a manual one, it’ll be a good time to swap out the water separator with a new one.