3500 101.686 Restoration Log | FerrariChat

3500 101.686 Restoration Log

Discussion in 'Maserati' started by Portenos, Nov 20, 2012.

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  1. Portenos

    Portenos Formula 3

    Aug 20, 2004
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    #1 Portenos, Nov 20, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    This is a thread dedicated to the rebuild of AM101.686. It is my hope that 3500 owners and future 3500 owners will benefit from information i will be providing here.
    Playing with these early roll up window 3500's is for me, in some ways, therapeutic.
    I have 3 of them now.

    I keep two cars at home on Mercer Island WA. and 1 car - the subject of this thread - here in Palm Desert CA where I can spend my time during the winter months bringing the car back to the point where it is fully operational and beautifully restored.

    So let began with a little history.

    Chassis number AM101.686
    Engine number AM101.686
    Touring number 6806
    Build date November 1959

    AM101.686 is a very tight unmolested RUST FREE original condition early 3500GT with roll up windows. The car has had a very easy life in the hands of 4 highly appreciative, very enthusiastic owners. Cars like this, in this condition come along very rarely.

    According to factory records there were only five 3500GTs delivered to the Mexico City agent Automotriz O’Farrill.
    101.142 Delivered on June 1958
    101.254 Delivered on Nov 1958
    101.686 Delivered on Nov 1959
    101.820 Delivered on May 1960
    101.1006 Delivered on July 1960
    3 of the above cars were Ivory with Red leather, and 2 were Silver with Black leather. All 5 cars were delivered with 4 speed transmissions

    As noted above 101.686 was delivered new to the Mexico City agent Automotriz O’Farrill on November 1959.
    From there it may have been owned by the Adolfo López Mateos President of Mexico.
    Although this has not been confirmed.

    The 2nd owner
    In 1966 the car was sold to the second owner who was the CEO of a very large Mexican media company.
    Dipl. Ing. Roberto Sarquis V.D. I.
    Nacional Financiera, S.A.
    La Catolica no. 51 – 814
    Mexico 1,D.F.

    Ing. Roberto Sarquis was a great guy who owned the car for 35 years. During his ownership he had the car repainted and then with 47,961 KLM on the speedometer the car overheated causing the head gasket to fail. At that point 686 was put into storage and was not to run on its own power until March 9 2012.
    Roberto Sarquis died in Dec 2001 so he never drove the car again and his wife sold the car to a very good friend of his who became the third owner.

    The 3rd owner
    A very well known and very affluent Mexican national who owned several beautiful Maseratis and several important Ferraris as well. He is a good friend of the Mandaranos since the early 1980’s. He never drove the car due to the head gasket failure, but kept it stored In a climate controlled garage. He sent 686 to his very good friend Giuseppi Risi the owner of Ferrari of Huston for a total mechanical over haul.
    In 2002 the engine was pulled out and sent to Ken Doughtery a very well know Maserati specialist in Houston. The cost of the rebuild at the time was $25,000, (in 2002.)

    The 4th owner
    On Dec 16th 2011 The car was purchased by me, (Francis G. Mandarano) I booked a one way flight to Houston from Palm Springs. I had a very nice lunch with Giuseppi Risi the owner of Ferrari of Houston. We agreed to a price over an excellent bottle of Borolo and returned to the dealership to load the car onto a uhaul trailer to be towed it back to Palm Desert with a rented U Haul truck. It took me 2 grueling days.
    During the months of Jan Feb Mar and April 2011 the car went into a local shop and the rebuilt engine was installed, in addition to new rear brakes cylinders, new caliper pistons and seals, and new brake booster installed. There was all new clutch hydraulics as well. The gas tank was removed cleaned and reinstalled and fitted with new fuel lines. The freshly rebuilt radiator was installed along with all new water hoses.

    The transmission was sent to Modena for rebuild and installed with a new driveline.
    At that point the car was put n hold until the following season beginning November 2012.

    The first photo was taken in the Ferrari of Houston workshop. on the very first time I set my eyes on the car.
    The second photo is of one of the very unique stickers still on the car, this one showing a 1960-61 registration in Mexico.
    The third is of the very original trunk.

    To be continued.
    Ciao,
    FGM
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  2. redfred84

    redfred84 Formula Junior

    Dec 24, 2010
    570
    SF Bay Area, USA
    Great Stuff Frank!
    I can hardly wait to see the rest of the series. Thanks so much for recording and sharing it with us.
    RF.
     
  3. ulf rickard

    ulf rickard Formula Junior

    Sep 28, 2009
    424
    Sweden
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    Ulf Rickard
    usually I do not read threads regarding cars I cant afford :) but when i comes to old Masser there is always an exception, love the model !
     
  4. Portenos

    Portenos Formula 3

    Aug 20, 2004
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    #4 Portenos, Nov 21, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    686 was last registered to operate in Mexico for the year ending 1971 - 41 years ago - so it was no surprise to find the braking system and clutch hydrulics to be in such a bad state of repair.
    See for yourself what we found.
    The gas tank had a couple quarts of what can only be described as molasses, so out it came to be boiled out and then steam cleaned. The main fuel line had to be flushed and rooted out.
    The oil filter was disgusting and the rear brake cylinders and booster looked like a science project growing in a petri dish.
    The bottom photo shows what a fuel filter canister looks like after sitting for 40 years.
    More later
    Ciao,
    FGM
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  5. Jalpa_Mike

    Jalpa_Mike F1 Rookie

    Apr 2, 2004
    3,019
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    Michael Wilson
    Wow Frank! That is amazing!!!! Fastastic work you are doing bringing these beauties back to life!

    Mike
     
  6. PSk

    PSk F1 World Champ

    Nov 20, 2002
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    Subscribed.

    Pete
     
  7. Portenos

    Portenos Formula 3

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    #7 Portenos, Nov 22, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Here is a photo of the Mexico City "Distrito Federal" 1970/71 registration sticker still on the windshield along with the others.
    FGM
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  8. Portenos

    Portenos Formula 3

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    #8 Portenos, Nov 22, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Just to give you an idea of what the car looked like in April 2011.

    Please note, those non original coils are getting ready to go by by along with that ugly100mm industrial fresh air hose that will be replaced with an original 100 mm paper one.
    Those cam cover nuts are history to be replaced with OEM type and the 175 (that correct 175) 16 Pirelli Cinturatos will be replaced with new OEM 185 VR 16 Pirelli Cinturatos.
    FGM
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  9. William Abraham

    William Abraham Formula Junior

    Nov 21, 2010
    830
    London, UK
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    William Abraham
    It looks great. Will have to get one soon but I love the history and patina on this car.
     
  10. Portenos

    Portenos Formula 3

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    #10 Portenos, Nov 24, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Over the summer months the car has sat in my climate controlled garage here in the desert, so now it is time to get back at the chassis and engine tuning.

    Several months agoI had made an appointment with one of Coachella Valley's very well known and highly respected European car repair shops, so AM101.686 was delivered over last Tue. and work began.

    My punch list consisted of things such as:

    • Repair leaking left front caliper (New rubber kits in box)

    • Inspect one way valve on vacuum tank and replace with new one.
    There was a hissing sound when brakes applied. possible vacuum leak

    • Repair oil leak at oil pump from stripped out stud.

    • Check valve adjustment and cam timing.

    • Mount 4 new tires and tubes spin balance

    • Webers: Pull tops and clean and check needle and seats.
    Clean and lube all throttle shafts and bearings return springs
    Tune and adjust Webers install new air filter and housing

    • Check points gap, clean lube distributor.

    • Replace the two coils with red original tootsie roll type in box

    • Trouble shoot and repair horn

    • Check all lights and switches

    • Install new O ring to oil filler cap

    • Install new 100 mm original paper fresh air tube

    At this point I will road test the car and produce a new, but much smaller punch list.

    4 new 185VR16 Pirelli Cinturato tires and tubes were purchased from
    Lucas Classic Tires in Long Beach CA (562 595 6721) I spoke with Maytag Smith the GM he was very helpful. These OEM tires are now available after over 10 years of being off the market. There are a limited number of them available so don't miss it. The price was a very reasonable $399.00 each + shipping. I plan to buy another set in the next few months for my Mitchell car.
    My old tires were removed and the new ones are now mounted and balanced.

    The LF brake caliper had a rubber seal broken when the new piston was installed last April.
    Jimmy polished up the piston to a very high gloss eliminating all scuff marks and reinstalled it with a new seal.

    The oil pump turned out to be a simple fix. The stud was not stripped out at all. It seems the 6 studs holding the oil pump cover are not studs but are slot headed screws.
    These screws were simply not torqued properly. They cleaned up the pump and reassembled it with a new gasket and reinstalled it.
    In the photo you can see the 6 nuts attaching to the screws which are recessed into the back side of the pump.
    In the next installment I will share what we found under the cam covers.
    More later.
    Ciao,
    FGM
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  11. mfletch

    mfletch Formula Junior

    Nov 3, 2008
    480
    Frank, the car looks great. Another fun project. I see we have the same Maserati support vehicle.
    Could you please let me know how you or the shop is able to pass the fresh air hose (100mm) through the driver's side fender liner, without damaging it. It is a round hose going throuigh an oval hole. I do not see how to compress the paper hose, without damaging it. I also noticed that the oil pump is painted with the same paint that I used on my water pump. Brian told me that it was too shiny. I was going to repaint it....what is your opinion? Thanks.
     
  12. Portenos

    Portenos Formula 3

    Aug 20, 2004
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    Brian is was right. To shiny for me as well, but the Tech painted it before I could tell him NO PAINT.
    We have over 110,000 miles on our 04 Range Rover HSE and love it.
    FGM
     
  13. staatsof

    staatsof Nine Time F1 World Champ
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    Mar 13, 2005
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    Bob
    Holy crud crap Batman those are some ugly pictures on the filter sludge, brakes cylinders and such.

    Just how do people treat any automobile, let alone a Maserati, like this?

    Is Maserati abuse a capitol crime as yet in California? ;)

    p.s. Frank, I just got back from a trip to N. California, my old stomping grounds.
    How do you stand it there? You do know they're a coming after folks like you ... ;)
     
  14. Portenos

    Portenos Formula 3

    Aug 20, 2004
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    In defense of the previous owner, the ugly photos you refer to are what happens after sitting for 30+ years.
    Off subject but,
    They are coming after ALL of us, including you.
    Ciao,
    FGM
     
  15. staatsof

    staatsof Nine Time F1 World Champ
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    Mar 13, 2005
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    Frank they've been coming after me for over 30 years now. But it's the men in white coats ... ;)
     
  16. Portenos

    Portenos Formula 3

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    #16 Portenos, Nov 25, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    In order to properly tune a Maserati engine, you must first start by checking the valve clearances and cam timing. Clearances change after miles of the valves beating themselves into the seats and the cam timing changes a little each time the timing chain is re-tourqued.

    So even though this car had a $25,000 rebuild by a very well know Maserati specialist some 10 years ago and having gone less than 40 miles since the engine was installed I felt we needed to check the valves and cam timing. They did sound a little noisy.
    Now the correct clearances should be 6 thousands on the exhaust and 4 thousands on the intake. What we found on the exhaust was valves that were valves that were way out of spec.
    1. 10
    2. 12
    3. 16
    4. 9
    5. 12
    6. 14

    The engine did look as new inside as it should.
    In the first photo you will see a lot of hands. Thats because the owner works with his two very capable sons.
    Ciao,
    FGM
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  17. Portenos

    Portenos Formula 3

    Aug 20, 2004
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    #17 Portenos, Nov 26, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    I popped over to the workshop this morning after working out at the gym with my personal trainer. At 66 years old I think it makes good sense to try to stay as fit as one can.
    Anyway back to the car. As I was saying I stopped over to the workshop where the boys are waiting for some valve shims to arrive from:
    XKs Unlimited
850 Fiero Lane
San Luis Obispo, CA, the shims should be there tomorrow around 2:00PM. In the mean time they are addressing some other items on my punch list.

    I have been struggling with what to do with the interior of this car.

    At the end of the day, I have decided to redo the complete interior.
    This was a tough decision.
    The leather is very hard and tired and the carpets are disintegrating.
    Should I leave the car original, or redo it?
    Since the car had been repainted 25 years or more ago and the engine had undergone a complete rebuild, and given the condition of the interior I decided to renew it, to a very high exacting original standard.
    It’s funny that restored shinny cars bring a lot more money than original cars, at least at auction. Witness the two 3500GT’s sold at Monterey this year. One very original made $137,500 and the shinny restored one made $237,500. Go figure.

    So I ordered 7 yards of Wilton wool “creama” colored carpet which is an exact copy of the original color found under the Touring logo rubber floor mat. It should be here in 4 days.
    I also ordered 30 yards of original cloth binding from “Woolies” in the UK.

    The leather on the other hand is proving to be not so easy, and very expensive.

    It seems there are 2 or 3 people in Europe who are selling what they call Connolly Leather. This can only be described as reproduction Connolly leather.
    I am showing photos of samples from one of the suppliers below.
    In one case, a German seller claims to have purchased over 3000 hides from Connolly when they discontinued business 10 years or so ago. Walter you may know this chap.

    As many of you know Maseratis of the period came from the factory with a couple types of Connolly Leather.
    There is,
    PAC, which stand for “Printed and Crushed” and
    VM which stands for Vaumol, a type of grain and smell.
    My Mitchell no.708 car came with PAC 1544 “Neutra” (off white)

    Now the good news is that Simon Connolly and cousin Jonathan Connolly are reportedly back in business continuing the family tradition of manufacturing the highest quality upholstery leather for all uses. They can produce small quantities of the original old aroma smelling "Vaumol" leathers for vintage car restorers such as me.

    The bad news is we are talking 600 British Pounds per hide consisting of 45 to 50 square feet. That’s $1,000 bucks + shipping and customs duties and our 3500GT requires 5 hides. Mama Mia!!
    I am currently working with two other companies in the UK who are sending me samples of what may very well be a good compromise, but again not cheap at 350 Pounds Sterling per hide, or $561USD ++.
    Now if this was a California Spyder or a 250 SWB there would be no question about spending that amount of money. But for me, and my little 3500 I need to think this through a little more.
    I welcome any input on leather suppliers that any of you have to offer. I am of course happy to provide contact information on suppliers that I have found.
    Of special interest to me are the VM and PAC numbers of the different reds offered by Maserati
    In the photos below are some samples of very high quality reproduction Connolly PAC hides showing that grain as a result of the PAC "press and crush"
    Note the red PAC number of 1603 and how the leather is surface dyed (1 side only) not vat dyed. The photo of the carpet binding shows the original "Beige" wool binding.

    More later.
    Ciao,
    FGM
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  18. MK1044

    MK1044 Two Time F1 World Champ

    Nov 6, 2011
    21,146
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    Carmine
    Beautiful. Very special car and very nice work you're doing to bring it back to life.
     
  19. William Abraham

    William Abraham Formula Junior

    Nov 21, 2010
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    London, UK
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    William Abraham
    Hi I have not used these people previously but I think they come very highly recommended for very special cars. You can take a look and check with them and others here may have direct experience. Can you also send me the link for the new Connolly business. Great car!
    http://www.hvl-autobekleding.nl/index.htm
     
  20. philt68

    philt68 Formula Junior

    Aug 26, 2008
    969
    new york city
    I used them to redo my Dino and Stratos-they're a bit expensive, but totally worth it
     
  21. Maserati Blue

    Maserati Blue Formula Junior

    Dec 13, 2010
    947
    Europe
    I don't understand why: you are working on a very expensive car, which you claim similar cars go for 6 figure prices, but then you complain that the interior leather is too expensive?

    So why does 3k (or around that) look expensive for the entire interior? Sounds like a bargain when the entire car costs 6 figures...



     
  22. f308jack

    f308jack F1 Rookie

    Jun 7, 2007
    4,300
    Cape Town, South Afr
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    Jack Verschuur
    No question HvL is the way to go.

    You get what you pay for, ask Henk (owner) about his products and it will all be clear. Knowledgeable people with many years of experience and a great reputation.

    Your 'lowly' 3500 is a beautiful car, and a restoration is only as good as the materials used. Get as close to authentic as you can.

    On the other hand, looking at your photos, I'd opt to take the interior apart, renew all foams etc, but recondition the original leather.

    Oil-pump: wow, yes, nicely done. If it were mine, I'd have the culprit strip all that silver paint off again. If you want the housing painted, do so while it is apart. With all the fasteners and fittings painted over it looks tarted up. Can't do that to an otherwise great looking car.

    Just my opinion....
     
  23. Portenos

    Portenos Formula 3

    Aug 20, 2004
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    Maserati Blue, I think you have misunderstood me.
    I actually agree with you. I was not complaining as such, but commenting on the expense.
    The price for the interior is NOT 3K (or around that) that is just for the leather. the compete interior including labor could run $10 to $15K depending on if I ship the whole lot off to Italy or not, which some of you may know that I have done with other Maseratis I have restored in the past.
    Trust me I will NOT cut corners and only use the top tier materials.
    the question is finding the top tier materials. i am now not convinced HVL in the Nederland is the way to go for several reasons.
    The jury is still out.
    FGM
     
  24. Maserati Blue

    Maserati Blue Formula Junior

    Dec 13, 2010
    947
    Europe
    Fair enough!

    The original leather looks "ok-ish" from the photos, are you sure it is not recoverable?
     
  25. awohlmann

    awohlmann Karting

    Jul 6, 2008
    159
    Austria
    Full Name:
    Alfred Wohlmann
    Hi Frank,
    Thank you for posting all these details.
    I am very interested in the contact information about the suppliers of "conolly" (reproduction) leather. If you do not want to post it here, please send me an email to [email protected]. I will send you a PM with the contact of a UK company where I bought my PAC 1544 4 years ago. Not cheap but well done.

    I am now working on a Ghibli 1970 and thinking of renewing the interior. Do you know if Maserati also used the same Conolly leather in the Ghibli? This car was built 10 years later?
    Any information about suppliers of the correct leather in black for a Ghibli 1971 would be appreciated.
    Alfred
     

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