Maserati Khamsin

There are about 10 Khamsins with the added trident in the front grille, again all non factory but I like it.

 

Thanks Marc. I figured that you would know the car. I was also surprised to see the t-tops. I did not notice those when I first came across the picture. That's an odd modification.

 

Hello Michael: Yes I am sure they were done by some previous owner who did not appreciate what he had: it is not a tasteful modification to say the least.

Let us know how your bumper conversion goes!

By the way I will only check my emails and Fchat every 48 hours for the next week or so as I don't yet have my internet connection at the house I moved into yesterday.

Best regads,

Marc

 

I have a question for you guys:

Do your Khamsins bottom out easily? Whenever I take it for a spin, (I think it is) the differential hits a bump, that I couldn't even see before I drove over it.
It happens everytime I take it out, but for some reason only once

Do I just need new shocks? Or harder springs? Or should I just get used to it happening, because that's what they do?
(I hope to be able to upload a few pictures of it soon - it's been back from the paintshop for a while already and was completely stripped for the job)

 

I don't think I've ever bottomed out in my Khamsin...
There seeems to be sufficient room that this should/
could only happening when going over really high speed
bumps or such...

When you compare your car to the pictures here on this
site, does your cars rear end seem to sit lower? At least
as far as you can tell...

Mike

 

I would certainly get your springs and shocks checked: if you don't have someoen who is very familiar with Khamsins then contact Candini in Modena or Andy Heywood at Bill McGraths or MIE. Since there are 4 at the back they usually last quite long but...yours could be shot. Do you always bottom out at the same location on the road or on similar places, such as hollows, bumps? Try going over those spots a bit slower perhaps. The Khamsin is low to the ground in the middle not at the front or rear.

Anyway I would have them looked at.

Best regards,

Marc

 

First question is what tires do you have on the car? Second is do you have the original US headers or aftermarket Euro Headers?

Joe

 

The Khamsin from Värmland in Sweden is now on sale in Germany.

Magnus
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The car has original tires on it and the original euro headers (as it is an original euro).

It just sounds like the car bottoms out further in the back. The interesting thing is, that Austria has a very thorough annual inspection for every car on the road and springs and shocks are included in the inspection. I'm not sure what to make of the whole thing.

 

215/70/15 is the orginal tire spec. Most inspections of springs and shocks check that the springs aren't cracked or shocks aren't leaking. The Khamsin does have a very short suspension travel range so if the shocks and spring are worn, it could easily hit the suspension stops. What type of roads are you bottoming out on? The Khamsin is definitley not a back roads car, but a highway Grand Tourer.
Joe

 

I guess the shocks would just have to be replaced then ... but since the car already had an engine service and a 10k paintjob this year, it'll have to wait until spring...

Thanks for the help!

 

Don't forget to get the springs checked: if they have been on the car since it was new...by the same token check your front ones as well: many Khamsins look wrong because they have just 2 new springs so they have a nose up stance.

 

Hej Magnus:

That car has been on the market for a long time, it has an odd suede or velours interior.

 

All..

EuroFest 2008 will take place next weekend (October 17 - 19, 2008) in
Spartanburg, South Carolina... Typically, they average between 300-500
European cars at the event.. Unfortunately, only a handful of Maserati
cars are there...

I am posting this because I will be there with my Khamsin....

Anyone else planning on attending?

Mike

 

I have found that the temper goes in the springs for what ever reason my car before I restored it would bottom on speed humps.
I have had all my rears reset as they were sagged on my car. If you look at lots of tired Maserati's the springs are sagged.

Its no big deal and cheap to get them retempered any good automotive spring manufacture can do the job.
The hardest part is taking them apart and back together . The rear springs are 19 1/8" long free length , thats flats to flats preloaded about 4", meaning you need to compress them that much first before you can refit the retainers.

The fronts are 13 1/8" free length

I am not sure what part number these were for as there are two specs, but I believe these are the latter series.

There are also two wire sizes and rates from memory on the latter series a 100lb inch and 70 lb inch spring aside so you need to make sure you pair them up or the car will sit low one side.

Also if the car has been bottoming out have a really good look at the sub frame and the shock/spring mounts on the sub frame for distortion. the sub frame Vibroshock mounts can also crack around the two attach bolts to the sub frame.

 

Thanks for the info .... there was a whole lot of detail there.
I'll look into that.

 

Graeme certainly learned a LOT during his 10 year restoration and it is good to have him in this forum as I am more interested in history and driving (rapidissimo) than widgets and sprockets and nuts and bolts but I have great rspect for those who know that side of things.

Still don't have email in my new house so hectic but will duly flood this thread again when it is installed!

Best regards,

Marc

 

Do you know the VIN Marc?

Best regards,

Magnus

 

Goddag Magnus!

Am not on my computer but will look it up for you this weekend, 90 percent sure I have it I know for certain I have lots of photos of it and it strange seats...

best regards,

Marc

 

Thank you.

Magnus

 

Well I have looked carefully in my files (and all those I have been kindly given) and no I don't have the chassis number of it but it has been offerted in Italy and Germany. Here are some photos. As mentioned an unusual interior. It has a trident in the grille.
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Anyone know of a competent mechanic in South Florida who has some familiarity with Khamsins? Thanks.

 

No I dont but what do you need to know I may be able to help
Graeme

 

Hello Michael:

Graeme will be able to sort through your technical questions to be able to do things in the smartest manner, for cost effectiveness and also for time effectiveness: a lot of people take a car apart first, then realise that the parts may take weeks to come and meanwhile the car sits unused, which is a waste: think of your driving time as something to be protected from delays. Case in point, my answer to your question about a competent mechanic in south Florida. Steve Claasen of Tropical Sports Cars, in Fort Lauderdale 954 467 2142 is extremely good and knowledgeable. The problem is he is overbooked and very expensive. On my Khamsin I had him do only the complicated things, easy matters got done elsewhere.
You can also speak to Ed Waterman of Motorcar Gallery at 954 522 9900 (call him late afternoon and speak only to him, he has been around since the sixties, knows a lot his staff do not), he has owned 18 Khamsins so knows them well. He does not have a shop but he usually knows of mechanics who know what they are doing. There was a very talented Englishman, Mark Swistak who worked out of his tool box in Ft Lauderdale: Ed will know if he is there or in England. Mark is very good, very smart but messy: tools all over the place but he gets it done at the best possible price, very resourceful.

Another one who is very knowledgeable and helpful is Ivan Ruiz aka the carnut, in Atlanta.

What is your bumper conversion status?

Hope this helps!

best regards,

Marc

Best regards,

Marc

 

Graeme and Marc...thanks to both of you for your responses! No matter what, I think that it would be a good idea for me to introduce myself to Ed as you suggest Marc. He seems like a great local resource.

Let me provide a few details here and I would really appreciate your thoughts. Unfortuantely, the car had not been running until last night. As way of a bit of history, my car (AM120US1112) appeared to have had an electrical drain. Well, after a bit of work, it was determined that the aluminum mount for the alternator had a crack in it and was not permitting enought tension on the belt....you see where this is going. After having that fixed by a competent welder, all looked good. Unfortunately, the battery had taken too much of a beating. I tried to charge it, but it would not hold. So, after disconnecting the fuel filter to gain access, I replaced the battery. She started right up. Since it was now dark on Sunday night, I drove for only about 10 minutes. As you know, the headlights are a bit week and mine are seriously mis-aimed. (project for next weekend). But my concern was with a rather loud "clicking" from the enigine compartment. As I am unfamiliar with Citroen hydraulics, I was unsure if the clicking was from the hydraulics or from something more sinister. (the engine runs smooth - so I ruled out a valve issue).

Here is what the seller had to say in an e-mail today: "The clicking you hear from the engine bay is the relief piston for the hydraulics...like much of the car, when cold, it will be quite a bit louder than after the car warms up and the system builds pressure across the board. Disturbing but normal, as they age they tend to snap back into position loudly."

Any truth to this, should I be concerned? Your comments and thoughts are appreciated.

Best regards, Michael