Miura, the original supercar

In regards to the photo request, I remember that request. I am taking the liberty of reposting it for Craig.

Cheers Jim

 

I'd like to see the return line arrangement as well. Both the connections back at the engine (fuel filter?) and how the line returns the fuel to the tank (fuel tank filler neck?). This is how 4776 was plumbed. I am considering adding it to 4109 while I have it in the shop.

Here are a couple photos of the filter area (red arrows indicate return line). I never photographed the other end of the line at the tank.

It's possible that there are several different arrangements for this.
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Interesting shots, Tim and Joe. Not your normal glamour shots you usually see of the Miura. I am amazed at all the differences between the SV and the P400. The P400 is very simple in comparison.

Cheers Jim

 

Very interesting. Quite a bit more plumbing than I expected to see. The charcoal canister and vapor separator on the drivers side is not present on the earlier cars that I've seen. The small black line that connects to the intake manifold is a vacuum line from the charcoal cannister. Earlier cars don't have this port (or "balance pipe") cast into the intake manifold.

On 4776, IIRC, both lines ran down the passenger's side. The fuel tank has a simple vent that terminates near the base of the windshield. The return line is brazed into the filler neck (I believe the underside) before the rubber hose that connects it to the tank. I remember having the gas cap off and the key "on" and seeing the excess fuel squirting back into the tank. I will look around to see if I have any photos that show this setup.

4109 has only the single metal line from the fuel pump (after a short hose) that runs down the passenger's side and terminates similarly to the others. It also has the simple tank vent. I will shoot a few pictures of this tomorrow.

 

I beleive the fuel return was only on the SV's (Joe, chime in if incorrect). Other cars (like my #9) have been retrofitted by people like Bobileff. This may account for the differences (?)

Alberto

 

This is such a classic story or how these things have their own character and history that cannot and is not captured in the books or records. I can see them on the line needing to get this car out today and simply grabing the first interior they could get their hands on (let's grab the ones from the car in front!) and putting it in, regardless of what the order sheet said. Customer is here to pick it up, we need to complete it today!

Alberto

 

The emmission controls vary from the different states. California had mandatory PCV in 1963 while the other 49 got them in 1968 from the Vehicles Emmission Act of 1965. Charcoal canisters start in California in 1970 and later in the other states.

 

It's apparent that Joe's car has a rudimentary emission control (looks like just fuel vapors).

If anyone has other variations on this, please post the photos.

 

Wow...that is clean. Dare I say, even cleaner than some hospital emergency wards.

 

Joe, can you please supply photos of the original PPG paint stickers in place on 4884?
thank you
Craig

 

You are correct! This is all vapor recovery. It appears the compressor pulley photo shows a new return ss braid line, but we need more detail from the Weber fuel lines. I am not seeing a return to the gas tank from this ss line. Joe, these are great photos, actually the best photos taken of 4884 so far that i have seen. It would be great to see the Weber fuel line details and a complete shoot of the front with the spare tire out of 4884. Also where are the airpump and air lines?
thanks
Craig

 

Alberto, i would see this another way.......... as the Lamborghini factory workers doing exactly what was correct with high quality in mind...........and the record keeping people having a lapse of of talent.


The Coltrin book, even tho i admire it, has a lot of mistakes. Even today, we can chuckle at the 138 Miura S production number quoted in most auction house descriptions. And the 450+(i forget the quote now) P400 that were produced. There are good reasons for the mistake in these numbers, but the explanation has not been shared yet. Probably someday tho.
Craig

 

Tim, thanks for photos of 4776 and jogging my memory. 4776, as i have documented, simply feeds the filter inlet banjo and runs a return back the right side. not real attractive at the front firewall, and the regulator appears to be Western Auto. You could easily make all of this very proffessional.

However i see a piece of copper tubing running across the back firewall in my docs that does not appear to be there anymore, maybe this provided firebottle gas to the right engine side? 4776 fire bottle plumbing was not real attractive.

There are better fuel liquid return line designs for Miura. Maybe others can share details?
Craig

 

The 2 photos that I posted from 4776 were from about 10 years ago as I was disassembling it for an overhaul. It did indeed have a firebottle that had been previously installed. I replaced the bottle with a new manually triggered unit and made a few changes to the plumbing including an additional nozzle by the engine.

Skip ahead a few years, new owner.

I guess someone should have pointed it out to the person who was driving it BEFORE it caught fire.

I'd be interested in seeing any photos you have of the car, I have a couple hundred however they are not digital.