Espada thread

Honestly Ivan, my impression is that no one really knows why some Espadas got a two distributor version and ... there are two two distributor versions of this motor not including the Miuras' version.

There's no harmonic dampener on this engine. In fact, the crank doesn't even exit the front of the engine! There's a gear driven accessory shaft (much like tractors do ...) that runs the front pulley. That's what he was referring to.

People run the dual dizzy setup just fine and some convert them to drive electronic boxes too. I have a single dizzy and converted it to an internal style Pertronix system so you really have to look closely to know there are no points utilized on my car. Mine originally had 4 sets of points! Talk about crowded.

As with any of those style Marelli distributors you should determine the health of them and then the only issue with the dual setup is that of having two separate advance mechanisms for the the two sides of the motor. The advance mechanism frequently goes out of spec on these distributors so I'd suggest getting them off to a Sun machine and see where you are.

You can always stick two sets of Pertronix units in just one of those distributors so that a single mechanically defined advance curve instead of two dissimilar ones is running the engine. The other dizzy is used to just route the spark to the correct cylinders. I haven't done that but have read on hear about several people who have.

Are you sure it's a Euro version? Typically they don't have side markers like that or were they added for DOT regs once it was here?

I'm not that familiar with the late SIII cars perhaps someone else can help out here?

I have seen quite a number of carb and intake manifold differences with the USA SIII cars though. Mine is a fairly early SII and has zero USA based equipment even though it was sold new here. As you know from your experience with Masers of the 1970s, sh*t slipped on by the feds via various tricks, winks and nods ...

BTW, I think rides much better than an Indy or Ghibli though those have better leg room and the adjustable steering wheel really helps. It's a big heavy car and you're lucky to have that power steering.

Have fun learning.

Bob S.

 

anybody know for sure?

Gary 8394
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I thought you meant distributor cap at first ... damn that's a small picture. I have the original style caps and think they work rather poorly. Maybe they're just worn out?
I switched to a generic set of non locking ones that finally seal-up properly but the built in vents are a bit too spring loaded to serve as the sole vent mechanism.
While you're doing your paint job make certain the drain holes below the gas filler neck are clear and that the tank vents with their homemade check valves are working properly too.

How about a bigger picture? Both sides too. If the seller will send it.

Bob S.

 

In the file that came with the car is a letter from the factory which indicates that the car was sold May, 1976 in Italy. I have receipts dating back to 1982 showing the car in New Jersey. The Espada would have only been 6 years old at that time. In the early 1980's owners could use a once in a lifetime exemption to bring a car into the USA and not have to meet EPA requirements. The car still needed to meet the DOT requirements for the year of manufacture and there was extensive documentation that was needed to be provided in order to get DOT certification. That is how I bought my first Ghibli, a 1970 model. Luckily the 1970 DOT requirements were not very strict when it came to bumpers and few modifications were needed.
I wonder how this Espada was able to come in the USA with so few (if any) modifications. The bumpers, lap seat belts and many other items would have not been compliant for a 1976. Perhaps there are questions better not asked ...

Ivan

 

That was the early days of the Grey Market, the only thing legal about a lot of cars back then was the paper work. It usually happened after the car owner found an envelope on the floor that apparently belonged to the owner of the shop doing the certification.

Joe

 

does anyone know if this was ever OEM for series 2 NOT series 1

Gary
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That looks "similar" to mine Gary that's about all. Mine also have locks on them.

 

Photos of 9688

I know a few photos from when the car was on the ebay were posted here previously. These are some photos of the car in its new surroundings. The color is a cinnamon metallic, which looks much lighter in direct sunlight than in the shade. I have never been too fond of colors with shades of brown but I think it kind of works for this car .... very 1970's color.

Ivan
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Is there a spray can paint that closely matches the off-white color used on the air cleaner boxes? I was provided the formula to mix that color but for such small an amount a spray can that I can buy at a hardware store should be able to do the trick.

Ivan

 

not sure what your budget is like but Gary Bobileff has an air cleaner top exchange program $480 to paint them "off white" and do the stenciling ( not stickers) i elected to do this and no regrets as they look amazing!!

Gary
8394

 

Looks like Tremclad is what in the USA is known as Rust-Oleum. Correct?

Never thought I would paint a Lambo with Rust-Oleum, but there is a first time for everything

You are correct, there are several items in the engine compartment that were incorrectly painted with high glass black. I will paint the fuse cover and radiator expansion tank in black wrinkle.

Thanks for your help with the owners manual!

Ivan

 

Gary,

If I go down the path of trying to make this car as per original I will go into a deep financial hole from which I will never recover.

My goal is to try to correct some items as best I can and simply live with the rest. The off-white Rust-Oleum and FIAM stickers should be an improvement over the glossy black air cleaners it has today. If they look too cheezy when I'm done then I may have to dig deeper into my pockets.

Ivan

 

On my car, an earlier SII close to Philippe's, the expansion tank was not painted with wrinkle paint. I don't think any of those cars were. But your's is a SIII and I've seen them both ways. Rustoleum Satin Black or a bit less accurate their Semigloss black do a good job Ivan. Some things are hard to definitively nail down as Lamborghini frequently changed some details during the production run. The quality was frequently not all that stellar.

They liked to use dum-dum to seal stuff in the front firewall. My car has no rubber grommets around things like heater/AC hoses and wiring loom bundles. So with age these can be a source of heat and engine compartment fumes. What may look like a less than careful previous owners attempt at repairs can indeed be factory correct. I didn't believe it until I found early magazine layouts showing the exact same sloppy work.

Bob S.

 

Lou Herrin (Islero Information Exchange) does them too and I think he's more reasonably priced? http://www.lamborghiniislero.com/

Bob S.

 

My S3 has a radiator expansion tank. Is the cap on the radiator supposed to be pressurized? On Jaguars with expansion tanks only the cap on the expansion tank is pressured. What is correct for the Espada and what is the correct cap pressure?

Ivan

 

It's the same set-up Ivan. In fact, an early E-type radiator (no pressure relief) cap is what I've got on my radiator though when I picked up my car the PO had a 7lb on the rad and a 14lb on the tank.
You know, I'm not certain what's the correct pressure but I'm running a 7lb Stant lever type cap.
Bob S.

 

Thanks Bob. My car currently has a pressure cap on the radiator and that did not make much sense to me.

Ivan

 

ESPADA DUDES:

http://www.singersafety.com/catalog/sound-stopper-noise-control/quilted-fiberglass-panels

I contacted George, a rep at this company and although visually this product looks almost correct he indicated the max temp its designed for is a balmy 180 deg Farenheit . I dont think this is high enough and after I explained the intended use I thought to ask if anyone out there has had drying out or cracking problems as a result of using this product. He did say for more money they can custom fab something that will last for ever but its slightly shinier than whats shown here . He also indicated he could send me a sample piece as well . If we collectively bought enough we could make it the way we want to have more of a diamond shape as oposed to a square on its side as this shows . This would be more correct visually . I will know more from George on Monday but I would like to hear from any and all who currently have this under their bonnets

regards

gary
8394

 

Hi Guys!
Just an opinion on the gas cap; it looks like an old Dodge Dart cap. I know that my caps are not original either. As for the radiator caps, the one on the expansion tank should be the only pressure cap. The cap on the radiator is just a cap! I got the original radiator cap from GT Car Parts for less than $10.00.
I did get my Espada out two sundays ago! It's full of gas and ready to go!

Gus (Espada 8616)

 

gus ya lucky bugga . No salt where you live??

got the right side script for you and its intact but no threaded rods left on it and needs replating badly ! Still want it ? The left one by the way is in pieces! and not enough pieces unfortunately... for all the effort to redo eurospares has perfect new ones for around 90 pounds

gary 8394

 

Someone on VLG ,which is where I found this same reference, has actually installed these on his Espada. Have you searched for it over there. I think it was sometime in the last 4 years. I saw your post on the new website but I think you should search the old one. If the person is still around maybe he can give you a report. Most people don't tend to post about stuff that doesn't work so well.

I haven't seen a substitute I like as yet but I haven't seen very many. It should be easy to clean. These are messy cars.

Oh! Just spotted this http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/VintageLambo/message/48687

 

Bob ;
I actually bought a product from europe but after getting it home realized it looked all wrong. I sent Peter a message over at VLG .

Thanks

Gary
8394

P.S.
Is Lambo the featured marque this year over at pocono? The threads on VLG for this date back along time so not really sure??

 

Ask Joe Corbaccio.

As I said before, I haven't seen one that looks exactly correct.

Laust on VLG took some blanket material and had his upholstery shop quilt it.

He posted some pictures on VLG a couple of months ago but I haven't seen it up close.
I think he supplied all the details of how he did it.

The Espada Kirk Meigham had at Le Belle Macchine d'Italia a few years ago had a material that was not smooth so I think it might collect dirt and look bad quickly?

 

Hot!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Lamborghini-1971-Lamborghini-Espada-No-Engine_W0QQitemZ200437113723QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Cars_Trucks?hash=item2eaafba37b