3500GT Barnfind

Love the patina, what a great car! Congratulations!

 

Hello,
On my 3500GT Touring, 59 I use the LODGE 3HLN spark plugs, as recommended in the Maserati user manual. They work great. Any bad experiences with these plugs in the forum?

Alfred

 

I didn't have any trouble installing the cables in the tube (a little silicone spray really helped). I left plenty of extra wire to make the lengths perfect. I am having trouble figuring out how to attach the wires to the plug boots and crimped ends on the cap side. The translucent plastic pieces adapt the wires to the plug boots, so there isn't a large gap.

Ivan, thanks for the response. The chrome tube looks exactly like the pictures of the restored cars that I have seen. My car did not have the original tube, so I don't have anything to compare it to. It had lots of rubber debris stuck to the inside of the tube...it appears that it might have been an original tube that was refinished.

Alfred, thanks for the plug advice.
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

........ I am having trouble figuring out how to attach the wires to the plug boots and crimped ends on the cap side. The translucent plastic pieces adapt the wires to the plug boots, so there isn't a large gap...........



....Mark there is a crimping tool used to attach the contact ends to the wires. You can get them at a NAPA and most decent auto stores. I think that's all you need!

Did you get your parts from Jacques @ Maseratisource???

~Ciao!!!

 

Trev, thanks for the info. I bought them from Jacques. He has been a pleasure to deal with.

 

Ivan, thanks once again for the information that you share here. With a some touch up paint on the brake lines, the pumpkin will be looking a little better.
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Hey Mark!! Did you note what the WHITE lettering on the rear of your differential was?

I believe those were factory markings, denoting the gear raito, and or limited slip diff.

My car has them,....I will be reproducing any factory marking in a restoration, so I just thought I'd ask what you are doing.

I hope you took a photo BEFORE the lettering was removed!!! Also, not a slight,...but the brake line should not be painted red on top of the diff.

Ciao and best!

 

Interesting, as I have not seen that lettering before. On my car there is a tag with the diff ratio. The tag is attached to one of the lower cover bolts. I noticed this diff does not have a tag. Does yours have a tag? Perhaps the painted letters were used on differentials with non-standard ratios.

Ivan

Ivan

 

Hi Trev, just to show how ignorant I am about such things....I never noticed the lettering until you pointed it out. I did take several pictures of the differential, prior to cleaning it. It appears to read 18 or 1B with a line under it. The previous owner told my brother and I that the car had optional gearing. He called them "Alpine gears". I would be interested in seeing pictures of other cars that had the white lettering, if anybody has seen it before. I am going to paint the brake line with a brush tomorrow. Thanks for the info.

Hi Ivan, my differential has a tag on the top bolt. It is visible in the second picture. I will try to read it tomorrow and post the info. It never occurred to me that the white letters were original or meant anything. I wouldn't have guessed that the shocks were green and the differential was orange, if it wasn't for you.

 

This thread is great. Wish I knew of it when I first acquired my own barn fresh 3500 (but this one was stored OUTSIDE of the barn!).
As for the new plug wire kit w/loom, I found the chrome loom to be an exact copy of the unit on my car. Not sure if my car had it's original loom, but it still had the original tires on it, so I would presume the loom to be accurate,,,,,,,,although my plug wires were black, and not the proper green.
Lacing the looms was a chore, but one I could do in the confines of living room of the house (love those "clean" jobs). I found that new boots to be slightly different than the original, and very loose fitting; but they seem to work. I had to fish 2 additional ignition wires through my loom to accomadate the Pertronix electronic ignition installed in my distributor (I highly recommend their system, especially built for our 6 cyls cars). I am still on my original new plugs that I test fired, and dialed in the engine with, after 3 years of "spirited driving". I thank the Pertronix system for the longevity of the plugs.
Many Thanks, RF
AM 101-1512

 

RF, thanks. Please feel free to post pictures here of your car. I would love to see them. The wires were fun to do...I'm not too sure that my wife appreciated me doing them on the kitchen table. I know that she did not appreciate me doing the final assembly of the Webers there.
Thanks for the information on the Petronix ignition. It sounds like a great upgrade.

 

Redfred
I believe some of the cars did come from the Factory with black wires. I have seen three 3500s with black wires and I believe they were all original. The black wire also has Cavis on it. It depends on what they had on the shelf the day your car was built.

 

Hi Ivan,...my diff. does not have a tag, but it does have paint markings on the rear and side of the diff. My car is has every option you could get, so I would agree with your theory that white markings would indicate specific raito. Or they could be build numbers etc. But I'm thinking they relate only to the diff. raito.

~ Trev

 

...my 36,000 mile car has original Cavis black wires! Depends on what was in stock on that day.

~ciao

 

Ah, thanks for input on the wires. Glad I saved them. The car also came with a spare roll of the black wire, enough to do an entire car. I'll have to check if it has the writing though.
I just flushed out the trans & rear end oil in an effort of preventative maintanance. Everything looked fine, just like it did when I flushed it out when I first got the car.
However, this time, I loosened the rear wheel cylinders (drum rear) and let them flop around a little. Before I had them tightened up, and my emergency brake bound. Now that I've examined the springs under the self locking nuts that retain the rear wheel cyls, I've decided to leave them a little loose to let the wheel cylinder "float", and self center.
Any comments on this?
PS. We're thinking of a drive on Super Bowl Sunday out West here. A group of young, spirited Melee drivers usually gather for these events. More as the info filters in.

 

So, there is a Pertronix for the Marelli 6 cylinder twinspark? Are there two separate circuits, one for each coil? Have you had any problems in adjusting the timing? Is the timing made for both plugs at the same time or separately?

Lavaux/Wilfried

 

Pertronix made up a dual system for our distributors. One for each coil. The timing seems spot on, and I have not had to make any adjustments. I highly recommend this ignition, as it is a simple conversion, and is barely noticed from original. One may still keep the old points in the trunk for a back-up system also.
Can anyone coach me on how to post photos here? Pehaps off line to me direct may be best?
<[email protected]>
Thanks, RF.

 

Hi Wilfried!

RF, if you reply to this thread, left click on manage attachments. Left click browse and that will allow you to browse the photos in your hard drive. Double click on a photo and select upload. The pictures will post when you submit your reply. Good luck.

 

Thanks for the lesson. Hopefully this works!
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Hi Mark!

Thanks redfred for your info!

Wilfried

 

Hello redfred,
I have just gone through the very extensive Pertronix catalog, but found only a system for the V8 Maseratis.
Where did you buy the system for 6cylinder dual spark, what is it called, and how much was it?
Wilfried

 

Hello Wilfried,
I actually sent my distributor to them for the development of this unit. I believe I worked with Mr. Marvin Grebow at Pertronix <[email protected]> or 909-599-5955. Hopefully Marvin will be able to help you obtain this unit.
Actually, the unit is a "pair" since we use a double ignition. Their ignition kits are usually around $150 each, and this dual unit was reflective of that cost (around $300 I believe). It is an easy conversion, and saves dealing with sensitive contact points, and I believe these electronic units prolong spark plug life. I use Pertronix on most of my cars; '33 Ford with 350 V8, '67 Silver Shadow.
All the best, RF.

 

Hello Fred,
Thanks for this valuable info. I will contact Marvin to see, if he can send a kit for me to install. Living in Switzerland I do not take the risk to ship MY distributor to the US.
All my cars (8 now) are equipped with electronic ignition: I started with Lumenition for the first few, then went to Pertronix. (less expensive, easier to install and no external, additional box)
Wilfried

 

My transmission is almost complete; however, the shop discovered a small part that needs replaced. It is part number 16 (1010 304 020) in the parts manual/transmission diagram. Any help in locating it would be greatly appreciated.

My car had an aftermarket flax fan installed in place of the stock fan. Does the bolt and washer look correct for the original fan? Thanks.
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Martin, the correct fan for your 3500GT is a four bladed fan. The six bladed fan was used on the GTI, but the face of yours looks weird. There shouldn't be any holes in it except the one for the mounting bolt which should be a reverse thread.
Larry