'85 400i help with parts!

Hi there. I have just taken the plunge on a 1985 400i. I have only had the car a few weeks and have been trying to get her running properly after being sat around for a couple of years. So far I have replaced both alternators with modern Bosch ones to cure a constantly flat battery. New front discs and callipers. Full service with all fluids etc. it already had a full stainless exhaust fitted along with the MSD ignition thing people talk about (I am still trying to understand what that thing does!).

I knew parts would be hard to come by but I am really struggling. I am desparately trying to track down a heater control slider/lever. If anyone could point me in the right direction that would be great.

Also, I would love to fit clear front lenses as on the 412 but I am unsure as to where to find these. La scuderia Rosas wanted 1600Euro for an original pair! Crazy. I have seen some on eBay from Squadra Nuvolari for a more reasonable price. Does anyone have any experience of these as they are replicas? Any advice on the best way to replace these lenses would be fantastic.

Absolutely love the car. And really enjoying getting working properly again. Thanks in advance for your help. Ben

 

Thought i would post some pics... interesting car having been ownede by the famous insurance fraudster: Roger Levitt. really nice condition, but needs tidying and some of the switches etc made to function again.
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Here are three sources in the US.
All ferrari Parts (Dennis McCann) used to have these lever controls.

I used Nurolari lenses with success. They fit and look right. The lenses are run in batcjes so there may be a considerable wait for them.

Nice car!
Good hunting.
Greg


http://trutlands.com/
http://allferrariparts.com/
http://www.ricambiamerica.com
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Hi Ben , congratulationson your new car!! I saw that one on pistonheads, she looked great in the pics. Did you manage to get anything off the asking price? Here's link to a site selling a set for $838 in the US but get them to put $100 on the shipping ticket to save on duty etc ;-)
Look forward to some photos of your car out and about!

http://www.lyletannerferrariparts.com/ferrari_365_lenses_and_lights.html

 

Congrats on the car. Great color combo (same as mine except dark blue carpet vs tan). Who did you get your rotors from? Curious because Brakes are going to be my next project.

I went with the MSD box and it worked wonders.

Al
'84 400iA

 

With a breakerless distributor, as in the 400i, one thing the MSD does is the same job as breaker points do. In a points system, electrical energy enters the coil through the coil's positive connector and flows through the coil's primary and secondary windings. Then it exits through the negative connector, travels to the breaker points and condenser (a capacitor), and then to ground. When the points open, this cuts off the coil's direct path to ground (although the condenser remains grounded). The collapse of the current flowing through the coil windings causes a jolt of high voltage current to shoot through the coil's magnetic core and out the top of the coil tower.

In a breakerless system the MSD does this job: it interrupts the coil windings' direct path to ground, which causes the coil's magnetic core to emit the high voltage signal. The MSD also steps up the current flowing to the coil windings to a higher level than points could handle without the risk of burning them. This causes the coil's magnetic core to produce a higher voltage than it would do with a lower voltage flowing through the windings. That's why these boxes are called spark amplifiers. And, at engine speeds below 3500 rpm, the MSD also performs the circuit-breaking function up to three times for each ignition cycle. That's where the name MSD came from: Multiple Spark Discharge.

 

Very nice looking car and I hope that you get a lot of enjoyment out of it!

What brand or type of oil filters are on the car? I've never seen a 400i with what looks to be canister type oil filter housings with the bolt through the top. All I have ever seen are spin-on type filters. Do yours have replaceable filter elements inside of the canisters? Do you know if the car came that way from the factory?

 

Which UK suppliers have you tried : Eurospares ? Ferrari Classic Parts ?

 

I bet they are painted K&N HP-3001. They have a sheet metal nut welded to the bottom.

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Ahhh, so you don't need an oil filter wrench, just a regular wrench, to remove them!

 

That is the idea. I use a wrench and filter wrench on them if they get too tight as not to crush the filter which make the problem worse.

 

How could it make the problem worse? You're going to throw it away anyway and, besides, they shouldn't be that tight since they are installed hand tight to begin with. I punch a hole in the top of the filters so that the oil drains out of them more easily before I remove them.

I've always understood that you never use a wrench to install an oil filter and I've never had a problem with hand tightening on the install for the cars that I service myself.

 

I agree with you 100% hand tight is perfect. I had an MG years ago that even when you went hand tight the filter was a bear to get off. The K&N filter using a wrench came off without issue every time. When I don't have time for an oil change at home I take my dailey drive to the shop and give them the filter. A couple times i've had a knuckle head over tigten which made removing a problem. This filter solves that problem. Also a great filter to boot.

 

Bought my lenses from eurospares in UK

 

Punching a hole to drain the thing is a good idea!
Usually, the instructions are to tighen 1/2 to 3/4 turn after gasket seats...'& no more!'
Easy enough to do w/o a wrench.

 

I was buying this car from Jonathan late last year and spent around £400 on an RAC inspection prior to buying it. It's a really pretty car but wasnt right for me and I ended up buying a 1978 carb car with 35,000 on the clock. If you want a copy of the report let me know, more than happy to forward a copy FOC to a fellow 400 lover. I'm in Essex and would be happy to meet up with you if you're not too far away. All the best, Russell

 

Thanks very much indeed for all your replies. They have been really helpful and it is good to know I am not alone in what can at times appear to be a rather daunting undertaking for someone new to classic cars, let alone classic ferrari ownership.

I am pleased to announce I now have the required heater control lever on its way ($46 from allferrariparts) and some clear front lenses ($640 from Squadra Nuvolari). Both companies were very helpful - esp Nuvolari with advice on how to glue the new lenses in etc.

In reply to some of the questions asked:

I saw that one on pistonheads, she looked great in the pics. Did you manage to get anything off the asking price? => Yes, was on for £17,995 and got her for £16,500. Which i hope was a decent price?!

Who did you get your rotors from? => front discs were very hard to find. Appears the foundries in Italy haven't made a batch for a while. Brembo said they would look at casting a new batch if there was interest. I ended up getting mine from eurospares (£375 for the pair. And 2 reconditioned callipers for £700)

What brand or type of oil filters are on the car? I've never seen a 400i with what looks to be canister type oil filter housings with the bolt through the top? => afraid I have no idea. The car was serviced as soon as I got her and they were chucked. Need to check what's on there now.

And finally, Russell, if you really wouldn't mind sending me a copy of the RAC report that would be hugely appreciated. I am very interested to hear what made you decide against going for this car - even though I am fully committed now!! There is an interesting story as to what swung me. And why I didn't have it inspected prior to purchase....! I dont get to essex much but am west London (paddington area) so no too far away really. Still not seen another 400i on the road!

 

You never know what you'll find on Ebay Go to bottom of page 2, these rotors have been listed by Overstock for a while now.

http://motors.shop.ebay.com/Car-Truck-Parts-/6030/i.html?_trkparms=65%253A10%257C39%253A1&rt=nc&_nkw=ferrari%20400i&_dmd=1&_dmpt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&_sop=10&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245.l1581&_pgn=2

 

Anybody notice the header tank next to the Alt., is this the usual layout on RHD's??

 

Wouldn't be surprised, like the switching of the battery and brake booster locations to accommodate the RHD configuration. It looks as though the move of the rear suspension oil reservoir to the left side dictated moving the overflow tank further back along the fender well.

Speaking of that, where is the brake booster????

 

I know The power steering / suspension oil tank is very different to the one in the owners manual I have. It isn't circular and doesn't have a wing nut on top of it as in the book. In fact it is the other tank that you can see next to the alternator and in between the header tank and the nozzle for filling up the radiator.

 

Ah! Interesting! Must be old stock. I searched several places and all were out of stock. I would snap those up if you think you might need rotors soon. There genuinely isn't any new stock out there I spoke to 1 of the foundries directly - there are 3 in Italy that make the discs for everyone.

 

I just sent you a private message with my contact details, get back to me with your details and I'll get a copy of the report to you. All the best, Russell

 

Brembo discs (front and rear) are being advertised on ebay.co.uk @ £258.00 plus P&P

Fronts:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Brembo-Brake-Disc-FERRARI-400-76-85-/270466200110?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3ef90ab22e

Rears:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rear-Brembo-Brake-Disc-FERRARI-400-76-85-/290359007971?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item439abedae3

 

Has anyone purchased these brembo rotors recently? The price isn't so bad compared to US sources. Also available at http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004EB3LHA/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1HVFGS3RZAE8D