Quattroporte III catch-all thread

Just an update with my Qporte... I got fed up waiting to hear back from Wiseco, so I just told my machine shop to work his magic. He will get it between 10.5-11:1 compression and call me when it's done. Pretty easy, eh? If I bend over when the bill needs paid does it make it easier?

 

Tony,

Let me get my notes out tonight and get back to you. I left my paperwork back at my house. I would be more than happy to split the case with you. Actually, I would be glad to buy the case for myself, and then sell you what you need. If you are interested just let me know. I'll get back to you tonight to answer your questions!

Regards,
Ricky

 

Ricky,
I'm interested in splitting a case. It would be great if the same type could be used in the gear box AND differential. We'd then each have only two+ liters left over out of the siix.
Thanks,
Tony

 

When you get bored with a v8 4porte....

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFiV23ovS3I[/ame]

 

Hi Curious why the BMW was chosen. I would have thought the Viper motor (Lambo) would have been a good choice. Was it weight or other orientation. Would the modern Maserati motor not fit?

Not planning on doing it to mine, Walter.

 

Walter,
I've seen a Chrysler 440 installed using the same 727 Transmission which makes sense.. there must have been a spare bmw v12 lying around. notice all the electronic boxes near the fire wall. would be interesting to swap in a modern transmission instead of the engine, say a 5 or 6 sp ZF, but it would probably be more work than going to a manual transmission instead.
Charles

 

Hi Tony,

For the gearbox we will need Rortra MP 80w90 and the differential Rotra MP/S 85w90 and transmission is still a bit of a quandary to me. I'm working on it though. I'll get it all ordered an PM/post up when it arrives. Should be a week or two. Sorry for the delay getting back to you.

Best,
Ricky

 

This one looks fantastic !

http://www.thegallerybrummen.nl/en_EN/autobedrijf/collectie/3304876/details.html

 

Yes thats the same one I sent another link for too. Great with the white interior which was a social order. Nice option....

 

For anybody interested...

I will have quite a bit of transmission, diff, etc fluids for the Qportes. PM/email me if you are having trouble locating it. I am in the USA. Not sure how international shipping works, but I would be more than happy to find out. I'll post up info once all the products arrive next week.

Ricky
[email protected]

 

I see this thread has been dead for a little while. Did anyone see this 1987 Quattroporte on Ebay? Looks and sounds decent. It's currently at $2550 with no reserve, and less than 4 hours remaining on the auction. Could be a good deal!

I used to own a 1982 QPorte many years ago, but I haven't been on the "scene" in quite awhile. These used to be worth some fairly big $$$, even a number of years ago. Looking at the auction above currently at $2550, I am thinking that this one may realistically end somewhere under $4K. Is that all these cars are bringing these days?? ......Even for a decent example?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1987-Maserati-Quattroporte-Base-Sedan-4-Door-4-9L-NO-RESERVE-/261069659545?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item3cc8f6dd99#v4-46

 

Here's a 1982 that looks complete, but in fairly rough condition with a Buy It Now for $1995. No affiliation.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Maserati-Quattroporte-III-/290748673698?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item43b1f8aea2

 

We discussed this on another thread a bit but values are extremely divergent. New owners got a good car basically but high depreciation and maintenance meant that many fell into hands that could not afford to keep them going correctly. Compared to a Chevrolet or Nissan the maintenance could be extreme. As a result, concours or restored examples are selling upwards of 30,000 pounds (see examples on the other thread) - those prices for European 5 speeds. At the bottom is cars with a host of deferred maintenance issues - exhausts, cloudy veneers, suspensions needing rebuilt (common) etc etc. Many of these are really rolling parts cars.

So a good guide is US parts cars complete 3 to 8000.
Good decent history cars needing some recommissioning but not "the works" 8 to 12000
European Automatics in good condition 10 to 14000 pounds
5 speeds in top form (not concours) but low mileage of fully sorted 20 to 40,000 pounds

Check the other thread for more discussion.

Best

Will

 

Hi I will post some pics from Concorso Italiano and surrounding. My CA QPIII did not make it but there were three there. Two US versions and one that looked like a Euro version auto but I am not 100% sure.

Ciao

William
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I am sure there are more than these but I will try to list what I know.

- main visual is the bumpers which sit out from the body on the US version with bumper shocks
-side marker lights are different also (can see the two on MIE systems)
- as you noted exhaust systems including all the smog systems on US cars with the labels and markers for compliance
- as you noted compression, timing and cams - I would also like to know more about this.
- US cars seems to sit higher but is that just an impression?
- no 5 speeds/ As far as I know there were no US spec 5 speeds. All were Autos.
- Euro headlights are slightly bigger and not the small rectangle ones for the US. This means the Euro surround behind the headlights is different
- larger air cleaners with different intake trumpets
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A few more pics including air cleaner
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Euro air cleaner. Also a before and after picture of the 86 motor bay
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William, #5310 is a very late production car... As far as USA Euro difference under the hood... The radiator overflow tank is hidden under the fender and large canisters for fuel vapors. the smog/air pump is on all the time in USA cars, the Euro spec has a electromagnetic clutch to cycle on/off. The air box in USA cars all have the vacuum flaps on the intake trumpets (even the earlier versions that looked like euro airbox-see photo of my 1980)
The early euro cars I have seen have Dial HVAC controls as opposed to levers.

Charles
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Interesting about the overflow tank. My 81 has the dial HCAC controls see pics. Very tidy engine bay. How did you get your smog cans refinished. My place would not do it as they said the inside would be flooded with solution?
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I just sanded them down and found a paint that closely resembled cad plate... Eastwood makes a version but I couldnt find the product locally so I just went to the hardware store. It's nowhere near exact but better than it was!

http://www.eastwood.com/new-golden-cad-system-w-diamond-clear.html#

Regards,

Charles

 

Back in 1989 I had two very similar canisters in my Bora re-plated in cadmium (the real thing) that matched very nicely and the plater had no problems. They still look as new today.

 

The cast "box" was to seal the carbs and allow a small fan to extract post operation vapours out to process through the canisters. They did similar things earlier on with the Bora and Khamsin. Then they implemented, just as disastrously, the same idea on the early Biturbos.

It's actually a useful box if you want to supercharge a QPIII!

 

Re the "Cakebox" filters. I have never seen these on any cars other than those sent to the US. I believe that this allows for vapour processing as the next post indicated which is part of the increasing requirements for US emissions controls. My 86 is fairly late car and it has the first fairly flat air cleaner with free flow trumpets as posted above.

It seems that early US cars had this shape of filter but with longer emissions related "gadgets" on the trumpets. Later they morphed into the "cakebox" filters for greater emissions control.

PS I wanted to add that as with all things Maserati there will be exceptions and variations and I wonder how they kept it straight at the factory as the US versions would have been going on at the same time....