F40 LM Restoration

Thanks Kevin, quite a long path to travel yet, so this thread has legs but will try to update every couple of days.

Tim

 

More images of suspension and brakes, all heading for the bin. Apparently in 96 these were genuine Group C but in my mind have no place on this car. All very interesting but off they come.

You can also see the disaster that are the old fuel tanks which also join the growing scarp heap. More about those later.

Afraid the next few posts are all going to be about stripping before we can focus on rebuilding and evolving this car as it would have been, had a team had the interest, and money, to do so.

4 weeks to get the chassis prepared before a large and very expensive package arrives from the delightful and hugely knowledgeable Cristiano Michelotto. About the most exciting birthday present (mine is in March)I could imagine opening.
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A couple more shots of the interior as it all comes apart. The wiring was a mess, added to and cut out with no logic-German engineering? Hardly. Note the large red fog light in the first image hanging down to the left of the wheel. Believe it or not that was an oil pressure light. Clearly the driver was going to have a hard time explaining if he had grenaded the engine due to low oil pressure. Simple, ugly, effective but now history. Remains of the Fire extinguisher system on the floor which will also be replaced. Given what we found and to be revealed in a future post, it could well have come in handy. Had it been charged.

We then got the chassis on the computerised jig to set all our minds at rest and amazingly it was good news for a change: 'the straightest F40' they had ever come across, and they have done a few. Great to know we have a really good undamaged and true base to build up on given the history and the time and money being invested. All measurements have been recorded for the future as in due course I will put a book together on the history and the journey from start to finish as a permanent record.

Engine and gearbox still in situ at this stage as needed for checking panel clearances in the body shop so they are correctly stressed as well as ensuring we get the right clearances on the fuel tanks as they are very close to the manifolds. More on the fuel tank saga with the next post, as that was another discovery, but here, as you can see, we have now got them out and they too have gone to the bin.
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After a long chat with Cristiano Michelotto, he has made various suggestions, one of which is to replace our Crown Wheel and Pinion with either the CAT version or USA version as that is a shorter gearing. Seeing as how this car was apparently timed in excess of 220MPH, that sounds like a good suggestion, assuming the price is right. Anyone out there know of a used one?

 

Yes. We are keeping alot of it as it is the original loom but cutting out and sorting the rest. Was a total mess, but it won't be.

 

Whilst all the mechanicals get stripped out, a bit of work has started on the bodywork. All LM addenda removed and the prep works starts. Perspex out for repolishing.

For a mad moment I thought of changing colour and then realised that was insane. She stays red.
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Yellow and possibly black, but yellow was the 1st thought

 

All the discs have spider cracks after hard racing so they are gone. Both hubs and discs will be replaced with beautiful lightweight Michelotto LM discs and hubs. One hub also totally finished so just as well.

Pedal box en route back to Michelotto for some minor adjustment pending a brand new full magnesium LM one which will take a few months, so at least we can keep going. Apparently they are producing some new ones for a customer who has their cars in inclement conditions and need replacing and so we will wait for that.

Once fitted, this will include the in car brake bias adjustment facility.
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