F40 LM Restoration

Tim, I have scanned a photo of the BFG g-force Rival tyre and a list of competition style tyres from Tire Rack here in the States.
I have been giving deep thought to your project, exciting as it is.
I assume the brake calipers you are using if full race will allow quick pad changes.
The car trackwise begs for full competition metallic pads, as the high performance street pads are a compromise and would fade terribly.
You mentioned that you really don't have experience of driving on full slicks.
Most people don't, but they require the proper heat cycling to get the proper effectiveness and prior to this when cold or in 'sticker' configuration it is as if one is driving on black ice.
Combine this with unbedded pads and this is a sure recipe for disaster!
I'm sure you know all of these things of course.
I would suggest two sets of brake pads, high performance street (used with caution before they acquire heat in them and the full race pads which I would suggest using your street tyres to bed in the competition pads, that gives one a needed margin of safety.
Cold slicks and cold un-bedded in race pads would be an extremely dangerous situation.
I did not see what braking system you are using, ie: how many piston calipers, ect.
The wheels look fabulous and this thread I am excited to contribute to, even in my small way.
You have what would be my dream car if it were possible, just an incredible machine.
Hope you get it all sorted and maybe 'test' the car at a large open location such as an unused airfield,ect. This way lot's of things could be sorted without troublesome things to run into!!
Again great thread, it really has been an education for me and many others in the complete construction of an F40.
Just incredible photographs and with your do it right the first time approach, am looking forward to video of this beast in action!!
Regards
GV27TIFOSI
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Thanks GV27. For now I have gone for the Toyo R888's as the best road/track option. The Goodrich G Force are not currently available in the sizes I want, indeed it is impossible to find a 35 profile 335 rear and I am anyway having to settle for a 30 profile.

I will then look at a second set of wheels for track work which may well prove to be slicks, but again struggling to find a 35 335, but I can work on that in time.

Brakes are Brembo LM four pots.

 

I vote silver wheels.

 

A little Michelotto suspension detail and part explanation of the cost. Note the TITANIUM extremity for camber control adjustment. Very neat. Very expensive

And a pile of rubber which certainly looks like it should grip...But turning the steering wheel at low speeds is going to be a workout.
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Mmmm... meaty.

 

Great to see the progress Tim, and I must say that the quality of the work from Christiano is EXCELLENT!

 

fyi
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Thanks Tom, always good to see any detailed shots. If you have any either close up or high res of the dashboard area that would be great so we can correctly position our lights and switches? I can see the master, fuel reserve, extinguisher, and front and rear brake balance, everything else is a bit indistinct.

 

Ask Dominique! CRIDOM60, he was the owner.

 

Following this with deep interest, amazing work you are doing there!

I'm sending mine to Italy shortly and will pay a visit to Michelotto once there...not planning to do anything bar a good suspension setup and an overall check to the car.

Do you know by any chance where I can source the black grill for the gearshift lever?

I like a lot that small system that prevents the reverse shift to be selected by mistake (even tho I guess it's quite unlikely that somebody could do that...)

Thanks for sharing,
Max

 

As regards the black gate for the gear lever, I think you should just anodise your existing. A trip to Michelotto would be very interesting as he currently has some interesting cars in there and seems very receptive to genuine enthusiasts. I too hope to make the trip later in the year.

Back to the project, a few pics of some details. First is another detail of a beautiful wasted bolt and again shows the attention that goes into some of this race kit.

Next up, we found a relative bargain. Turns out the differential was pretty shot and we decided rather than just replace the plates, as the rest was not great, to source a new one from Ferrari which has just arrived. I never want to take this car apart again and hopefully after this rebuild it will effectively be a zero miles car.

Finally the gearbox rebuild has started, new bearings, new second gear and we are waiting on our 'reverse engineered reverse' from Crosthwaites.

Meanwhile, major delivery from Michelotto 'expected' early next week which means we can really start to move forward.
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Well, I was more interested in the small system that cover the reverse position on the grill rather then the colour itself!

Can't wait to go to Michelotto and Bonini, Benuzzi once said these guys are the only 2 places really able to sort an F40 out!

 

Like this ? http://www.hillengineering.co.uk/catalog/sg01-lor-p-258.html

 

Exactly, something like this! LM one looks a bit nicer, will probably check with Michelotto if they have some spare one when I go there!

Thanks a lot for the link!!

 

When are you going? He does not tend to keep anything LM'ish 'on the shelf. If you like I can ask him in advance and see if he might run up a few?

 

wow,these look great,I did some track days on Hoosiers and gripped great,was very impressed but a little worried about the extra stress when using almost slick.Stress that would not occur on road tyres..thread is going terrific,thx

 

Thanks Tom, I still have some pics but I cannot post them on this site, but I can send them by mail!

 

My ex car was completely renewed (first by JMB racing, then) by Mr Bonini when I sold it, and when you see the full final works done, it is really impressive! I can really recommand them.

 

unfortunately one of our local F40 cars catching fire Golf R following Ferrari F40 before catching on fire - YouTube

 

oups, it's more than usefull to have a ready extinguisher in an F40 when you are going to a track!

 

Interesting, whilst I have a fire system on the car, what is the F40's weakness for spontaneous combustion so I can try and plan against it?

 

I would look into a fire extinguisher with nozzles in the engine bay, if you haven't already... The simple cannisters in the car that you take out and use to spray from a distance are useless

 

The car did have a full fire system and we will be renewing. I just wondered if there was a particular weak point rather like Miuras have a weak spot around the carbs?

 

It's usually oil or petrol leaking onto something very hot, so when doing your outlay for the fuel lines, keep them away from turbo's, exhaust and electrical wires.
Nozzles towards turbos, along fuel lines, etc.

Perhaps Michelotto has a design for a system?

 

Thanks but I was wondering if there was a particular known weak spot.