Imo, cars destined for the USA have the removable section between the engine bay and the trunk starting with the first factory US cars. I think it is because the factory recognized that the US fuel injected engine is larger in dimensions than the Euro one because of the larger exhaust manifolds, intakes, etc. Euro ones do not have that section. I just looked, as we have four Countachs here in the shop. Here's what I found: 1987 fuelie, and the section unbolts. 1988.5 Euro DD and it does not. 1989 fuelie Anni, it unbolts. Having said all thay, maybe there is no rhyme or reason, and the factory might have used either chassis type on whatever car?? Who knows? But I assume the chassis with the removable section were for US fuelie cars.
Here are a few more pics from the engine install. It certainly would have been a LOT easier if the wall between the engine bay and the rear boot was removable, as discussed earlier in this thread. It definitely wasn't on this pure Euro spec car. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Looks amazing!!! I am curious why the car was painted before the engine was put in. Seems like the specter of scratching the bodywork while the engine was being installed would have dictated painting it afterward, but there must be a reason. Very cool!!
I waited until after paint to put the engine in, as I wanted to get the engine bay spotless from any evidence of body shop dust before the engine went back in.
Yes, the Enzo is the one that was re-constructed in our shop. I personally had nothing to do with that project, other than as a spectator.
I just changed out the bulbs in the instrument cluster for LEDs. What a transformation... At last the instruments will be visible at night Image Unavailable, Please Login
you can also bridge the reostat this impoves brigthness as well, mainly on the old bulbs (about 10%).
Sorry I haven't posted in a while. When we installed the drivetrain we immediately discovered that the excess gear noise was coming from the differential rather than the gearbox that we had rebuilt. The problem in the differential was caused by a ringnut that had come loose allowing the pinion gear to walk slightly when it wasn't under load (decelerating). Unfortunately, there is no way to access the ringnut that holds the pinion gear short of separating the engine form the gearbox, then the engine has to be split from the sump and the driveshaft plus all bearings and seals inside have to come out. Once you are there you can remove the offending ringnut and curse at it. Once you assess all of the seals, bearings,ring nuts and gaskets you will need to put it all back together and source a ring nut driver that has a foot long shaft and won't break when you apply the massive 360lb of torque necessary to make sure you NEVER do this complete ass ache of a job again; some time will pass... On the bright side, I stopped driving the car the moment I heard the abnormal gear noise, so the $9,000.00 (if you can find it) ring and pinion were not damaged. We finally got all of the necessary parts and special tools (we had to make our own ring nut driver once we realized the likelihood of breaking the one kindly lent to us by Chad Bolles when applying the huge torque spec to the pinion gear ringnut) Now that the ring and pinion are sorted, we are now ready to re unite the engine and the sump. Now that I have moved the project to my own shop and quit my day job at the Ferrari store, the project is re gaining momentum
Thanks Michael, loved that write up.... "Once you are there you can remove the offending ringnut and curse at it".... Beautiful. Clean out your pm box! Message me please.
Thanks. There are a few more Countachs including a Black/Black DD Quattrovalvole "in the mail". The Ferrari 308 GT/M is for sale..
Yes, nice write-up. Isn't it possible to access the pinion and ring gear thru the rear differential cover? Any pics perhaps?
Very interesting. Have never heard of this issue on a Countach. Thought the transmissions and differentials were pretty robust.