F40 LM Restoration

Slightly nervous moments, first time the car will be run on slicks as a start and also first real test after last Dyno session with the new turbos etc. I will shoot some stills and have a gopro in the car so hopefully will try and post results. Assuming all goes OK, Evo will be posting a video on their site, I assume in advance of the article itself. Assuming.

Fingers crossed.

 

Is is dangerous to never say never.

 

Well we finally hit the track and, as we say in England, like a Parsons egg, good in parts.

Weather miraculously cleared on this idyllic undulating track in North West Wales and after a static shoot and a bit of car to car stuff, Dickie Meaden, Evo's top peddler, turned up. A few settling in laps proved that the car was now 'pattering', the shocks being far too hard. This might have been as a consequence of our first run on slicks as it was not evident at the shakedown. So Colin turned his hand to adjusting them all round and wound them back and then the circuit closed for lunch! Amazingly, here in the remotest part of the UK there are still noise regs and until recently the decibel count used to take into account the low level Hawks training out of RAF Valley-absurd.

Second effort and this time, at least on the straights, he really began to wind it up. Shattering noise and it looked very quick, this at the 'girl's' 550 HP rating. Coming out of the last corner before the pit straight, the rear appeared to want to snap away from him on each lap. Finally brought her in and we noticed that the rear tyres were wearing unevenly and Dickie complained that it felt as if the rear outside was cold. I then had a closer look at the other side to find the Michelotto LM supa dupa LM Koni multi adjustable very expensive shock had really self adjusted and snapped at the top. So that concluded proceedings for the day and I suppose that is what happens messing about with race cars and initially we felt very let down.

However, what really put a gloss on the day was what he said on this first acquaintance with the car - that the brakes were mega, the engine smooth and very powerful, even at this setting, and that he couldn't comprehend what it would be like with another 150; the transmission the best he had experienced in an F40 and that if he were to choose one thing we had to sort, we should be thrilled it was just the suspension, as that is just a smatter of time and setting up, and some shocks that don't fail. In short once we have the suspension rebuilt and can spend more time on set up, he could only think of a mere handful of cars that would be up there with it for sheer desirability and excitement, and he has really driven everything, LF, P1, 918, Audi Le Mans winner etc. That put a huge smile on our faces and incentivised us to pick ourselves up after, what was to us, a disappointing day. Consequently the car is now back in the workshop having the shocks stripped down before the long midnight chase to Cristiano Michelotto begins and then back to testing, and in due course back to Anglesey with DM. But at least now have confirmation the future is bright.

I will post a few more pics later, but this gives a taste.

The journey continues and I am afraid the vid will have to wait for now.
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No, aside from some low speed stuff.

 

Given a standard car is 1100kg, and a race prepared LM 1000kg, I am reckoning we are in between at 1050 approx as, in comparison to a full LM, we have an extra seat and a bit of heat insulation. So 1050kg meets approx 715 HP. Interesting when you compare it with today's range of Hypercars from a car 25 years old.

And here's another shot from the day
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You are so very right in many respects, but thankfully I have yet to reach the summit of this journey before I can judge how I feel.

 

Can anyone offer any suggestions as to what went wrong here in the following sequence of Pics?

The top of the steel shaft detached and was running at an angle in the top collar, hence the chafing. The small upturned button piece (top left of the 4 small round pieces in pic 1) which attaches to the top of the shaft, seems to have broken as half of it seems to have disappeared.

Knowing zero about this, really appreciate any comments whilst I fruitlessly chase Michelotto.
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Another shot and again you can just see the defective piece in this poor iPhone shot, bottom right
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Finally the top of the shaft
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