Countach Downdraft 1985 to 1988.5

In a before & after cleaning & service set of images you can see deformation of the composite materials air-box top in the second image
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Raymond we spoke about air-box hoses, the top image is original, the bottom image is USA-specialist application in recent times
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From the same series of images by Ranier S, Valentino in the Super Countach with DD engine.

Look at all that wiring!
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Awesome image, no caption required
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Seeing all of the pictures of the carbs reminds me of a maintenance issue I had sometime around 1988. I had just had an engine out for a new clutch at the local shop where I bought the car.

So I floored the car shifted to second and the throttle stuck wide open. Having grown up with what would best be described as really crappy cars I knew to try and wedge my foot under the pedal to try and pull it back. That didn't work so I turned the key off to shut it down.

I coasted into a driveway of a local farm house and the farmer lent me a spring from his garage to fix it.

Apparently the last carburetor nut had backed off and when I floored the car the suction from the air (not 100% sure if that is the technical reason) held the rest of the carbs wide open. If I remember correctly the nut that pushed it open was there but there was a second nut that would pull it back to a lesser throttle position.

Long time ago but it got my attention.

I am sure with all of the experienced mechanics we have available now this probably won't happen again but it sure was an experience that no fuel injected car could experience I would think.

 

Definitely not the correct ones if your focus is on originality.

Tacho obviously not working, must be Italian wiring.
Looks familiar http://www.countach.ch/Dashboard/index.html

 

Not only, it was also used in countries having strict evaporation rules like California.
Would be worth to find out if the gap between the carb trumpets and the box is wider than with the composite box.

 

Mike, its good to hear from someone who has had their car from nearly-new!

Its also a good thing you were (apparently) in the countryside and not in traffic when your unintended WOT episode occurred!!

Perhaps this diagram helps show the tightening nuts (4) that were the culprit.

Best,
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Ive already begged the question previously, and IMO the best solution would be to run the standard air-box base to channel air to the velocity trumpets, but leave the air-box top off. The trumpets can be covered with domed mesh screens to keep the grit out, and the domed shape of the engine bay cover should afford the required concentration of airflow.

There are a couple Downdrafts running this application already, I'll search for images and post.

Of course for showing the car you'd want the standard configuration.
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A pair of DDs @ Fuji Raceway in Japan
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I'm amazed that the car looked so clean. The weekend weather was not looking good prior to our departure. But apart from a lot of brake dust on the wheels, she looked showroom clean for the whole trip. The man upstairs looked after us.

Here's another one taken at a Cars and Coffee event this year. Sitting proudly next to offspring. The difference in the size of the Aventadour is substantial when you park next to one.
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I've wondered about the design of the airbox. There seems to be more volume / depth on the box towards the rear of the engine than the front, where it appears to taper. Seems to me that this is a limting factor in the design as the carbs towards the front of the engine would not get the same air flow as the ones further back.

Would be interested to see if a brave soul ran a dyno with the cover fitted and removed.

Would this account for more BHP ?

R

 

Nice photo Rob. I agree 100%. When the Aventador first started coming to our weekly cars & coffee event, I was amazed at how big it was sitting next to my Countach! First time I sat in one, it was like moving from an apartment into a chateau!!! LOL!!

Mike

 

I beleive that such heat damage is a result of repetitive backfiring inside the airbox - maybe due to a timing issue. The airbox soes not reach such high temperatures which would cause deformation.

 

Agreed.

The air-box design was an effective solution all things considered with the space they were working with
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Caption this set "Harry's European Adventures", a Countach in the Swiss Alps is always a good thing.

I have some of my own I must dig up & post, I think there was a bet involved...
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Beautiful Switzerland
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The Carabinieri want to know why Harry is driving with a sports exhaust in Switzerland.
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Raymond drove his without the air-box and I believe the experience was very acceptable, perhaps he can elaborate

 

The Countach really is a perfectly-sized package, it appears quite small because it is, and this is part of this legend's allure.

 

Downdraft spotted in Denmark recently.

Ex-French car?
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"For a while it was my everyday car" - Jay Leno
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Thankfully, a famously modified Downdraft has finally been rescued!
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French-registered 88.5 DD often seen on Lamborghini Club France events
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Indeed we did when the cylinder head overhoul was finished, you can't imagine the picture in the rear mirror at full throttle.
A cload of fuel vapor and spray above the trumpets, I'll never forget that image, the sound and the responsivity.
But perhaps I was just overwhelmed after the months she was in Garage and she was finally running as supposed to do.
Lamborghini Countach #GLA12997 Head Gasket Fix

BTW the airbox design is very logic, with it's design the factory wanted to make sure all carbs get the same amount of air, the box inside is not open, inspect the pictures in detail.

Patrick Mimran's QV did not only have the famous race cams but also a second oil cooler in front of the right water radiator.