'The Ratarossa': The Testarossa Spider Rebuild Project

Just putting the opposite side rear arch in as we speak, can confirm there is no other box on drivers side rear with an additional relay. Only the one on the passenger side rear. I will look it up later and figure out exactly what its for.

As Turbo Joe said, the relay has a 10amp fuse, mine was intact but should that ever blow it would be a ***** to diagnose and also not to easy to access.

 

Another happy day so far, the mystery panels were indeed a three part set for the fuel tank under trays. Ive just been under the car fitting them in place.


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Really handy tip that one Romano

 

It was 100% the relay not seated. Was the only job I was doing at the time and I had moved the car around earlier with the rough start and idle.

Theres nothing on the other side, so this relay must control the entire system.

Have tested the car again today and it fires up and idles (from cold) so much better, the transformation is quite amazing.

 

Me neither, it was an absolute pure chance find and fix.

 

This next post is 'Riveting'

On to my final wheel arch (Drivers front). I had started this a few weeks back, then removed it again as it is much easier to do the suspension with the arch liner out.

Not an easy job, the hardest of all 4 corners. My brake booster pipe was in the way and without rerouting it to the opposite side which would involve somehow lengthening the pipe, I decided the easiest path forward was to make a small incision in the fibreglass then make a patch panel to cover it and allow the access to the pipe and union. I then had to trim a bit more here and there to get the arch to fit in place.

Finally Ive started to rivet it all together (a few more to do in the morning) and then I will start to seal it and finally give it a coat of paint.
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Few jobs completed today.

Finished drivers side front wheel area. All now riveted and sealed inside and outside.

Started the rivet in place the passenger front now.
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With so many loose panels kicking around in my garage and sat in the car, I am now trying to create some space and fit the to the car, this also helps me work out finally the few items I have missing and need to acquire.

Today was a bit of a milestone as I have managed to get the front of the car pretty much watertight (few rubber grommets needed), with the wheel arches in place I have now installed the front corner trunk panel, the a/c condenser cover, even re-riveted the fuse box front panel.

A few jobs to complete it all but I have broken the back of it and its nice to see an area far different to how the car arrived.

Eventually after a few other key jobs I spray this all up and make it look pretty


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even got the spare wheel sat in the well
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Being the first nice day of weather for a while here in the UK, I spent the rest of the day outside in the sunshine trying to get the front ride height to a point I am happy with.

This took considerably more time than I expected, The wheels came off and on countless times, jacked up then down, made adjustments then moved the car to get the suspension to settle ....repeat, repeat, repeat. Im somewhere near the height I want to have the car now.
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I have completed riveting the front passenger arch into place. Ive had to order some more sealant, don't want to run out half way though. Its such a messy job ( my hands are the proof of this, currently covered in black goo, anyway i don't want to run out half way and have to get fifty again, so have ordered another coupe of tubes to be safe

 

Exactly thats the plan. Outside 'Rat' look, mechanically and everything out of sight, under a hood etc all as good as can be.

In my head thats how envision the car. Then at a certain point if I ever want to change the car and have it looking good, it should be just a retrim of the interior and a respray and work to the exterior body.

 

While I wait for the extra black sealant to arrive, I have moved onto the next job.

Not one I was looking forward to 'The Heating System'




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So heres my dilemma .... when this car arrived, it was box of bits. I have fitted the heater before and managed to figure out the wiring. But the pipe work was a whole different animal !! This is my next job and its highly likely I will need some advise from you experts.

The reason I am doing this now is I have the new dash on rout e and before fitting that and all the steering back in place its easier to at lease get the heater system piped up correctly before having to rip it all out again.

Starting at an easy point 'The AC condenser' housed infant of the drivers side wheel arch.

A few weeks back I fitted and wired (with your help) this into the car.

The top pipe runs from the condenser (number 45) under the car across to the passenger side and into the dryer filter (number 40)
Bottom pipe route to middle of the car and down the tunnel (I presume to the engine bay) .... I need to check connection at engine end.
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Next job Remove the complete heater unit

No easy task !!!

To do this the entire middle and lower dash has to come out

What a mess it makes
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But finally after removing the wiring I had figured out before, it all comes out
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There are a few broken plastic bits on the unit which i'm wondering of its possible to repair, they are just part of the plastic housing that holds the motors etc into place. I will try to figure out what the function of each is then work out how to repair.

 

And behind all of this in the dash is quite a bit of wiring (most of that I have figured out where it lives)

The next big job for me it somehow working out how the pipework goes and whats missing.
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First question.

This pipework looks wrong.

Currently the pipe comes from the back of the car joins together then goes back to the rear of the car (down the centre tunnel) ???

I believe these should pipe into:
1. The vent on the heater system (see arrowed picture)
2. One (of the two ports) on the Electromagnetic valve (number 41)

Is anyone able to confirm this ?

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