456 questions

Bought myself a 456GT! I'm absolutley in love with it so far. See Northwest section:

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=144397

Here's the question: I want to make this car feel like new, but these are a few things that need work, any suggestions?

The warpage on the dash around the passenger air-bag. Do I need to replace the entire dash? Are their reproductions or original dashes available or is this a custom job for an upholstry shop. Also, the 456GT emblem is missing on the air-bag section, any information on where I can get one of these or a pic of what it looks like.

Same thing on the steering wheel warpage around the top base. Any tricks-of-the-trade to put her back together tight?

On the instrument panel, are those small lights in the middle and the cross flags factory? I doubt it, but I'd love to know for sure. Lastly, the clear coat on the shifter looks terrible, can this be stripped and polished or is it better to buy new? Thanks in advance!
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The warpage on the dash is entirely normal. And there was no "456GT Emblem" just a small embossing of the dash, which I can even see is there in your picture.

As for fixing it, you could probably take it to a first class upholstery shop and get it recovered, but that's about it.

Wheel warpage-- sorry, can't help.

Center console: the small flags are original, the lights are not. What do they do, anyway? Some sort of alarm system?

Shifter-- mine just seems to be shiny polished aluminum, no obvious clear coat. I wonder if someone added that as a protectorate or something? I'd just get it stripped off.

Hope this helps!

 

Thanks Don, I appreciate that!

Any other thoughts out there?

 

Hi, congratulations on your purchase: enjoy your 456, it is a great car and a good value for the money.
I would second the suggestions of Donv.
For the airbag door on the dash, I have a similar problem on mine and since they have to be serviced periodically, next time I will try to trim the material under the leather (I believe it is fiberglass) so that it fits better when it goes back in place.
This should be done by an upholsterer or by someone familiar with leather, so it does not get damaged in the process.
BTW, what colour is your car?

 

Congrats on the new car.

Those lights look like an aftermarket alarm. I bought an XK8 once with the exact same light pattern that was an alarm for the glove box and center console (it was a convertable).

As for the Shifter, List Sponsor Hill Engineering sells really nice replacements that are inexpensive and easy to replace yourself (just need a $10 strap wrench).

Best of Luck and enjoy your new car.

-dsd

 

dsd: thanks, I think I will buy the shifter from Hill- I like that titatium polished one with the black numbering.

oss117: The color is original Azzurro Blue. Good thoughts on the airbag I'll let you know how it works out.

 

Can you post a pic of the car? That should be a very complimentary color.

 

I have my own Northwest 456GT. I have similar issues with the dash/airbag. I think eliminating the entire plastic/fibre plate that is covered with leather is the way to go. It will be hard to reproduce the correct curve needed to match the dash. I thought about removing the airbag and making a nice package/map area. You can polish the shifter but it takes forever. Look on Ebay for one, they come around frequently.

Also, make sure to disconnect the aftermarket alarm system and pull the fuses for it. It's a real fire hazard to have any aftermarket electronics on that car.