Should I dyno a pre-sale F40?

As someone whose F40 dyno'd lower than it should have right after I purchased mine, I'd say it's a great idea. However, there was no "magic bullet" that solved my problem. A major service was the primary solution, and I was planning on doing that when I bought the car anyway (I usually do a major with any pre-owned Ferrari I purchase, unless I have solid records that one was performed in its VERY recent history).

I'd say at least a compression test and leakdown, thorough PPI, and a thorough look through all the service records. But a dyno run or three isn't a bad idea at all. A seller should never be afraid to put his car on a dyno, unless he's got something to hide!

 

If the motor leaks down less than 10% the power will be there.
If you drive it and you like it and the PPI checks out good, Buy it.
Dyno numbers can be made to cheat.
I would hate to be on either side of a buy/sell on a dyno run gone bad situation.....

 

If I were selling, I would not allow a dyno run of a car for sale. An F-40 is a high strung beast. Who would be responsible if something let loose a max power ?

 

Legally, it would be the seller, unless you specifically agreed to other arrangements. But what if you're looking to buy a car that will perform at "max power?"

And what if exhaust clogs/leaks, intake issues, or other non-block related problems are contributing to a loss of HP (as was the problem with my car)? A leakdown won't show that.

I'd put any of my cars on a dyno in a heartbeat. But... they are regularly maintained so that I can drive them as they were designed. If a car isn't in good mechanical shape, then a dyno run is a bad idea.

The final decision, however, is certainly in the hands of the seller. He/She has the most to lose if something go KA-BLAMMO at high revs.

 

I wonder if it would be a good business to sell expensive "dyno-insurance" at race shops? I can see it now, "our insurance co. requires goggles in case of flying cam-belt bits". I wouldn't let my Suburban be dyno'd, let alone an F40 that isn't mechanically fresh and perfect!

Maybe that's a good PPI qualifying question; "I'd like to take your Ferrari down to the local import tuner shop, strap it down and run it to redline. If she doesn't blow up, I'll take it!".

 

Not sure how I would feel. I don't think there is any way I would let someone dyno my car. but my car is stock. no mods. 5K miles currently. no reason for anyone to be suspect any probs. your buying an stock F40, here it is...so to speak. if you want to tweak it, I think that's your business AFTER you buy the car.

On the onther hand, if your buying a modded car, and they'r claiming XXX rear wheel HP. then back it up. I think they SHOULD let you dyno that car.

No harm in asking. I think it's reasonable to ask. but I don't think you should exclude a car based on a seller's reluctance to dyno. plus, if you worried, get an experience F40 person to drive the car, to get a "seat Dyno"

For my car, I think I would say no... if that means I lose that sale, I think I'm OK with that. Just not worth the risk to me....

Of course no plans to sell!

Good luck

Simon

 

I dont see any problem with dynoing the car. i have seen a couple posts in this thread with sarcastic referances to being afriad of their car bein run to redline and making full power on a dyno? why, if you as an ower have properly and responsibly maintained the car it is no problem for a car to run full throttle all the way to redline for a very short period of time. and i would say 95% of the time if something malfunctioned or did break it would be due to improper maintainance cycles.
bottom line: any car in good running condition should easily be able to handle a few dyno runs.

 

If you are planning on racing the F40 competively, then be certain of what you're buying, especially with regard to specific engine output. You should probably be looking at an LM variant then.
If, however, you are buying the F40 to use sporadically in club runs, track days, and general casual driving, the standard F40 output, even if it is off by 15% will be way more than sufficient. F40's tend to be very lightly used and I'm not sure that you have anything to gain by putting the car on a dyno. There will certainly be the risk that something goes awry in a lightly used car suddenly being exposed to maximum engine stress. There is no way that I would allow my cars to be dynoed as a condition of sale. There are enough real buyers out there who don't need that statistical (read "useless") validation.

 

Tim,

I assume if the numbers were bad, you would negotiate down. How would you feel if the number came back good, and the seller tried to negotiate up?

Simon

 

I agree, 95% of the time, a well-maintained twin-turbo car will easily perform to redline.

You just don't want to be in the 5% that end like this!

http://www.yikers.com/video_gti_explodes_on_dyno.html

 

I agree with you in principle. I just wouldn't let someone do it to my car. I'm not selling, so I can't be hiding anything. obviously not unanimous... 3:1 last time I counted (of F40 owners, IMO, and I mean absolutely no disrespect to anyone, if you don't have an F40 I don't think your vote counts on this one... Doesn't mean your not entitled to your opinion - so no need to flame me - I would let anyone who wanted to dyno my G35!)

Tim you have to do what feels right to you. I'm not judging you in the slightest. I would have no problem with someone asking to dyno the car. I would just say no. but others may allow you. no harm in asking. and if it matters to you, just be patient. sooner or later you'll find the right car.

 

Tim,

I have been looking for an F40 through Ferrari of Seattle for 2 years and 3 months now. I have had many, many close calls but so far nothing has panned out.

I have my own DynoJet 248 at my house that I use extensively for all my cars. I have no plans on putting the F40 on my dyno prior to buying the car. I will rely on FoS for their leakdown numbers and compression test. If they look good and everything else checks out, I will buy the car. Once it is mine, I will make some runs on it.

I will make the same offer to you that I made to Steve J (he never took me up on it): when you get your car I will be happy to put it on my DynoJet for FREE. That's right, FREE. I don't do this for a living and I enjoy the hell out of making dyno runs. Let me know. BTW, I live in Puyallup.

Steve

 

I don't own and F40...but I did, once. I wouldn't have let anyone dyno it before I sold it. another vote against, if you'd like to count it.

 

LOL. I think that counts...

 

You wouldn't be able to move a bit closer to me, would you?

 

No, but have you considered a tour of the US in an F40? That way you could stop by for a few dyno runs.

Steve

 

that seems a long time to be looking for the right car , what are the issues ?
too many k's ?
too many $$$ ?
too many $$$ for too many k's ?
i have been looking for one week and will hopefully pull the trigger in the next 2 weeks . i have found a lot for sale with different k's and $$$ . after doing the homework , you can get a feel for how much the car should cost based on all the facts . if you want one you'll find one

 

took me just under a year to find mine....

 

In all seriousness, I would also be curious on why the long search?

A. Lack of availability?

B. Questionable history?

C. Out of whack pricing?

D. All of the above?

To point (A), how many F40's are typically available at any given time?

 

While I was looking there seemed to be 1-4 cars available in the US at any given time.

I wanted completely stock
No stories/accidents/paintwork/bodywork.
3-6K miles.
No significant track use ("gentleman" track use would have been OK).
Perfect/uninterupted maintemance records.

You'd be amazed what % of cars those criteria excluded...

Simon

 

Well, now that you have asked...

For those of you that have found one quickly, congratulations. My criteria may be a little different. First of all Ferrari of Seattle is handling this transaction for me. The car has to be one that they will stand behind with a certain amount of confidence. I don't want a car that has been modified, tracked, or in an accident. This has really been the sticking point. A number of these cars have presented themselves as unmodified, untracked, and never hit. When FoS sends someone to look at the car, they find otherwise. Mileage has to be low, but most of the cars we have looked at are.

As far as the $$$, I am willing to pay market value but it seems to be an ever moving target.

Here's a brief synopsis of my last failed attempt. How would you like to agree on a price with a seller only to have them back out of the deal because they felt it was too low? I was supposed to take delivery of an F40 the first of this year but the seller and his agent drug their feet through January and February (for various reasons) and then ultimately backed out of the deal for the above stated reason.

Steve

 

That's got to be frustrating to no end. Good luck with the search. Any other leads currently?