Dino Restoration

Engine coming apart today. Had a Fchat visitor today. Really nice 308 and lives near by. Maybe I'll have some company.
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Some of those surfaces look a little rough or is it just my imagination? Did that car run right before you started this?

 

The car ran great! Certainly better than it looks with these parts.

 

The engine has 23,000 miles on it. Compression was excellent between 150 and 155. It went to redline with no hesitation. Started easily and sounded good. I am going to get new pistons, clutch,bearings, seals, timing chain etc. The gearbox also worked fine, but will replace synchros, seals etc.,

 

Jon, the nose of your Miura reminds me of the nose on the Hubert Hahne version of the Jota--minus h/l covers & Le Mans fuel filler behind the right side air outlet. Rob de la Rive Box and Richard Crump, in their book 'History of Lamborghini,' briefly describe the Jota: "This was the race version of the Miura completed by the factory. The German importer of Lamborghini cars, Hubert Hahn, constructed his own example of the Jota which was similar. It is thought that 8 of the German examples were finished."
On page 116 there is a b/w picture of "The Hubert Hahne version of the Jota." And, on page 117, a picture of "Hubert Hahne with his own Lambrorghini Jota" appears. 'sorry for the poor quality of the pics....
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Thanks for posting those photos and info. I like the look of the Jota (in addtion to the Miura).

Mark

 

23,000 over 30 years, that probably explains the look of some of those parts, like the sooty piston crowns. You'll be getting to re assembly soon and that's when I'll really pay attention cause I need something to remind me which bits went where!

 

You think I know?

 

We hope so, because we are all waiting peice by peice behind you for your excellent photographic records!!!!

 

I saw" fruits of my labor" back when it was on a rotisserie. Jim did a great job. He was my inspiration to take everything apart. I can't believe it took 30 months until I started looking at my project. I've been in it 9 months and thought no wat 30 months, until I started counting the tubs of parts stacked on the wall (34) not counting engine, interior, fiberglass panels, sheetmetal etc. I've totaly completed 8 or 9 of the tubs; some of them were big projects (suspension, brakes, hydraulics not to mention stripping everything off the car. I would say it will take about the same time as Jim's GT. But then again what's the hurry. Too many other things to fit in. Today was grunt work. The parts cleaner tank and the bead blaster. That's slow progress. I checked on the metal work today and Carl has about 5 more days. He goes over the whole car with this bar that bends to the contours of the car. He doesn't allow for 1/16' difference at the most, so that there is very little filler. He did find rust at the very top of the "Targa Bar" and fixed all that. He's amazing to watch with a torch in one hand and then a shrinking or stretching hammer in the other until it is all smooth. The area by the left headlight that was damaged and looked like the surface of the moon is as smooth as can be with NO filler, just his metal tools. Off to Utah tomorrow to goof off and see my friends Miura SV. His dad bought it in 72 and sold it in about 1980. His son Dick Lossee tracked it down and bought it back in 1996. I'm going to take lots of photos to help with my future project. He is still recovering from the Enzo crash.
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Forgot this one
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Jon, my 30 months included approximately 18 months of waiting for body and paint guys to get off their butts and do something. They can really be a bunch of Primadonnas. Your body man seems to be working at light speed. It should take you half the time, if not less. Furthermore, your attention to detail is far greater than mine was.

Having fun yet?

Jim S.

 

It beats working for a living.

 

You'll enjoy the Miura project, different build altogether.
Aluminum block, steel studs, aluminum heads - now that will be a task to take down and back up!

 

curious if u glass beaded the alum housings (bell housing etc)...i always thought that the glass bead would be too coarse & ruin the finish? I have used walnut shells but they dont make the parts look as clean as yours...

 

We are restoring a Miura S as well. Although yours looks to be in better condition then my customers
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I used plastic media on that and it turned out fine. I think glass would be fine too.

 

anymore pictures?

 

I just noticed that my name popped up in post #570 in this thread. Yes indeed, I have the four issues of "Supercar Classics" that contain the multi-part article on restoring the Miura and converting it to SV specs. This was done on Martin Cliffe's car in England.

 

Sure. The exterior doesn’t look bad in pictures but its horrible. It was very sad to see it in that condition with rags and boxes resting on it like it was garbage.
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Jon,
Hope you went to softer media or lower presser in the blast cabinet. I have done a lot of abrasave finishing and there are so many ways. Aluminum is funny. You can either get a shot-peen or a cut surface. High pressure air and Alumina that is fine for steel will cut aluminum and you get a frosted surface that shows fingerprints and everything else that comes along. Hydra hone is glass beads in a water jet. You get a beautiful soft shot peen that looks like the Ferrari finish. Glass beads in an air jet can do the same job but the pressure has to be down around 30 psi and things go slow. At higher pressures the beads break and the sharp edges cut the aluminum surface. Ground walnut shells or plastic media are fine at higher pressures and give the soft satin finish but take longer to get rid of the crud..

Bottom line: Cut lightly if you are going to paint. Peen if you are going to leave aluminum natural. Glass beads are the most versatile media. Just takes a delicate touch with soft metal.

Things are coming along nicely. Great pictures. Keep it up!
The Muira will be an adventure but the Dino will have well prepared you for the task. Look forward to the vicarious ride.

John

 

I did 40 PSI with plastic media. I plan to paint the aluminum. The aluminum seems to be the same texture as before I started, just clean. I hope it works out Okay. I always get a few opinions and they are always different so I just have to go by the seat of my pants alot. I always appreciate any comments and advice. Any special techniques on panting the aluminum, and should I spray a high temp clear over the silver?

 

Today I checked on the metal work. Carl is about done and is fitting panels now. I picked the color and has a panel sprayed. Dino blue metallic. I took the block to get hot dipped, the crank polished and flywheel surfaced. Also started painting a few of the cast aluminum parts.
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What's happening? I'm here with my mug of cocoa waiting for an update...No matter how small.

Mike

 

Just for you Mike. Went to Utah last week to look at my friends Miura, so nothing done. I'm waiting for engine parts from GT Parts, so now just slow and tedious cleaning parts getting ready for engine assembly maybe next week.
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