The project thread!

Glad you got to drive it. I know exactly how you feel. I'm not lucky enough to work on Ferraris of any caliber, but my old Mazda rotaries give me plenty of headaches and heartaches while trying to piece them back together from the ground up... I've let cars sit for a year or so with very little progress and then find motivation to get it back together. I go through phases as I'm sure most do. Be patient and have fun, if you're getting frustrated, then go have a pint and forget about it for a while. Posting on the forum helps too.

Take pictures of your progress as you make it and share them, it's great to hear words of encouragement.

Excited to see you driving it someday!

Charlie

 

I love those kind of drives. I've had a few. Just not with a Ferrari

Thats got to create a little exitement.

I think it's fantastic, and thanks for the uplifting update.

 

So what is like driving it? Did it re-ignite the spark (no pun intended since you have a fuel leak.)? Are you excited to get it going?

 

Driving it is a bit of a handful, but it definitley re-ignites the spark! Just hearing that V-12 does my heart good. In fact, Ferrari had never really been on my radar until about three years ago, when I heard an old carb'ed 12 (275 GTB, I think - I was quite a ways behind it) just romp it merging onto the highway. My jaw fell in my lap, and a month later I owned this thing.

Anyway, motivation is back up, but it definitely goes in cycles. There were times when it seemed like the project was actually going backwards, but we've got it far enough along that we can see light at the end of the tunnel.

I hope it's within the rules of Fchat etiquette to make a little endorsement for Eurospares. The exchange rate is very favorable, making parts prices extremely reasonable by Ferrari standards. Plus, you can order parts straight from the diagrams, which is very handy when you don't know what something is called.

 

Hey Preston,

Greetings from Ireland
Have to agree with you on Eurospares, great services and good guys.

How's the car coming on? Any more little drives? They're always good to get the blood pumping.
I know these V-12s have their own problems and they never seem to cease, always something

Just as a bit of encouragement... people all over the world are logging on here to see how you're doing.
I know everyone here wants you to succeed, you're an inspiration to us all.

Great work
Niall

 

Thanks for the encouragement. I haven't done anything big lately - I've kind of accepted the fact that this project is going to proceed in bursts. It'll go great for a while, then hardly at all. \

The biggest part of the bodywork is done. Once I've done some more finishing and get it in primer, I will post photos.

Eurospares have definitely improved. I used to have to submit parts requests, the exchange rate was $2:1GBP, and they DHL'd everything, which was expensive. Now, you can buy a part simply by pointing at it on the diagram, the exchange rate is $1.40:1, and they use a more reasonable carrier.

 

The latest:

We made a deal with an independent painter, who's going to take it in a couple of weeks. He's going to finish whatever body work isn't done by then (we're well and truly sick of sanding fenders) and paint it black. I was going to post photos of it in the primer, but it may not be in my hands when it gets to that phase. If there's interest, I will post some photos as it is now.

 

Go on! Post some photos.

Aidan

 

Definately more photos!!!!
Just think of the boost you'll get from all us petrolheads...

We need our fix, Preston!

 

The weather hasn't been cooperating for new photos, but here it is in traction a month or two ago. The roof wasn't quite square, but we taught it a lesson. The first wheel to come off the ground during this pull was the driver's side rear. Stiff, stiff car.
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It is amazing how stiff the platform is, no matter where your jack points are.

 

Yes, amazingly so for a car that is 20+ years old! Solid as a rock.

 

Here it is going in to paint...
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Preston,
Nice work! Way to stay with it.
Rick

 

laaaa, Laaaaaa, LAAAAAAAAA..............TA-DAAAA!!!!! Bom, bom, bom, bom, bom, bom, bom, bom, BOMMMMMM...

Those of you who read music will recognize that as the theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Freshly back from paint yesterday evening, ladies and gentlemen, HERE IT IS!!!!!!!
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SAAAAAAAWEEEEEEEEETTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!! did you drive it back from the paint booth!??!! lol....

 

Man she looks class !!!!!!

Fantastic colour and seems immaculately straight.
Love the alloys and the tipped exhausts.

Thanks Preston, makes me love my own again, despite the constant problems and difficulties, you've pulled through.
The hard work is over.

You're an inspiration, congrats on sticking with it

Niall

 

Fabulous job, Preston. Now all you have to do is put it back together again!

Aidan

 

Preston,

Looks great! Did you test fit the glass before you painted?

Regards,

Art S.

 

Preston, love it!

 

Fantastic!

 

Thanks guys.

To answer your questions:

No, I didn't drive it back from the paint booth, but I did take it for a spin around the block once it was home.

Yes, we did test fit the glass before paint. The windshield fit isn't perfect, but it's close enough that the trim will hide it. The rest of the glass fits exactly.

The bodywork came out very well, especially considering the starting point, and the paint is nice for a driver quality car. It's nice enough that I can be proud of it, but not so pristine that I'll be afraid to drive it, which is exactly what I wanted.

With re-assembly and a few odds and ends to go, it should be on the road shortly!

 

Preston,

That's really good to hear. Congratulations on making it this far! I wish you all the best on the final bits of the project; I hope the remaining frustrations will be minimal. Driving the finished car will be great!

Regards,

Art S.

 

Preston,

No more pics so I'm assuming you're driving around after successful re-assembly

She's looking great, you've come a long way. One more saved.

 

The re-assembly is coming along but I'm having trouble with the title.

I bought the car on a California non-repairable certificate. I was told that the car could be re-titled with the help of a title service once it was repaired. However, the title services won't touch a salvage car and the local DMV won't do it either (and I didn't expect them to). Should I lie to a title service by saying the title has simply been lost? Or will the non-repairable thing show up somewhere along the line? The other thing I thought of was to sell it to someone in a State that doesn't issue titles for older vehicles, then buy it back.

Any other ideas guys?