Open heart surgery

I'm nervous.

It's my first time.

The workshop is going to give me a photo diary of the whole process, I will post photo's as they arrive...

I am also having the stone chips taken car of, refinishing the cam covers and oil tank, having my factory rims refinished and new badges etc. New skid plates for under the nose, updating the power steering reservoir and a hoast of other minor improvements.

I have decided to go with 10-60w oil for the engine this time, we normally use the 5-40w but I find once the car is up to temp with 5-40w the oil pressure gauge gets uncomfortably low in the range, I know its just a gauge and probably not calibrated perfectly but the 10-60w should hold better weight at the higher temps and at least set my mind at ease if not make an improvement in low rev oil pressure.

Below are some photo's from when I dropped her in on Wednesday morning, sorry that they are not the best but I only had my phone camera. I have spoken to the workshop today and they will begin work as I type this, should have some "engine out" photos this afternoon.
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Bravo! Did you have tears in your eyes when you dropped her off.

When do you expect her return?

Are there any good indie Ferrari mechanics there Jimmy?? Or is the dealer the way to go when dealing with major services on Ferraris?

No doubt she will be better than ever when you get her back!

 

Thanks brother, I did well up a bit, I use the car very regularly so having her out of my garage for the next week and a half will leave quite a hole, good thing I've got the little 944 to take away some of the pain.

Over here the dealer is the way to go, there are a few other guys doing it but none have the backing if things don't go according to plan

Were going to degree the cams while its apart, have the injectors cleaned new plugs etc so I am hoping it will have the "fresh" feel once its back together.

First photo for the workshop is in...
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Excellent!! Good to hear!! Its going to great and she will be back in no time!

Engine oil looks "well used" alright.

Car looks clean under there too.

Cleaning the injectors is a great idea and I am sure many who do their own majors over look doing this at the same time. I am going to have mine cleaned when I pull my engine. I dont ever recall seeing them cleaned in all the service records I have of my car.

Car runs strong, but it still wont hurt to have them cleaned while the engine is out.

Looking forward to seeing more pics man.

 

Agreed, when I first saw that photo I thought the oil looked quite dark but I guess it is hard to tell from a photo, my tech said it looked fine.

When are you going to pull your engine? I would be keen as to pass you tools rags hammers and beer

 

Hehehe, yeah. Dunno?

I should do it this year, will be 7 yrs come September.

Ill see what I can do.

 

Well, Hello!!

(Hope I didn't interrupt this "South of the Equator" banter!) LoL

 

Pap distracted me..... Honest!!

Front engine mounts look OK to me, guys at the workshop feel they have sagged and could be replaced. Gut feel is I will do them at the next annual service, the car never made any unusual noises etc and drove very well, so I am thinking these will be fine for a while, my tech agreed, if he had said I should do them now as they require it then I would have them done, but he feels they will be fine for a while. Also I can save a few $100 ordering these from our good friend Daniel so that will be the way I go. I will also get a pair of K&N filters for her with the engine mounts.

Mount photo attached, thoughts?
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This coming autumn I am on too !

 

Just got a call, the heart is out on the ground. Tech reports everything looks "excellent". Only 2 leaks to attend to, gearbox selector shaft and a unusual leak around the oil filter housing, perhaps a new gasket is in order there but will know more later today.

I have also just received a photo from my painter, factory wheels are all refinished in correct factory color. Will pick them up tonight.
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The two tubes that go around the back of the air boxes, wrapping around and on the inside of the air boxes, ending pointing towards the engine............where are they fed from, and how are they hooked up to the air boxes, if at all?????

 

Quick check for engine/trans mounts is to look at the shift shaft...is it centered in the guide as it runs forward toward the front?

 

Are you switching back to stock rims? The aftermarket rims in the first photo looks pretty good!

 

There an interesting thing aren't they, I did have a photo somewhere of the "plumbing" but I can't locate it currently, I will take another one for you tomorrow, they are supposed to reduce "cavitation" in the intake system when you stab the throttle, factory fitted.

I will be seeing the engine in person tomorrow so will check it out, it's the weekend down here ATM but if I am at all in doubt I will get the techs to check that on Monday. Thanks for the pointer.

I had planned to sell the 19"s but have since decided to keep them. I wanted to have the factory wheels refinished so they are perfect, they will be fitted up from time to time, first fitment will be shortly after this service as the other wheels need to go away for a little while

 

What I see in the pictures is the tubes end up somewhere in the rear fenders

 

They join the air intake plumbing in the engine bay. With the car in bits at the moment a photo was not going to show how they work so I will update with a photo once she is all back together.

 

Some news from the weekend, I have cleaned and refinished the oil tank, I use VHT wrinkle black and it appears to have come up very well. I am currently stripping the coolant header tank, the paint had bubbled in places and was chipped around the thread. I will need to replace the sticker that goes on tank, I will start another thread asking if anyone knows where to get sticker packs from.
I also spent a few hours cleaning the suspension and engine cradle, removing the stones, tar and dirt build up. It is looking much better. I have also repainted the silver stripes on the engine, these are much easier to do while the engine is out!

Front brakes are worn and will be replaced, I have also decided to do the engine mounts as I don't want to defer any maintenance, we will also be replacing the water pump.

Injectors have been removed and are being sent away for cleaning. I got carried away with the touch up paint
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FedEx just came knocking...

Daniel is properly amazing, I am sure I just ordered these and they have managed to travel half way round the world in what seems like hours!

Amazing service!!
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Very nice James.

 

Looks like you could use a spacer on the front wheel - a little too inset?

 

I've said it a million times on this board--If the world operated like Daniel does there would be no wars....

 

Nice work James!

Looks like that water pump was weeping a little eh?

Are you fitting a new one?? Or having it overhauled?

 

Thanks Mike!!

Might be the angle of that photo Ryan, they are correct to oem offsets and normally don't look that inset although they are not "flush".

+1

Thanks buddy, I mentioned a rebuilt WP to the tech and he replied with "we don't have much success with rebuild ones" so I took it that they are rubbish and ordered the new one, perhaps I should have pushed the rebuild more?

 

Cool man, what ya doing with the old water pump?

 

No idea mate, I have said I would like all old parts back, so I 'could' get it rebuilt. What were you thinking?