Maserati Khamsin

Hi Mike
When I get home I will dig upsome info I have on Orings. As I said there are many different sizes. On thig that I have found is that the Metric Verses Imperial sizes can vary a small amount and the result is a leak... O ring as are measured in diameter and cross section. The odd thing is metic use a dimemsion.
Remember thr Khamsin uses a Citroen semi automatic clutch slave/actautor and parts are still being made.

Regards
Graeme

 

Sorry, this should have been posted here.

Looks like the thread morpfed into Auto vs 5 speed.
My reason for liking the auto better is based on the following.

Being a commercial rated pilot with twin engine and float plane ratings I have always felt the Khamsin was the closest thing to flying a plane there is, or better yet a single rotor, gas turbine UH1B helicopter in which i have a few training hours at the controls and well over 600 hours of back seat time as a flight engineer.
The car has extremely sensitive steering, which can be a good thing after you have some time at the controls and it has very tightly positioned clutch, brake and gas pedals. Guys with big shoes can easily get in trouble when shifting or braking. Be very careful here.
Hitting the gas when going for the brake is not uncommon and can have very unpleasant results escalating into sheer panic when you add in the sensitive steering.
As you may have guessed, I have had first hand experience here.

The Khamsin IS NOT a car you can just jump into and adapt quickly to. when I was in the business I would tell guys that they must spend at least 50 miles in the car driving very carefully before they try any spirited driving.
With the 5 speed there is a certain amount of driver twisting or what i call "body english" that takes place during the shifting which can send you into the next lane if you are not paying strict attention.
With the auto you just hit the gas, and hold on with both hands and go.

It is also my experience that allowing a prospective buyer to test drive the car can be life threatening when the prospective buyer plays "boy racer" with your car. Be very careful.
Ciao,
FGM

 

Hi FMG

I agree with FMG letting other people drive the car is a scary experience.

Getting a rego check in NSW, contains a brake test. A lot of Garage guys think they have driven everything and look at you strange when you question there ability... Funny to watch the expresion on their Face as they hit the brakes and closely followed by being chocked by the set belt. and Holly.... respose.

For any one who hasnt driven one you dont so much steer as guide the car. two fingers on the wheel and let the self center bring the car back to straight.

The Auto is definately good in town, however the auto engine speed on the free way is quite high v the manual.

If anthing the Khamsin is too civilised as an exotic but all the better for it.

Graeme

 

Exacto mondo Graeme. Couldn't agree more.
Say, do you know any mates who were in Vung Tau Vietnam during 66 67 time frame?
Just wondering as I was stationed with some Aussies there.
Ciao,
FGM

 

Hi FGM

Sorry no I was only in 4 at School.
Having Siad that you could try;
Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia
http://www.vvaa.org.au/

Regards

Graeme

 

Gents,

A week no news on the Khamsin thread does not mean nothing is going on.
Despite the very, very little time I have these days to work on my car I found / made a little time yesterday eve to put some stuff back in place. Yes, all the red dots are on again!
One of the other things I did was putting the right side rear view mirror on: My happy find at the Techno Classica! Also I found a rocker switch for the fog lights, originally supplied in those days as auxilliary equipment switch for Maserati, Ferrari and Lamborghini. My day was GOOD!
Still a lot of detailing to do but I am getting there: step by step!

Ciao,

Bart
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Hi Mike
I did a quick Google found this site.
Its a comercal site but it has some info about the different types of oring material. and tech dimensions.

http://www.alliedmetrics.com/seals/o-rings/other-available-materials.php

There are lots of companies maing O rings. Metric ones in the US I would imagine are thin on the ground.

Regards
Graeme

 

I have read a lot about the hydraulic power steering system used on the Khamsin. All articles write about the over-sensitivity and the powered self-centering of the steering even when parked. However one article I read said the US cars got 'normal' conventional power steering like the Ghibli power steering. I have recently driven two Khamsins and the steering felt quite normal to me, but maybe the system wasn't working right on both cars? Is it true that US delivery cars have normal power steering?

 

I have recently driven two Khamsins and the steering felt quite normal to me, but maybe the system wasn't working right on both cars? Is it true that US delivery cars have normal power steering?[/QUOTE]

I don't know of any Khamsins that don't have the Citroen power steering, either Euro or US spec. I have a '78 US spec car and the steering is lightning quick (2 turns lock to lock) and very light at city speeds (becomes harder the faster you go). Just thinking about changing lanes moves the car. And as for "self centering" . . .well . . . that will really put some excitement in your day before you get used to it.

 

All...

I just received an e-mail from a friend in Denver who has indicated
his Khamsin was destroyed in a shop fire/explosion... The owner
was not present, but the shop owner may be in the hospital... I
will post more here when I find out more!!!

If true, RIP 1208!!

Mike

 

No! I've on driven 2 and they were just as strange as they're supposed to be. US spec cars too.

Look at that rack and where it is in this car. How would you get a "regular" rack in there?
How would you get an different pump on the engine to run it?

Now is there a way to harden the steering a bit maybe by modifying the system mounted on the diff?

 

My car's steering had got worse in that it had become 'normal' in feel. As everyone else says it shoud be light (hardening with speed). I know my system needed overhauling hence why I've had all LHM components rebuilt. The pressure relief noise (whirr-click) could be heard kicking in everytime you touched the steering, brakes clutch of light pods.

So maybe the cars you tested had similar issues ?

 

There are 3 Khamsin's on ebay right now. 2 are automatics waiting for Frank to buy, the 3rd is a 5 speed in need of a restoration.

The funny part is that all 3 have some sort of cosmetic modification to the interior.

Joe

 

Hi Joe

I found this one.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MASERATI-KHAMSIN-1975-GREY-5-SPEED-MANUAL-/130506411248?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item1e62c9ccf0

This one which has ended and appears to have the classic hydralic leaks carpet looks a bit wet and its been trimmed in Vinal
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1977-MASERATI-KHAMSIN-SPECTACULAR-TRADES-OFFERS-WELCOME-/330548236974?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item4cf635d2ae

The Last one
which needs the rear springs being reset saggy bottom! and needing a facelift ( euro bumper conversion)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Maserati-Khamsin-/170625024625?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item27ba0b4271

was there any more

Graeme

 

Hi guys
Had my Khamsin down getting some checks and alterations to the carbs. Just drove it back up to Glasgow via my sisters in London and to see Bal in birmingham so about 460 miles in past two days.
Now the carbs are set properly the car is running so much better smoother and faster. Were too rich before and was popping a lot etc.
Had it at 6000rpm in all but lowest gears. I was quite surprised as guessed it would be all out in fifth at that speed but still seemed to have quite a bit to go. did a 90mile quicker cruise.
It does seem happier at a 4500-5000rpm cruise and the steering does change quite markedly when the assistance kicks out. I am still not entirley happy with my car as It vibrates quite a bit, possibly tyre balance but stll suspect a rear damper although it all seems tight and fine.
Anyone else notice this? Def suspension or body as engine very sweet.
They are noisy old things with wind roar, tyre roar and with the stainless exhuasts a very baritone rumble at anything over 3500rpm
Paul

 

Just checked to see what the geering is meant to be! My tacho must be out as I was getting 24mph/1000 in fifth measured against a satelite speedo!

 

It sounds like you have a US car with the 3:77 final drive. Add it up 24 mph for every 1,000 rpm equals 132 mph at 5,500. That is a US 3:77.

You know when US Khamsin owners are full of it, when they tell you their car will do 160. Not unless they are willing to blow up their engines at over 6,500 rpm or they drop it off a cliff.

 

"My Maserati does 185." When Joe Walsh wrote that song lyric in 1978, were there any roadgoing Maseratis capable of 185 or anything close to it?

 

No, but neither would any of the Ferraris or Lamborghinis of that timeframe!

 

I believe a properly geared 5000 might. At least the Shahs with it's very healthy near race spec engine. Yes, no, maybe?

 

Hi
I believe My car was originally a australian intended car like a few other RHD cars here in the UK as it has clear glass not tinted. It does seem the gearing is shorter as it is unusual for a tacho to be out? Also seems like it is reving near these figures

Anyone else know? The speedo is actually quite accurate EG 2mph out at 80.

I think I would prefer the longer gearing though!

Paul

 

Paul,

This is, of course, quite easy to check, and quite easy to remedy, especially when you're in the UK with the availability of Jag diffs for next to nothing.

 

Sounds like they used the same diff ratios in the US Ghibli. Remember, that was when the speed limit in the USA was only 55 mph, so many cars focused on the acceleration rather than the top end. I wish there was a greater gap in ratios between 4th and 5th. It seems like 5th isn't worth much but a slight drop in revs. They should have made 5th a real overdrive for top speed, with the other 4 speeds for rapid acceleration imo.

 

Hello All...

Many of you remember the discussion above, and my little test of o-rings
in Castrol Hydraulic fluid... In one part of the container I placed the o-ring
which came out of the car (and is supposedly made of the special material
used on LHM equiped cars) and in the other a duplicate of the o-ring which
replaced the undersized one (no special material)...

It has been about 3 weeks or so since I have done this... So far, I am finding
no difference in the o-rings... There appears to be no dissolving, or breaking
down, and they seem to have the same elasticity... I will continue monitoring..

P.S. the car seems to be running great!!!

Mike

 

Hi Paul
Have a look on the glass there should be a 1/4" high A on it on each panel.

Gearing is interesting . Have mine rumming 40ks/1000 which is what the Hand book specks. but the speedo underreads by about 20 Ks at 110.
I have seen 6,000 Pus in top at a closed rally event works out about 150mph.

I have chased the speedo drive issue through ZF and there was only one speedo drive available.
Its an interesting observation you make about your car where as I believe my car was a appears to have some US structural bits car and the shell is heavier around the door post rear Seat belts and covered Ineria reals and intrusion bars in the doors.posibly for Australian compliance as it ah s compliance plate.

Cheers
Graeme