Quattroporte III catch-all thread

True, it wouldn't work in that case. I assumed he was in the US, but nothing in the post actually says that. It did seem clear, though, that he was just looking to flip it at an absolutely minimum cost and if he is here, this would be a way.

The wheel swapping thoughts are for my own recently acquired QPIII. I wouldn't want to use T tires, no matter how rational it is, but neither would I want to wear out expensive show XWXs just rambling around town. That leaves this temporary tire/wheel swap. Think of it as winter tires, like those people who live in the frozen wastelands use...

I bought the car mainly to preserve it, so of course I'll keep the original wheels, radio, and everything else. I might even keep the 10 lb mobile phone and pigtail antenna.

I like almost all of the Italian wheel designs of this period, but to me, this particular one has always looked like someone just popped the hubcaps off. The early Bora with caps had an understated elegance, as if they wanted to emphasize that it was a GT and not a sports car. My late Bora doesn't have caps but it still has the bumps to hold them on and the divots to use a hook to pop them off. It's blatantly obvious and kind of odd for such an expensive car. The QPIII version has been smoothed a bit, but the divots are still there. They are the right wheels for the car(s), though and if I had big bucks I'd have EVOD or team3wheels make 17" replicas so my daily driver wheels would look original(ish) while keeping the factory wheels with XWXs for show time. The folks who make the Jensen R and S have just that. They commissioned new 17" wheels that look like the original 7x15" GKNs.

Larry

 

I haven't made up my mind fully about tyres. I bought a set of XWX and the 86 had an old set on. The 81 had a different set that fit on the wheels and I think looks better as it lowers the car a bit and give a wider footprint on the road.

I do love the look of the wheels as is but if there was a "replica" set made wider on the back etc I would consider. I remember on a car redo show they put a wider rim on and shortened the half shafts. They also beefed up the drive train to take more power. I think the car would suit a lower front end and wider wheels on the back.

However, I will leave it as is for now.

 

Did I hear someone say "cartoonish"? Well here you are - Yes, it's ridiculous looking, but it does prove that 245 section tires on 8.5" rims will fit with no clearance problems inside or outside. If you ever find appropriate wheels, you'll at least have the room to fit them.

Beautiful steering wheel, BTW.
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Steering wheels looks beautiful!!!! Also, nice work on restitching the seats!

Mike

 

Hi

I have been having issues re fuel supply. Very hard starting then it goes etc. Today it bogged down and I had AA out and they check carbs and fuel bowl etc all good. He said there was no power to the pump. I could not find the fuel pump listed in the fuses guide I have. How does the power get to the fuel pump?

We checked the ignition tumbler and all the connections were live.

Any expertise on this?

 

I don't claim any QPIII expertise, but I did just get my electrical manual from MIE, so I will pass along what it shows.

If the emergency pump switch is in the emergency position, power is routed directly from pin 5 of the ignition switch (white) through 1 & 10 of the pump switch, then through an inline 5A fuse, and finally to the secondary pump (blue/black wire). The fuse is right at the switch connected to pin 10.

In the default position of the emergency pump switch, power for the main pump (blue/green supply wire) is via pins 6 & 5 of the switch. Power input is a blue wire going through a connector on the electrical box under the passenger seat to pin1 of the Tedel 101. There are no fuses in that line. The Tedel 101 fuse is #2 in the under-seat fuse box, but the unit also handles central locking, trunk and fuel door latches, so if those are working, fuse 2 isn't the problem. There is also a fuel cut-off inertia switch between pins 5 (power line from fuse 2) & 6 of the Tedel 101. Pin 5 is green/black and pin 6 has a blue/black wire. I saw a note saying the switch is located under the right kick panel. If it's been tripped there will be no power to the main pump.

 

Has anybody ever replaced the Oil Temperature sending unit? I have a 5 speed and its located on top of the engine near the firewall not near the oil filter like the automatic version. Was wondering if this is a common part or would I need to go through MIE.
Thanks for any information you can supply.
Tony

 

Hi again. I hope this isn't too dumb of a question but are these the lift points on our car?
Thanks,
Tony
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Hi Tony...

Hard to tell from the picture, but if there are four of these on the chassis, then yes...
You should find 1 each behind the front wheels, and 1 each in front of the rear wheels..
Just be careful when you lift it and listen for any nasty creaks and groans!

One of my favorite things about this car is that it also has an easy way of
draining the fuel tank...

Mine is 31 years old and so far has not been that bad to work on... But, I haven't
tackled the electrics yet!!

Mike

 

Thanks Mike,
Yes, there are four of them that's why I thought it was a stupid question. I did try using them a while back and heard some creaking and immediately stopped. That could just be normal creaking though. Was hoping someone here was absolutely sure.

I never drained the tank but I do seem to remember seeing a huge banjo type fuel line connection at the bottom of it.

I'm pretty good with the electrics. And it seems GLB also has a pretty good handle on things judging by his response to William's Fuel Pump power issue. Its right on. Although if I recall correctly my wiring diagram has the main and emergency pumps mixed up. My guess is the main pump is tied into the Tidel 101 system in the event of a crash the fuel pump stops and the doors unlock. And if the crash wasn't so bad after all you could then use the Emergency pump to get you home / to a shop.

I've got all the electronic component to function properly and suddenly my Oil Temp gauge now reads zero. Ugh! I know its the sending unit though because when I ground the wire at the sensor the gauge swings to its highest scale. I'm hoping its not a $200 MIE part like the Temperature Sending unit. They look and work similarly. They both are NTC Thermistor types for the gauge and also have a bimetal strip in them for the light.
Tony

 

Hi I did need to replace it in the US car and I got it from MIE. Seemed to work ok. i got one from Joedro but I dont think it worked so go with MIE first.

 

Let me know what you do on lights as if there is an upgrade I will take it also. How did you get the parts etc???

 

+1

Did the QPIII also provide an adjustable height control from the dash like the early Biturbos?

 

I'm vaguely familiar with the Biturbo ...

 

A pleasure to read. They have great reviews and videos at Petrolicious.

 

Hmmm interesting. He seems to have added grills behind the front wheels. Not a feature I have seen before. Motor bay looks a bit untended. Like the colour though.