Well… the car made it up in Monterey, and I'm hopping to get some valuable testing time on it during the FCA track days. Funny, it's parked in my Monterey Reunion pit alongside a total one-off sports racer (the car I'm actually racing at the Reunion), but the ratio of photo taking/overall interest in the GT4 compared to the one-off Porsche-powered race car is about 10:1!! Wish me luck next week – it's been a long time coming… Carreeper - - remember this one? More to come... Image Unavailable, Please Login
Very nice...what modifications have you done to the car for vintage racing...I can see the interior, rollcage and the seat in the pic...especially as far as drivetrain mods are concerned...thanks...
Well, as evidenced above, I got the car to Monterey, and…..got it onto the track!! Running!! Racing!! I had to wait a week for the Monterey Reunion races to be done with (I was actually in the race – and in a new car no less! – which was all pretty great, but I have to admit that I was looking forward to for the FCA event to start so I could get some proper red mist going). (And had the GT4 in my Reunion pit, so I had to look at it all week….just waiting). We had a couple oddball setbacks which resulted in missing the first three (of five) sessions on Tuesday. Got one lap in Session #1 and had to come in. Which required is to miss Session #2 altogether, and then only got one lap in Session 3... But….for Session #4, the stars aligned, the issues were all fixed (for now at least) and – BOOM – my five year, never-ending undone project car was now a Ferrari race car!! I gotta tell you, it was so much fun. There is still some fine tuning to do, but the car was an absolute blast to drive. Very predictable handling, great roadholding, and the engine is just amazing. Since it was a "new" engine (rebuilt 10 years ago), I kept the revs to 6K, but the motor is just amazing – nothing else like it. And this isn't my first GT4 (street car, never tracked, 1995), or even my first 308 track car (I had a roll-caged GTB around 2008), but this car is just a fuel cell away from being a full-on vintage race spec racer. (…Which is why this car will never have a supercharger or turbocharger or 4.8 liter engine, etc.) The engine is rebuilt (10 years ago!), but with stock components. All the interior bits stripped out with the exception of the center console and the cockpit side dashboard. The passenger side dash is custom because the stock one weights about 50 lbs. Aluminum door skins. No side windows. Some other random lightness things (the wiring I tore out of there must have weighed 40 lbs!). Other Mods * Suspension bushing upgrade - via Superformance UK. * Front and rear Hi Spec brake kit - via Superformance UK. * Individual air cleaners (more for engine access). * Upgraded power brake booster hose - via Superformance UK. * Car had an older generation Electromotive ignition that worked great. * 16" wheels - via Superformance UK. * Shocks and springs – I followed the Verrell system to a "T". QA-1 Shocks (using the longer rear shock for the GT4). I cut away a piece of the A-Arm instead of using Verrell's Paperweights (Hey V, next time, please plan your vacations around MY schedule, OK?!!). * Used Eibach springs - 400 front, 350 rear. * Tires: Toyo R888 * Drivers dash insert is custom (but a replica of the stock dash panel). No speedo, Tach only, and toggle switches for lights, blinker and even windshield wipers (no stalks!). Used aftermarket oil pressure gauge with original water and oil temp gauges. Added a volt meter gauge. And on console there is a an ignition key, toggle for electric fuel pumps, and starter button. Car also still needs stock key because of the steering lock. * Momo steering wheel * Sabelt harness * OMP FIA spec seat (in blue as an homage to 50's/60's Ferrari racers) * Did 4-wheel alignment based on specs found on FChat (16" wheels, race usage) * Was going to cover up stock sunroof opening with an aluminum insert or maybe a piece of Lexan, but I think I'm going to keep it open. Might not be perfect for aero, but what the hell – I can't remember when it was cooler than that 90 degrees on a track day!! I'm sure I'm forgetting some stuff. Thanks to all of you helped – including the ones who didn't even know they helped via you old posts. The list goes on – and it's not over! Pen PS – I'm going to post some shots and videos on F-Chatter Luckydynes' post. We had the BEST time on the Sunday session. I essentially forgot it was a track event and we essentially raced each other for 15 minutes. Sliced and diced and passed and re-passed each other a couple times. The best part? We had a few VERY modern Ferraris behind us….and that's exactly where they stayed. He is astonishingly fast in that car – and with stock brakes!! Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
READ THIS ONE INSTEAD Well, as evidenced above, I got the car to Monterey, and…..got it onto the track!! Running!! Racing!! I had to wait a week for the Monterey Reunion races to be done with (I was actually in the race – and in a new car no less! – which was all pretty great, but I have to admit that I was looking forward to for the FCA event to start so I could get some proper red mist going). (And had the GT4 in my Reunion pit, so I had to look at it all week….just waiting). We had a couple oddball setbacks which resulted in missing the first three (of five) sessions on Tuesday. Got one lap in Session #1 and had to come in. Which required is to miss Session #2 altogether, and then only got one lap in Session 3... But….for Session #4, the stars aligned, the issues were all fixed (for now at least) and – BOOM – my five year, never-ending undone project car was now a Ferrari race car!! I gotta tell you, it was so much fun. There is still some fine tuning to do, but the car was an absolute blast to drive. Very predictable handling, great roadholding, and the engine is just amazing. Since it was a "new" engine (rebuilt 10 years ago), I kept the revs to 6K, but the motor is just amazing – nothing else like it. And this isn't my first GT4 (street car, never tracked, 1995), or even my first 308 track car (I had a roll-caged GTB around 2008), but this car is just a fuel cell away from being a full-on vintage race spec racer. (…Which is why this car will never have a supercharger or turbocharger or 4.8 liter engine, etc.) The engine is rebuilt (10 years ago!), but with stock components. All the interior bits stripped out with the exception of the center console and the cockpit side dashboard. The passenger side dash is custom because the stock one weights about 50 lbs. Aluminum door skins. No side windows. Some other random lightness things (the wiring I tore out of there must have weighed 40 lbs!). A lot of people ask about lap times –*my best time was a 1:57. For reference, I can do a 1:59 in my 1964 1000lb 60hp MGA powered sports racer! The Dino's times would have been better, but time is lost on most laps having to allow the 600hp supercars go by which requires some slowing down and then getting stuck behind the now suddenly very slow supercar when he hits his first turn. It was also my first time on the track with this car, but I am very familiar with the track. Other Mods * Suspension bushing upgrade - via Superformance UK. * Front and rear Hi Spec brake kit - via Superformance UK. * Individual air cleaners (more for engine access). * Upgraded power brake booster hose - via Superformance UK. * Car had an older generation Electromotive ignition that worked great. * 16" wheels - via Superformance UK. * Shocks and springs – I followed the Verrell system to a "T". QA-1 Shocks (using the longer rear shock for the GT4). I cut away a piece of the A-Arm instead of using Verrell's Paperweights (Hey V, next time, please plan your vacations around MY schedule, OK?!!). * Eibach springs - 400 front, 350 rear. * Tires: Toyo R888, 245/45 and 225/50: * NOTE: despite having a decent amount of visual clearance with the Toyos, a fast run through turn 10 at Laguna rolled out the fender lip! By all means, roll-in your front fenders! This actually made me spin, and I was very lucky the whole fender didn't rip off. * Dash top is stock * Brake Pads: Yellow front, red rear * Uprated rear sway bar - via Superformance UK. * Transmission oil baffle - via Superformance UK (works very well). * Driver's side dash insert is custom (but a replica of the stock dash panel). No speedo, Tach only, and toggle switches for lights, blinker and even windshield wipers (no stalks!). Used aftermarket oil pressure gauge with original water and oil temp gauges. Added a volt meter gauge. And on console there is a an ignition key, toggle switch for electric fuel pump, and starter button. Car also still needs to use the stock column key because of the steering lock. * Momo steering wheel * Sabelt harness * Full roll cage 1/75" * OMP Fire System - Pegasus Racing * OMP FIA spec seat (in blue as an homage to 50's/60's Ferrari racers) * Did 4-wheel alignment based on specs found on FChat (16" wheels, race usage) * Was going to cover up stock sunroof opening with an aluminum insert or maybe a piece of Lexan, but I think I'm going to keep it open. Might not be perfect for aero, but what the hell – I can't remember when it was cooler than that 90 degrees on a track day!! I'm sure I'm forgetting some stuff. Thanks to all of you helped – including the ones who didn't even know you helped via your old posts. Especially to all the racers/track car guys. Resources * Engine and transmission builder and initial transformation from street to track: Luciano & Dino Sanzogni's Ferrari Service Center, Sarasota, FL * Independent Ferrari Shop that finished and prepped the car for Monterey: Modena Motorsport, Los Angeles, CA. Gustavo Lara and Joe Munoz. Note: New Shop run by by seasoned pros who work on new cars and old (and who weren't scared off by a race car project!). * Fabrication work (roll cage, door skins, eliminating seat "risers" from chassis and fabricating new chassis tubes for seat mounting points and harness sub belt mounts: Bowman Customs, Sylmar, CA * Major source of replacement parts, suspension bushing upgrade kit, sway bar, and distributor of Hi Spec brake upgrade kits - Superformance UK * QA1 Shocks - Summit Racing online * Eibach Springs: Kartek, Corona, CA * Misc parts and advice: Blackhorse Motors, Los Angeles, CA * Spiritual Advisor: Fat Billy Bob * Wheel Alignment: Globe Tire, Los Angeles * EBC Brake Pads (yellow front, red rear): Summit Racing * Toyo Race Tires: Roger Krauss Racing, Castro Valley California * Trackside Support and Major Ass-Saver: Frank d'Aquino, owner of D Motorsports, Sand City, CA * OMP Seat and misc generic racing parts: Pegasus Racing online * First sighting of car's availability on eBay – FERRARI CHAT! Pen PS – I'm going to post some shots and videos on F-Chatter Luckydynes' post. We had the BEST time on the Sunday session. I essentially forgot it was a track event and we essentially raced each other for 15 minutes. Sliced and diced and passed and re-passed each other a couple times. The best part? We had a few VERY modern Ferraris behind us….and that's exactly where they stayed. He is astonishingly fast in that car – and with stock brakes!!
One heck of a project! I would love to see more detailed pics of the car, interior and engine bay. Also, what exhaust are you using? Any special carb tuning?
That's a great looking track car! Good to hear you had a blast. Cool. 1:56 is highly respectable for the first time out with a stockish motor and limited sessions. Many thanks for sharing this with us
