04760 out at the weekend #drivennothidden Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
We made 1800 km in 5 days - and we were not alone… 16 Dinos of all kinds speeding through Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Took the Dino to pick up an old geetar the other day. Thought it was a rather suitable pairing. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
From the Distinguished Gentlemans Drive over the weekend in collaboration with #movember in aid of men’s health… one of over 100 classic car drives that took place concurrently in 66 countries (and 202 cities) around the world. https://www.instagram.com/reel/CxngyAXIOVA/?igshid=NzZhOTFlYzFmZQ== The Drive culminated in a visit to #bremontwatches extremely impressive HQ and technology centre, “The Wing”, nestled in the midst of the beautiful Cotswold countryside.
Lovely day and a trip out to Westerham Brewery for lunch. 01162 ran faultlessly as usual. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Another sunny but chilly day. Short run out of London in 01162 to Fourways Engineering Cars and Coffee meeting. Some very interesting cars on show. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
This picture does such a good job of demonstrating what the Dino size is compared to other "Compact" Cars
I had the 24 valve Dino 246 GTS out in the high Utah mountains over the weekend. Turn up the volume for this one:
I love it! I would also be intersted to hear more about it. Was the 24 valve heads ever available? By some aftermarket mfr or...? Interesting idea for the air filters and intake air. Is it IDF carbs and Stratos manifold? I have IDF 44's on my car, but hiding them under a standard engine lid with a 10mm higher bulge on it, so I am very interested in the details, and your experience with this car.
The heads were all Stratos Group 4/Ferrari F2 stuff I believe. My friend John Clinard’s Dino had a similar setup on his Dino.
The car still utilizes it's original engine block. The 24 valve heads were developed by Ferrari for Formula 2 and the Tasman series. When Lancia produced the 246 Dino powered Stratos they were able to able to utilize the 24 valve heads that Ferrari had already developed by using the "appendix J" (or Jota if you are Italian) loophole that allowed you to develop the car with special parts so long as you produced 100 examples of these items over a three year period. So from 74'-76' (the three consecutive years that the factory Stratos team dominated the WRC) The works team had the 24 valve heads. I've been told on good authority that two dozen 24 valve engines were made for the works team's WRC campaign. Once the appendix J homologation waiver ran out, they were no longer legal to run and were obsolete race parts that were sold out of the back door. Today they are the crown jewels of serious Stratos connesours. ENGINE: Dino 246 GTS #05978 utilizes original 24 valve “Dino 246” cylinder heads originating from the factory Lancia Stratos program that won three consecutive WRC championships (1974-1976). The factory Lancia Stratos campaign inherited the 24 Valve cylinder heads that were directly developed from Ferrari’s Formula 2 and Tasman series efforts. The FIA banned the use of the 24 valve heads for 1977, and approximately 18 working engines (including this one) were ultimately built from these parts. Another 246 GT (#02430) (Ex- John Clinard) was converted to 24 valve specification in the 1980’s, but has since been acquired by a European collector and converted back to stock specification solely for the purpose of stealing the 24 valve heads for his Stratos collection. That leaves this Dino 246 GTS #05978 as the only Ferrari Dino 246 to have, and in all probability ever in the future to be equipped with “ex-works” 24 valve heads. Aside from the cylinder heads, the Dino 246 24-valve engine configuration involves the fitment of lighter pistons rendered in forged aluminum that bump the compression ratio to 14:1 and have a single compression ring + oil control ring. The flywheel and clutch are also much lighter than standard. The engine is fed through an intake manifold that is unique the 24 valve 246, and is fitted with three Weber 44 IDF carburetors. The cooling system is enhanced by swapping the standard heat exchanger for a proper oil cooler with thermostatically controlled fan. The ignition system is “distributorless” with crank trigger to EDIS box and individual Delphi coils. The advance curve is fully programmable, but is set to “sporting purposes” Stratos specification. Factory quoted horsepower is as high as 320 BHP at 9,200 RPM in the “works” 24 valve Stratos configuration. Having experienced the car, I have no doubt that this is not an exaggeration. The car accelerates with an urgency that completely defies its era. It delivers performance that is unimaginable when referenced against any road car from the 1970’s. You really need to go forward a few decades to find a road going Ferrari that is as quick. The car behaves flawlessly in 100F (38C) bumper to bumper traffic jams or screaming down a lonely road on a Sunday morning. Unfortunately, the car developed a tiny exhaust leak that causes the annoying pops on decel. I am mending that presently. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Thank you for that comprehensive information. We normally do not get much news or information from the Lancia Stratos world in this section. So all very useful. I was aware of some 24 valve heads having been developed for the Stratos, but I thought they were all strictly held by the racing department. Now I understand how a few of them have filtered down to private owners. Those engine specifications are really impressive. Even a stock Dino 246 engine is a serious over-achiever, for a normally aspirated engine of only 2.4 liters. I have been very pleased with how well it responds to just a bit higher compression and a freer breathing intake side. But this engine you are describing is taken to quite another level. Thanks for the additional photos, and for sharing the details!
Roberto Cassetta in Italy makes reproductions of these heads and individual parts for Stratos owners who race their cars. The valve covers say "Lancia" instead of "Dino 246" , but they get the job done if you want maximum reliable power from a Dino 246 engine. They aren't exactly cheap (around 72K Euro) the last time I checked, but oh what FUN. 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
Gorgeous stuff! I have an original Stratos 40 IDF induction system I got some years ago. I tried it on my Dino for a bit. Was a simple bolt on replacement for the DCNF system. Loved it! I eventually put my stock system back and was surprised at how well it compared. Michael, you’re very lucky to have your setup! John Clinard’s was pretty amazing. Wish he still had it! Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
The stock road going Stratos intake manifold in your photos could be made to fit under the stock Dino 246 bonnet. I imagine you would run into fewer fuel starvation hiccups in hard cornering than with the standard (DCNF) setup. Here are some photos of your friend's former 24 valve heads on a bench in a workshop in France. His former beautiful blue Dino 246 GT #02430 has been converted back to stock, and the 24 valve heads are with an enthusiastic Stratos collector. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Michael, great to see. I went through a complete exercise on fitting the IDF’s under the stock Dino lid w/o any modifications. Ran really well. I then put the stock DCNF system back on and was surprised how well it compared. I would love to do a Dino with the 4V setup. Here’s a link to my exercise: https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/stratos-induction-system-on-246gt.72629/page-10#post-145061823
This was around 12 years ago when John first started his Dino after years of hibernation. Note, the flares were subtly widened to fit the Campys. Would have been great to continue to develop this Dino, put on the correct exhaust and subtly raise the engine lid bulge to cover the carbs. Where’s that Time Machine? :
This is the wrong thread to continue the FerrariF2/Stratos/Dino drivetrain discussion. I suggest we continue on https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/stratos-induction-system-on-246gt.72629/page-10#post-145061823 There’s probably many that are polarized on this topic.
Agreed. What started as a little fall driving video on a "Drove my Dino" thread turned into a bit of a Q&A about the most obscure subject in the Dino world. Back to regular programming.
Another Sunny day in London Town. Nice breakfast at Danson Stables. As usual 01162 running perfectly in the cool late summer sunshine! Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
