1973 365 GT4 2+2: dashborad renovated and rear self-leveling dampers | FerrariChat

1973 365 GT4 2+2: dashborad renovated and rear self-leveling dampers

Discussion in '365 GT4 2+2/400/412' started by vecchio59, Jul 21, 2012.

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  1. vecchio59

    vecchio59 Karting

    Nov 25, 2011
    199
    Savona, NW Italy
    Full Name:
    Marco
    took one year, but eventually I found the right stuff to renovate the dashboard (and rear) of my 365, that was heavily discolored and stained... horrible.
    This guy in Ferrra (http://www.ferraresiinterniauto.com/) has a huge experience and access to several fabrics from the 70's (and excellent leather too); what I needed is the (in)famous "floccato nero" which they did brand new after months of tests... a sintetyc material widely used in those years.
    Great result ande reasonable price (abt 2 k$, all included)

    Also, I've eventually found a specialist who basically rebuilt my two rear Koni... some troubles to find the right gas pressure, should be ok now /floor again at 1314 !), will test in the coming months.

    For all the above reasons, it's sevreal months that I do not enjoy my V12 sound... too bad, need to recover as soon as possible !
     
  2. Ak Jim

    Ak Jim F1 Veteran
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 23, 2007
    8,450
    North Pole AK
    Could you please post some pictures of the interior work. I'll be doing this some day. Thanks.
     
  3. vecchio59

    vecchio59 Karting

    Nov 25, 2011
    199
    Savona, NW Italy
    Full Name:
    Marco
    #3 vecchio59, Jul 22, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  4. Ak Jim

    Ak Jim F1 Veteran
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 23, 2007
    8,450
    North Pole AK
    Thanks for the pictures. Please keep us updated and keep posting the pictures.
     
  5. Bill--GTC/4

    Bill--GTC/4 Rookie

    May 25, 2011
    14
    Don't know if the 400i has same dash fabric as the 365 GTC/4, but I've been very pleased with the mouse hair I bought from the Netherlands. Here's info I posted on the GTC/4 web site:

    After reading about mouse hair in this forum and FerrariChat, I decided to order material from HVL ("Henk van Lith") in the Netherlands. I did not do a lot of personal shopping around. Based on the web site comments and Mr. van Lith's claim that his material was made using the original machinery and the original craftsman, I went that direction. He also claims that the formulation has been modified to give much higher fade resistance and abrasion resistance.

    The shipment arrived a couple days ago, and I'm very pleased with it, although admittedly I don't have a good basis for comparison. The appearance is very much subject to the viewing angle and the light source. If you look at it head on, with ambient light, it looks very black and you do not see the grain. If you look at it at a sharp angle, with the light source in front of you, it has a slight gray-ish tinge and you can clearly see the grain. My original mouse hair was completely "bald."

    Mr. van Lith was a pleasure to deal with. All our communication was by e-mail, and he responded to all my questions almost immediately, with text, attachments, etc. I have also been talking to him about interior leather, and he has been equally helpful on that, even contacting Ferrari to confirm which leather my car had originally. His e-mail is [email protected] and his web site is www.carinteriors.nl

    The material was not inexpensive, but I wanted originality. Besides, I imagine the installation will be the big cost. I ordered 4 running meters (the roll is 1.4 meters wide), based on Mr. van Lith's estimate. Seems like a lot to me, but we'll see. The price was $162 euros ($210) per meter, and shipping was about the cost of a meter.

    (Now I'm done with the job, but 4 meters was barely enough. I recommend 4 1/2 for margin.)

    Regards,

    Bill
     
  6. vecchio59

    vecchio59 Karting

    Nov 25, 2011
    199
    Savona, NW Italy
    Full Name:
    Marco
    #6 vecchio59, Aug 10, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    work in progress to bring back all pieces together !!! the renovated dashboard is absolutely perfect and gives a totally different (and better) feel to the car...
    Can you believe that today, after months of inactivity, I could not resist to switch the engine on for 1 minute ?

    For those interested:
    cost of self-level dampers (2) overhaul: abt 1'000 €
    cost of renovated dashboard and other parts (with floccato nero): abt 1'500 €
    manpower to dismantle dashboard and other parts + reassoemble: tbd :-( many hours, as far as I have seen so far...

    Have a great day, much better if with a V12
    Marco
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  7. 400iGuy

    400iGuy Formula 3
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Aug 26, 2004
    1,055
    Central Florida
    Full Name:
    Al
    Congratulations on the progress. I would like to remove my dash to address several issues (including the leather) but I haven't worked up the nerve to do it. Let us know how it goes with the reassembly process.

    Al
    Central Florida
     
  8. jacques

    jacques Formula Junior

    May 23, 2006
    876
    Los Angeles/Florida
    About 10 years back, I feared removing the dash of my 1980 400i. But after some of the ridiculous estimates(read that rude), I did it myself. Afer a couple of years of ownership, I began to realize tha I didn't have to speak Italiano, or be named Mario, to change a tire on these units...Sooo just attack the dash from its blind side and dig in.

    For me, I found it amazingly simple after looking up underneath with a bright flashlight and studying it for a while, I found how simplistically mine was put together. You'll se what I'm saying in about five minutes. Just remember..("There is nothing in life more exillerating, than being shot at and missed"...Winston Churchill). Jq.
     
  9. blkprlz

    blkprlz Formula 3

    Mar 24, 2007
    2,169
    Tampa bay
    Full Name:
    Bruce
    Looking good Marco!! :)


    Too funny! :D :D

    I remember Bradm's post, & Simon's help in all of it:
    http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=188183&highlight=dash+removal
     
  10. Dee

    Dee Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    Sep 29, 2012
    14
    Berlin, Germany
    Full Name:
    Dennis
    "Also, I've eventually found a specialist who basically rebuilt my two rear Koni... some troubles to find the right gas pressure, should be ok now /floor again at 1314 !), will test in the coming months."

    Hello Gentlemen,
    I'm wondering how I can tell that the self leveling shocks are not working as they should? (if they don't bleed oil):

    a) Do they get harder?
    b) Softer?
    d) Maybe they just need the right gas pressure again?
     
  11. blkprlz

    blkprlz Formula 3

    Mar 24, 2007
    2,169
    Tampa bay
    Full Name:
    Bruce
    What really stirs my curiosity in all of this is how these Koni's are considered load levelers when there isn't a hydraulic or air pump hooked up to adjust for various load conditions. I thought self load leveling wasn't incorporated until the Series 2 injected cars.
     
  12. vecchio59

    vecchio59 Karting

    Nov 25, 2011
    199
    Savona, NW Italy
    Full Name:
    Marco
    #13 vecchio59, Oct 23, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    my 365 is on the road again !
    the renovate dashboard is great (pictures are aweful, believe me !)

    I've seen questions on rear suspensions, the way I realized it wasn't working is thru visible oil leak... on the left, hence the car was leaning that side. Also, it was like driving with no suspension... not a great experience.
    I was told they had to basically rebuild the two, as KONI is no longer supporting this old model; we eventually found soemone who took the challenge and did it for a reasonable price. First try did not work, they've increased the gas pressure and it's now ok

    sooner or later I'll post some better pictures !

    One question: I'd like to clean up the engine and I wonder whether anyone has experience with dry ice blasting... I'm told is a sort of magic, an change your old stuff into a shining piece...

    have a great day !
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  13. FSC-Mike

    FSC-Mike Rookie

    Apr 4, 2004
    25
    Newport Beach, Ca.
    Full Name:
    Mike Grieco
    #14 FSC-Mike, Oct 30, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    This manual, published by Koni Holland in1974, has the original engineering drawings and the technical info needed to rebuild the shocks. I had misplaced some of my research from when I owned a 365 GT4...(I would have posted the manual a few years ago.) I sold my 1972 365 GT4 about 5yrs. ago. It was #16293 the 3rd. prototype/ factory press car... Yes the blue one on the sales broschure. This should answer any questions on the working of the internal pump and valving. I have some other Koni tech info and will post it as I find it.
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  14. vecchio59

    vecchio59 Karting

    Nov 25, 2011
    199
    Savona, NW Italy
    Full Name:
    Marco
    Mike, that's useful information, thanks for sharing. only one quuestion... how could you sell your 365 :) ???
     
  15. D365

    D365 Rookie

    Feb 9, 2021
    11
    Australia
    Full Name:
    Dennis Dordevic
    That re-upholstered dashboard looks amazing!!!!
    Regards from Australia
     

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