1985 400i 5 spd / Long overdue / 12k Service

Ok, big week of effort is in the 'can'. I have finished 99% of the work on the full Ferrari 12,000 mile check list. Here is the page from the original owners manual, blown up to the point of legibility, with a red check mark as each item was completed.

The valve covers went back on without a hitch, (or an oil leak), I think I replaced about 64 chrome acorn nuts in the process. The new injectors sealed in tightly with the new 'O' Rings. Lots of solids in the exhaust paint were burning off after the first start up. A nasty toxic odor subsided after about 10 minutes.

Here is the indicator of smoothness:

Impression with the new injectors and the two plug wires repaired, it is definitely smoother, with a modest increase in power. It now pulls really hard and is very smooth to red line. The original center mufflers are now back on the car and I am still plagued with a few exhaust collector leaks.

The new punch list is exhaust leaks, compression testing, final radiator flush and refill. Then totally done!

Now to start driving it!
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@Theruse Yes, the original 3 pack set of mufflers is back on the car. It is substantially quieter, particularly at idle. What was on the car before was not a straight pipe, but a single Anza OEM muffler, one per side. This was too boomy and too loud for my taste (I'm over 60 years old). Re: backpressure, I don't have a high temp pressure gauge to instrument either system. I rely on the OEM Bosch / Ferrari engineering of the stock CIS injection system that it is now back in perfect (pressure) balance as this was the system the CIS injection was tuned to. Hope this helps.

 

The balancing hose between the two warm up regulators was missing on my car at delivery. Meaning I had independent (2) control pressures operating the two fuel distributors. So, a few parts from Belmetric and we are back in business with uniform control pressure on both regulators. Take away: absolutely zero difference in performance.
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Hooked up my new AFR sensor into the pass. side downpipe. This device reads in Analog (voltage) output. It was just over 1.05 volts putting it over 15:1 AFR. Way too lean for my tastes. I did both sides. Each time doing a number of mild acceleration pulls between 2 to 4k rpm. I settled on ~ .920 volts (average) giving a corrected AFR of 13.5:1 ratio. The idle came up about 300 rpm and believe it is running slightly cooler. A very successful day in the shop.
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Shameless plug: These are all the left over parts I've ordered from Superformance. Many of the items you would need to do a valve adjustment on the 400i /365 motor.

https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/400i-valve-service-kit-new-gaskets-misc-250.678419/

 

I wanted the home market licence plate. But did not want to pay the substantial premium for an authentic Modena region plate. What to do? Convert one. Here is a Milan (MI) plate set that got some light bodywork to convert the "I" to an "O". Some epoxy, a few coats of high build primer and careful application of the dremel grinder and it becomes "MO'' for Modena.
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VIN no. ZFFEB07B000054913 is basically finished. Here is the completed front licence plate.
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On June 4th VIN no. ZFFEB07B000054913 was entered in the Huntington Beach Concours - Ferrari / V-12 / Vintage class.
I am happy to report it was a great day for 400i's! First in class. Amid some serious competition.....
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Then, about the leave the event, I was told 'you can't leave yet'. ? Then, I was escorted back in the awards que. This 400i won Best of Show - Sports Car.
I was stunned. A great day culminating so much positive feedback on one of Pininfarina's best shapes!



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MO plates on Ebay are $700. MI plates on Ebay are $90. I got this pair on Ebay.

 

Hello Esben,
Thanks for your kind words. I sold this 400i back in August of 2023 on BaT. See: https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1985-ferrari-400-3/ I have no reccolection of the dimensions on those donuts. I purchased mine from Eurospares at: https://www.superformance.co.uk/ They fit well and were reasonably priced. Most of there parts were.
Best of luck on your project,
Paul