400i Daily Driver Snow Tires Mounted - None too soon! | FerrariChat

400i Daily Driver Snow Tires Mounted - None too soon!

Discussion in '365 GT4 2+2/400/412' started by aleventhal, Dec 4, 2007.

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  1. aleventhal

    aleventhal Formula Junior

    Jan 11, 2005
    661
    Sparks, MD
    Full Name:
    Alexander Leventhal
    #1 aleventhal, Dec 4, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Well, it is that time of year again for the 400i daily driver (#049773) - winter is coming and the snow tires have to go back on. For those of you who don't remember, this will be my third winter with my 400i daily driver. Unbelievably. after two full winters of snow and salt the car still shows zero rust and thanks to Bill Pollard's ministrations (he is the BEST - who else could keep this thing on the road for real use in all weather) it starts, runs, and drives like a Toyota - in a good way.

    So, Bill mounted the snow tires last week and I picked the car up at about 2am Thursday morning after flying in to White Plains from San Jose on N800TD (life is good) and drove it home in some mild snow and ice. Performed like a champ and continued to do so all weekend - thanks to Bill and the Blizzaks (on 328 rims, if anyone is curious).

    Here are some pictures - FORZA!

    A
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  2. bjwhite

    bjwhite F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    Mar 17, 2006
    4,806
    Seattle, WA
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    Brian White
    You are everyone's hero. "It's just a car." I love it.
     
  3. aleventhal

    aleventhal Formula Junior

    Jan 11, 2005
    661
    Sparks, MD
    Full Name:
    Alexander Leventhal
    It's not only "just a car" it is also "1 Big Fiat"!!!!!!!! :)

    A
     
  4. ArtS

    ArtS F1 World Champ
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Nov 11, 2003
    13,326
    Central NJ
    Alex,

    I'm getting tempted to follow in your footsteps. Do you know when Ferrari started rustproofing the 400s?

    Regards,

    Art S.
     
  5. Newman

    Newman F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner Professional Ferrari Technician

    Dec 26, 2001
    14,448
    Canada
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    Newman
    hows the boxer coming? I like the idea of a driver like that too but I wasnt thinking winter! I think its cool.
     
  6. aleventhal

    aleventhal Formula Junior

    Jan 11, 2005
    661
    Sparks, MD
    Full Name:
    Alexander Leventhal
    Art -

    The truth is nobody knows. I have been told by "reliable" sources that it started anytime between 82 and 89. Truth be told, I had assumed mine (#049773 - 1984 production) was not rustproofed (zincrox). My experience suggests otherwise, of course. That said, the PF built cars, even before rustproofing were generally much less rust prone / better built than the Scaglietti cars and 400s all have fiberglass floors, so even the non-zincrox cars may not rust, I guess. Time will tell, but sorry for the non-answer.

    A
     
  7. aleventhal

    aleventhal Formula Junior

    Jan 11, 2005
    661
    Sparks, MD
    Full Name:
    Alexander Leventhal
    Body and paint is done. Interior is done. Waiting on engine and tranny. Hoping to drive cross country to Monterry in 08.

    Thanks for asking,

    A
     
  8. Kingair33

    Kingair33 Formula Junior

    Aug 28, 2006
    941
    San Francisco, CA
    Full Name:
    Alex
    Congrats on the Gulfstream and a great looking car!
     
  9. fez1238

    fez1238 Karting

    Sep 5, 2007
    170
    aleventhal wrote:

    ''That said, the PF built cars, even before rustproofing were generally much less rust prone / better built than the Scaglietti cars and 400s all have fiberglass floors, so even the non-zincrox cars may not rust, I guess''


    Im using mine ('83 400i) as a daily driver (last 8 months) in the rain at the moment. Had a good look round the sills yesterday and found everything ok. So presume rust protection started around '83 (-1).


    I didnt know we had fibreglass floors! From looking at my car - underneath the exhaust there are 'stainless steel' looking plates (presume for heat protection) and the rest is undersealed but always thought it would be steel underneath.

    Any other body parts made of fibreglass?

    Andrew
     
  10. markcF355

    markcF355 F1 Rookie

    Jun 6, 2004
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    The only body rust problem on mine is a small steel panel that forms the top of the drivers foot well. It pulled apart from the fiberglass at the top and rusted a bit.

    Those panels above the exhaust are aluminum.

    The real rust issue looks like the frame. It seems to have no protection at all (just some paint), although the type of steel doesn't seem prone to rust.
    Has anybody had any major rust issue on their frame?

    I'm going to spray mine with waxoil while I have it apart.
     
  11. dstacy

    dstacy F1 World Champ
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    Jan 23, 2006
    11,998
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    Dave
    Of all the 400's I looked at I found a common rust area to be the inner fenderwells.
     
  12. Fritz Ficke

    Fritz Ficke Formula 3
    Rossa Subscribed

    Jan 3, 2006
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    Fritz Ficke
    bottom of doors and a edge of the windsheild frame I have found rust on mine.
    My engine leaks enough oil to coat the bottom of the car with rust prohibitive, I think that was the rust proofing method by the factory:)
     
  13. Newman

    Newman F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner Professional Ferrari Technician

    Dec 26, 2001
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    Newman
    how about some pics in the boxer section? we would all love to see it.
     
  14. aleventhal

    aleventhal Formula Junior

    Jan 11, 2005
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    Full Name:
    Alexander Leventhal
    Thanks - it is a nice way to travel if you have to go...
     
  15. aleventhal

    aleventhal Formula Junior

    Jan 11, 2005
    661
    Sparks, MD
    Full Name:
    Alexander Leventhal

    Nothing major in 'glass - main floors are the biggie.
     
  16. aleventhal

    aleventhal Formula Junior

    Jan 11, 2005
    661
    Sparks, MD
    Full Name:
    Alexander Leventhal
    FWIW I have never seen more than irrelevant surface rust on the frame - they are made of relatively thick wall steel - would take a lot for rust to become of material importance - i don't see this as an issue on a 400...
     
  17. aleventhal

    aleventhal Formula Junior

    Jan 11, 2005
    661
    Sparks, MD
    Full Name:
    Alexander Leventhal
    #17 aleventhal, Dec 5, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Promise to get some new pics (interior mostly - body has not changed since the last round) this weekend and post them up...I know if I don't people will start asking me to post pictures of me, with todays paper, the owners manual, the keys and a sign that I'm with stupid or it will prove the car (#18265) is a figment of my imagination. :)

    FWIW these pics are a month or two old...

    A
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  18. blkprlz

    blkprlz Formula 3

    Mar 24, 2007
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    Bruce
    I noticed those spots, the panels are pop-riveted into place (into the frame I think). Furtunately, they're small slits that run along the pan's edges.
     
  19. blkprlz

    blkprlz Formula 3

    Mar 24, 2007
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    Bruce
    Took a peek underneath this AM, alum. pans riveted to flat bar stock which is not part of the space frame superstructure (although it probably adds rigidity).
     
  20. markcF355

    markcF355 F1 Rookie

    Jun 6, 2004
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    I think your talking about the heat shield. I was talking about the panel that forms part of the foot well below the brake booster.
     
  21. MS250

    MS250 Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Dec 10, 2003
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    Congrats on the Boxer.....i love the pics of the 400 in the snow....over the years though you can see the paint starting to fade alittle....but the lack of rust is truly interesting to all of us owners.
    Drive safe Mate !!
     

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