Another 400i for sale -- SF Craigslist

I can appreciate the workmanship that goes into an engine/tranny swap of this kind, I really can.

I just can't understand why anyone would do it, especially if the work involved makes the cost $100k or more.

I wonder what goes through the owners mind when they come to sell the car to a very limited market at such a huge loss - even more so when genuine V12 engined cars are available for similar (or quite often less) money.

I know it's a free country and people are free to spend/waste their money any way they choose but I just don't get it.

And those wheels - if there was every anything that murdered the appearance of a 400 they're it.

IMHO of course.

 

That poor engine bay. It looks somehow wrong.
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If you must do engine swap why not put another Ferrari lump in, from a 456 or 575 say?

 

obviously isn't a "Ferrari" IMO without the heart of it anymore, the V12, but besides that, the value is now greatly diminished as a result, and those mirrors and wheels make it look silly!

 

c est bien vrai qu'il n y a rien a comprendre
il y a quand même un bon nombre de moteur de V12 de Ferrari 456
donc si le moteur était mort pourquoi ne pas remettre un autre moteur Ferrari

 

Oh no.

 

I don't see how putting a Chevy engine in costs that kind of money.

 

If it sells for over $20,000 it will be amazing.

I liked the idea of trying to find something like a 456 or 575 power plant for it. That would a worthy project!

 

I think we all can agree on the fact that those wheels are a far worse sin then the motor swap.

 

One could change out the wheels for reasonable money.
The motor would take much more than that.

 

As much as I liked the looks and the smell of the leather interior in my 400i, the soul of the machine is in the engine and makes up at least 90% of the identity of the car in my mind.

Except for the wheels and outside mirrors, it looks pretty well done. The concept of a 456 engine would be really intriguing, not only because it would retain a Ferrari soul, but because the increased horsepower would be exhilarating. Trouble is, the cost of that conversion, even with a fairly cheap 456 engine out of a wreck, would probably end up being more than the cost of buying a 456 in reasonable shape these days.

 

The wheels are the larger sin here. The engine conversion looks well done from here, not the dubious claim of $100k , but a clean installation.
It will pass CA. smog and looks very nice aside the aforementioned wheels.
It's pedigree papers were torn up when received for rescue but at least it was saved from wall art, a re-body or being broken down for spares. If these are ever valuable enough to merit correctness it is a simple matter do restore it. For now it is a faster more reliable car. Nothing wrong with a good mutt.

 

Fair points very well put.

I still f*****g hate those wheels though !!

 

That makes a lot of sense on a CIS car, the 550s engines are cheap. When I did a 512M engine conversion in a CIS testarossa the fuel system was ready for the engine. Even the lines fit the fuel rails so it was just a matter of a stand alone engine management system (and a bunch of fabrication of course) but it was much easier than if one started with a carbed car. I want a 400 and a V12 in a boat so plop a 550 engine in a 400 and the 400 engine in a boat!