Countach Downdraft 1985 to 1988.5

What did you hear that makes you think it needs fine tuning Joe? Was it those pops at lower RPM? I've noticed mine does that especially when trundling at low speeds - just pops a bit occasionally. I figured it's maybe a bit rich?

 

It's not well tuned but was the best my mechanic could do quickly - required re-jetting coming out of Switzerland to basically sea level, and he did the best he could with what he had at the time.

 

I feel I need to do an engine out in the next 6-12 months - I have a local guy who can do it (ex-employee of Duggan which is where he learned on classic Lamborghinis) but are you aware of any travelling specialists who could come tune it? If so I would consider getting the carbs all rebuilt at the same time knowing it was going to be fully retuned afterwards.

I'd rather not ship it across country for a tune just to ship it back if I can avoid it, but if that's how it has to be so be it.

 

Does your car have headers?or the original Swiss log style manifolds?

 

Swiss car had always headers, but wrapped in Alu, only the US car had these special manifolds.

 

I'm.wondering what was the standard interior spec for the materials used. Which items were leather, plastic etc. As a handmade low volume car I suppose you could spec what you wanted. I was sitting in my car trying to figure out what was leather and plastic

 

Basically they wrapped everything with Leather, they always had their own "Selleria", the only plastic I can remember were knobs, levers, louvres for the ventilation etc.

In a QV you can easily see whether the window lever was changed, the factory always wrapped them with leather, when replaced they normally just install the plastic lever and many times the wrong ones since the original from the Fiat Argenta got rare as well.

 

All leather. We do this. Every panel i have taken out of the Countach is leather. We are doing a complete Black qv interior in the coming month. Just because we can. Will be a good learning experience.

 

Pops like that are normally a lean mixture. But always make sure the ignition is good first, typically that is the issue with most "carb issues". If there any chance of varnish build up it is worth cleaning the idle mixture jets first. If that does not do it then a slight adjustment of the idle mixture screws will take care of it. It does take some skill to get the idle mixture right on all 12 cylinders. With that many cylinder you can turn the idle screws a lot and it does not seem to make a difference, but there are ways to do it.

Cheers Jim

 

It has QuickSilver headers, but as Raymond pointed out despite the Swiss headers looking like the US ones, they are in fact real headers hidden behind a shroud, and not the US style of open chamber.

 

Given I've seen signs of leaking from the carbs, I think my best bet is when I do the engine out I should send them in for rebuilding, and have someone retune the car then.

 

When you say they are leaking are you referring to varnish build up around the various fittings or are you talking fuel dripping from them? These carbs have an accelerator pump on the left hand side that has a rubber infused fabric diaphragm. When these get old they can start leaking liquid fuel which is not good and you should get the diaphragms replaced right away, it is a fire risk. This could be done in the car if needed. There are only four screws on each carb to change these out. If it is just varnish then that is not an issue. Either way the tuning can wait until after your engine out and major carb service.

Cheers Jim

 

Not long now!

Hopefully driving before Xmas

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Many thanks, as far as i know the code is 224009. Can you take a photo of the complete sticker? What are dimensions? 9x5,5cm?

 

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Many thanks!

 

I see on their Instagram post that @kidstonmotorcars has a QV in restoration. Originally a black car, they say. Anyone know which one?

 

Looks like this one sold, anyone know what it was up for?