Dino Restoration

I'll sleep much better, thanks. I'd hate to see the wiring burn up after all of that work !
You're really doing a spectacular job.

 

Don't you know that those two bikes are conspiring to fall onto all that beautiful bodywork and make you totally crazy! I would eat scrambled eggs off the floor of your garage, but you HAVE TO MOVE THOSE BIKES!!!!!

 

I noticed that the front markers on the SV are different than those on Richards, is yours a euro model?

 

BOTH EXHAUST ARE GREAT
I have a Tubi on the Euro Dino and a stock Anza on the US. Both sound great with the Tubi being a little louder/more "raw", especially at higher revs.
A few years ago I bought a stainless steel Anza "Dino sport" for the USA car from T Rutlands and it looks identical to the factory Anza. I anticipate this be the happy medium between durable Stainless and great sound, but haven't installed it yet.

BOTH IGNITIONS ARE GREAT
The Euro Dino has an MSD ignition and the USA has a permatune gutted Marelli AEC-103 (circa 1995). The MSD does have a hotter spark, but I believe my permatune was a very early version and the ones today could be much better/hotter. In an email exchange last year to Lonnie/Permatune, they offered to upgrade mine although I've not had any problems.
Last year I did a safety inspection before going on a 4 day FCA club. When I looked over the plug wires I found the MSD coil was slightly leaking oil onto the coil wire. Not enough to start a fire, but still a concern. MSD are readily found in the local parts store and it was a simple, quick change to replace it.

 

Jon,
Perma-Tune is great and works with stock coil. DinoPlex is great but the components are unbelievealy ancient. If they still work, the manufacturer deserves a standing O. Change out the DinoPlex guts under any condition. MSD is fine but does nothing to make things better. Unless you are dead set on running 1960s plugs. Then it is better than than Perma-Tune when idling but who cares that much about idle. Starting and high RPM are where the fun is.

Change the plugs to NGK Iridium plugs and any functioning ignition system is just fine. Heat range of 7, just like NGK recommends, is just fine unless you want to track the car.

No need to use magnetic, etc. pickups to trigger ignition if you will use stock distributor. You must lube advance mechanism every 15,000-30,000 miles and you can look at the points then. They last that long.

Luck,
John

 

Gorgeous restoration photos, this car is really coming along!


I run the MSD with Bosch Platinum WDRP6's and it is great, even when above 5,000 feet in altitude on our high mountain passes. I have over 6,000 miles on these plugs and they're still clean so don't see any reason to change them although I do carry a spare set in my kit. John's correct, the Iridiums have a very precise elctrode and spark but cost multiples of the platinums (see Corbani thread on Spark Plugs with the comparison photos that reveal the smaller electrodes http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=99252&highlight=Dino+saga). I figured I could always upgrade later but they've run so well that I haven't had the need to change them yet.

The stock Marelli AEC-103A has no short circuit protection, I'd be careful when charging or (heaven forbid) jump starting a car with that unit in it.

BTW, NGK 7 series is good for sea level, but might be too hot for the high mountain passes.

Scott

 

Dino Tubi's come in Competition or Street with the competition of course being the louder one, I have the competition which sounds great but can hurt abit when on a two hour drive. A buddy has the street version which also sounds great but is more subdued.

 

omgjon, I must say this is VERY impressive. I don't have a Dino myself, and won't for a while and frankly I don't understand a thing when it comes to the mechanics of a car and I don't think I can ever take one apart and put it back together. For some strange reason I have read this thread from start to finish and even though I don't understand what the parts you have documented are, I have kept reading in amazement at your accomplishments. I am sure you and your son had a blast. Anyways, I just wanted to say that this is amazing and for a car that was made before I was even born (I graduated high school today actually) it is amazing. Congratulations, and I would love to some day see it in person.

 

can't wait to see the finished car - the color is stunning.

 

If the rings on the gauges are similar to the 308 gauges you can gently pry them off with a small screwdriver (jewelers or eyeglass) . They will "pop" off and "snap" back on.

 

Jon - I am in need of ventilation hoses. Where did you get yours? Can I order a complete set for the Dino, or must I order each individually - length, Inside Diameter, etc.?

The chrome rings are tricky. I have not successfully removed mine without leaving tell-tale signs. They will get damaged no matter what you do. I hate the fact that the gauge glass becomes stained/dirty, and that Veglia never provided for a means of cleaning them.

Let me know if you come up with an approach that works. I think that John Corbani's is as good as it gets...cut the ring at one spot and then resolder.

Jim S.

 

Jon,

I think the clock case is by another manufacturer and I think my clock might be different than yours. I looked at the rings on all my other gauges and there is no sign of a break in the ring. There was one in my clock. You might take the gauges out of the panel and look at the back side of the chrome ring. If there is a break on the back side then the rings might be like my clock. There was a but joint at one end of the rear cutaway. If that joint is broken, the ring can expand and come off. I then ground the chrome off the brass, at the rear, tinned the ground spots and soldered a piece of copper wire to keep the joint tight. If you are quick enough, and the joint is on the bottom, no one will ever know without pulling the instrument.

I like the stealth picture of the bottom of the engine. What are you holding in your fingers? Looks like something having to do with the oil pickup. Getting close now. Good luck.

John

 

BRAVA...BRAVO....very very beatiful works....

 

Looks great, things are really progressing!

Would Mark consider casting more of the license plate contact switches?

There is a need for many more.

Thank you,

Scott