F40 LM/RACE HEAD GASKET UPGRADE-HELP! | FerrariChat
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F40 LM/RACE HEAD GASKET UPGRADE-HELP!

Discussion in '288GTO/F40/F50/Enzo/LaFerrari/F80' started by FREECAT, Aug 2, 2005.

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  1. FREECAT

    FREECAT Rookie

    Jun 18, 2004
    5
    #1 FREECAT, Aug 2, 2005
    I am the 'lucky'owner of the Hartmann F40 which looks a bit like the F40LM with a similar bonnet.The engine is upgraded for racing and the car did indeed race a couple of times in 1996.It features in the www.ferrariturbo.com web site under the 'Hartmann f40' link.
    Anyway guys, the car has been in the garage ever since it was bought a year ago.It is road legal with variable boost up to 720bhp.My garage said that the hydrocarbon emissions were off the scale and after an engine strip down they told me the 2 cylinder heads had evidently been shimmed and polished and needed replacing.6 months later (and at huge expense!!)the job supposedly done they say that the problem is cleared on one bank but not the other.Inspection of the head and gasket indicate that the stock F40 gasket is not up to the job and gas is escaping.
    My question to you guys is PLEASE can anyone help me?I had this beloved car for 2 days before it went away to the garage and they say I need a much stronger race f40 gasket.Apparently Michelotto cannot oblige.
    Can anybody suggest an alternative source for this part ?Also for the technical boys out there to put it discreetly, my garage is 'at the limit'of their expertise.They are an approved Ferrari garage more used to the servicing and simple repairs to standard cars.Any suggestions on what else could be causing huge hydrocarbons from one side?Could a race gasket be all I need?
    Where can I get this in the UK or in the good 'ol USA.
    Please help me!
    Jeff.
     
  2. zsnnf

    zsnnf Formula 3

    Sep 11, 2003
    1,877
    #2 zsnnf, Aug 2, 2005
    Nice car! Good luck!
    Try Ted at Rutlands for a gasket. 800 638-1444
    For Tech info you can try Rod at FAI 949 631-6373 ot Tate at Carabu 949 722-9307.

    As far as emissions go, are you sure the cam timing is O.K.?
    Rick
     
  3. Jimbo49

    Jimbo49 Formula 3

    Aug 5, 2004
    1,889
    Geelong, Australia
    Full Name:
    James
    #3 Jimbo49, Aug 2, 2005
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  4. FREECAT

    FREECAT Rookie

    Jun 18, 2004
    5
    #4 FREECAT, Aug 3, 2005
    Yes that is indeed my car.
     
  5. dbcooper

    dbcooper Formula Junior

    Feb 7, 2005
    281
    Costa Mesa,Ca.
    Full Name:
    Tim Romero
    #5 dbcooper, Aug 3, 2005
    "My garage said that the hydrocarbon emissions were off the scale and after an engine strip down they told me the 2 cylinder heads had evidently been shimmed and polished and needed replacing.6 months later (and at huge expense!!)the job supposedly done they say that the problem is cleared on one bank but not the other.Inspection of the head and gasket indicate that the stock F40 gasket is not up to the job and gas is escaping."

    am I the only one who has no idea what this means?shimmed ansd polished and needed replacement?huh? then they got 1 bank to seal and not the other?
    are you sure that the problem is with the gasket and not maybe mechanic related? then again maybe i'm wrong?I havent had enough F-40 exp. to say for sure
     
  6. FREECAT

    FREECAT Rookie

    Jun 18, 2004
    5
    #6 FREECAT, Aug 3, 2005
    Hi Guys,

    Unfortunately I am not very knowledgeable about engines.The garage showed me the underside of the old heads and explained that they had been further machined and had as much taken off as possible.I don't really know what this means, maybe someone can explain.It is a racing car ,although road legal, and perhaps this is what they do for more power?

    Anyway i would be very grateful if you could give me the e mail address of the guys who may have a gasket suitable since Im in the UK and would find it easier to explain all this in an e mail.

    Once all this is sorted I'll be able to tell the forum all about arguably the quickest road legal F40 in the world!!

    Jeff
     
  7. Napolis

    Napolis Three Time F1 World Champ
    Honorary Owner

    Oct 23, 2002
    32,118
    Full Name:
    Jim Glickenhaus
    #7 Napolis, Aug 3, 2005
    Contact DK Engineering UK. Tell them the guy who owns 0846,002C, and 0854 sent you. If they can't help you contact Michelotto tell him I suggusted him as well. Either of these guys can fix it but it will not be cheap. As an aside if the person who designed this kludge screwed up too badly it won't be fixable.

    Roland Lindner could also fix it, if it can be fixed, I pm him.
     
  8. andrewg

    andrewg F1 Rookie
    BANNED

    Sep 10, 2002
    4,667
    Chester, England
    Full Name:
    AndrewG
    #8 andrewg, Aug 3, 2005
    Have you tried DK engineering or bob houghton?

    as for the heads a simple explanation would be that when you blow a head gasket there is a chance you may distort, warp or otherwise damage the perfectly flat mating surfaces on both the cylinder heads and the block, there is only a finite amount of metal you can machine off the heads and block to return them to the correct condition (perfectly flat and smooth)
    If your heads have been machined (also known as skimmed) before there may not be enough metal left to do it again (time for a set of new heads :( )

    Why not ask around the UK section for recomendations, amongst the regulars there is a Ferrari main dealer technician (Dale) and a couple of UK specialists (Me!) or drop me a mail at [email protected]

    Regards
     
  9. Napolis

    Napolis Three Time F1 World Champ
    Honorary Owner

    Oct 23, 2002
    32,118
    Full Name:
    Jim Glickenhaus
    #9 Napolis, Aug 3, 2005
    Andrew
    Good advise. Have you ever heard of anyone "dry decking" a Ferrari engine?
    At Le Mans Ford tried this with some 427's. (Using no head gasket but O rings and piped water from the block to the heads)

    You sound like the right man for the job.

    Regards
     
  10. Tenney

    Tenney F1 Rookie
    Consultant

    Feb 21, 2001
    4,289
    #10 Tenney, Aug 3, 2005
  11. andrewg

    andrewg F1 Rookie
    BANNED

    Sep 10, 2002
    4,667
    Chester, England
    Full Name:
    AndrewG
    #11 andrewg, Aug 3, 2005
    Jim not with a Ferrari engine (although I'm sure somebody has) Porsche found out the hard way with the early 911-964 engines that "Dry Decking" cylinder heads doesnt work particularly well with non Race cars (IE anything meant to do thousands of miles before needing a rebuild)

    Regards

    Andrew
     

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