F40 service items

I just brought my F40 in for service on a gas smell. Here's what other F40 owners might find around this time:

1. The fuel pressure regulators start to rust through. This causes the gas smell (they leak) and hard hot starting.

2. The rubber surrounding the fuel pumps inside the fuel tanks starts to deteriorate. This causes particles to enter the fuel and clog the fuel filter. It's possible some may get to the injectors. The pumps need to be replaced and the tank and lines cleaned. A fuel additive may help extend the life after replacement, but that's not proven.

3. The 25+ year certified Ferrari technician never heard of "leaky injectors". RC Fuel Injection cleans then, but does not rebuild them.

4. One front tire had a slow leak. This was due to corrosion forming on the wheel near the bead. It's fine after cleaning.

5. The turbos are fine. The tech never had to replace any in 20+ years.

The car is still very strong and out-accelerates most newer cars. The brakes suck and the handling is marginal. But where's the excitement if everything is perfect?
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There is a suspension update

Awhile back I posted some pics of my fuel pumps. Mostly rubber bits scattered about on the bottom. The ethanol eats at them in the wintertime.

Interesting if you have original working turbos. My bushings failed after years of sitting (prior owner). Newer ones use bearings instead of bushings and drive better IMO. The impeller has a better design as well.

I've heard similar opinions from other techs. My opinion is they haven't seen an F40 since the final season of the Mickey mouse club.

 

Good info, thanks for sharing

 

Almost exactly the same experience here. Add in soft clutch pedal due to moisture reacting with magnesium and need to flush clutch. Anyone who does not use and maintain these cars deserves the 1:1 static display model they will get

I think the brakes are fine, but you do have to use them with real authority. No power assist feels odd to most drivers and they assume the brakes won't stop when in fact they will and will do so well.

 

it helps to have the service done by guys who see lots of them....hence i had bob houghton do the last service, and they will be doing the next one in july when i ship it to the uk for the silverstone classic parade.

russel smith at bob houghtons concurs on some of what you say. they looked at my injectors because of the gas smell. they were fine. but guess what...i still have a gas smell. russel then looked at everything else - all perfect. still have a gas smell. one of my racer friends explained how the engine runs relatively rich and so just before shut down he raises rpm briefly and then abruptly shuts it down and says that solves his problem....dunno if that works so well, but i tried it. i think i still have a gas smell. life with an f40.

btw, i have upgraded competition brembos, and IT STOPS ! as i have documented here previously, mine has had all sorts of upgraded parts added over the years to make it run better - brakes, suspension bushings, turbos, exhaust, lowered etc. and houghton said it was one of the best driving f40's he had seen. i think these cars were flawed at the start so adjusting these elements, while keeping the original parts, is not a bad thing if you plan to drive it. fwiw

 

All normal stuff 20 plus years later. I agree with you on the turbos: any car that has been used regularly and operated correctly shouldn't have an issue with them, although, as frefan says the replacement items are in fact a better design.

The brakes suck when cold around town, but as kverges says, warm them up and use them with authority and they are fine. I think the unservoed feel makes you feel a bit insecure, that's all.

 

forgot to mention these cars could be having electrical issues about this time. the connectors/fuse box build up resistance over time and cause sensors to randomly report inaccurate signals, which in my car showed up as a rough idle and sluggish throttle response. dave helms did wonders with his gold connector kit.

 

Is the gold connector kit model specific? Reason I ask is that there are alot of aftermarket connector kits now but I am uncertain if they are of such high quality. Just like any other vehicle at that time are the F40's building up corrosion?

 

Yes I think his kits are model specific. Dave is an electrical engineer so he knows his stuff. In what little my brain can retain from talking with him is the aluminum used from the time oxidizes and loses conductivity, generates heat and causes the connectors to losen. If left unchecked the fuse box can melt and good luck finding a new one. Gold lasts forever. If you search around you can probably find a more intelligible answer.

 

That answer was fine, does Dave H. produce the kit? If so I would look no further.

 

Absolutely, try google scuderia rampante innovations.

 

Get them up to proper operating temps and you will be saying different about this.

if you dont when they are cold yes any big brake set up on a production car can be an issue.

 

Thanks for sharing Bill S.

 

Thanks, Bill. Good stuff. I appreciate your taking the time to post this.

FWIW, I actually love the brakes. First, I think that you just have to stand on them hard to heat them up and make them work. Secondly, they serve as a good reminder that this isn't just another car you just get it and drive fast; it has no assistance and no babysitter. You drive it with respect yet forcefully and it rewards you properly.

 

ah, the infamous why I love the F40 thread begins anew

 

Just got the F40 back today and it runs great! It spins the rear in 1st at 7,000 RPM. It never did that before.

Some things completed...

1. Replaced both fuel pressure regulators. They were leaking fuel, causing warm-start issues, and causing the ECU to correct for a too-rich mixture. This is probably causing the increased performance. No more gas smell!
2. Found black powder in fuel filters from deteriorating fuel pump mounts. Replaced both pumps with mounts and filters. Also cleaned the fuel tank.
3. Replaced small coolant hose in engine valley. Silicon hose appeared to be OK.
4. Replace left rear axle seal. It was leaking.
5. 12-month service replaces all fluids.
6. Cleaned acid spill in battery box.
7. Passes CA emissions!

 

Excellent Bill. All routine stuff for these cars though.

 

Watch the temp gauge, if its getting warm you might want to flush the coolant system if its never been done. After all, its been 20 years. Be prepared for a pile of slag ...

 

Is there a highflow, quality "aftermarket" radiator that offers improved flow/life-span and does not cost an arm & leg for the F40?

 

good question, I don't know. my car is original. perhaps one of the mechanics will chime in, but I doubt it. the whole f40 service area is a bit of a black art and contains more closely held secrets than the Vatican.

 

There are shops that supply alot of racers who I think with the proper dimensions could build one but I also understand the desire to keep such a car as stock as possible.

 

Braids of Garlic hanging from every hoist, Silver Bullet racked and Red pin cushions adorne the tool boxes... you only touched on the tip of the iceberg.

Radiators, they are simple but it seems everyone tries to redesign the wheel when remaking them.

 

So basically try to understand before trying to be understood. Too bad there isn't a 'Buy Now' app for that.