Maserati Khamsin

...and here is its spiritual err cousin in terms of condition and location...chassis number unknown as well, dare I call it yellow peril?
No offense meant if there are any Japanese viewers: Sumimasen just Gaijin humor!

This one was not born yellow and we know that for two reasons: only 7 fly yellow cars were sold, all of them to the US of A. Secondly it seems perhaps the real color under the peeling yellow on the nose was light gold? Hard to tell, not fly yellow in any case.

Right that's it for the depressing sights the others, next time I post, are muuuch better thankfully and there are about 18 yes EIGHTEEN other K's in the file

Very very difficult to get chassis number information in Japan though as the question is considered highly intrusive and you really have to be introduced to the owner before he will consider giving out that kind of information.

Marc
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Hi John, good to have you back!

It will be two Khamsin's from Norway to Dijon, me and my wife will drive one of them, and we was hoping to pick up you on the way down.

Your car looks great, and I know it's just as nice under the paint as well. The rest of the parts looks like new, so you may use the white gloves for the rest of the job.

I'll talk to you soon.
Ciao Marius

 

This was a really sad sight Marc. Both this and the yellow will require more work than they are worth I guess, but hopefully the parts may be saved.

Please don't wait too long to post the other pictures, as this was depressing to see.

Hilsen Marius

 

Another few question for the "technically minded" crew as Marc refers to them!

1. To the left of the steering wheel, I have a horn button which is supposed to engage a powerful air horn when on motorways as opposed to a more discreet city version. In my case, I get the full blast in both positions. Any ideas? Are there two sets of horns in the car somewhere?

2. Should the light above the rear seats come on when any of the doors are open? The switch on the center console seem to have three positions but I only get an on/off, not intermittent. If there is an open/closed position, is the trigger the same as the small footwell light on the passenger side? Or is triggered by the opening of the rear hatch?

3. Anybody's bonnet (aka engine lid) vibrate whilst driving? Mine does, a lot, and the sound of it is both quite high and annoying. Any cure?

Thank you in advance for your responses,

Pascal

 

Pascal this is absolutely tragic....a malfunctioning horn....an uncooperative celing light...I am very sorry to say that in these dire circumstances my advice is to get an exorcist....and then a flamethrower to immolate it....then turn around three times throw salt over your left shoulder and RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!!!

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;-) Sorry Pascal could not resist LOL!

Count yourself lucky to have a very good Khamsin (look at the japanese dead ones above) with almost everything working and I can promise you one thing: we won't be checking horns and dome lights at the K40 concours!

I now leave you to communicate with the techies to solve your err not so tragic problems

MS

PS: Bonnet (hood) vibrating problem should be a matter of lock adjustment I think but others know such particulars better, anyone?

 

First of all a compliment to John Berg: Looks fabulous and I like that light sky blue. too many were converted to re-sale red.

Pascal,

The electric scheme is a bit of a night mare. Mr Lucas, the Prince of Darkness, has a nephew: Magneti Marelli....

Re 1: I have the complementary horn button too and is wired to the city horn at one side and works with the ignition off. The passing (comprssor) horn only works with the ignition switched on and ofcourse the rocker switch flicked in the other position. There is a separate relay for the passing horn. The rocker switches suffer from corrosion, spraying some WD40 in them solves a lot. Specially the window switches!

Re 2: Door switches operate the foot well lights L&R. The dash switch should allow overrun the door switches and allow for the ceiling light to be switched on.

Re 3: The speed hood vibrations are a known problem and I have seen some rudimental solutions to that with brackets but it can be properly adjusted by the 6(!) adjustment screws with rubber tops in combination with the 2 hood locks. on the attached picture you can see 5 of the rubber topped screws and how they are mounted in the gutters at the top of the front fenders. By giving them a slight pre-loading of the hood when the catches / locks are engaged your problem is solved.
I have seen various cars that had been resprayed and where these rubber topped adjusters were missing. (One can easily make them from a standard M6 double ended anti-vibration fixing for exhaust systems by simply cutting one end off.)

So far for Marc's beloved tec detail proza.

Good luck,

Bart
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Hi Bart,

The oldest cars doesn't have those six rubber topped adjusters. I don't know when they started to use them, but cars with six M6 holes in the front wings should have it. The bonnet on #008 vibrate so much that my sight got dizzy when driving.

Best regards
Marius

 

I have to say that the colour looks divine on your rebuilt caar John.
It's going to be one outstanding car when complete.

Sorry if I've missed it but what interior colour combo are you going with?

Bal

 

Khamsin 341 yesterday! Engine & plumbing in, making good progress!

Really chuffed with the colour!

Regards to all

Doug
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I have chosen to do all original - same colour

Pictures attached

Best regards
John
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Thanks Bart.

I have adjusted the passenger side bonnet latch (2 bolts, slide entire assembly down a few centimeters) as well as raised the rubber stop nearest it, and, job done!

Just to be clear, are there two sets of horns, and, if yes, where is the city (electric) one located?

With regards to the passenger footwell light and door jamb one, neither of them work as they should (on when door is opened, off when closed) which means the contact in the side pillar is probably the issue. Not sure how to fix that, probably will need to trace wires and see what happens.

In order to make Marc happy, two more anal compulsive questions:

1. Is there a light in the engine compartment and if yes, where?
2. Is the leather gaiter on the gearshift attached to the bottom of the knob or is it loose (mine is currently not attached)?

Thanks in advance,

Pascal

 

Hi Pascal,

The switches in the A-pillar often corrode, or stick so the contact points never meet when the door opens. MIE sells new ones at a decent cost. The are easy to replace, just be careful not to lose the wire inside the pillar when you pull the switch out.

Best regards
Marius

 

Hi Pascal,

Bonnet / hood adjustment: you see, life can be easy!
Horns: yes, 2 different kinds. one electric (or electro magnetic) Bosch unit (with a + & - connection!) is mounted on a bracket in the left front corner under/behind the left headlight set. The second one is Fiamm compressor horn also mounted in the same area. Both are accessible by taking the front bumper off.
Ad 1: Take a look on the picture above of my engine bay: the compartment light is mounted on the right top inner mud guard. Carries a small switch but only works with the (position) lights switched on.
Ad 2: take a look on the picture, mine is attached just under the knob.

Success,

Bart
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Thanks Bart. How is your gaiter attached? I have a metal lock nut separate from the gear knob. Does the gaiter go over the lock nut and the knob then screws on top and effectively "attaches" the gaiter?

Marius, thank you, I am placing an order this evening from MIE, I will add two of them to it.

Another detail question, spare wheel, in a black vinyl bag (which is what I have) or not?

Pascal

 

Hi Pascal...

Interesting about the vinyl bag for the spare wheel...

I don't have it in front of me right now, but I don't think
the spare parts manual indicates a bag for the spare
wheel...

But, it will be interesting to see what others say!

Mike

 

Hi Pascal

The Vinal bag is correct, there should also be a large rubbe insert and the spacer adaptor for the space saver spare.

As for the gear leaver garter... good question. even the Brouchures I have don't show the detail clearly. having said that it wouild make sence to have the lock nut under the boot to hold it up and seal it.

Graeme

 

Hi Graeme...

Now that's interesting, that you have the vinyl bag...

Could you supply pictures of this bag??? Maybe even
some dimensions???

Thanks...

Mike

 

Thank you Bart for saving me a lot of time and hassle, all I had to do to get the engine light to work was...to flip the switch on the light! Never thought a manufacturer would bother to put an on/off switch on an engine light but apparently Maserati did. Now of course, I will probably never use it, but it is nice to know it works (Hi Marc!)

In order to continue with useless details, anybody knows where to find the right Maserati black interior screws for trim etc? A few are missing all together and other are obviously not correct. Want it to be all fit and proper for June!

P

 

While there a lull in the discussion of ashtray parts numbers and other such vital talk I will sneak in one of the Japanese K's care part of the batch I recently received. Again no chassis number info but, as per Marius request this one is a much nicer sight: not only is it in better condition but it is being repainted FROM red TO another color contrary to what used to happen far too often!

White has a special meaning in Japanese culture to do I -believe- with purity, hence is a very popular car color.

From what I understand these are not recent photos but they don't look 30 years old either obviously...very thin info alas but better than nada. I will eventually find the right contact there to dig deeper, the young lady who is helping me and got me this initial information wil see to that.

The Japanese club however just does not answer...

best regards,

Marc

By the way the part number for the tire bag is #377589757987 and to be correct and get your concours points it must imperatively be in abominable snowman hide, caught only during full moon, best found in Lhassa Tibet.

Absolutamente;-)
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The vinyl bag is correct although was missing on this car. Here are photos showing the rubber insert and the space adapter. The rubber insert is so that the spare tire does not vibrate or move around. The spacer is normally stored on the rear left compartment.

Ivan
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Marc,
I made the same experiance with them....! They are not very communicative at all.

Ciao!
Walter

 

Interesting Walter:

Maybe we need to suggest the factory have a look into the situation there.

An inactive club helps no one.

MS

 

That's very true. Over here in South Africa, Masers are somewhat 'tolerated' in the realms of the Ferrari-club, but there is not much coherence amongst the owners. Most of them are modern anyway.

 

Not so in Germany. We have a lot of connections to the owners of old cars in the Ferrari club and once a year a combined event which is one of our highlights: the "Incontro".

The Japanese Maserati Club is -in my opinion- a very strage community. No communication outside to other clubs, no info about the cars they have in their club, no research help. Only silence!

Ciao!
Walter

 

Perhaps a language issue?