Paul what a bizarre post I am concerned about you: do you happen to have smoked some questionable substance? eaten too much Haggis perhaps?! Oh and the link does not work. best regards, Marc
On Ebay, an original Khamsin handbook, item 190363721625 : http://cgi.ebay.com/Maserati-Khamsin-original-handbook-manual-Bora-Ghibli_W0QQitemZ190363721625QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarParts_Vehicles_Manuals_Litterature_ET?hash=item2c528fdf99 Philippe M S2 7987 www.lamborghinimiura.com
Am I missing something? Where have all the Khamsins for sale gone. Been sold is obvious but what sort of money or is this a bit like a sunami there the tide goes out and comes back stronger than ever eg. cars available dry up, then lots on the market at higher prices?? Look at the number of Miura's and Daytona Ferraris for sale just amazing.
Hello Graeme: I think GCmerak means gone from the US to Europe, you can see some notes I made in a long post on January 10 (post #1615) which you may have missed due to your travels about recent Khamsin movements...but as far as availabilty it is true a lot have gone to Europe and only two are now for sale in the US 5 speed and two automatic, whereas in Europe there are more or less 8 advertised though the gold car in Austria is not really for sale I don't think (they never answer which is why chassis number is unknown to me) and the black car also in Austria AM120404 in Auto Salon Stich while still advertised in one site actually sold to Belgium over a year ago. As mentioned in that january 10 post the asking prices are not often reasonable so it is a matter of making an offer half way between what they used to cost some years ago and what the asking price is now and that in my humble opinion is about the price right now. As far as availability in your neck of the woods you know better than anyone the status. The fact that the AM120307 with the Corvette engine sold to someone with a Diablo as opposed to someone who is barely solvent is encouraging. best regards, Marc
Hi Graeme, My sources tell me that there are a number of US Meraks available on the European continent. Furthermore, ugly bumpers aside [and that can be remedied] the US models have Girling and outboard rear brakes whereas most Euro Meraks do not. That many times is seen as a +. Ciao, George
Hello John! Welcome to the forum and thank you for the "underskirt" photo of AM120US1032, hope your restoration is going well. best regards, Marc
Nice "grill rack" you got there John Please keep posting pictures of your work John. I understood that you wanted to do the job properly from your e-mail, and this shows that you have started right. Next winter "385" will be in the same position, and I will share my experience here. Best regards Marius Sorteberg
I have worked on the project since start of December 2009 now reached a point where I turn the head on restoration more fun. In process is: Rebuilding engine, gearbox and rear transmission (should not be too difficult) Replacing all cabin leather and carpet with new in original colour (I found a very good workshop near my home with lot of experience) All hydraulic parts cleaned and ready to get full service might cause some headache to get spare parts. Then more general I have started the search of spare parts, with some major items o New front window o New exhaust manifolds (headers) and two new rear silencers o Two new fuel tanks + gauge o Conversion kit towards European bumpers o Shock absorbers General maintained Calliper repair kits Brake hose Handbrake cables + + + + Do any on this forum know if any body panels are available for the Khamsin? Marc has already given some advice where to source parts in the Khamsin network thanks Marc I will please picture + text on the page as the restoration will continue and is in progress and look forward to receive feedback and hopefully a lot of good advice from all on the forum I will probably need it Today I had a strange experience as the rear spring /coil is of different length and an aluminium spacer is installed to compensate the missing length is this standard or a later rebuild?? (see picture) Have a nice day! John Image Unavailable, Please Login
Hello John: Great work! I am already overwhelmed by various tasks related to retromobile now just 3 days away but will ask my friend who owns the remains of AM120204 what he would sell. I will let others who are more technically minded than me answer your questions above but keeo posting this is exactly what this thread needs and people will appreciate your posts even if the rapidityof response is unpredictable. best regards, Marc
Hi John, best of luck. Should be a very intersting project. AM120US1222 is parked in Malmö most of the time, should you need to look at anything assembled. Regards /Henrik
This is right John. One coil one each side is shorter than the other. I can't remember which one, but I think the rear ones are longer.
Very interesting, something I never saw before. My immediate thought was that there should be symmetrical springs, but maybe different rates were chosen to avoid axle tramp with the high torque engine that feeds the power? From a theoretical standpoint I'd also say that the shorter springs go in front. Still find it very strange...
Hi John Marc this needs to go in your data base. I would advise if you dont have a parts book they are essential to work out some of the details. After rummaging through my pile of info on My Khamsin Restoration I found the information the Maserati factory sent me on the springs. Stay with me on this one there is a bit of info. The first 50 Khamsins had spring part no 76691 4 off position doesn’t matter. Later cars there are two part numbers 120SP84468 this spring goes at the front on both sides. its dimensions are 397mm free length (uninstalled as per you picture) wire dia 10.5 , OD of the coil is 102.5mm Dynamic load is 326 KGs at a compressed length of 166 mm static at 238Kgs at 228 mm the other part number is 120SP84469 this is the rear spring on both sides. its dimension is 392mm free length 11 wire dia and coil OD is 103. Dynamic load is 383 KGs at a compressed length of 166 mm static at 278Kgs at 228 mm If I may offer my own experience with Maserati springs is that the steel is very good quality but the heat treatment isn’t. I would advise that the info I have here is given to a spring manufacturer for them to reset and retemper the springs. My car was quite low in the rear and when fueled up almost sat on the ground. As for the question of the spacers they don’t appear in the parts book but that doesn’t mean much there are quite a lot of items that don’t. If they are 5mm thick this could be the case they could be factory as that’s the difference in the free spring length. As you may have found there is quite a lot of preload on the springs when installed. As a interesting thing I had the local Koni agent make me shocks for the car. they cut up the old ones fitted the end fittings and revalued them to suit these spring rates. They apparently came from an Aston Martin model they didn’t say. I suppose if I look hard enough I could see the original part number if you are interested.
Hi. When I dismanteled the rear suspension, I found no spacers, but the rear coils were thicker than the two in front (...of the rear, well, you know what I mean Helge
Hi Helge With a lack of real factory help cars finish up being a product of the previous owners not the factory. but as per my comment. The wire diameter on the rear is 11mm the frount 10.5mm Regards Graeme
Rear suspension issue different coils. Today I investigated the situation better based on the input her on the chat. I have measured the coils as follow: Short coils are 380 mm long and the outer diameter of 103 mm material thickness is 11 mm. Long coils are 400 mm long and the outer diameter of 103 mm material thickness is 10,5 mm. The two aluminium spacers placed on under the short coils each end - are 5 mm and total together 10 mm which ads up a shorter coil 390 (10 mm) but at the same time whit slightly bigger material ( 11 mm) Coils from the car front suspensions are 355 mm long and the outer diameter of 135 mm material thickness is 17 mm. It will be interesting to see if anyone knows the reason and can explain the right position! Job of the day hydraulics May you all have a nice day! John Image Unavailable, Please Login
Would be very interesting to find a way to get new rear shock absorbers - I have not yet seen on the net - and need four! Kind regards John
Hi John The difference in the springs and why they are different probably has more wo do with material availability than anything else. To get a specific spring rate there are some deciding factors. The Diameter of the wire is a key the Diameter of the coil and the the number of coils and finally the length of the wire used in the springs. To get the specific rate they were after they needed to play around with the above info to get the rate and the frequency they were after. I think from memory the spring rate is about 70 lb/inch frount and 80lb/inch or total of 150lb/inch. and Given they are close to the wheel means the rates are not that far off whats called the "wheel Rates" The front is a different matter due to the angle and the distance from the center of the wheel. meaning the rates on the frount are rougly 350lb/inch but the true rate is probably close to 200lb/inch there is probably 10 ways to achive the end result but each one has a compromise. whats in there is there compromise for comfort and handling. You may find the spacer in the rear are someones idea of trying to raise the car alittle due to them saging.( they dont get that much shorter when they sag the get softer thats why they are close to the factory length this is why the rate per inch or mm is an important thing to measure.) As for the coil diameter probably a a production change/different manufacturer. the Shocks I have you wont se advertised or available anywhere. they were made by th KONI Agent in Melbourne by an ex Koni factory person who emigrated. interesting the price of the 4 shocks at the time was the same as 2 genuine VIRO units! Cheers Graeme
Some Detail photos of the Front spring in free length the the rear suspension. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
