Maserati Merak Question | FerrariChat

Maserati Merak Question

Discussion in 'Maserati' started by Jorgen Andersson, Dec 4, 2008.

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  1. Jorgen Andersson

    Dec 1, 2008
    77
    Hello all

    Does anyone of you know if the later Meraks were delivered with aluminium petrol tanks as standard?

    My Merak -73 has steel petrol tanks and today I did discover that my -77 SS has them made in aluminium.
    Could this be original or have they been replaced?
    They are very nicely made, like the original steel ones.

    Thanks
    Jorgen
     
  2. Tony K

    Tony K Formula 3

    Jun 7, 2006
    1,778
    USA
    Full Name:
    Tony K.
    I don't know the answer to your question, but I can offer some input:

    Earlier this year I worked on a late 1975 Merak (claimed to be one of the first cars with the SS engine, but still a Citroen hydraulic car otherwise), and it had obviously original steel gas tanks. So I'd bet that they were steel at least through 1975. Given how notorious they are for rusting, I wouldn't be surprised if your aluminum tanks were a recreation. Have you removed the back seat cushion and bulkhead panel? -- are there signs of previous rust repair there that would suggest that area of the car has been tended to already? I've never seen a Merak that wasn't rusty there, particularly on the side with the fuel filler.
     
  3. Jorgen Andersson

    Dec 1, 2008
    77
    Hi Tony

    Thanks for your input.

    That is what I did today, removed the tanks to check for rust, and I was surprised, no rust in the tank compartment and tanks made out of aluminium! This car was sold new in Chile, so maybe this is the reason for not being rusty? There has not been any rust repair done to this car.

    I will look more closely on the tanks tomorrow.

    Thanks
    Jorgen
     
  4. gcmerak

    gcmerak Formula 3

    Mar 17, 2008
    1,663
    Engine Bay, Georgia
    Full Name:
    George C.
    Hi Jorgen,

    My gas tanks are made out of some sort of fiber/plastic composite...probably fiberglass.

    Ciao,
    George
     
  5. Jorgen Andersson

    Dec 1, 2008
    77
    Hi George

    That is very interesting, do you think that they are recreations or original?
    What year is your Merak?
    Any pictures?

    I did look at my aluminium tanks today and the are made as the steel tank from the ´73 model.

    Thanks
    Jorgen
     
  6. gcmerak

    gcmerak Formula 3

    Mar 17, 2008
    1,663
    Engine Bay, Georgia
    Full Name:
    George C.
    #6 gcmerak, Dec 5, 2008
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Mine was a 10/80 production date Merak SS. The tanks are absolutely original. I took things apart due to curiosity....wanted to see what kind of shape things were in since that is a notorious rust area. Rock solid and not one speck of rust. The insulation, well it's antiquated. For now it will do. Upon looking at the picture I took [and am posting], the tanks are covered/sealed with some sort of fiber insulation. I did not venture to peal that coating off. So who knows whats under there? My car is posted on the [I'd like to see some Meraks] thread if you care to venture there.

    Ciao,
    George
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  7. Jorgen Andersson

    Dec 1, 2008
    77
    Hello George

    Your car looks very, very nice!

    Is there any chance that your tanks could be steel and that they have been really well rust protected from the factory?
    Did you check with a magnet? Just a thought.

    My ´77 SS looks the same under the lids, apart from the tanks being in bare aluminium.

    On my steel tanks on the ´73 there is no protection on the outside, just bare black painted steel.

    Thanks
    Jorgen
     
  8. gcmerak

    gcmerak Formula 3

    Mar 17, 2008
    1,663
    Engine Bay, Georgia
    Full Name:
    George C.
    Thanks Jorgen for your kind words. As far as the tanks go, I suspect that the tanks are probably aluminum and that the coating is there to insulate the tanks from the engine bay heat, along with that lame fiberglass/aluminum foil filler.
    Ciao,
    George
     
  9. Ackmann

    Ackmann Formula Junior

    Nov 23, 2007
    499
    Salem Oregon
    Full Name:
    Wayne Ackermann
    I have been doing my research about the Merak and have started my search for my next toy. Reading up on some I see that there seams to be upper & lower chain tensioners? Lower one I guess is self tightening and upper are what? IS there an after market chain tensioner upgrade like whats on a Porsche 911SC.

    Is there a good service manual for the 70 Maserati's that have service updates?

    Would like to see a tech thread just on Meraks simular to what Ferrari section has on each model. SO I guess this one would work as good as any.
     

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