Mystery Gizmo!!!

I'm doing some work on a customer's Miura that required that I remove this non-original piece of hardware to gain access. It was installed decades ago by a former owner who also felt a need to chrome a bunch of things.

I've figured out what it is (I think) but apparently it is a relic of a bygone era.

Has anyone ever seen or used one like it?

Are they still made?

Opinions?

My inclination is to leave it off and weld up the three mounting holes.
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Charcoal canister for absorbing fuel vapor fumes.

 

Nope

That black thing is a thermostat.

 

That's what I thought.

Coolant filter?

 

It's a thingamajiggy

 

My only guess is a coolant overflow catchcan. And a weird one at that.

 

Looks like what we call a "pot feeder". For example when treating a larger closed loop cooling systems a bypass line can be run to a pot that allows water to pass through and back into the main stream. The pot contains a slow dissolving treatment chemical to inhibit corrosion. Could be a filter also.

 

Espresso maker. Is it piped to the cup holder?

(Crankcase ventilation oil recovery?)

 

Perry Coolent filter with a cartridge filter, commonly found on boats. Likely not necessary for this car unless they are planning to convert to diesel.

 

You each have a piece of it.

I suspect that the "cartridge" contains a buffering agent to keep coolant pH under control.

 

Something that isn't needed, to mask a problem that can be solved by a real fix??

 

Tim - you might also post this question in the Lamborghinichat forum here on Fchat. Just a thought.

 

It occurred to me as well but there is not much technical stuff discussed there.

This part is aftermarket and apparently not even car-specific.

 

Are those US Patent Numbers printed at the bottom of the internal "element"? If so, the USPTO online website is limited for the really old stuff, but I'd be glad to try to look them up if the numbers are still legible -- perhaps it will explain the function or at least give a clue. Should be in the form X,XXX,XXX (and those look to be something like 2,8XX,XXX?)

 

The bag obviously contains Unobtanium. Worth 2mph by thinning the coolant when the water pump reaches 5000rpm. Was replaced in the 80s by new technology that allowed the pulley to change sizes as rpm's and engine temperature co-equalized.

 

Lambos only run distilled water in the cooling systems. They also are know for breaking down on the side of the road. The chrome thing is a coffee pot and the white bag is a used coffee filter pack. When stuck on the side of the road you drink coffee and wait for the tow truck. It is from a bygone era because all Lambo owners now drink Latte's.

 

It's pretty clear that this device is the filtration unit for the starter fluid.

Don't you people know anything?

 

Priceless....

So, perhaps then...Starbux will be coming out with a more modern unit shortly?

 

Seperates any air out of the coolant, an "Anti Cavitation Pot" but I have never seen one with the bag before, interesting. The top fitting should have been restricted down to .035" and run back to the header tank. Has the heater core been bypassed with this in place?

Dave

 

Very interesting!

 

I can assure you 100% that it is not specific to Miura's. I have never seen one of those before on any Miura. As I stated, I suspect they were trying to mask another problem although since I have no idea what the device is supposed to do, I cannot say what problem they are masking is.

I'd go about trying to find out what they were trying to resolve, but definitely yank that think out and toss it, or better yet put it on e-bay and let some sucker pay you for the nice chromed cereal bowl.

Alberto

 

Or sell it to this sucker so it can be put on another old race car as a period piece.

Dave

 

This car has spent many years in the Twin Cities. Was it you that hung that thing on there originally?

 

Nope, I wouldnt do that to a Muira, just old race cars for a conversation piece as variations of the same were common place on those.

Is this John D's car? Lots of fun stories go with that car, I brought that in from CA for him and he didnt fit in the car!

Dave

 

Sorry to say that Doc's car is now in the hands of a lawyer in Cayman Islands. I'd love to hear those stories, I've got a few of my own.

This car was a "barn find" locally more than 10 years ago and was bought from an estate. It's unrestored but overall in pretty remarkable shape.