Thanks Bob, It's been awhile - I trust you have been well. I plan on going back to a local powdercoater Dave Burnham recommended. They did magnesium Alfa Romeo Campy's for me last year - an older set with enough cosmetic pitting they wouldn't guarantee the result. They blasted, cleaned, prepped and coated for $85/each (!) and were successful, at least so far. I will ask what they know about vacuum impregnating. Thanks for the Ford Argent suggestion. They have a big fan deck of finishes, I can always eyeball it. Yeah, I resurrected a tire discussion in this forum and surfed over to Longstone Classic Tyre UK. They have reproduction Michelin XWX and my preference, the Pirelli Cinturato CN12's at the low end of your price range. Too bad the P4000's went out of production - they were +/- $150. Longstone also offers a heavily discounted CN-12 without DOT code. Vredestein has an interesting design aimed at the classic car market, a $100 or so less than the CN12's: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Vredestein&tireModel=Sprint+Classic&partnum=17WR5SC&vehicleSearch=true&fromCompare1=yes&autoMake=Maserati&autoYear=1975&autoModel=Khamsin&autoModClar= I'm not fond of the temperature warnings, but that's the way it seems performance tire compounds are heading, might just have to get used to it. - Art
Prepping the magnesium alloy properly is really, really important for long life. Not for aluminum though. I don't know how they do that with powder coating. There is is a metal treatment kit you can use right after blasting and before anyone touches the raw alloy. I need to find it though. It's stuff they don't want us to have now ... I think I'd be temped by the CN-12 WO a dot code. Tires are a crazy issue now ...
Where did you resurrect a tire discussion for classic Masers? I am interested. Actually there is quite a limited choice of tires available with the 215/70 R15 size. I am personally considering to acquire aluminum 16" wheels to replace (and preserve) the 15" Campy's and to have a wider choice of much cheaper tires than the XWX and CN12. Look at the discussion here: https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/classic-maserati-modern-wheels.224404/page-4 Regarding the mag wheels refurbishment, be careful to have them properly prepped with the nasty dichromate treatment, as Bob is reminding you. $85 is quite cheap for a treatment including dichromate prepping, in the UK there are only two shops to do the job for GBP 85 and GBP 115 respectively. Be sure that your shop does this, otherwise magnesium corrosion may make its way under the new paint or powdercoat
Look up Loctite Resinol. There are several types available. One is vacuum impregnated and other type is painted on the casting with a brush. http://www.redavison.com.au/porosity-sealing-systems-r-e-davison-group/
Here's a chromate conversion kit to magnesium. It's pretty pricey. http://www.skygeek.com/henkel-598970-alodine-magnesium-treatment-kit.html I found one that came in powder form so it was not hazardous shipping for about $25 back in 2011 but I can't find that link now. I have an extra kit somewhere? If I run across it I'll let you know.
I had seen that kit before. The problem, I think, is that with this kit you can only spray or paint the chromate, so not a full immersion of the wheel in a liquid bath that can guarantee a perfect coating/impregnation/chromatation of the magnesium everywhere and in any hole of the wheel. Not sure either that the kit contains enough product for a set of wheels... Plus, you have to perform yourself a treatment (especially solutions of chromic acid) that is dangerous for your health and for the environment (nowadays the use of these products is seriously controlled in Europe and only a few shops are authorised to do it). IMHO, best to have it done by a good authorised shop with experience of the various steps of the treatment. This is e.g. the treatment proposed by a shop in UK specialised in repairing magnesium wheels, 115 GBP per wheel: We would first try blasting the existing paint and dirt from your wheels at 80psi using glass bead. If that doesn’t remove it we will chemically strip it in a hydrofluoric acid based paint stripper for 15 minutes then rinse thoroughly. Then they will be oven dried at 180 degrees c for 6 hours. Then we will dry blast using glass bead. Then we use a dye penetrant which we rinse off using water. Then we view under UV light to expose any cracks or porosity. Then back to the oven for another 6 hours of drying. Then di-chromating. Then masking and powder coating. IMO, good value for the money!
I sprayed the hell out of them then brushed, one rim at a time as it sat in a plastic tub. I had a mask and gloves on. I'm still here ... I don't know of anyone providing the service you described here for wheels or at that price. I wish they did. My Espada's wheels needed quite a bit of bondo which immediately eliminates powder coating. They had a fair amount of it NEW from the factory because those wheel castings were so crude. I don't think the Bora's wheels will have that problem. So I had to do the treatment twice! Before and after the bondo repairs. I'll never do another set of those rims, just horrible.
Hi Froggie, here is the thread. It is only a year-ish old.. https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/new-pirelli-tires-being-remade.523667/ Thank you for the advice, I'll talk with the shop about dichromate. Like I said, they did a set of badly corroded Alfa Romeo Campagnolos for me last year, no problems so far, and some of the best restorers in our region use this shop. I think they are good. Yes, limited is the operative word in 15" tires.. I'll read through the 16" rim discussion.. - Art
Hi--- FWIW, running Longstone Cinturato CN-12s without the DOT code on the Bora for the past six months. They look and perform great. Recommend without reservation.
Hey guys--- I am on the road. Could somebody do me a favor and tell me the exact outside diameter AND the width of the black surround of the Veglio electronico clock in our cars? Trying to see if I can find a replacement as mine recently died. Thanks.
Using a zero-calibrated stainless dial caliper (at 40F ambient), I have a outside-of-bezel diameter of 2.2160" with the width of the bezel at 0.2303" Cheers, - Art
Hi Art--- Tremendously appreciated. For the record, I have decided to do a stealth quartz conversion and be done with it. You are a meticulous gentleman. Thanks, again. B.
Hey--- I recall one of our esteemed contributors once commenting that this was a public forum, the voracity and depth of knowledge of its contributors being suspect! Well... I just found what I needed because of your kind response and you shall soon have the best set of rubber you have ever enjoyed on a Bora! So much for the blind leading the blind! Warm regards, B.
Art--- Found this earlier today. From a German CC rally last year. Very evocative. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Looks about normal except for the air cleaner. If you put casters on front mounting points and insert 2x4s to keep the A-arms from collapsing you can wheels it around white nicely.
It's also missing the spare tire bracket on the top brace. Bob's right. I did exactly that and it was very easy to roll the assembly around. I didn't even need the 2x4s.
Yes, they are.. they arrived in a matter of days. Now I have to get going and put them on... Cheers, - Art PS - And Thanks Boralogist - what a great design on that front end...
Good, that's a bargain! Would be interested to see what they look like in the flesh and what are the indications on their side if any (215/70 VR15?), pics appreciated. Btw, I had a related discussion with Dougal and he told me that, as there was no E marking on the tyre, road legality would depend on the country. In the EU, probably not legal. No foreseeable issues in Norway?
Yes, I would expect to have trouble from the authorities if installed on a Norwegian-registered car. The technical inspections of cars by their Bilsakkyndige (Dept of Motor Vehicles) is very intense, I would not assume these would pass. Therefore these will only be installed on my US-registered Bora, which I can take to Norway for a visit, but not for registration. Member 'Merak1974' is Gabriel R.G. Benito - he is a Norwegian Merak owner and very involved in the Maserati of Norway Club. PM him for details, I'm sure he would know the situation more precisely.. Cheers, - Art
Hi Art, In fact, I don't know. But, I wouldn't expect issues with the Cinturato tyres as long as they are the correct dimensions and comply with the speed ratings, which I believe they do. I don't think an E-marking would be needed for vintage car tyres. Perhaps some more knowledgeable Norwegian want to share their insights? Cheers, Gabriel
Thank you Gabriel.... in the meantime, I sit and dream of summer.... Froggie, I will get a picture of the sidewall and script so you can see. Image Unavailable, Please Login
