What car projects updates have you been up to over the cold months?

I haven't had a lot of time to contribute or even keep up for a while now. Just wondered what changes everyone has been doing the last few months.. a few years ago at the Christmas party Richard had us all beat with the clutch replacement on his 348.. Anyone else make changes we'll see at events this summer?
I'm interested in all... new wheels, trim, fixing nagging little issues.. maybe I'm looking for inspiration with some pics of your completed updates.. or please share your incomplete projects so I can be reminded lots of people are halfway through improvements to see others experiencing the same fun

please share pics!!

anyone?... anyone?

 

okay, I'll start a little.. one thing new is we added headlight covers and trim rings to the gto-r

Here's a couple pics, it definitely changes the look of the car..

anyone else?
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Had my clutch done on my F355, challenge grill, black leather boot cover, black leather convertible cover, fire extinguisher with tan leather installed behind driver seat. Pictures to follow tomorrow.

 

Redid parts of the interior:

- new black leather seats (288 GTO style)
- new carbon fibre door covers
- removable steering wheel

The look is now more modern as I like it and the seating position akin to a go kart.

 

wow ya both been busy..

clutch in a 355 is engine out? or do they leave it there and take out the transaxle? I always liked the challenge grill look

Ya gonna put GTO lights on it too Andreas?

Can't wait to see pics guys!

 

You reading my mind?

I'd love to if I find lights small enough to fit in there and that look the part. My front grille is somewhat "ruined" anyway now that I swapped the US for a Euro bumper: Turns out there is now a piece missing on each side where the US bumper had the fire hydrants (or whatever those humongous black bumpers were). So I simply have to fill that void...

So if somebody comes across those double rectangular lights, let me know please. Should also help with the night driving.

 

Chelle, it looks great!

Now, when can we (you and Halley) do dinner again?

 

Thanks Skip!
I'll talk to Haley and see when we can do dinner miss you!!

 

Me too, both of you!

 

Uh...let's see,

Mangusta:

new clutch master cylinder and I'm getting ready to install a new electric fuel pump.

Dino:

I'm trying to repair a broken stud on one of the rear bumper caps, and I'm repainting the roof panel to repair a (self inflicted) gash.

Espada:

Rebuilding carbs, adjusting cam chain tensioners, adjusting valves, rebuilding water pump, new seals on steering box, new seals on trans, new ignition wires, new points & coils, new wrinkle finish on cam covers and AC bracket, new fuel lines from tanks through cabin to engine compartment, new ceramic coating on headers, new clutch and pressure plate, new brake lines (I hope that's everything)

 

Installed new fuel lines, fuel pump, accumulator, and filter. Oil change, new oil filter, cleaned air filter, and flushed brake fluid.

 

Wow, Daryl, you have been busy, of course anyone with 3 vintage Italians is likely to be busy huh? I hope to get the chance to see your other cars sometime soon

What series is your Espada?
We got so tired of trying to keep the carbs on the Urraco in tune and failing the emissions test that we're going to put EFI that looks like the webers on it after we're done with interior work..

 

You've been busy too Gerry.. speaking of air filters, we had a shock with a car we bought that had been sitting a couple years.. The car seemed relatively clean on the outside, but sitting resulted in some weird rust and I guess a mouse had taken up residence in the air filter housing.. hopefully he didn't get sucked into the engine but this was a shock to find inside the air filter housing, and a great reminder to check the intake path every spring..
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I did the same thing as Gerry328. New fuel hoses, fuel pump, accumulator, oil/filter change and instead of bleeding the brakes, I changed out the thermostat. Now I have heat in the car, which usually is not a problem for 328s, but when the thermostat opens at 120F, the engine never seems to get to operating temps and thus, no warm air.

 

Just a few things (Nothing major like some of you guys) :

- Polished rear plastic window to remove minor scratches
- Cleaned and painted engine bay frame components that were looking tired
- Removed, cleaned and prepped seats and some interior parts for redye (redye done at Continental)
- Found (finally!) 16" wheels, tires, and bolts off an '87 Mondial so I keep the metric ones for shows only
- Removed trunk carpeting and interior console "doghouse" so the binding could be replaced at Ogden Top & Trim, replaced parts
- Removed engine bay cover and trunk lid and cleaned areas I couldn't get to before (had to do to remove carpet and paint frame anyway)
- Continental performed annual service, replaced faulty fog lamp switch, and repaired non-functioning cigarette lighter
- Removed stereo and replaced with factory blank-out piece (thanks Continental for finding one!)
- Removed, disassembled, oiled, and replaced air horn compressor (no more sad little horn sound!)
- Replaced faulty trunk lid support and bracket
- Removed muffler and currently in the process of cleaning & polishing
- Soon to start detailing...

 

500HP upgrade project for my Gransport... watch this space!

 

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Wow, nice to see so many people doing their own work
Gerry and John, both had to do accumulator? I never knew that was something that needed to be serviced so regularly..

Nice looking seats Andreas!

Gransport? as in Maser? or musclecar (Buick GS, GSX?)? either way kewl...

We also are doing interior work in the Lambo, though this time paying a pro.. I put the interior in last time but it's all the 34 year old original stuff.. it should look better this time.. will post before an after pics soon

The past couple weekends we have been rebuilding a 20 year old daily driver and putting a JDM replacement engine in Kim's VR4.. weird fact that's caused some headaches, the JDM motor doesn't use o2 sensors. Original has one right after each turbo, the JDM doesn't even have tapped holes in the precats for o2 sensors or the EGR.. so we either have to swap the precats off the original engine or use the Japanese wiring harness and computer, or do some fabrication... I don't get how the computer is expected to know how to adjust with no o2 sensors..

And I sold an engine and bought a chassis for our newest project.. it's on the back buner at the moment though, will post more as it takes shape, but that's going to be a bit as all our time has been taken up

 

Well, when I pulled off the breather hose and gas poured out, it was probably time. According to Gerry and Dave, that isn't suppose to happen. I think my accumulator was origional and probably so was Gerry's. Anyway, we now have new fuel systems and hoses (that faint once in awhile gas odor is gone from mine) so all should be fine for years to come. Besides, it gave me something to do during the cold months.

I do like the seats Andreas put in. Was wanting to see them tonight, but now I need to wait until the next event.

 

Me, I just hibernated through the entire winter.

 

Well Skip, the two you have close to home are already in great shape... so unlike some of us you get to sleep

Fuel hoses are a good thing John! seen too many fires because of old lines, I swear something in gas additives changed thus attacking the lines because it seems like a lot more cars that have sat a few years catch fire from failed fuel line than I remember growing up.

 

I tried to invite you out for a spin in a Porsche. As you look down upon the common people and need your rest as Emperor it was not much of a surprise.

Chelle, can you post some pics of the 550 Maranello project you are working on please?

 

Will post some pics offline of the wreck.. because I'm tied up with several other cars right now the poor thing is sitting but serious effort on it will start soon. There's nothing to show yet other than it sitting as delivered to a friend's shop

 

Dam that looks nice

 

Since you spilled the beans or gummy bears: Yes Chelle, please start a thread about that awesome project. Come to think of it, we should set up a virtual garage for it in Ferrarichat's owners forum. This car definitely qualifies.

Regarding my seats:
Glad to see so many positive comments (no comments on the carbon fibre doors?). What I did was order the Daytona inserts (those strips with the holes) from GAHH Inc along with a hide of Ferrari leather. I took the seats out of the car and brought everything to a local upholstery shop along with fotographs of the 288 GTO seats. The seats aren't exactly to spec, but close enough for my liking. Of course if somebody wanted to go really overboard the bits in between could be made with red leather, but I already have a beige/black mix. Didn't want to throw in another color.
The headrests too were made by the same shop, however if somebody wants a horse embossed, there is a place in Canada that does that. Becomes a bit of a logistics exercise getting the leather sent back and forth. I did that for the Daytona Replica, but didn't think it was worth going through it again for this time.

That said, a much easier approach would have been to just order the ready made new leather covers from GAHH Inc or Ferraripartsexchange and have your local shop put them over the seats. That is if you are happy with getting 308 style covers. There are however no more 288 GTO covers for 308 seats, trust me I looked into that (there used to be a long time ago).