We performed a first “major service” on this GTE after overhauling the engine which includes a valve lash, head torque check and overall inspection of the work we did after the first 1500 miles. I found that the water pipe that goes from the back of the cylinder heads to the radiator to be leaking so I installed one of our stainless steel reproduction ones. The owner asked us to prepare the car for a race weekend at a VSCCA event at Lime Rock Park in CT. so we installed overflow bottles, a battery cut-off switch and put safety wire on a few things and shipped it to the track.

The car performed beautifully on the track and was the prettiest car at the event. The owner of this beauty drove it home to New Jersey from CT.

250 GT GTE 2+2

Here is a cool idea for a car hauler, a roll off container that goes flat on the ground and pulls right up on the truck. I saw this at Lime Rock Park a few weeks ago, cannot remember what was in the back of the truck…

Car Hauler

55 Diesel Oliver

Here is a freshly painted Oliver grille for  a 1954 Oliver 55 Diesel in the correct green and yellow

Mr. Garfield organized a tour through our area last weekend and scheduled the participants visit our shop. It’s odd that all of the cars were 911′s, I thought there may be a few 356′s or front engined cars but most of them were heavily modified 911′s. There was a totally stock looking early 911 with an engine sound suggesting a displacement of well over 3.0 liters and a beautiful 1979 SC with a late model 3.6 liter and subtle modifications to keep the car on the ground at speed.

I really like this orange car

911 Orange coupe

Tour of Porsche

We rarely have to repair rear axles and usually just clean and inspect the bearings and install new oil seals. Be it a Jaguar, Chevrolet or Alfa Romeo, it is rare that we see a ring and pinion that is damaged or bearings that are worn out. I hate to disturb the factory relationship between the ring and pinion gears so if the bearings check out ok, I keep the thing together.

Additionally, most car companies have figured out how to make the final drive robust and problem free because they are aware of the forces involved with the ring and pinion bevel gears – except for Ferrari. They used a deep groove ball bearing and sliding inner race roller bearing that cannot handle the axial loads on the pinion shaft. Other companies used tapered roller bearings that can handle a tremendous amount of this fore-and-aft thrust while spinning with ease but the Ferrari style comes apart and destroys the gears.

My solution is to replace the sliding inner race roller bearing and the deep groove ball bearing with a pair of tapered roller bearings. This photo is a 250 GT Lusso center section with the “chicklet” style limited slip differential. On some axles I’ve install tapered roller bearings to support the differential but on the later axles there isn’t much room to install this type of bearing and I have found the original ball bearing set up to be adequate. I have done this conversion to many cars that have gone many thousands of miles with no issues.

Final drive Ferrari

GT Ferrari 250 Axle Center section

After overhauling dozens and dozens of Ferrari transmissions I have a good idea on what to expect when the case is opened up and shafts are broken down. Whether it’s a 250 GTE 4 speed, a 246 GT Dino trans-axle or a 330 GTC/Daytona style 5 speed trans-axle,  synchronisers on Ferrari’s do not last many miles however, the rest of the components are over built and hold up well.. The bearings and gears are over built and the machined parts like flanges and shafts are impeccably machined using incredibly hard steel. The transmissions have oil pumps that pressurize the main and lay shafts to keep everything thoroughly lubricated so the bearings that the gears turn on are flooded in a pillow of oil.

This transmission out of this 250 shifted well but had the typical severely worn synchronisers so I was prepared to perform the “normal” repair of cleaning, inspecting and replacing the end bearings and synchros. This trans had been run without oil for a long time and the bearings in the photo were so wiped out that there was about .020″ clearance between the gear and bearing where there should only be about .005″. How did this thing work at all?

250 GT transmission overhaul

Transmission overhaul bearings

Bearings Ferrari transmission

GPS Classic had a lot going on when we arrived in Soragna to uncrate the 212. They operate a shop very much like RPM, but in Italy. Within the shop are a large number of Ferraris, Alfas, Oscas, and about 5 vintage Formula 3 cars. During Mille Miglia, GPS Classic takes care of a number of cars. We followed the 212 0086E in our service vehicle, while the first of the GPS Classic vans followed a couple of the other cars.

Other GPS Classic posts are here: http://www.ferraricraft.com/2010/05/mille-miglia-day-0/

and

here: http://www.ferraricraft.com/2010/05/ferrari-250-mille-miglia/

The plate that RPM made for the 212 in Vermont. Looks just like the original.

These are 175/550-13 tires on Campagnolo wheels... these were some of the narrower ones. The big ones got into the 15" wide territory.

Formula 3 - I think this was a Manta. There were Loti as well, and lots of Cosworth bits everywhere.

There are a few of these racks.

The Mount Washington Resort - NH headquarters for the New England 1000

Just a few photos from the New England 1000 Rally that travels from Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, VT to the White Mountains of New Hampshire and a few nights at the Mount Washington Hotel. Days on the rally are spent driving some of the best roads New England has to offer, some like the Kancamagus are well known, while others are gems were built to fly a 911 RS down.

Here is a totally stripped down 250 engine block known as basimento, or base to which the rest of the engine is attached. Looks kind of skeletal.

Ferrari 250 GTE

Peter Markowski and Marcel Mancini revel in their work on the restoration and accuracy of 0086E

Scrutineering at Mille Miglia is a great excuse for one of the best car shows in the world. To be eligible, cars need to be from 1927 to 1957 – the years that the Mille Miglia was run as an all out competitive race. Cars ranged from Bugattis, to Frazer Nashes, many Ferraris, and a flock of Gullwings – of course, many had raced Mille Miglia themselves.

0086E was unloaded from the trailer and brought into the building – immediately, photographers from all over the world surrounded the little Ferrari never seeming to let up. Peter Markowski and Marcel Mancini congratulated each other on the project and even the scrutineers were thrilled with the car, with many pats on the back, handshakes, and high marks.

Within minutes of bringing in 0086E, the phototographers emerged - and surrounded the car

Questions, congratulations, and praise

Every detail of the 212 is documented