We used to send these Overdrive Units off to a specialist to be rebuilt but something always went wrong on the first test drive. Come to think of it, sometimes they were leaking so badly that we had to take them apart and re-seal them before knuckle busting installation into the chassis.  Considering all the time to properly package the part, the cost to ship the 40lb crate as well as the weeks it takes to get it back, Nate decided to overhaul this Austin Healey 3000 Laycock deNormanville unit on his own. All the parts are available so once they arrive, he’ll slam it back together and test it by spinning it up on the lathe so he can be confident things are right before the installation.

Moss Gearbox

Overdrive Repair and rebuild

Anyone want a very straight and solid California “Black Plate” Alfa Guilietta Sprint? I think it has a 1600 engine. We’ve had it at the shop for awhile and I’d like to sell the car so let me know if you are interested.

Alfa Giulietta Sprint

Alfa Sprint Bertone

This is so cool, it must be some sort of World War II Aircraft Manufacturing technique for welding aluminum by smashing it together that was used for cars. This trunk lid was made by Carrozzeria Touring in the late 1940′s and as much as I curse the way they build cars, this is some of the most amazing craftsmanship I have seen. Since it isn’t adding any new material its keeps the panel very light and super strong and without the heat of welding, the panel doesn’t warp and distort. I’m guessing that the force of smashing the two aluminum pieces together in a focused area causes enough heat to melt and stick them tight.

Welding aluminum with a punch

Aluminum welding technique

I’d like to see other examples of this attachment procedure and find out what it’s called.

Casey just finished assembling this engine after all kinds of people blessed it to make sure everything is in the required specification. The reason it came apart is because the valve guides were loose in the heads and allowing oil to flow right into the exhaust and eventually fouling out the spark plug. When we disassembled the engine we found that the cylinders were polished to a very high level of shine and couldn’t imagine that the piston rings would ever seat. In conversations with Hastings Piston Ring Company it was learned that the cylinders needed to be honed to a coarse 280 grit rather than the ultra smooth mirror polish. Since the engine was apart, we decided to have a specialist cut the rear “slinger” off the back of the crankshaft so we could install a conventional lip seal to prevent oil leaks.

The engine is running great and just today we took the car out for a drive in the Arctic Cold air where it performed perfectly.

308 GT/4 Ferrari Dino

We just bought this 1979 Ferrari 308 GT/4 and are going to go through the entire car to make sure it performs perfectly for 2012. These 308′s are sleepers, even though they are less sexy than the GTB and GTS’s, the consensus is that they are a much better driving experience. Since Bertone built this series the craftsmanship is much better as well.

This car is cool because it’s in European Specification model with single distributor, small bumpers and doesn’t have the ugly USDOT mandated rectangular side markers. It’s also cool because it’s so original and has a super clean interior and undercarriage.

More on this car later!

As promised, here are some photos of Maxwell’s amazing Carbon Fiber workmanship. It defies logic to handle these parts because they are so rigid and tough but weigh next to nothing. Max sells these parts to major Race Car Parts Suppliers by the dozens.

Brake Ducts Carbon Fiber

Race Car Carbon Brake Duct

Since the color of this car makes me weak in the knees, I have enjoyed testing my new camera in different light situations. These are some very different locations to photograph the car, the photo of the right front is in a dark shadow right next to the building. The car is in the same location in the photo of the left front but with much different lighting and lots of color from the late afternoon sun. Even the photo of the car under florescent lights in the building came out well with some random knobs twisted and adjusted.

Right Front Ferrari 308 GTSi

Left front photo of the 308

In the shop

Small 50 lb Anvil

I just bought this small Anvil today, it weighs about 50 lbs which is a great size because you won’t blow a gasket when you have to handle it.  The horn has a great shape without any chips or damage which I have seen in most antique Anvils. I’m going to set it up in the mill tomorrow and clean off the top surface because it’s a little beat up and dented but overall, a good buy.

Does anyone want this ’63 Porsche 356 Coupe? It has a clean title. Last winter we got a super heavy snow and had to shovel the roof and accidentally jumped onto the roof of the buried Porsche.

Project Porsche Coupe

Project for ambitious

Doors for 356 Porsche

Here are some photos for Derek who seems to get very turned on by Ferrari engine photos, mostly the “basamento” which translates to “base” and in this context it stands for Engine Block.

Testa Normal

Bassimento 250 GT Ferrari

Here is a early Porsche 911 Engine that Casey has finished and will hopefully be running later this week.