Engine and transmission for Ferrari 512BBi

Here’s a Ferrari 512BBI engine apart for a major service. Since this is a car made in 1983 and had original head gaskets, we couldn’t chance doing this service job without replacing them. Sure enough, the gaskets were deteriorating in the corners and would have started leaking shortly after we put the engine back in the chassis. We also inspected the second gear teeth in the transmission as they’re a weak link on these 512’s. Since the heads are off, Casey will pull the valves to chisel off the heavy build up of carbon that can prevent them from closing.

The timing belt drive bearings are small in size and don’t get enough oil which makes them susceptible to failure so we always replace them.  While we are at it, all the hardware and brackets will be sent off for a fresh coating of  gold cad which will look great on the freshly painted castings.

Ferrari 250 engine Assembly

Test run and complete

The Lusso engine is finished and running well. Nate did a nice job detailing it and once we take it off the stand we’ll do some more work to make it look super sharp. Mickey refinished the fuel rail that was mixed in with a huge order of 330 GTC and Maserati Ghibli parts and forgotten about for months but its all together now, making steam

Read to run Restored Ford 8N

The Ford 8N is nearly complete and now that the distributor bushing is installed and governor overhauled, it should be ready for spring planting.  I’m not sure which one of us is brave enough to highlight the FORD script on the hood and fenders in Vermillion Red, but once that’s done it will mark the projects completion.

Welding a crack on a Ferrari 330 Cylinder head

Welding a casting on a Ferrari V-12 engine

A friend of ours was interested in overhauling his Ferrari 330 GTC engine himself but after he called me a bunch of times for advice, he realized that it was best left to someone who has experience with this type of project.

The engine hadn’t been apart before so the cylinder heads were frozen to the block and to the head studs. Not knowing how delicate the castings are, the owner got a little over-zealous with a hammer to remove the heads and cracked a section on the head which moved the sealing surface about 1/8 inch. Instead of chopping that section out of the head, I drilled it so I could lightly hammer it back into position and to allow my weld to penetrate thoroughly for a strong weld. It cleaned up good and came out well. I machined the valve cover sealing surface about .005” just  to even things out. I also installed a half-dozen time-sert threaded repair kits while the part was on the milling machine.

About 2 years ago a guy called me to ask how much I charge to overhaul a Porsche 356 engine. I gave him some rough estimates and didn’t hear from him for 2 years. In October he called me to say he was on his way up with the car to drop it off for the job!

A 356 engine is straightforward enough but nothing is ever simple at our shop. The car is a 1956 356 “A” Coupe the serial number on the engine timing cover revealed that it was from a 1962 356 “B”. I ordered all kinds of parts for the overhaul procedure but when it came to assembly time, the crankshaft main and rod bearings were incorrect. It turns out that the timing cover was from a “B” but the two case halves were the original 356 “A” parts that have many little but significant differences.

With a great deal of patience and tenacity, Casey has gotten the engine together and it will be ready for a test run soon. This engine needed everything, the sheet metal was rusted and the complete exhaust from the “J” pipes back was deteriorated beyond usefulness. While not detailed to a super high standard, the engine looks great

Porsche 356 engine rebuilt

Used tires for sculpture

Ruby stumbled across this freaky sculpture made from old tires in Bratislava SK. Its super impressive and well made. We first saw it at night and Ruby was terrified to get too close to it thinking it would run her over. How many zoo’s could we fill with animals made from scrap tires?

Lion tail from recycled rubber tires

Original Dino 206 seats

1969 Dino 206

Ruby and I had a look at the 206 on Friday, I really like the car. The interior is so cool because unlike most 206′s, it has the original seat upholstery with a loose weave pattern that can easily tear from a rivet on your jeans.

Dino 206 GT Ferrari

On Thursday, my daughter Ruby and I are going to Europe to look at a car that I put a deposit on, this super rare and original 1969 Ferrari 206 GT.  When I asked her if she wanted to go she said “no” but I don’t care, she’s going with me. We’re flying into Vienna and renting a car to tour around a little and see a city that my friend Pete says is outstanding, Bratislava in the Czech Republic. Pete has traveled all over the globe and loves Eastern Europe so much that he has pitched his travel show idea to a number of networks in the last few weeks. This guy is a real character and I think he has a sure shot at being on T.V. with amazing stories that he’s posted on Motley Planet.

Anyhow, this car is supposed to be exceptionally original with low miles and only two owners from new. It even has the cheap orange crushed velour that is vaporized on almost all other 206′s which is testament to its originality.

If the car meets Ruby’s ultra critical standards, the freight forwarders I use in the Netherlands will get the car to Port Roosendaal for delivery to Port Elizabeth in New Jersey by vessel. Ruby and I will take a bunch of photos so we can share them while the car is locked in a container with containers of tulips and wooden clogs stacked on top and all around it for 3 weeks.

Ferrari Grigio Notte

Earlier this week I visited the passionate owner of this extremely nice 1966 Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 in its original color called Grigio Notte. Typical of Italian Style and complexity, Grigio Notte (dark silver) has a tiny drop of green mixed in to give it that exotic hue unlike “grey” colors that you see on other cars.

The owner picked me up at the airport and we drove the spirited car about 25 miles to a friends shop and then to his house to check out all the other parts and documentation he has acquired with the car over the last few years. After all this we went to an outstanding BBQ joint where Nachos were based on thick cut potato chips with beef brisket and the shrimp sandwich was out of this world.

I was blown away at how well the Ferrari drove with a very strong engine, smooth drive shaft and all electrical components working as they are intended. Equally amazing was the ownership history and service documentation that the owner pulled together as well as the often missing handbooks and pouch to make this a very complete and sorted car.