See http://carshowclassic.com/car-models/classic-car/146 for more.

I assembled a Ferrari 250 engine and got to the cam timing today only to realize that the valve height was not set correctly, so all apart again!

A car deal blew up in my face as well, only because of a minor miss-communication no less.. I could really have used that deal to keep my quota up to maintain my dealer license. It is so hard to broker car deals and so rewarding to sell something that either we own or have at the shop. When the car is gone, there is so little control.

What else…. We have a low mileage 512BBI all apart for a major service which is becoming a major engine bay clean up, not such a big deal but how does a legitimate low miles car look so ratty? It won’t take much, a little paint here and there will tidy up things immensely.

Here is a photo of the BBI engine out and apart to replace the lower timing belt drive pulleys as well as a major service which includes valve lash and new cam belts.

Oh yeah, the brake shoes that we sent to be re-lined for the Monza are way to thick and the newly re-sleeved drums don’t fit over them! Ahhh!

BBI belt service

What failed is what typically fails on 308’s and Berlinetta Boxers – the small caged ball bearings in the timing chest. The inner generator drive bearing came undone, and the cage got into the main bearing scouring the cap and the bearing. We are having the journal built up to standard and are going to check the line bore to make sure the cap is still square to the crank pins.

While the block is set up on the line hone machine, the rear cap will be cut to accept a 100mm oil seal. Normally these engines rely on the “slinger” arrangement. With the rest of the engine in such good condition, we will clean and inspect everything but probably not have to replace too many expensive parts such pistons or perform a valve job.

Bearing failure

Damaged main bearing

Bearings messed up

212, BBI, GTC

Porsche 356

Concours d’Elegance from AutoWeek on Vimeo.

Pebble Beach Concept Cars from AutoWeek on Vimeo.

Kayak

Our friends at Horseless Carriage asked us to deliver this Lamborghini Gallardo to a remote Vermont location, we are always happy to help Frank and his crew since they are so helpful and generous with us.

Gallardo

Hacker Craft

An advertising company called us last week asking if we had a car that would be appropriate for a photo shoot in the Adirondacks for a major fashion company. We sent them photos of cars that we felt would be appropriate and they chose one of my favorites, the black and gray 1959 Austin Healey 3000 that is in excellent original condition and sits on pressed steel wheels rather than the typical wire wheels.

I was hired to bring the car to the Lake Placid Lodge in the Adirondacks and spend the morning helping to maneuver the car into position for photographs. There was no way anyone could have prepared me for scene I was about to experience. Not only was watching the intricate details of the photo shoot mind boggling, the Lake Placid Lodge was one of the most intricately detailed pieces of property I have ever seen. There were thick wooden layers after rich leather layers followed by curly birch bark layers of intricacies and rustic luxury.

It has been such a hot and humid summer here in the northeast but on this particular morning it was 48 degrees and overcast only to heighten magical experience of the experience.      http://www.lakeplacidlodge.com/