We took the red 1960 Ferrari 250 GT to the dyno earlier this week. This is a Pininfarina bodied convertible and is more beautiful than a high-school cheerleading captain. Still, its very close relative, the 250 California commands a much higher price – most people can’t afford to tell the difference. This 250 GT has an amazing sound that’s enhanced by a tasteful aftermarket exhaust, though nearly drowned out by the carburetors at full song – turn it down if you’re at work.

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Alright, all puns aside, the number of different variations of wheel nuts at RPM is astounding. Here are some examples and some more interesting facts about them. Firstly, Ferrari wheels employ singular nuts to fasten each wheel to each axle or hub. So, in your road car, you have generally 4 or 5 lug bolts or lug nuts that hold each wheel on – trucks have more. Ferraris more than any other make, use large racing style wheel nuts, quite similar to those in use on racetracks all over the world, even here in the US in Nascar. Many other Italian cars and some English cars used this method of fastening as well.

The big difference between the wheel nuts on current race cars and on vintage Ferraris? The method of removal. The current race cars use a large diameter socket, while the vintage cars have 2 or 3 ears extending off the nut. The method of removal is repeated smashing of these tabs by the standard equipment lead hammer found in every Ferrari – it isn’t just for fending off would-be attackers. The lead hammer packs a punch, and the softness of the lead won’t mar the finish of the nuts, just watch out for your fenders on the back swing. At RPM wheels are removed frequenly enough to destroy these hammers, so we have a mold to recast the hammer head.

On to the nuts themselves. The word “smontare” seems to be on nearly every nut. » Continue reading “KNOCK IT OFF – WHEEL GOING NUTS”

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The Oliver 2050 with the forklift makes getting cars off jack stands or a rotisserie quite easy. Now this Ferrari 250 GT Lusso is outside and positioned high in the air for sand blasting and painting the engine bay.

The Lusso is being restored in a way that many would think is backward, but it is actually quite prudent. Most people would chose to restore a car from the outside-in making it look the part and then worrying about mechanicals later – but risking a basket case under thousands of dollars in paint.

Our client has chosen restoration from the inside-out, focusing on meticulous restoration of the running gear of the car. The engine was rebuilt with period performance modifications, cams, and porting. The suspension was nickel plated and all fasteners were black oxide treated. This is a very detail oriented work, but the car completed in the condition it was in when leaving the factory – save for the paint. Read about the suspension here and here.  And the drivetrain here. Watch the engine run here. To see all related Lusso posts click the “Lusso” link under the categories heading on the right.

The exterior of the car should have paint, but it’s an option left to the current owner, or an option for a future owner down the road.

After sending off all the various parts for re-finishing, the front suspension to the Lusso is finished. Karl replaced the bushings and pins and the pivots operate smoothly without a hint of play. The black parts are powder-coated and the arms are nickel plated. I located enough of the button style grease fittings to complete the job once it is on the car.

Even thought the pins and bushings were tight, it is amazing how worn down they were. The outer links had the original phenolic bushings which disintegrated upon removal and the pins were rusted and pitted beyond re-use. The big inner pins were excellent but the bushings were worn severely so now, everything is as new and ready for assembly to the car.

Rebuilt front suspension for Ferrari 250

Here are the before and after photos that show how nice things can look when they are detailed properly

Original and cruddy front suspension

I like this photo because it shows this 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 in a different angle. This is a nice original car that I am checking over before it goes to the 2009 Cavallino Classic event in Palm Beach Florida. You can really see the parabolic shape of this car from this angle

Ferrari 275 GTB/4 up high