7/3/14
365s and So California Bound

We’re coming down to the final few parts to putting a 365GTC/4 back together, and one those items involves the air cleaners. I’ve mentioned before how 365GTC/4s do not make anything easy, and here is perfect example. Notice there is no clearance between the air cleaner element and the inner fender, so installing a new one without taking the air cleaner housing is nearly impossible.

A Ferrari tech once stated, “How do you install a new air cleaner element in a C/4? Take a perfectly good filter, crumple it up into a ball, and unfurl it inside the air cleaner!” I wish it were that easy!

What makes access to the filter so hard is not only the clearance, but also the air horns for the carburetors! These are secured to the carburetors after the air cleaner and filter are installed, and came from the factory secured with nuts and studs. Anyone working on these cars would have already replaced the studs with bolts, but access is still a bear. Care has to be taken to make sure two specific air horns are installed on the ends of the air cleaner to clear the filter element. Working with a new filter is actually better because old filters would have sharp little edges from the worn wire mesh that cut the crap out of your hands as you’re trying to get the bolts to start behind the trumpets.

I’m convinced Ferrari installed these engines with the air cleaner assemblies already on the engine. It would have been a breeze putting all these pieces together while the engine was out of the car. The FIAT management of Ferrari during the early 70s had no care for the first mechanic that would have to work on the air cleaner several thousand miles later! Now you can understand why it can take over an hour to replace the air filters on a C/4!

The problem with the headlights on a Daytona Spyder last week turned out to be a bad switch on the headlight stalk. These stalks have been plaguing Ferraris since the 330s and every version through the 70s was no better. The problem lies in the plastic used to secure the stalk and make contact with the switch inside the steering column. The weak plastic is made worse with age, and often broken with a knee when sliding in and out of the car. One piece of advice I often give to new owners of this era of Ferrari is to treat these turn signal stalks with great care because the repair is not cheap! Luckily there is a solution, and a vendor has reproduced molds to remake the stalk ends that hold the levers and make the contacts to the lights, but because he does such a great job rebuilding the stalks, he’s swamped with work! It’s a problem patience will fix, so into a box and off to the shipper this assembly will go!

California Trips

I’m heading to Los Angeles for a week starting on the 26th of July, and was wondering if anyone wants to get together? I may try to plan an dinner one night so I can meet up with some Southern California Vintage Ferrari owners. I’m open to suggestions and look forward to hearing from you!

It’s also time to start thinking about Monterey! For those lucky enough to score tickets to Quail, they will be going on Friday the 15th, but his year the schedule has changed a little bit where Concorso Italiano will be held on Saturday the 16th of August and Pebble Beach for the usual Sunday the 17th. I plan to host my cocktail party on Thursday night, the 14th at the back deck of Quail Lodge from 5:30pm until 8pm, and I hope you can join us.

There will be appetizers and an open bar, and the location allows us to watch the cars load onto the greens at Quail Lodge the night before the show.

My plans this year is to be at the Bonhams Auction for the preview days and Auction on Friday the 15th. Mark Dempsey is selling his Platinum winning 365GT 2+2 at Bonhams, and will be be there to root him on. He’ll be sharing the catalog with a 250GTO, so I know this auction is going to be the talk of the Monterey Weekend when this car crosses the auction block on Friday. Saturday will be spent at Concorso as this will be the first year I will be able to enjoy this show without the distraction of the Quail Show. Sunday will be Pebble Beach, but sometime during the weekend, I’ll have to find time to go to the track. As my schedule changes, I’ll let you know, but please let me know if you want to meet up and we’ll figure it out!

Reminder: If you have a Ferrari related project, car, or idea you’d like to explore, I’d love to talk to you. I can also help if you’re thinking of buying or selling. This website represents what I love to do, and now it’s how I make a living, so if you’d like to do something together, let me know. It all begins with an e-mail!

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