10/8/14
275GTB/4 Water Pipes and Distributors

I worked on recreating the correct finish on the water pipes before taking them back to my plater for nickel plating. The dull stipple finish is correct, not a polished shiny finish the previous owner had on these pipes.

The water pump outlet pipe had the right finish, but a small hole at the end of the pipe needed brazing. It wasn’t too bad, but closing up this pinhole will prevent the hole from getting bigger in the future. With a fresh coat of nickel plating, and a hose attached, not one will see the repair, but I’ll know it was done for the better.

The carburetor linkages on this 275GTB/4 were a little rusty and thin on black oxide plating. My goal on this car is to have the detailing look consistent, so having one part with a substandard finish will stick out in concours judging.

Before I removed the linkages, I took measurements and notes on the location, lengths, and positions of the various rods, pivots, and clips. 

After the several rods and linkages were removed, I took more pictures and disassembled the pieces for cleaning and black oxide plating.

Some parts of this car received a “restoration in a can” with a layer of black spray paint applied to every surface. It may sell cars you see on TV, but won’t work for the cars we are preparing for a Ferrari show! The Lucas fan motors have a combination of bare alloy surfaces, and hammertone paint on the bodies. The cast fans are silver. Luckily under the crappy spray paint, the hammertone paint was in excellent shape, and this only left me with the question why would someone get so carried away with a spray bomb?

Update:
I recieved an note from my friend and long time Ferrari mechanic, restorer, and historian Dyke Ridgley. He advised me to to paint the fans black The fan bodies will remain hammertone.

Tom: Since this is not my first rodeo, I will make it easy for you. Look at the October 1965 issue of Car & Driver. On page 22 is a photo of a new 275 GTS engine compartment. The image is not great, but if you look carefully, you can see the end of one of the fan blades in the vertical position sticking up in front of the radiator. The blade is the SAME color as the radiator, not the silver color of the base of the horn trumpets as also seen in the image.

As for the 275 GTB/4, all you need to see is the factory brochure. It has a great color photo from directly ahead. The silver ends of the Lucas fan motors are clearly seen, but ALL else in the radiator opening is BLACK. You cannot differentiate between the radiator and the fan blades. If the fan blades had been painted silver, they would have shown clearly like the motors.

Thanks Dyke!

The distributors were incorrectly painted silver. The bodies are left natural aluminum, so the paint needed to be removed. Getting all the paint and dirt out of the surfaces was best done with bead blasting, but first I had to disassemble the internals so I would end up with a bare shell for blasting.

The difference is subtle, but any eagle eyed judge should spot the difference and won’t deduct points on this car for having painted distributors!

With just a couple of weeks to go before the Fall Party, we’re collecting names and planning a nice Fall afternoon of Vintage Ferraris! I have a pdf I can send you for the location. Email me.
Set the Date! Tomyang.net Fall Party
October 25th, 2014 1pm-5ish
Westbrook, CT.
Vintage Ferrari gathering in New England. Come join Tomyang.netters for an afternoon of fun, food, and Ferrari talk!
Please contact me to RSVP and for directions to the party!

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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