Beat Walti 330GT 2+2


Here are some facts on my 330. As I've mentioned before, the chassis nr is 8455 and the car was sold new in Switzerland on the 1st of Sept 1966. The first owner sold it to a friend of mine in 1985 and I've now bought it from him. The car is totally original, the only deviation has been the fitting of two blower motors/fans a la 308. At one stage (still with the first owner) the paint was changed from light blue metallic to the current rosso corsa.As mentioned before, the car is now a bit tired with about 75 thou miles on the clock so I have now embarked on a restoration involving the following:

Engine: Strip completely. Replace all moving parts as neccessary. Install new valves and valve guides and convert valve seats to unleaded. Install new valve springs. Camshafts and rockers look like new still, so won't need any work. Check and probably replace pistons.Whether I will go for a german product (Mahle) or a British one (Cosworth) or stick to Borgo has not yet been decided. I would like to raise the compr. ratio from 8.8 to 9.5 though. Rehone liners or replace as neccessary. Replace main bearings. Check conrods. Replace timing chain. Sprockets look fine. Check,regrind,polish,nitride crankshaft as neccessary. Almost certainly won't need replacing, since the engine never had any bearing damage and the crank has never been removed.Overhaul carburettors and distributors. Install new ignition wires. Replace all fuel and water hoses.
 


All vital engine parts will be x-rayed or magnafluxed for crack checking.All the machining work and crack testing, incidentally, will be done at Swissair's maintenance facilities. Since I was with Swissair Engineering for 23 years, I still have a lot of valuable contacts and all my old pals are quite enthusiastic about working on Ferrari bits. Makes a change from the old Pratt and Whitney's and the Rolls Royce power plants. Do you know, that for the cost of ONE fan blade of a RB211 RR engine, one could comfortably overhaul an entire 330 engine? It's all relative, isn't it?

Check/overhaul radiator as neccessary. Since the car doesn't have power steering or A/C, the removal was very easy.Check/overhaul both heater elements. The ventilation fans have been removed and will be checked, cleaned and painted.

The suspension will need work. More on that when I cross that bridge.Borranis will be restored at the factory.

As you can see, quite a lot has already been dismantled and taken apart. I was amazed how easy everything came apart. No bolts rusted or messed with at any stage. Nothing damaged. Just a pleasant straightforeward disassembly operation with the odd espresso in between and some Puccini in the background. Who needs a shrink when you can have this kind of therapy?!

Of course I have taken LOTS of photographs during work and all the bits are propperly labelled and packed. Even the packing got a System to the chaos: Boxes labelled according to general chapter like "Engine block", "Ignition","Cooling", "Door trim LH", etc.etc.etc.The little bits are placed in freezer bags which have a filed where you can write what's in the bag. Very practical. One can get quite enthusiastic by taking things apart and it takes a bit of discipline to keep a proper documentation. It'll be worth the effort when it comes to reassembly!

All the chrome trim has been removed in preparation of the repaint and is currently being rechromed. (again, thanks Swissair)

I will need a complete exhaust system (exept the headers which are fine) and four new Michelins XWX 215/15 VR. If anyone out there has a good contact, let me know. Those Michelins cost an arm and a leg in Switzerland, but at least I could still get them if needed.(at about 300 USD/piece quite dear though).

That's it for now. I will keep you all updated on further progress.

Happy motoring, Beat

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