A big step forward for 4247 GT

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Tom Wilson
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Re: A big step forward for 4247 GT

Post by Tom Wilson »

Retirement... Now there is a restoration strategy I had not thought about! It would certainly give me lots of time to work on the car. Of course, I would have no money to work on it with either... Think I will stick to the original plan and (unscheduled) time frame. It will keep the wife happier with me.
Tom Wilson - Series III 250 GTE, SN 4247 GT
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Tom Wilson
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Re: A big step forward for 4247 GT

Post by Tom Wilson »

I talked to Peter today and he said the doors are fine. They have both had body work, but far less then he is used to seeing. His theory is that as long as work was being done on the front right corner, they probably patched 25 years of dings and dents around the car before painting. All are fixable without re-skinning. YESSSSS!!!!

The hood and trunk have been fully stripped, as they are aluminum and cannot handle heavy blasting without potential warpage. They will just get a light spray to do a final clean and rough up the metal for better paint adhesion. The doors are steel and can handle a heavier blast. Now that we know the extent of the bondo work, Peter may not have to strip it as much, as the blaster now knows what he needs to remove.
Body with primer
Body with primer
Body Passengers.jpeg (111.8 KiB) Viewed 13059 times
Body primed and awaiting metal work
Door Drivers.jpeg
Door Drivers.jpeg (110.48 KiB) Viewed 13059 times
Driver's door chemically stripped and ready for the blaster
Hood.jpeg
Hood.jpeg (102.37 KiB) Viewed 13059 times
Hood stripped
Tom Wilson - Series III 250 GTE, SN 4247 GT
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enio45
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Re: A big step forward for 4247 GT

Post by enio45 »

Tom and Zac,

Great pics and excellent progress!
Ed Montini
330 GT 2+2 Series II - 8289
58 Ellena - 0855GT - orig drivetrain
87 El Camino SS
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Tom Wilson
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Re: A big step forward for 4247 GT

Post by Tom Wilson »

One year later (my timetable, not Peters) in Zac's new Shop...
Red & White.jpg
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Tom Wilson - Series III 250 GTE, SN 4247 GT
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mdempsey
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Re: A big step forward for 4247 GT

Post by mdempsey »

yes sitting exactly where MY car should be.........................
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Tom Wilson
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Re: A big step forward for 4247 GT

Post by Tom Wilson »

Yes it is! I saw your spray-outs yesterday and love the color choices. I will be interested in seeing which one you chose. I found the the process very tough as the colors look very different in different light or if they are vertical or horizontal. I will be much more sympathetic next time my wife wants me to choose between whites when painting the house!
Tom Wilson - Series III 250 GTE, SN 4247 GT
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tim
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Re: A big step forward for 4247 GT

Post by tim »

Greetings... Nothing wrong with being retired. It allows you to drive to Gilroy and pick up Weber bits. (340 mile round trip- 75mph average and 35mpg. I love my Mini) Tim
1964 330GT 5769 -the big yellow taxi 61&66 Morgan +4's Daimler SP250 Turner 950S and some other dull stuff plus a brand Mercedes C300 4matic
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Re: A big step forward for 4247 GT

Post by whturner »

Tom Wilson wrote:Retirement... Now there is a restoration strategy I had not thought about! It would certainly give me lots of time??? to work on the car... ....
Tom: You must be kidding - ask anyone who has retired ---- keep working!
Cheers
Warren
330 GT Series II sn 10069
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Tom Wilson
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Re: A big step forward for 4247 GT

Post by Tom Wilson »

Ok, lets start with the obvious questions: Has hell frozen over? Not that I am aware of. Are pigs flying? Not in Los Angeles, they are not. Has the California Real Estate market risen from the dead enough where it could almost fog a mirror? Well, yes it has, though not much further. So, as I am an optimist, 4247 GT has also begun its trek back to the the world of the living...

The car is still at DGR Performance in Oceanside, CA. Zac Dugger, my very patient mentor and I sat down a month ago or so and hashed out a work schedule to get her to our ultimate goal: to drive her to my 56th birthday party on December 31, 2014.

So, in accordance to that plan, the electrical harness has been delivered to YNZ's Yesterday's Parts for a full replacement. Slightly larger wiring will be used and all new wire ends will be attached to prevent electrical issues in the future. By the way, Gene at YNZ is a really cool guy who lives for wiring and is one to meet should you need his services. His catalog of cars he has worked on is staggering. Anyway, this is the new harness on top of the old:
Wiring.jpg
Wiring.jpg (161.27 KiB) Viewed 11986 times
Shocks have been sent to Doug at GT Car Parts for rebuild (photos to follow). Needless to say, I have spent a lot of time with Doug since we started down this new path...

The Rear Axle, which has looked like this for 25 years:
Rear Axle 1.jpg
Rear Axle 1.jpg (101.98 KiB) Viewed 11986 times
Now looks like this and is temporarily hanging on the car.
Rear Axle 2.jpg
Rear Axle 2.jpg (91.46 KiB) Viewed 11986 times
Tom Wilson - Series III 250 GTE, SN 4247 GT
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Re: A big step forward for 4247 GT

Post by Tom Wilson »

The front suspension, which recently looked like:
Front Suspension 1.jpg
Front Suspension 1.jpg (110.09 KiB) Viewed 11985 times
Now looks like (again, in a temporary fitting mode):
Front Suspension 2.jpg
Front Suspension 2.jpg (113.56 KiB) Viewed 11985 times
Tom Wilson - Series III 250 GTE, SN 4247 GT
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Re: A big step forward for 4247 GT

Post by Tom Wilson »

The wheels, which once looked like:
Wheels 1.jpg
Wheels 1.jpg (117.66 KiB) Viewed 11983 times
Thanks to Cork Adams, another truly great craftsman, now look like:
Wheels 2.jpg
Wheels 2.jpg (113.02 KiB) Viewed 11983 times
Tom Wilson - Series III 250 GTE, SN 4247 GT
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Re: A big step forward for 4247 GT

Post by Tom Wilson »

The engine, which once looked like this:
Engine 1.jpg
Engine 1.jpg (106.23 KiB) Viewed 11983 times
Is now undergoing dis-assembly. Once done, we can triage the parts and I will have a year or so to gather the new ones I need before putting it back together. Anyway, it now looks like:
Engine 2.jpg
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Tom Wilson - Series III 250 GTE, SN 4247 GT
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Re: A big step forward for 4247 GT

Post by Tom Wilson »

And none of this could be done without the eternally patient help (and approval) of my very cool wife, Paula, who for my Christmas present, sent my Steering Wheel to Tom Y, which now looks like this:
Steering Wheel.jpg
Steering Wheel.jpg (170.67 KiB) Viewed 11983 times
Anyway, nice shots of parts you might say, but what does Ferrari 250 Pininfarina Coupe 2+2 4247 GT look like now? Great!
4247 GT.jpg
4247 GT.jpg (69.87 KiB) Viewed 11983 times
I understand that the coil springs are back from the Powder Coater, the leaf springs are back from blasting, ready for paint and the shocks and wire harness should be in my hands by next week. When I am back in San Diego, these too shall go on the car.

Now for an admission of a little fibbing, those wheels shown on the car are not mine, they were borrowed from another car in the shop. Mine have been cleaned up, but I have not picked tires yet. I want to get them on the car soon so we can take it off the rack and roll it around on its own four feet. Therefore, I will pose the question that has been posed so many times before: Pirelli 4400's or Dunlop SP's? I am looking for a driver, not a competition show car, so while I want them to look pretty correct, driveability is my primary concern. Post your opinions here or even better, come to the Tom Y's Radcliffe event this Saturday and we can discuss it over a beer or two or three...

Save the date: San Diego, CA, December 31, 2014!
Tom Wilson - Series III 250 GTE, SN 4247 GT
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Yale
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Re: A big step forward for 4247 GT

Post by Yale »

Vredestein
Ex - 1964 330GT #6097
1963 Abarth Monomille
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peterp
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Re: A big step forward for 4247 GT

Post by peterp »

Congrats Tom -- it's looking great!
Peter P
1966 330 2+2 series 2 #8169
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