My latest Ferrari.

[Mitch]

Looks bloody gorgeous Mike. But why relegated to Chapter 4?

Hope you're going to put some solid miles on it this year. Keep the pics coming, you're starting to turn me.

[Mike]

You've been on the turn for years Mitch! One more just for you then....

[Tp81]

Always enjoy your pictures Mike. I am interested to hear what you think of the cair o port. Your garage looks nicer than some houses so I assume you don't have to content with condensation? Is the unit well constructed, I have two car storage systems, one indoor frame assembly and a fully outdoor which you have to roll over the car. Each of these are starting to age and have some minor tears just through use and the fabric / plastic being stressed. Have you had any issues with yours?

Cheers
Tom

[Robind]

Very nice and good to know I'm not the only one from the dark side on here....

[Ian Gunney]

Mike - that car of yours is soooo pretty I absolutely love it.

First Ferrari I ever sat in was an early steel bodied GTB (I was 13 or so at the time) - have loved them ever since...my brothers 355 is nice but not as delicate.

[Mike]

Thanks guys appreciate the comments!

The car's been off the road this summer for some preventative work to the heads, sodium filled exhaust valves being a major weak spot and mine were originals.
Cutting edge technology 40 years ago but with age they go brittle and the stems have a nasty habit of snapping and the valve head drops into the cylinder, nasty!

On closer inspection and crack testing the mechanic wasn't happy with one of the heads so just sourced another which wasn't an easy find to say the least. Both
going back together now after a little skim, new valves, guides, seats, springs and so on, so should see me out now.

All just in time to be put away for the winter

Quick pic of the engine as we began, and the cam and belt covers were polished so they've been vapor blasted ready to go back on.

[Tp81]

Wow, lovely stuff.

[964RS]

Have you driven this one yet?

[sladey]

Wow, lovely stuff.

+1

[markm]

Tis a thing of beauty

[911hillclimber]

Mike, after vapour blasting, did you paint/coat the castings at all?

[bjmullan]

Looking great

[radioboy1]

sodium filled exhaust valves being a major weak spot and mine were originals.
Cutting edge technology 40 years ago but with age they go brittle and the stems have a nasty habit of snapping and the valve head drops into the cylinder, nasty!

Funny you should mention this, I was talking to Vincent Mezzullo about this very same thing yesterday, he showed me a broken sodium filled valve head embedded in a piston head, amazing to see, I really wanted it for my coffee table

[Mike]

Just an update to the thread as the heads are all done and back on the car!
So new valves on the exhaust side to replace the fragile sodium filled ones, new springs, guides, seats and so on with everything else cleaned up ready to go.





Rear bank all together on the bench prior to going on the engine.



Then all back in place, set up and ready to go. The vapour blasted finish to the cam and belt covers is a far more original factory look, quite how long it stays
like that will be interesting. Various suggestions for protecting it but just wiping with WD40 seems the most recommended.

[brembo]

Looking good Mike.
Have had better results with Gibbs penetrant rather than with WD40.