DDK - Die Deutschen Klassiker

thanks Dougie, I'll give that a try!

What have you replaced the sodium filled ones with Mike? Fresh sodium-filled or something else?

Hi Mark, the mechanic did tell me they're made from some super duper technology material with a complicated technical name I can't remember!
They do have heat hardened edges though which you can see have gone black in the pictures.

Engine looks great

Enjoy.

Mike wrote:Hi Mark, the mechanic did tell me they're made from some super duper technology material with a complicated technical name I can't remember!
They do have heat hardened edges though which you can see have gone black in the pictures.

Super AND Duper. Niiiiiice.

Mike wrote:... the mechanic did tell me they're made from some super duper technology material with a complicated technical name I can't remember!
They do have heat hardened edges though which you can see have gone black in the pictures.

Would that be " top grade Austenitic 214N stainless steel - Stellite-tipped with Stellite 12H " ?

Lightweight_911 wrote:" top grade Austenitic 214N stainless steel"

now you're talking, plasma nitride rings a bell as well....

Looks good Mike. Still enjoying the drive ?

hot66 wrote:Looks good Mike. Still enjoying the drive ?

WHAT! Mike drives this one.

sladey wrote:What have you replaced the sodium filled ones with Mike? Fresh sodium-filled or something else?

ok here goes........ the latest thing are 'superalloys' and here we're using Nimonic 80A a nickel based composite.
The actual seat face has a Stellite colbolt coating for maximum heat resistance.

And if you're still awake, the new guides are Colisbro, a copper nickel alloy originally developed for F1 apparently.....

hot66 wrote:Looks good Mike. Still enjoying the drive ?

If only! Been really tied up for the past 6 months with a new house project which has only just finished. That's why it
came off the road for some work to prolong it's life this year, so not been behind the wheel since the spring.

Mechanic had it out on the road today doing final set up work as it's still pretty mild down here, reported back that it's
fantastic, then I suppose he would say that considering he's done all the work!

During the head rebuild discovered the inlet manifolds had been worked on which accounts for it pulling especially
well, something we picked up on during the original per-purchase road test. Combined with the suspension rebuild
earlier this summer when everything was replaced or reconditioned, it's handling like a new car and mechanic raving
about it. Can't wait to pick it up in a few weeks and bring it down to it's new home.

Few pics from the suspension work earlier this year, didn't realise there were so many bushes....









Afterwards with it's new factory fresh stance.

Nevermind the bushes, on that last photo it looks stunning !

myatt1972 wrote:Nevermind the bushes, on that last photo it looks stunning !

What he said!!

thanks guys, only just seen your comments!

Time for an update!

So it’s been nearly 9 months since our escape to the country, and now we’ve finally got the place and the garaging sorted, it was time for the car to come down to it’s new home!
It’s been with the mechanic since we did the suspension rebuild and rebuilt the heads to replace the sodium exhaust valves, so been really missing it as I’ve done up the house.

Spent most of Friday behind the wheel, so thought I’d just share the view, there’s something a little special about looking out over that iconic yellow badge and veglia instruments.
I’d forgotten what a wonderful drive it is, and now with the new suspension and brakes it really is an incredible machine, so light and engaging and really fantastic around the quiet
roads with their sweeping corners that I’m lucky enough to have here in the wilds of Hampshire.



Engine wise obviously no real difference as it was great to begin with, but now just that piece of mind that the sodium valve weak link has been sorted so feel happier to let it rev.