1969 Maserati Ghibli - The Resurection
Discussion
Roberty said:
Just a polite nudge from one of many PH'ers who'd love to see and hear of your progress (or plans) on this magnificent machine?
Your nudge is uncanny Roberty, nothing much to report but having now moved house and got the place into some semblance of order (read new workshop built) a restart to the Resurrection looks to be likely in a few months time. A special date in our lives will happen next year so we have set a target of getting the old girl back on the road summer 2017. This is no mean task so may well mean subbing out a bit more of the work, something which goes against my instincts but the primary objective is now to get it done! (only a small diversion in the guise of getting the 1933 Singer 9 Sports back on the road for a bit of summer fun stands in the way of an immediate restart).
Chad
PS Loved 'The Surveyor's' Mexico rebuild, a great inspiration.
Thanks for your continued interest guys. A recent herniated disc in my back and a dead computer has slowed me up a bit with working on the car and posting pictures. However, progress has been made and the body shell has been stripped back to bare metal and repainted professionally. It was a sobering sight to see a year's worth of hard work and a few £ worth of paint converted to dust on the floor but it was the only way forward, at least they were complimentary about my metalwork that lay underneath it.
All suspension components have been blasted and powder coated plus the brake calipers have had the same treatment plus new stainless steel pistons and seals.
The current task is the back axle, essentially a Salisbury 4HA. Fortunately there seems to be little wear to either gears or bearings so I'll fit new seals and re-paint it.
Pictures to follow as soon as I can.
Chad
All suspension components have been blasted and powder coated plus the brake calipers have had the same treatment plus new stainless steel pistons and seals.
The current task is the back axle, essentially a Salisbury 4HA. Fortunately there seems to be little wear to either gears or bearings so I'll fit new seals and re-paint it.
Pictures to follow as soon as I can.
Chad
neutral 3 said:
Well, i have some Ghibli news.....
After searching since at least pre 1985, for my Late Dads Ghibli, late on Sunday eve i finally found it.
I spent the whole of Monday in a complete daze, as the memories, some good, some simply terrible, came flooding back. I have spoken at length with the seller, he sounds a really great guy. I still have most of the cars early paper work. Hoping to get to see it and re unite the car with its papers.
Very sadly, Ghibli values have risen considerably over the years and are beyond me now. I have a customer, who is thinking about it, but if anyone is seriously looking for an early Ghibli, that needs some tlc, then please PM me.
That's great news Neutral 3, keep us in the loop and post some pics if possible please.After searching since at least pre 1985, for my Late Dads Ghibli, late on Sunday eve i finally found it.
I spent the whole of Monday in a complete daze, as the memories, some good, some simply terrible, came flooding back. I have spoken at length with the seller, he sounds a really great guy. I still have most of the cars early paper work. Hoping to get to see it and re unite the car with its papers.
Very sadly, Ghibli values have risen considerably over the years and are beyond me now. I have a customer, who is thinking about it, but if anyone is seriously looking for an early Ghibli, that needs some tlc, then please PM me.
Edited by neutral 3 on Wednesday 5th December 12:09
The interest this thread continues to generate still amazes me.
Fear not guys progress is being made, when I sort out the photobucket issue I'll post some photo's.
Chad
OK Peeps back on it now and hopefully able to post pictures, Fun with the petrol tanks
The tanks have a little sump at their base with drain plug and outlet hose barb with a filter inside.
This is one of the sumps un-soldered and removed with both filters. Both tanks had this level of tar/gunge.
The box of ash like dust also came out of the tanks!
Outlet sump soldered back on.
Two holes (one either side of the vertical baffle) were cut in the top of each tank for cleaning, these are the patches soldered back on.
This work was done by Regal Rads down in Kent who also re-cored the radiator.
More to come
The tanks have a little sump at their base with drain plug and outlet hose barb with a filter inside.
This is one of the sumps un-soldered and removed with both filters. Both tanks had this level of tar/gunge.
The box of ash like dust also came out of the tanks!
Outlet sump soldered back on.
Two holes (one either side of the vertical baffle) were cut in the top of each tank for cleaning, these are the patches soldered back on.
This work was done by Regal Rads down in Kent who also re-cored the radiator.
More to come
Going back through this thread I was shocked to see I've been on this project for what is approaching 20 years! Wow how time flies and how many significant changes in life have occurred in that time, the most pertinent with regard to the Ghibli is I've now retired. That means I now have the time and head space to cack on with it but also funds will have to be spent wisely.
The last meaningful posts were April 2017 regarding rebuilding the back axle and May 2019 when the fuel tanks and radiator were refurbished.
The fuel tanks and rad are still packed away for safe keeping and ready to install when the time is right, the back axle however was quite involved and I didn't post any pictures at the time so that will be the next subject.
Here are a few photos taken yesterday of where we are:
[url]
[url][url]
The last meaningful posts were April 2017 regarding rebuilding the back axle and May 2019 when the fuel tanks and radiator were refurbished.
The fuel tanks and rad are still packed away for safe keeping and ready to install when the time is right, the back axle however was quite involved and I didn't post any pictures at the time so that will be the next subject.
Here are a few photos taken yesterday of where we are:
[url][url][url]TR4man said:
What a stunning colour!
Is it an original Maserati colour?
Yes the car left the factory with Verdi Bosco (forest green) paint and I too think its great, it was repainted in resale red in the 80's.Is it an original Maserati colour?
The interior was originally white leather, changed at the same time it was repainted to white with red piping. The interior is a task I'm putting out of my mind for the time being.
Hurricane52 said:
Welcome back to the fold Chad Speed. Verde Bosco looks awesome. I’ve been through a similar process whilst you’ve been away, so if you need any pointers, let me know. Don’t want to hijack your thread, but just by way of encouragement, here’s a pic. Best of luck with your retirement.
That looks fantastic Chris, right hand drive too. Was it 13 RHD cars they made, I've seen various figures quoted?Really happy for all to post Ghibli pictures and their experiences.
I'd be interested in what condition your Magnesium alloy Campagnolo Starburst wheels are in and any work you've had done on them.
The rear axle on the Ghibli is essentially a Maserati manufactured item with a Salisbury 4HA differential and casing which could be ordered with the Powerlok limited slip set-up - which it has. The rebuild started with removal of all the main items for checking/reconditioning.
.
Axle ready for stripping off all the old 1980's red Hammerite. The axle as you see it here was sent to the nice chaps at Hardy Engineering to remove the stub axles from the half shafts, all the pullers I tried failed and it needed their hydraulic tools. Whilst there it received new input and output seals and was given a good checking over. They reported all was good and it had seen only low use, this is consistent with other mechanical parts inspected.
Stripped and surface prepared ready for primer.
Primer applied
The leaf springs were cosmetically poor and needed new eye and shackle bushes.
Leaf spring disassembled ready for blasting, painting and new plastic rubbing strips.
The brake calipers are Girling and I'd previously had them blasted and plated. It was rather disapointing to see them rusting so badly in storage so I planned to have them blasted and powder coated, not original but hopefully more durable and at least they are not visible with the wheels on the car.
New stainless steel caliper pistons.
The hand brake uses a seperate set of pads to the foot brake, these are the components ready for refurbishment.
Next post, reassembly.
.Axle ready for stripping off all the old 1980's red Hammerite. The axle as you see it here was sent to the nice chaps at Hardy Engineering to remove the stub axles from the half shafts, all the pullers I tried failed and it needed their hydraulic tools. Whilst there it received new input and output seals and was given a good checking over. They reported all was good and it had seen only low use, this is consistent with other mechanical parts inspected.
Stripped and surface prepared ready for primer.
Primer applied
The leaf springs were cosmetically poor and needed new eye and shackle bushes.
Leaf spring disassembled ready for blasting, painting and new plastic rubbing strips.
The brake calipers are Girling and I'd previously had them blasted and plated. It was rather disapointing to see them rusting so badly in storage so I planned to have them blasted and powder coated, not original but hopefully more durable and at least they are not visible with the wheels on the car.
New stainless steel caliper pistons.
The hand brake uses a seperate set of pads to the foot brake, these are the components ready for refurbishment.
Next post, reassembly.
uk66fastback said:
Were these items, the leaf springs and axle, painted or powder coated originally from the factory?
That's a good question that I don't know the answer to. Whilst powder coating did exist in the 60's I doubt Maserati would have been an early adopter, a standard chassis black seems to be what I've seen on original cars, certainly they paid little attention to rust prevention of any sort, I found concealed area's of the body that had never seen any paint - ever. Paint types and colours did vary through production, some cars had the differential cover painted orange for example.The dampers front and rear were cosmetically poor but with no rust on the shafts or leaks and they seemed to function OK, as much as you can tell operating them by hand. So they have been refurbished with new bushes and paint, once I get to drive the car we will see how they are, its not too difficult to replace them later if required. They were made by RIV but Koni's were fitted as well, I'm not sure if this was an option but the Koni's seem to be favoured today.
One front and one rear stripped of paint and bushes removed, they would have been pale green originally.
In pretty good nick once the rust had been removed
Etch primed ready for top coat.
Calipers front and rear powder coated and awaiting rebuild.
Disc bells, back plates etc powder coated (some front suspension bits there as well just to confuse things)
Checking runout, It was a couple of thou either side which seemed acceptable - or was it?
Once the discs had been fitted to the bells and then the bells to the hub I was getting up to 16 thou runout. A day of swapping bits around, clocking every thing, marking up etc as there were about 30 combinations I achieved 4 thou one side and 6 the other. Not ideal but workable, I wonder what the tolerance was when it left the factory? In-situ skimming is a possibility if needed but I think it should be OK.
Discs, calipers, ARB with drop links, torque reaction arm and brakes pipe all installed
Leaf springs powder coated, new Silentbloc bushes fitted (I served my Engineering apprenticeship there in the 1980's), black rubbing strip installed with PTFE dry film lubricant and new bend over clamps.
I thought long and hard about powder coat on the leaf springs. Would the paint crack? well with the axle installed on the car but no dampers the leafs slide over each other beautifully with the rubbing strip and dry film lube, and the paint is all in tact as well. Only time will tell if its the right choice but so far so good and its not irreversible.
So here we are all assembled up and ready to fit to the car, I have some nice replica RIV stickers for the dampers once its fitted.
Front suspension next
One front and one rear stripped of paint and bushes removed, they would have been pale green originally.
In pretty good nick once the rust had been removed
Etch primed ready for top coat.
Calipers front and rear powder coated and awaiting rebuild.
Disc bells, back plates etc powder coated (some front suspension bits there as well just to confuse things)
Checking runout, It was a couple of thou either side which seemed acceptable - or was it?
Once the discs had been fitted to the bells and then the bells to the hub I was getting up to 16 thou runout. A day of swapping bits around, clocking every thing, marking up etc as there were about 30 combinations I achieved 4 thou one side and 6 the other. Not ideal but workable, I wonder what the tolerance was when it left the factory? In-situ skimming is a possibility if needed but I think it should be OK.
Discs, calipers, ARB with drop links, torque reaction arm and brakes pipe all installed
Leaf springs powder coated, new Silentbloc bushes fitted (I served my Engineering apprenticeship there in the 1980's), black rubbing strip installed with PTFE dry film lubricant and new bend over clamps.
I thought long and hard about powder coat on the leaf springs. Would the paint crack? well with the axle installed on the car but no dampers the leafs slide over each other beautifully with the rubbing strip and dry film lube, and the paint is all in tact as well. Only time will tell if its the right choice but so far so good and its not irreversible.
So here we are all assembled up and ready to fit to the car, I have some nice replica RIV stickers for the dampers once its fitted.
Front suspension next
Welshbeef said:
Gareth9702 said:
The problem with powder coating is that any crack or scratch that goes through to the metal surface allows moisture between the powder coat and the metal component. This allows extensive rusting to take place that is hidden by the structural cohesiveness of the powder coat. A small area of visible rust can be the sign of a large area of actual rust. The TVR forum has plenty of images to illustrate this, where extensive chassis damage has been concealed by powder coating. Springs seem to me very likely to suffer damage to the powder coating.
Is this why the TVR Cerberas have so many chassis issues (rotting) from the factory?RicksAlfas said:
Great to see the thread back up and confirmation that many Italian classics look better in colours other than red!
Please can I ask where you got the bands which hold the brake pipes to the rear axle? :
My Alfa has a similar setup and I really don't want plastic tie wraps on it.
MIE in the USA sell them, Bill McGrath Maserati in the UK might as well.Please can I ask where you got the bands which hold the brake pipes to the rear axle? :
My Alfa has a similar setup and I really don't want plastic tie wraps on it.
https://maseratinet.com/maserati/ghibli/15186-brak...
I can measure the diameter of the axle tube if you want?
Hope this helps
Gassing Station | Classic Cars and Yesterday's Heroes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff