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Yet another busy day - the car is now distinctly smaller than it was after I cut the roof, B pillars and most of the gearbox tunnel away. Both the front and rear screens were broken, so I wasn't worried about trying to get them out in one piece. The special screen removal tool I bought was absolutely useless - it wouldn't even penetrate the bonding adhesive, so there was zero chance of doing the job by the book. I therefore had two choices - either a big hammer or Special Plan B. I chose the latter - this saw me run a length of duct tape across both sides of the glass and then attack it with a thin disc cutter (following a line up the middle of the tape). Much to my surprise, it worked really well, and both ends of the panel complete with sunroof came away with no dramas leaving enough metal all round for it to be useable should anyone need a replacement roof.

I then moved on - you're meant to remove the engine and transmission from underneath, due to the fact that you can't (or are not meant to) separate the gearbox with everything in place. Some deft work with the disc cutter, however, uncovered the access bung (the small round, black thing on the side) through which you can unbolt the torque converter. Hopefully, this means I'll be able to perform the operation in-situ and then lift the big bits out using the overhead electric hoist.

This is what I love about this site - the cutting, followed by the welding! Progress..

There will now be a short intermission due to a trip to France to collect our new dog...

In the meantime, there is a status update:

The torque convertor has been unbolted via the side access port in the transmission - likewise the prop shaft.

The exhaust system has been disconnected from the headers.

All the front end electrics have been unraveled and repositioned such that I have clear access to the bulkhead area in preparation for engine removal.

The next step will be to raise the car on the lift so that I can remove the last few nuts from the transmission mounts and the engine should be ready to come out. I'm hoping that I'll be able to weigh it while I'm doing so!

Well - it fits! The engine can still go forward an inch or so, and the transmission clears everything (thanks to a disc cutter). The 'box that's in there currently is an empty one that's just being used for mock-up purposes, and the adaptor plate that's attached to it is made of chipboard, but at least I've now got a better idea of where the mounts need to be, etc. The real adaptor plate is under way, along with a custom flywheel. Exactly what clutch it'll end up with has yet to be decided, but it'll almost certainly be a twin-plate item.

As part of the test fit, I was pleased to discover that the engine stabiliser - the thing that looks like an aluminium con rod, top right, will even go in at the correct factory angle. There is still a huge amount of work to do before I can consider the powertrain to be installed - fabricating mounts, etc. but at least I'm making tangible progress!

Very cool!

How's the axles alignment?

That is good progress. I can see you still have a long way to go but considering where you started, well done.
I am watching and enjoying your progress. It is probably a good thing that guys like us do not live closer together.
Keep up the good work.

_________________
Wade Williams
Master Ferrari Tech
Restoration Tech
Engine Machinist
Fabricator
Racecar Driver

Thank you, Gentlemen!

The axle position has yet to be fixed - the dummy transmission adaptor plate can't go in place properly right now as there are a couple of studs fouling. Once that's sorted, I'll be able to push the engine fully forwards and see how things line up. Due to the power increase, I hope to gain a couple or three inches of wheelbase to improve longitudinal stability, but the suspension towers will dictate matters there.

The main intent for this exercise was to see if the powertrain would go in - now that I've proved to myself that it does, I'm focusing on how to deal with the front suspension. Having spent the day measuring and pondering, I'm leaning towards making new wishbones and then altering the Maserati uprights fit to onto them. That way, I can use the original mounting points, but by making the wishbones symmetrical (the Dino originals are offset to the rear), it would gain me just over an inch of wheelbase at the front. My only concern is that the steering rack is mounted behind a substantial chassis cross-member, so it can't be moved forwards to compensate. I now need to decide whether the angular change would be significant enough to worry about!

This all sounds like serious body modifications as well. It will be interesting to watch it unfold. I guess you will be moving the rear wheels as well?

_________________
Wade Williams
Master Ferrari Tech
Restoration Tech
Engine Machinist
Fabricator
Racecar Driver

Yes, partly because I want the extra wheelbase, and partly because that's where the driveshafts are going to end up!

I would really like to use the Maserati rear uprights because they are super-light (unlike most of the rest of the car), but the 5-bar linkage that holds them on is so complicated that making a mounting system for it all would be a nightmare. If I do that, it would make sense to do the same for the front as that would need major modification too. I'm therefore thinking of using a set of uprights off something like a GT40 instead. That way I hope to be able to use all the original wishbone mounting points, which would help to keep the DVLA (our equivalent of the DMV) off my back.

I'm therefore off to see my local GT40 specialist next week to see what he has on the shelf. Last time I was there he had some unmachined upright castings which should be able to take my bearings and hubs. If I like what I see I may well also commission him to fabricate some front and rear custom wishbones. I could do it myself, but as he's already got all the jigs I think my time could be better used elsewhere.

Yesterday's job was slicing up the last of the bodyshell with the disc cutter to make it light enough for me to drag into the back of the trailer. That way it's no longer cluttering up my workshop (or attacking my shins whenever I walk past) and is in the right place when the time comes to take it all down to the local scrap yard. With all that moved today's task was to deal with all the broken glass - both front and rear screens and one side door had to go in a builder's bulk sack (we call them 'Dumpy Bags' over here) and then be taken down to the recycling depot. With two dogs that love to come into the garage regularly to make sure that I don't need defending, I have to be scrupulous about sweeping up and then vacuuming to ensure they don't get glass shards in their paws. That's done now, so I can relax a bit!