calling Ghibli Cup owners! valves & shims; how well do you know your service history?

[ZAM400209]

This call goes out to any Ghibli (biturbo) owner (and v6 QP IV) but I'm particularly interested in Cup owners' feedback.

How well do people know they're service history?

In particular, I'd like to know if anyone is aware of their car ever needing revised shims for the cams & valves based on wear & tear?

Thanks

JimP

 

[Malcolm Pearce]

Hi Jim,

A "happy cup spring" to you mate.

I have had the car ten years and I has never received these items.

Malcolm

 

[ZAM400209]

Hi Malcolm!

same here; and me too! (or neither, so to speak)

Just wondering how good at tolerances these Ferrari-built engines are over the years... I'm always toying with the idea of buying some shims in different sizes to account for future issues but there about two dozen types...!

You going to Stanford this year??

JimP

 

[Malcolm Pearce]

Hi Jim,

I have checked and it appears there have been some changes to the event scheduling this year probably because of the low turnout last year in the Monsoon. Do you therefore mean the July 7 event in which case I will be there.

Think I have secured another Italian toy and px'd my GTa in the process and when it arrives will let you know.It has been a protracted purchase although I'm sure everything is in order and the new car is just what I have been waiting patiently for. If you can take your blinkers off there are some stunning cars out there and was really tempted to get A 911 GT3 but in the end stuck with Italian. I'm not a great lover of huge cars because in North Yorks and the Lakes the roads are too narrow and the hedges too wide !
The problem was finding something I liked as much as the Cup and meeting my low depreciation demands. My last Cup journey in Autumn across the North York Moors was wonderful and I think its criminal (but I've done it) but in effect it going into mothballs as I will use the new car at weekend although I will bring T25CUP to Auto Italia.
My Alfa 75 is in a garage now waiting for the restoration to start. I've decided to do the brakes etc. before the paint job and am earmarking £200pm so that it can be brought back to life over a few years. Doing my maths it will be quite a few years too as we reckon it will cost 7-8K.
The GTa is still with me but really sold as in the Px. Was very sad to see it go as it has been faultless and what was annoying was there was no quibble about my px expectation and as it is the only black one with sat nav and two tome leather seats etc and will not be easy to replace if I want another one.
When the new car is in the drive I will let you know and I'm sure that in a decade I will like it as much as T25CUP!

Best wishes bud.

Malcolm

 

[ZAM400209]

hey Malcolm,

that all sounds really intriguing! I can't wait for the next installment! Sounds like you've weighed it all up very well I think.

My planned FIAT Coupe purchase has gone on the back-burner, as my mate with whom I was buying the car (to go to the Silver Flag at Vernasca in May) is in the 'family way' again. Looks like it'll be May 2014 now and I don't really want to have to store it on the street or find a garage for a year.

Yeah- July 7th.... Did Ewan contact you? I think he fancies a sort of Ghibli Cup get together at this point...

That sounds like a great plan with the 75- I should do that; I've just started (e-mailed them earlier tonight) a conversation with PK Supercars up here to see what they think if anything needs doing to the car for this year. I'm planning a weekend to Arisaig in May and may make a series of posts about it...

Can't wait to see what's coming!

Speak soon

JimP

 

[Malcolm Pearce]

hey Malcolm,

that all sounds really intriguing! I can't wait for the next installment! Sounds like you've weighed it all up very well I think.

My planned FIAT Coupe purchase has gone on the back-burner, as my mate with whom I was buying the car (to go to the Silver Flag at Vernasca in May) is in the 'family way' again. Looks like it'll be May 2014 now and I don't really want to have to store it on the street or find a garage for a year.

Yeah- July 7th.... Did Ewan contact you? I think he fancies a sort of Ghibli Cup get together at this point...

That sounds like a great plan with the 75- I should do that; I've just started (e-mailed them earlier tonight) a conversation with PK Supercars up here to see what they think if anything needs doing to the car for this year. I'm planning a weekend to Arisaig in May and may make a series of posts about it...

Can't wait to see what's coming!

Speak soon

JimP

Jim and cup owners..

I'm officially broke for a bit.

I traded in my much loved GTA and after long consideration thinking about a GT3 or a Grantourismo decided to buy a Red Gransport with 11K on the clock and have had it for two weeks now. Bought the car from Novola London having read a lot of good reviews from members where the car was delivered to me on a Sunday by Nareman (the owner who loved the GTA - so all were happy) in perfect nick and a full service by Maserati. Have to say Nuvola was a pleasure to deal with - no haggling and some of the other cars he has are just as good. Problem was I spent as much time looking at the other machines as I did my potential new one.

There were a few Gransports to choose from and whilst my first choice was originally black the rarity of red appealed to me and then had to decide between a cream or more sporting back interior and went for the black - partly for a change.

Its really impossible to compare the two cars although on tight North Yorks roads the Cup still has it - but for fast A roads the Gransport has the edge. The Gransport seats are truly amazing and the noise superb although I still find it a big car to drive on tight roads in comparison but that's probably just nerves. I know you will get used to it but the way you access reverse on the Gransport is a real pain. It also makes the Cup look dated when side by side but that's part of why I love it. Both great cars and if I had to take one I really would flip a coin which shows how good they both are.

I borrowed a GTV 2.0 litre to use last week across the North Yorks moors for several days and it was almost as much fun. Shows you don't need to break the bank to get a smile on your face.

Got Ewan's E mail and must respond. Would like to get to the event. Sadly, the day before the Gransport arrived I scratched the cup on exiting the garage and took a chunk out of an alloy to rub salt into the wounds. All getting fixed, of course,and if it was any other car I would not even notice but....

Will post about the Gransport more on "their" thread soon.

Best wishes bud

Malcolm

 

[ZAM400209]

Well done Malcolm- I knew you would let us down!!

the million dollar question is- which will it be for July 7th??!!

 

[Malcolm Pearce]

Well done Malcolm- I knew you would let us down!!

the million dollar question is- which will it be for July 7th??!!

Hi Jim,

I am having the alloys done on the cup so it has to be the one just so that I can scratch them again. The GS is the home garage now and whether I will ever manage to get it out again is the million dollar question for me.

Off to Japan at the weekend where there are a **** of a lot of Maseratis all in gleaming white of course !

Aiming to get to Brooklands this weekend before the flight which should be good fun too.

See you in July bud !

Malcolm

 

[Ewan]

Chaps - June 9th is the date to remember. My Cup has just gone to the body shop for a front end respray - I don't want a stone chip denting my chance of Concours gold!

The work should be completed by the end of this month. But if there is a timing disaster I have a plan B - I bought a QP yesterday!

 

[Malcolm Pearce]

Ewan.

Congratulations on your new spring toy. Good luck at the concours competition too - I too am finding the professional touch up paint and have the concours gold in my eyesight too. The gold will match the clock!

M

 

[ZAM400209]

Well done Malcolm and yourself also Ewan!!

why did I say July 7th??? I've even got it on the calendar as June 9th!!

I have no chance of concours gold but am hoping to get my wheels sorted somewhat in time.

I will win several distinct categories for; best aftermarket market mods which look like original equipment and best good idea add ons and best look-like factory fit problem solvers!!!