Open Road

Yesterday I went back out to work on the 456 GT. While doing the cam belts, I noticed an oil leak from behind one of the lower cam drive gears. Parts diagrams showed an o-ring in front of the bearing for that timing gear, so I ordered a new o-ring, and the special ring nut tool to remove the gear. Upon removing the cam drive gear, I found no o-ring, and not even enough room for an o-ring to fit. Extensive research led me to the conclusion that the parts diagram was wrong, and there is not supposed to be an o-ring at that location. The bearing is supposed to be a sealed unit that is internally greased (like a factory IMS bearing on a 996). The fact that engine oil was leaking out of it meant that the grease seal had failed and the bearing was being washed out. So I ordered a new bearing from England and a special bearing puller from Germany, and replaced the bearing yesterday.


While I was there, I was asked to look at a Diablo 6.0 that was throwing misfire and lean fault codes, and was making a whistling noise once the engine warmed-up, which continually got louder. I found an air leak at one of the intake plenum gaskets, and ordered the parts needed for the replacement.

@XR4Tim - I'm impressed by the pedigree of vehicles you're working on. Are you getting your clients just via word of mouth?

If so it seems you've built quite the reputation for yourself!

fpena944 wrote: ↑Fri Nov 22, 2024 8:35 am @XR4Tim - I'm impressed by the pedigree of vehicles you're working on. Are you getting your clients just via word of mouth?

If so it seems you've built quite the reputation for yourself!

Yes, all of my clients have been friends and people that they have referred to me. It's been nice that I haven't had to worry about finding more business!

XR4Tim wrote: ↑Fri Nov 22, 2024 9:44 am

fpena944 wrote: ↑Fri Nov 22, 2024 8:35 am @XR4Tim - I'm impressed by the pedigree of vehicles you're working on. Are you getting your clients just via word of mouth?

If so it seems you've built quite the reputation for yourself!

Yes, all of my clients have been friends and people that they have referred to me. It's been nice that I haven't had to worry about finding more business!

I think he was angling to sell you a digital marketing campaign. ;)

N_Jay wrote: ↑Fri Nov 22, 2024 9:51 am

XR4Tim wrote: ↑Fri Nov 22, 2024 9:44 am

fpena944 wrote: ↑Fri Nov 22, 2024 8:35 am @XR4Tim - I'm impressed by the pedigree of vehicles you're working on. Are you getting your clients just via word of mouth?

If so it seems you've built quite the reputation for yourself!

Yes, all of my clients have been friends and people that they have referred to me. It's been nice that I haven't had to worry about finding more business!

I think he was angling to sell you a digital marketing campaign. ;)

I've got another project brewing that will require some digital marketing assistance.

XR4Tim wrote: ↑Fri Nov 22, 2024 9:44 am

fpena944 wrote: ↑Fri Nov 22, 2024 8:35 am @XR4Tim - I'm impressed by the pedigree of vehicles you're working on. Are you getting your clients just via word of mouth?

If so it seems you've built quite the reputation for yourself!

Yes, all of my clients have been friends and people that they have referred to me. It's been nice that I haven't had to worry about finding more business!

That's awesome! Good work sure makes the word spread fast!

N_Jay wrote: ↑Fri Nov 22, 2024 9:51 am

XR4Tim wrote: ↑Fri Nov 22, 2024 9:44 am

fpena944 wrote: ↑Fri Nov 22, 2024 8:35 am @XR4Tim - I'm impressed by the pedigree of vehicles you're working on. Are you getting your clients just via word of mouth?

If so it seems you've built quite the reputation for yourself!

Yes, all of my clients have been friends and people that they have referred to me. It's been nice that I haven't had to worry about finding more business!

I think he was angling to sell you a digital marketing campaign. ;)

Haha, didn't think of that but now that you mentioned it...

XR4Tim wrote: ↑Fri Nov 22, 2024 10:04 am

N_Jay wrote: ↑Fri Nov 22, 2024 9:51 am

XR4Tim wrote: ↑Fri Nov 22, 2024 9:44 am

Yes, all of my clients have been friends and people that they have referred to me. It's been nice that I haven't had to worry about finding more business!

I think he was angling to sell you a digital marketing campaign. ;)

I've got another project brewing that will require some digital marketing assistance.

Ya know where to find me!

I was asked to do cleanup duty on this V8 Vantage. Someone had taken it apart to repair delaminating screens for the infotainment and the instrument cluster, and then abandoned the job. We are currently working to acquire the missing pieces so I can put it back together.

BMW 7-Series'. Somehow I now have 4 customers with black 7s. I don't even really like the 7-series.

XR4Tim wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 9:57 pm
BMW 7-Series'. Somehow I now have 4 customers with black 7s. I don't even really like the 7-series.

Wow those older 7-series almost look to be the same size as today's 4-series!

fpena944 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 31, 2025 8:43 am Wow those older 7-series almost look to be the same size as today's 4-series!

It's inflation!

XR4Tim wrote: ↑Fri Jan 31, 2025 10:41 am

fpena944 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 31, 2025 8:43 am Wow those older 7-series almost look to be the same size as today's 4-series!

It's inflation!

The fattening of America!

Aston Martin V12 Vantage S with fuel system problems that point to a saturated charcoal canister. The charcoal canister is mounted to the top of the fuel tank, which is located above the transaxle. There is no access to the charcoal canister from the top or the sides. I got the rear subframe and transaxle out today, but I still need to drop the fuel tank.

XR4Tim wrote: ↑Thu Feb 27, 2025 10:06 pm Aston Martin V12 Vantage S with fuel system problems that point to a saturated charcoal canister. The charcoal canister is mounted to the top of the fuel tank, which is located above the transaxle. There is no access to the charcoal canister from the top or the sides. I got the rear subframe and transaxle out today, but I still need to drop the fuel tank.

Let me guess; the owner always "topped-up" when getting gas.

N_Jay wrote: ↑Fri Feb 28, 2025 7:15 am Let me guess; the owner always "topped-up" when getting gas.

That is the most likely cause for sure. I'm doing the repairs for a dealer who bought the car and found the problem the first time he tried to put gas in it.

Today I pulled the fuel tank down and replaced the charcoal canister, put the tank assembly back in and got the transaxle & subframe queued up. I need to replace the ASM reservoir hoses before mounting it in place because they are in terrible shape and they are easy to get at now.

Did you ever get the issue with the nosy Karen resolved?

i am not a traitor wrote: ↑Thu Mar 06, 2025 8:12 am Did you ever get the issue with the nosy Karen resolved?

The township stopped responding after hearing from my lawyer. So it's not exactly resolved, but they don't appear interested in pursuing me anymore.

A collector that I've known for several years contacted me to get his 356B roadworthy. He bought it in 1975, and wants to drive it again on the 50th anniversary of that purchase. It's been in storage for 20 years. This ought to be fun.

XR4Tim wrote: ↑Sat Mar 22, 2025 8:40 pm A collector that I've known for several years contacted me to get his 356B roadworthy. He bought it in 1975, and wants to drive it again on the 50th anniversary of that purchase. It's been in storage for 20 years. This ought to be fun.

It looks like the coil is mounted upside-down, any reason for that?
I always find your projects interesting, so thanks for posting them here

NSXguy wrote: ↑Sun Mar 23, 2025 11:28 pm

XR4Tim wrote: ↑Sat Mar 22, 2025 8:40 pm A collector that I've known for several years contacted me to get his 356B roadworthy. He bought it in 1975, and wants to drive it again on the 50th anniversary of that purchase. It's been in storage for 20 years. This ought to be fun.

It looks like the coil is mounted upside-down, any reason for that?
I always find your projects interesting, so thanks for posting them here

Thanks! The coil is upside-down, but it's been like that in all of the 356s that I've seen. I would guess that it's to keep the coil wire from grounding against the engine lid.

XR4Tim wrote: ↑Mon Mar 24, 2025 10:06 am

NSXguy wrote: ↑Sun Mar 23, 2025 11:28 pm

XR4Tim wrote: ↑Sat Mar 22, 2025 8:40 pm A collector that I've known for several years contacted me to get his 356B roadworthy. He bought it in 1975, and wants to drive it again on the 50th anniversary of that purchase. It's been in storage for 20 years. This ought to be fun.

It looks like the coil is mounted upside-down, any reason for that?
I always find your projects interesting, so thanks for posting them here

Thanks! The coil is upside-down, but it's been like that in all of the 356s that I've seen. I would guess that it's to keep the coil wire from grounding against the engine lid.

I seems top recall most VW upright engines having the coil mounted like that.

I get to figure out why this Allanté is getting 9 MPG.

XR4Tim wrote: ↑Wed Apr 09, 2025 11:14 am I get to figure out why this Allanté is getting 9 MPG.

Instead of 7?

N_Jay wrote: ↑Wed Apr 09, 2025 3:41 pm Instead of 7?

It's not the Northstar, so it should be getting at least 15ish.

Whatcha working on?
Love the thread

Inspected this today. This kind of work is right up my alley.




I also tried to diagnose electrical problems on a '85 Rolls Royce Silver Spur over the phone.

Are there, what, maybe three of those left in the US? lol.

sh944 wrote: ↑Thu May 08, 2025 6:34 pm Are there, what, maybe three of those left in the US? lol.

There were three at that house

The variety you work on, problem solving every day, very cool.

TRAKCAR wrote: ↑Sat May 10, 2025 10:10 am The variety you work on, problem solving every day, very cool.

Thanks! I really enjoy learning new things so this is a fun job for me. It would be much more lucrative if I could just replace the same parts on the same type of vehicles every day though.

I finally got started on this one:

It's the first 928 I've ever done work on, but I'm excited about it. My friend bought it from a forum member here last year after it had been sitting for quite some time. It's got no spark, so I'll be figuring that out soon, followed by a timing belt job. Then the interior needs to be reassembled with the new leather and carpet that it came with.

Phone dials - nice! Keep us updated on this one, please.

As I'm finishing up the 356, I finally got around to addressing the issue that put it into storage in the first place. The car was parked when the brake master cylinder failed. There was a new master cylinder sitting on the passenger seat that the owner had put there about 20 years ago. Upon removal of the old master cylinder, the brake fluid reservoir began disintegrating.

So I'll be picking up a new reservoir, likely tomorrow.

My BMW customers have turned on me. A customer with an M3 that I work on regularly has sent me his stepfather's Ford F-150 that needed exhaust manifolds. They have holes rusted in them. Every manifold nut was also so corroded that they have to be cut off and the studs extracted. The frame is a little bit sketchy as well:

Also, the front brakes are metal-on-metal. No pad material left at all.


I thought that was pretty bad, but then a customer with an X5 that I work on called to ask me to look at his employee's van. It wouldn't start and was getting no spark, so the guy decided to put a crank sensor on it. Unfortunately for him, both crank sensor bolts broke off in the timing cover, so he asked me to come drill them out. When I got under the van and looked up at the frame, this is what I saw:

Crazy, because the body was nearly rust-free. Both of these vehicles were recent purchases too.

Wow, both customers would be wise to hire you for a PPI.

How are you coming on the 928 work? I have one that could use some attention….

sh944 wrote: ↑Thu Aug 14, 2025 9:07 pm How are you coming on the 928 work? I have one that could use some attention….

Very slow. I need to block off a couple of weeks without taking any new jobs so I can get caught up. Happy to make a trip your way when I'm able though!

Keep me on the list and let me know when you might have time. I’d be happy to send the car to you if you’d like.

A full send?

Nice work Tim.

More work on the "million-mile Ferrari": Several of the plug wires were in bad shape and would have certainly arced out.

The wires only come as a set with the looms that they all run through for $1,500.

I decided to see if the coil and plug ends of the wires were removable, and they were.

I was able to buy bulk spark plug wire in 7mm, crimp on new terminals, and reuse the ends. Total cost for 12 new wires was about $100 in parts. The correct Beru terminals were pretty difficult to locate, but I got a bunch from a supplier in Poland for about $1.25 each including shipping, and they got here in 6 days.

I'm getting pretty good at these Aston Martin screens. This time it was a Rapide with an instrument cluster screen that wouldn't turn on. That meant no odometer, and the dealer kind of needed that to work to sell it. It needed a replacement screen. The screen appeared to be manufactured by Pioneer, so it probably is the same as something used in a home theater receiver or something like that, but I could not find a way to cross-reference it to anything, so we ordered a donor instrument cluster from a wrecked Rapide. The donor screen had the UV film delaminating, so I replaced the UV film when I pulled the screen out.

I installed the screen into the original cluster, and brought it back to life. It only took about 2 hours start to finish.

Well done, Tim!

But, my 1st reaction at seeing that photo was 'things that keep AM owners up at night' with all those icons lit

NSXguy wrote: ↑Wed May 20, 2026 10:36 pm Well done, Tim!

But, my 1st reaction at seeing that photo was 'things that keep AM owners up at night' with all those icons lit

Don't worry, they went out when I started the car.