All Aluminium 1957 250 Testarossa

[Lucky@LeMans]

Gradually getting through my list of jobs on the car. I've fitted a new fuel line front to back. The original one was only tiny 3/16" bore tube which is probably why there were two electric pumps mounted in series in the boot ! I've removed the pumps and run an 8mm bore tube right through to the mechanical pump on the engine.

[jones]

Gahhhhhhh where are the photos, I'm loving this build but we need photos!

[Lucky@LeMans]

I will post some, promise !

[Lucky@LeMans]

A few photos here, they are a week or two old in some cases .

* Manifolds fitted to the engine on both sides, fairly straight forward as although the Cologne engine is a V6 there are only 4 exhaust ports in total to connect up. They will be covered in heat wrap and painted black upon completion.

* Mountings for the sill area on the body required some extension brackets from the chassis. These are now filled in with aluminium panels. The lower sill area will be bolted on along these extensions.

* The left and right exhausts here, not quite complete in these photos but not far off. The whole system will be painted in high temp matt black like the original cars.

[jones]

Nice work, it's coming on a steady pace with great craftsmanship.

Thanks for the pics

[rossnzwpi]

Very nice work! I'm struggling to understand the logic for Ford Germany to design a V6 with FOUR exhaust outlets! Mind you, I'm not an engineer. I get cheapness but surely the flow must be impeded and very close to the exit point from the cylinders?

[Lucky@LeMans]

The engine was used in the Granada MK2 and the injection version was used to great effect in the 2.8 Capri. The best thing with these engines are the compact design and torquey power delivery from quite low down the rev range. The later engines did feature 3 exhaust ports which helped a little along with a few other upgrades. I was lucky to find this engine as it was new in a crate, all be it "old stock"! If the same engine could pull around a fully loaded Granada estate it will make light work powering my light weight 7 based car.

[Lucky@LeMans]

Another job completed are the side vents mounted into the front wings. These were missing so I've made a pair in aluminium. Rather than copy the poor design the car had from Giordanengo, I've gone with a more authentic curved and rolled edge design as seen on the real TR. A bit more work but they look so much better. I'll take some photos soon as they are mounted in place.

[Lucky@LeMans]

The front indicators I intended to use have now been changed. They did look too modern and as I'm going with a patinaed, aged look on the car I've found some older style examples. These are Fiat X19 side repeaters, simple circular design with a black bezel. All the better for being of Italian design origins as well ! I'll probably go with these at the rear end too, mounted inside the two vents in the rear body.

Big thanks also to Molleur for the donation of a very nice period Aston filler cap ! I should get that mounted up this week, another item to tick off the list.

[molleur]

Happy to give a small assist.
Great car, wonderful project, and good work all!

[Lucky@LeMans]

Engine is out and I'm half way through my short list of tidy up jobs. I should have it all done and the engine re fitted by the end of the week. The plan is to connect everything up and run the engine, drive it back and forth etc before I refit the front end. Just want to check everything whilst access is easy.

[Barber]

And post the piccies ��

[Lucky@LeMans]

Here are a few photo's of recent progress ;

* Side vents in aluminium. You can't really see the curved nature of these in the photo but they have worked out quite well.

* The engine again with the tiny alternator fitted, the only space available !

* The spacer adaptor I carved out of a big lump of alloy by hand. This was to give clearance for the thermostat housing otherwise it was clashing with the chassis . ( Sorry the photo won't load at the mo )

* The fuel filler mounted under the tear drop fairing behind the driver. A simple bracket and some flexi fuel hose going to the tank.

I've ticked off my list now so the engine can go back in and be connected up. Simply add petrol and it will start first time !

[JJMCD]

Originally Posted by Lucky@LeMans

Here are a few photo's of recent progress ;

* Side vents in aluminium. You can't really see the curved nature of these in the photo but they have worked out quite well.

* The engine again with the tiny alternator fitted, the only space available !

* The spacer adaptor I carved out of a big lump of alloy by hand. This was to give clearance for the thermostat housing otherwise it was clashing with the chassis . ( Sorry the photo won't load at the mo )

* The fuel filler mounted under the tear drop fairing behind the driver. A simple bracket and some flexi fuel hose going to the tank.

I've ticked off my list now so the engine can go back in and be connected up. Simply add petrol and it will start first time !

Any way to paint the valve covers in black crinkle finish and add a long oval air cleaner, so the engine looks something like this: https://goo.gl/images/uoWmsV

Here is an air cleaner: https://www.amazon.com/Edelbrock-411...68358044&psc=1

[JJMCD]

By the way, it was pure genius matching the track and wheelbase of the Lotus 7 replica chassis to the 250TR and bringing this body back to life. Excellent work! My vote is for leaving it in raw aluminum - any car can have paint but only a real alloy body can go bare.

[lancelot link]

Originally Posted by JJMCD

By the way, it was pure genius matching the track and wheelbase of the Lotus 7 replica chassis to the 250TR and bringing this body back to life. Excellent work!

Agreed , it has made the build a lot easier .... Sorry for hijacking , but just wanted to say if this conversion appeals to any potential builders ..right at the beginning of the Formosa development , we put a Miglia body on a Locost chassis and it nearly fits , so I tried a Formosa body as well and again , its feasible , you will end up with a deep door stepped look , like a D type , but it does open up donor options ....

The bare ally look could be cool ... even if you ran with it temporarily ...

[Barber]

They look fabulous in bare metal.

[Lucky@LeMans]

Originally Posted by Barber

They look fabulous in bare metal.

They do but in my case I'm going for a period, weathered look, painted finish. Not too extreme but something to give it some character and keep them guessing at the shows ! I haven't ruled out a bare aluminium finish......

[DaveP]

Just ... wow.

Dave

[molleur]

Nice!