Gus's Basket Case 5000s might finally come home after 5 years!

[TopEndMach]

Gus asked me to post a few pics of his 88 Countach which is undergoing a complete nut and bolt restoration in my shop. The car was a pretty good "20 footer" when I picked it up. But upon closer inspection the thing had some major rust isssues and the more we dug into it the worse the problems got. I'm sure this is why the car had been juggled around numerous body shops before i commited to the project. Gus had expressed to me he wanted a "spare no expense" restoration on the car, so how bad could that be.......

[TopEndMach]

This is how the car looked as I picked it up.... the interior was very dirty(looked like some wrench jocky from the local quicky lube used it for his work car), anywhere there was metal that could rust, was rusty(interior included), and gas and coolant was leaking from various orifaces. Yikes! What did I get into? Oh and did I mention it wouldnt even run........

[pdisme]

Oh man, that thing is in sad shape, hope you can resuscitate it. Did the bumper remain on the car after the work? Hopefully not, that is hideous. :)

[TopEndMach]

Well those are the good shots! Wait till you see what else we found! And yes, the front bumper is history!

[TopEndMach]

Heres a shot of the Lamda Probe coming out in pieces.....we were hoping this was the cause of the running issues but as it turned out pretty much all the electrical components were in the same shape. The seat mounts were so rusty I really dont know what was holding them in, and once we removed the motor the real issues were evident....... The pictures speak for them selves! And this thing has less then 14K on the odometer! The quicky lube tech must have lived in up-state new york rust belt!

[pdisme]

In that kind of shape, do you just fabricate replacements for anything that's too far gone?

[TopEndMach]

Just when we thought we had a good idea ofall our rust issues and how to remidy them we got this issue thrown at us...... a few of the main structural tubes on the frame had collected water(the guys back in Italy didn't have the best welds and the tubes had taken on water from lack of being welded 100% around the top, but the bottoms were welded tight) They were actually holding water and rusting from the inside out! Because of this we actually had to weld inspection holes in all the tubes that looked like they might have taken on water, and all the damaged tubes were replaced along with the tubes that were bent up from at least one broken half shaft in its life. This shot here shows a hole rusting from the inside out right at the lower rear control arm mount! When we first started stripping the frame there was absolutly no evedence of this hole but when we removed the factory paint and undercoat the hole just grew and grew! Here's a shot of the roof also where the entire panel was rusting under the paint. This was caused from a previous repaint gone bad. They didnt use any kind of etching primer or sealer, they just dumped a surfacer primer directly to the bare metal- big NO NO! This will always be the result! Did I mention that this car had been repainted 4 TIMES?!?! My guess is they kept trying to remidy all the problems caused by the firsy shotty repaint.

[TopEndMach]

In that kind of shape, do you just fabricate replacements for anything that's too far gone?

Yes, as far as the rust issues with the frame and and trunk goes all the replacements were hand made and fitted. I'm useto this type of repaire, as the main stay of my work is high end muscle car restorations, and when those cars were new they were everyday drivers year round so most of them are not much better off then this Lambo. Dont get me wrong, this is a MAJOR PROJECT that is still not done after almost two years but its all in a days work, and some days are better then others!:banghead:

[GLC65]

Gus asked me to post a few pics of his 88 Countach which is undergoing a complete nut and bolt restoration in my shop. The car was a pretty good "20 footer" when I picked it up. But upon closer inspection the thing had some major rust isssues and the more we dug into it the worse the problems got. I'm sure this is why the car had been juggled around numerous body shops before i commited to the project. Gus had expressed to me he wanted a "spare no expense" restoration on the car, so how bad could that be.......

Mike,

Why dont you post more pictures. You said you had 7,000 pictures. Post them. Dave does not mind. You will be known in the Countach coumminity. I really need the car done, so hurry up.

[pdisme]

I really need the car done, so hurry up.

:lol2: :lol2: :lol2:

[GLC65]

:lol2: :lol2: :lol2:

What are the three little circles for, Dave? Are you making fun of me?

[pdisme]

What are the three little circles for, Dave? Are you making fun of me?

Yes

[jfrazar]

Gustan,

Buddy you were not kidding that you bought a Countach that needed some work!!! How did that car get so bad?????
I bought another lambo myself this weekend. A 1983 Jalpa - has a transmission problem that I need to fix otherwise a very nice car. I know you hate them just keep an open mind.

Joe Frazar

[pdisme]

Congrats on that Joe! And welcome to TL!!

Gus, you don't like Jalpa's?

[jfrazar]

hey moderator,

fix my log in name. I screwed it up when I was signing up.

Please change it to jfrazar - i left the first r out.

thanks,

Joe

[pdisme]

Done

[GLC65]

hey moderator,

fix my log in name. I screwed it up when I was signing up.

Please change it to jfrazar - i left the first r out.

thanks,

Joe


WELCOME HOME, JOEY BABY,

HEY EVERYBODY,

Joe Frazar is the coolest guy in this planet. He is the person that got me addicted to exotic cars. I bought my very first exotic from Joe. It was a 1988 Ferrari Testarossa with 31K miles. Joe kept on telling me its a very high mileage car but the car was great. I thought he was high on drugs. 31K miles? Is that high? I was used to cars with 80K miles or more. Did not know whether that Ferrari and Lambos were mileage sensitive. I was in the shitter and looking at Old Car Trader magazine and saw a black and white photo of his Testarossa. Could not reallly tell how the car looked and never ever have seen a Ferrari. I never watched Magnum PI. I figured for 56K, why not. After delivery, I called Joe and he was always a gentleman. He even answered my stupid ass question about getting snow tires in the winter. I recently cross paths with him during a heated discussion on Ferrari Chat. Super stand up guy and an extremely dear friend. Welcome home, Joe. Glad you are here, little buddy.

Gus

[GLC65]

Yes


At least you are honest. I respect that. Thanks for being honest, and you are a jerk for making fun of me.

[GLC65]

Mike,

This site and thread is a good way to advertise your business. Why dont you explain step by step as of what you did from the time it landed on your door. You can do the same with the Chevelle.

[genoberns]

Mike,

This site and thread is a good way to advertise your business. Why dont you explain step by step as of what you did from the time it landed on your door. You can do the same with the Chevelle.

Gus the Boxer I sold you was in mint condition vs. this black monster..:bash:

[GLC65]

Gus the Boxer I sold you was in mint condition vs. this black monster..:bash:


You are just all over the map tonight. Who asked for your opinions? You do not count. Go back to HondaChat.Com.

[genoberns]

You are just all over the map tonight. Who asked for your opinions? You do not count. Go back to HondaChat.Com.

If I want to hear you say some thing I will do this to ya::bash:

[TopEndMach]

Mike,

Why dont you post more pictures. You said you had 7,000 pictures. Post them. Dave does not mind. You will be known in the Countach coumminity. I really need the car done, so hurry up.

I will be posting more pictures tonight. Our snail speed connection out here in the sticks makes it VERY time consuming to post pictures. When I'm doin the two finger tango on the puter I'm not gettin anything done in the shop!

[TopEndMach]

Now that I got some attention with the bad points of the car, I want to point out some of the good points and where we are going with this project -
After countless hours of trouble shooting we were able to get the thing started, and it actually ran quite well(as far as mechanicaly) - for short periods of time. No smoke, knocks, or mysterious raddles. Unfortunately the entire wiring harness was so badly oxydized on every component and connection(not to mentioned hacked by previous mechanics) that the entire harness needed replacing. After various disscussions with Gus, and taking into consideration the overall condition of the vehicle, we decided to up-date the car to more modern specs with an eye not only on reliability(a dead on reliable Countach? Unheard of!), but also performance and looks.
Now is when we get bashed by the purists................
We are updating the entire car with a custom state of the art wiring harness as well as a full on Pectel SQ6 engine management system. The wiring harness will eliminate all fuses and relays(and underdash fires!) and all peramiters will be fully programible by laptop. This is a 100% new harness. Not a simply spliced in or a pieced together factory harness.
The SQ6 engine management system is even more Hi-Tech, in that it is a fully electronic fuel management system, with a crank trigger ignition that will eliminate the Magnetti Merelli ignition and electronics all together, and replace the distributer with a coil on each plug. The intake is being machined for the electronic injectors and fuel rails and we are adding polished headers and a custom built, F1 style exhaust. Not only will this system clean up the engine compartment significantly, but it will also add 75 to 100 horsepower with out even getting into the engine itself, and still be emmisions legal! And it should increase milage 15 to 25%! Not only will this be the most reliable Countach on the planit, but also possibly the most efficiant! And FAST TOO! Also, with simple tuning on the laptop, we can set the fuel curves to run on E-85 and gain another 10 to 15% in horsepower with the flip of a switch!
Yes with proper planing(And a bunch of $), you can have your cake and eat it too!

[GLC65]

If I want to hear you say some thing I will do this to ya::bash:


DumbShit, that loan you applied with Bill for your shopping center, I sit on the board of directors and as far as I am concerned, your loan is denied.

REASON; BEING A STUPID DUMB ASS.:asshole2: AND ASKING DUMB QUESTIONS. NO WONDER FCHAT DONT WANT YOU.

[hostrup]

Uhh Geno.. Access Denied !

[hostrup]

Where the hell is everybody?? No one is posting today :(

[pdisme]

Where the hell is everybody?? No one is posting today :(

Everyone's worn out trying to decipher Gus' posts. :)

[gday]

Now is when we get bashed by the -purists................Consider this my official purist bashing :bash: :lol2: But also good luck with the job...

The SQ6 engine management system is even more Hi-Tech, in that it is a fully electronic fuel management system, with a crank trigger ignition that will eliminate the Magnetti Merelli ignition and electronics all together, and replace the distributer with a coil on each plug. Thats going to be a bit of a trick since while the SQ6 supports 12 injectors, it only supports the firing of 8 coils??

-mick

[hostrup]

They can forget that.. It's like trying to understand why a baby says.. "DADADADADADADADADA" ;)

Where is everyone goddamnit :D

BTW, the new forum is up at www.exotic-carcollections.com/phpBB3 <- Go join up friend.. Love to have you over there.

[GLC65]

Now that I got some attention with the bad points of the car, I want to point out some of the good points and where we are going with this project -
After countless hours of trouble shooting we were able to get the thing started, and it actually ran quite well(as far as mechanicaly) - for short periods of time. No smoke, knocks, or mysterious raddles. Unfortunately the entire wiring harness was so badly oxydized on every component and connection(not to mentioned hacked by previous mechanics) that the entire harness needed replacing. After various disscussions with Gus, and taking into consideration the overall condition of the vehicle, we decided to up-date the car to more modern specs with an eye not only on reliability(a dead on reliable Countach? Unheard of!), but also performance and looks.
Now is when we get bashed by the purists................
We are updating the entire car with a custom state of the art wiring harness as well as a full on Pectel SQ6 engine management system. The wiring harness will eliminate all fuses and relays(and underdash fires!) and all peramiters will be fully programible by laptop. This is a 100% new harness. Not a simply spliced in or a pieced together factory harness.
The SQ6 engine management system is even more Hi-Tech, in that it is a fully electronic fuel management system, with a crank trigger ignition that will eliminate the Magnetti Merelli ignition and electronics all together, and replace the distributer with a coil on each plug. The intake is being machined for the electronic injectors and fuel rails and we are adding polished headers and a custom built, F1 style exhaust. Not only will this system clean up the engine compartment significantly, but it will also add 75 to 100 horsepower with out even getting into the engine itself, and still be emmisions legal! And it should increase milage 15 to 25%! Not only will this be the most reliable Countach on the planit, but also possibly the most efficiant! And FAST TOO! Also, with simple tuning on the laptop, we can set the fuel curves to run on E-85 and gain another 10 to 15% in horsepower with the flip of a switch!
Yes with proper planing(And a bunch of $), you can have your cake and eat it too!

When is my car going to be ready, MIKE?