[Neopolitano]

Over the past 3 yrs I have done a mechanical restoration of 330 GTC s/n 9593. Complete bottom up engine rebuild w/ work by Patrick Ottis, new wiring harness, rebuilt carbs, and many upgrades to make it a better car. Included enhancements were Spal radiator fans, Sanden a/c compressor, Mercedes interior fan blower, Delco alternator, fast windows and more.

I also had the front suspension completely rebuilt and refinished when the engine was out. The rear suspension was put off so I could drive the car for a while and let my checkbook stop smoldering. So in July my car went back in for the rear suspension. To properly refinish the underside the transaxle was dropped, torque tube removed, all old undercoating scraped off, undercarraige and frame primed and resprayed and all suspension rebuilt w/ new Konis.....same as front work done a year or so ago.

I love this car!! It is still my fav to drive whether around town or out in the countryside. With new motor, electrics and suspension this car is TIGHT!! I will get it out today to run my errands around town. Thursday a 100+ mile trip to the other coast here in Florida. Can't wait.

In the last week I have driven the BB to and at Sebring Raceway, the SA on a long trip to lunch w/ 10 other FCars, and now the GTC on it's return home. I feel like I am in Ferrari nirvanna!! However I did get a reprimand from the boss when she saw the bill......whoops.

[Barry]

Originally Posted by Neopolitano

I did get a reprimand from the boss when she saw the bill......whoops.

Schoolboy error Steve. Doesn't your specialist provide 'wife invoices', you know the ones you leave lying around the house that say you got a full restoration for $500?

Congrats on getting the GTC back, now wheres the pics....

[Neopolitano]

Originally Posted by Barry

Schoolboy error Steve. Doesn't your specialist provide 'wife invoices', you know the ones you leave lying around the house that say you got a full restoration for $500?

Congrats on getting the GTC back, now wheres the pics....

I can't believe I was so careless. But I was so excited to tell her how great the car was now I stopped in the kitchen before squirreling away the service records like I usually do.

Not only could she care less about the car I got a lecture to boot! I should have known better. 35 yrs ago on our first date I took her out in my 1st GTC. She told me it looked like a Datsun.

[Barry]

Originally Posted by Neopolitano

Not only could she care less about the car I got a lecture to boot! I should have known better. 35 yrs ago on our first date I took her out in my 1st GTC. She told me it looked like a Datsun.

LOL First man in history to create a Datsun replica from a Ferrari

On one of our first dates I had to explain the difference between a hubcap and an alloy wheel to my now wife. 16 odd years later she can have a good stab at the profile of a tyre from standing 10 metres away. If you throw enough muck, some of it will stick.

[bryanp]

the biggest night-and-day change I ever made on my QM was changing out all the rear suspension rubber/bushes. The transformation in handling was amazing.

Re: your AC, I know several guys who struggled with how to improve the existing AC. The consensus was that putting in a higher cfm blower was only going to help in a minimal way - the system is just undersized; the ducting diameter is tiny and ther are only two outlets (at least on the QM) that succeed only in keeping the drivers right knee cold. There's just too much solar gain w/ all the glass area for the small amount of cold cfm to overcome. Let us know how the new blower does for you.

[Neopolitano]

Originally Posted by bryanp

the biggest night-and-day change I ever made on my QM was changing out all the rear suspension rubber/bushes. The transformation in handling was amazing.

Re: your AC, I know several guys who struggled with how to improve the existing AC. The consensus was that putting in a higher cfm blower was only going to help in a minimal way - the system is just undersized; the ducting diameter is tiny and ther are only two outlets (at least on the QM) that succeed only in keeping the drivers right knee cold. There's just too much solar gain w/ all the glass area for the small amount of cold cfm to overcome. Let us know how the new blower does for you.

Well it was a bit more than just the blower motor. The Sanden rotary a/c compressor is more efficient. And the condensing unit in front of the radiator is a Delco make that is the full width of the radiator. The oem unit was smaller in width than the radiator behind. With the new Spal fans pushing through same sized units more cooling should result. That's the theory anyway. Last year on an 86 degree humid day I had to turn it down on my trip to Cavallino. Around town due to the lack of outlets it still is no Toyota. But on the highway it is way better than the original setup.

[Boxer]

Congratulations. Do you have pictures of the restoration that could be posted up?

[tazandjan]

Steve- She sounds wonderful, especially with A/C that works. The 330/365 GTC may be the best all around Ferrari ever built.

[Neopolitano]

Originally Posted by tazandjan

Steve- She sounds wonderful, especially with A/C that works. The 330/365 GTC may be the best all around Ferrari ever built.

It is so much fun to drive. Brian was right about having a new rear suspension. She really likes to be pushed now.

Drove around town today with temps in the upper 80s. A/C worked well and kept me cool. Note the Sanden rotary compressor and neat installation the shop did.

[Neopolitano]

Here is a general engine pic. When I get the car up on the lift I will take some shots from under. It looks better than the upper.

[Neopolitano]

Here is a shot of the interior. It was redone in 99 by the previous owner. So I guess it is just getting broken in a bit.

[Neopolitano]

Back in the barn next to its younger stablemate.

[Brian]

Originally Posted by tazandjan

Steve- She sounds wonderful, especially with A/C that works. The 330/365 GTC may be the best all around Ferrari ever built.

Great cars.

Best roofline of any coupe ever made.

[tazandjan]

Steve- That engine is beautiful, even for a Ferrari engine. I think your A/C upgrades would work on any of the 60-80s Ferraris with the old York compressor. The Yorks may have been big, they may have been ugly, and they may have been noisy and vibrated like all get out, but at least they were inefficient.

I have friends at the local Mercedes dealership where we bought Jan's GL 550. When I took the 575M by to show it off just after I bought it, everybody wanted to see the engine. I asked them if they ever wanted to look a one of the Mercedes engines, and they said no, why would we? Ferrari engines are just eye candy, and yours is one of the prettiest I have seen.

[wetpet]

love the 330 gtc and blue is the best color. i believe wch has a blue gtc?

[Neopolitano]

Originally Posted by wetpet

love the 330 gtc and blue is the best color. i believe wch has a blue gtc?

Onno sure has a nice one.

[bryanp]

that compressor looks sweet; and probably 20 lbs lighter than the York boat anchor.

[Boxer]

Originally Posted by Brian

Great cars.

Best roofline of any coupe ever made.

+1 and a great pair.

[JazzyO]

Originally Posted by Neopolitano

I feel like I am in Ferrari nirvanna!!

You have such a great collection Steve, and you certainly should be in Ferrari Nirvana now that all the babies are in fine fettled health!

Originally Posted by Neopolitano

She really likes to be pushed now.

That's the mark of a good GTC. These cars love driving on the edge!

One thing that is a shame, I think, is that so many cars out there are so much worse than they should be. It is very hard to drive multiple examples of a vintage Ferrari model and until you've experienced a good one you don't know what you car should be capable of. Obviously, you having such a long history with Ferraris excludes you from this category of owners, but I see it often. I read a 330GTC test the other day where I could gather from the writing that it had not been a car in great mechanical condition.

Great to see yours is where she should be, and even better to see your enthousiasm!

A question though - why did you choose to paint the carb cover gloss black? Ex-factory they were satin.


Onno

[Neopolitano]

Onno,

the air cleaners were glossy when I acquired the car 7 yrs ago. During the engine rebuild I spent too much time away building our mtn home and did not check into the shop enough. It is on my "list" of things for me to do in my garage. There are others.....note the black disc dash switches in the interior. They are off in the down position. This is reversed. Up should be off. So I need to pull the console and rotate them. Also the chrome window switch bezels are convex not the concave versions. Jaguar I think. It took me 4 years to find the correct bezels..one at a time. Another job.

But the car is not a concours car due to my modifications. So much of these items are future tasks. I will now focus my attention on engine and chassis detailing on the BB that I acquired over the summer. The GTC will just get driven......wooohoooo!!!!!!