California Headlights and Airpan

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mechaniker
Posts: 74
Joined: Tue Dec 18, 2012 8:18 am

California Headlights and Airpan

Post by mechaniker »

Hi,

i´m looking for some detail pics of covered headlights.

Are they interchangeble with TdF headlight cover?

And maybe someone has (detail) pictures of unrestored Californias?


I have to remanufacture one headlight cover and the headlight rims. So input would be nice.



And does someone maybe have messurements for the Airpan above the carburettors? I like to build one myself.


Thanks for help!
250GT
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Location: germany/holland

Re: California Headlights and Airpan

Post by 250GT »

Welcom to TY,

Here a self made Airbox/pan of mine
I don´t made a blueprint simply why you must make templet of your own.
depending how low the engine sit.
it should be" closed" to the bonnet to create a kind of cold airpressure.
BTW I dont really believe it bring something.
its a nice box to lay down the tools when you maintain the engine.
a holes must be made in he bottom to get the water out by heavy rain.
otherwise you could use it to keep some goldfishes.
hope this helps.
best

C.
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250GT
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Re: California Headlights and Airpan

Post by 250GT »

two example:
see below,

the line of the bonnet must be followed as you can see.
depending if the motor is placed more forward for instance (GTE)
the waterholes are important believe me .

C
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mechaniker
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Joined: Tue Dec 18, 2012 8:18 am

Re: California Headlights and Airpan

Post by mechaniker »

Yes, it is understandable wit the drainholes.

Thank you for the pics.
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peterp
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Location: NJ

Re: California Headlights and Airpan

Post by peterp »

250GT wrote:Welcom to TY,
it should be" closed" to the bonnet to create a kind of cold airpressure.
BTW I dont really believe it bring something.
I have no experience with this setup, but my guess is that it helps performance at least a bit. I took advantage of a rare salt-free winter day (a few weeks ago) in NJ and it was amazing how strong the 330 ran in 30 degree air. Cold, dense air makes more power, but I guess the question is how much does this setup really reduce the intake air temperature. It seems like it should reduce the temperature by a meaningful amount, but that's a complete guess on my part.
Peter P
1966 330 2+2 series 2 #8169
Timo
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Re: California Headlights and Airpan

Post by Timo »

mechaniker wrote:Hi,

i´m looking for some detail pics of covered headlights.

Are they interchangeble with TdF headlight cover?

And maybe someone has (detail) pictures of unrestored Californias?


I have to remanufacture one headlight cover and the headlight rims. So input would be nice.



And does someone maybe have messurements for the Airpan above the carburettors? I like to build one myself.


Thanks for help!
If I'm not mistaken, most of these types of items, like "covered" headlight plexi-lenses and their trim or engine air induction pans were originally "hand made" to fit each car individually on most early Ferraris and therefor not interchangeable without a lot of work. Probably easier to make from scratch.
Timo
mechaniker
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Joined: Tue Dec 18, 2012 8:18 am

Re: California Headlights and Airpan

Post by mechaniker »

Timo wrote:
mechaniker wrote:Hi,

i´m looking for some detail pics of covered headlights.

Are they interchangeble with TdF headlight cover?

And maybe someone has (detail) pictures of unrestored Californias?


I have to remanufacture one headlight cover and the headlight rims. So input would be nice.



And does someone maybe have messurements for the Airpan above the carburettors? I like to build one myself.


Thanks for help!
If I'm not mistaken, most of these types of items, like "covered" headlight plexi-lenses and their trim or engine air induction pans were originally "hand made" to fit each car individually on most early Ferraris and therefor not interchangeable without a lot of work. Probably easier to make from scratch.

Yes, probably you are right. But producing molds for each individual car? That is a lot of work... Even for a factory? That made me wonder...
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tyang
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Re: California Headlights and Airpan

Post by tyang »

mechaniker wrote:
Timo wrote:
mechaniker wrote:Hi,

i´m looking for some detail pics of covered headlights.

Are they interchangeble with TdF headlight cover?

And maybe someone has (detail) pictures of unrestored Californias?


I have to remanufacture one headlight cover and the headlight rims. So input would be nice.



And does someone maybe have messurements for the Airpan above the carburettors? I like to build one myself.


Thanks for help!
If I'm not mistaken, most of these types of items, like "covered" headlight plexi-lenses and their trim or engine air induction pans were originally "hand made" to fit each car individually on most early Ferraris and therefor not interchangeable without a lot of work. Probably easier to make from scratch.

Yes, probably you are right. But producing molds for each individual car? That is a lot of work... Even for a factory? That made me wonder...
I'm sure they had a mold made for TdFs and Cal Spyders, but each body manufacturer had molds for the several dozen or hundred cars they were producing. Obviously, these molds are long gone, so whenever someone needs plexi covers for a car, they will make them from scratch if no one has extras from the last car that needed them. Molds are custom made for the particular car, with its particular shape (which might have been changed from body damage or previous metal work after if left the factory) and when trying to fit these to another car, they may not fit so well.

Tom
'63 330 America #5053
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tyang
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Re: California Headlights and Airpan

Post by tyang »

Unfortunately, making plexiglass covers from scratch is not easy.
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First, the trim ring has to be checked for fit to the body and fixed accordingly. Then the rough contour of the lens has to be measured.
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A blank is then made out of aluminum that follows the shape of the lens exactly.
A step you don't see here is another blank is made slightly larger than the exact blank. This extra step helps keep the plexi from deforming around the edges as it's melted around the blank.
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The excess is trimmed away and fit to the trim ring for a perfect fit.

It's a lot of work and probably way better than when these cars were new, but if you're going to go through the trouble of making custom lenses, you might as well do it right!

When I go to car shows, I see good covers and I see bad covers. Once you see how nice it looks when this is done right, the bad ones look really bad!

These lenses were done by The Panel Shop in Stratford, CT.

Tom
'63 330 America #5053
mechaniker
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Re: California Headlights and Airpan

Post by mechaniker »

I started to make a paper-templater for one headlight trim. What do you guys think is the best material to manufacture the trim? Steel, Aluminium ore Bronze? At the end it will be chromed.
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tyang
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Re: California Headlights and Airpan

Post by tyang »

Brass is easy to work.
'63 330 America #5053
mechaniker
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Re: California Headlights and Airpan

Post by mechaniker »

I just want to show my first metalwork finished!

Besides the welding and chroming i done all the work myself and without any help! Somehow, I´m pretty proud of my work.
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mechaniker
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Re: California Headlights and Airpan

Post by mechaniker »

More.
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mechaniker
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Re: California Headlights and Airpan

Post by mechaniker »

The Gaps towards the Body/Covers on the most front part may seem big, but in reality it is much tighter and even the two cars with original Headlight Rims had this "feature", so i can live with this very good.

It is not perfect, but much better than it was before and as said, my first hand made metal part!
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mechaniker
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Re: California Headlights and Airpan

Post by mechaniker »

Forgotten to say, they cost me about 300 Hours and several liter beer and red wine ;)
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