Mangusta Restoration work.....engine compartment

Pic 21. I striped the engine block back to bare metal and repainted it.

Pic 22. Many hours spent trying to make it oil tight.

Pic 23. AC pump.

Pic 24. Magnetic clutch stripped off AC pump for replating plus various other parts.

Pic 25. AC fan.

Pic 26. I like to have parts zinc plated with a yellow passivate over the top to give it that factory fresh look.

Pic 27. I made these brackets for holding the AC & induction pipes. I copied the originals from Jonathan Roots car but added the flared edge on the small ones.

Pic 28. It's important to make the AC pump look new because it's the most visual part of the entire engine compartment when it's all back together.

Pic 29. Original Bosch alternator restored.

Pic 30. AC fan. Replated motor case. I had to paint the fan to make it look new. I used my clear coat matting agent trick here to good effect. It does not look painted.

Pic 31. FIM Bologna expansion tank repainted. The bracket to the right was too big. I had to shorten the legs by approx 25mm. This is the second goose I have done this to.

Pic 32. The ZF was unusually oil tight. I spent a long time sealing every orifice with rubber and silicone before having it vapour blasted.
The devises I made to seal the box are not visible in this picture.I forgot to take that picture.

Pic 33. Vapour blasting (also known as aqua blasting) for those not familiar is a wet blasting technique that uses tiny round glass balls suspended in high pressure water. It's like a sand blasting cabinet but with a windscreen wiper on the inside. Because the abrasive in round it has a peening effect rather than an abrasive affect so it makes the ally very bright like a new casting.

Pic 34. I repainted the rear casting and replaced the fasteners and input seal.

Pic 35. Mcleod hydraulic throwout bearing. This car has run this type of set up for the last 15 years and to everyone's amazement has never failed! While I had it all apart I decided it was probably time it was replaced. The kit that came out did not have a makers name on it but I think it may have been an early Mcleod.

Pic 36. Getting the drivetrain back into the goose without damaging the new paint takes time. I installed engine, then bell housing, then transaxle.

Pic 37. I have no idea how others do this but I decided it would be nice to be able to drop the engine in with the chain block so that it sits on the chassis rails and then push the car over the pit to access the engine mounts. I made these padded chassis rail protector plates and adjustable ears that bolt to the heads. I managed to get it all together without chipping any paint so it must be a good idea!

Pic 38. Lovely hollow aluminium rear uprights. The Pantera took a step backwards after these beauties.

Pic 39.

Pic 40. Jack - difficult to restore something that can not be taken apart. It's got to come apart!