350gt

The following sequence of photographs show Jake fabricating the new spare wheel well.


Bead roll locations marked	Shaping the second bead roll on the Pullmax





After forming the rolls, flattening the base with the planishing hammer	Using a wood slapper to flatten deformation caused by forming the beads


New base will be an exact replica of the original


	Trial fitting the spare wheel/tire

The following photographs show Jake fabricating new threshold trim and cleaning up the driver's door latch, which had been crudely repaired in the past.


Damaged threshold trim removed	Fabricating replacement threshold trim panels





Trial fitting the new panels prior to polishing them


Note crude weld repair on driver's door latch	Jake managed to clean up the latch which is now much improved


Repaired rear door panels have been polished and are ready to reinstall	The repaired and re-polished door trim now reinstalled

We are continuing to work our way through a list of items to be corrected before the car is sent to the Concorso Italiano event in Monterey next month. The inoperative wiper motor has been removed and will be repaired. The first two images below show just how much of the dash has to be removed in order to access the wiper motor! In the meantime, Jake has begun fabricating a new spare wheel well. We are very fortunate to have a second 350GT under restoration in the Team CJ Works so we have an original wheel well to use as a template. We have also been busy refinishing the steering column and upper column housing and upgrading the coolant hoses to the correct 'wrapped' style hoses with OEM style Serratub quick release clamps.


With the dash removed, Josh has access to the wiper motor


Wiper drive is kaput and will be replaced	Refinishing the upper steering column and pod


The main housing is finished in black wrinkle finish, the column is semi-gloss black	Ready to reinstall


Upgrading to correct style 'wrapped' coolant and heater hoses and Serratub quick release clamps	We need to fabricate a spare wheel well using this one from another project car as a template


	Measurements of the original wheel well


Jake planishing what will be the lower edge of the wheel well





	To be continued!

Repairing the right hand door trim finisher and installing the rebuilt Webers.


	Panel has been repaired several times before


Fabricating a new lower lip


	Welding the new lip to the original panel


	Installing the rebuilt Weber carbs

We have been looking for a set of original specification, Italian made, 40DCOE 20/21 Webers since we were first entrusted with the care of this 350 GT. With a HUGE vote of thanks to Andrew Romanowski of Lamborghini Club America, we now have not only a complete set of these rare and elusive Webers, we believe we may have the actual carbs that were installed on our car when it was new!

As if that wasn't enough, we are thrilled that Andrew had renowned Lamborghini technician and authority Jeff Stephan rebuild and restore the carbs before shipping them to us to be reunited with the 350 GT. Jeff did a spectacular job and we look forward to installing and tuning them in the next few days.

We have also been busy dealing with a few cosmetic issues, specifically some chrome and brightwork which requires straightening and re-polishing.


Fully rebuilt 40DCOE 20/21 carbs


Front side lamp housings had some cosmetic issues and will be re-chromed	Rear bumpers also removed for minor dent repairs and re-chroming


Several items will be sent out for re-chroming	Jake removing dents and metal finishing the right rear bumper blade


With dents removed, bumper is now ready for its new chrome	Passenger window regulator in need of repair


Note damaged teeth at full travel	Door trim is damaged and will be repaired and re-polished


Both shut face trim panels have been gouged and scratched over the years	Jake will repair the door surround trim panels before we re-polish them


Dents and scratches removed, panel now ready for polishing	The A pillar shut face panels will also be repaired and re-polished

Having completed a major mechanical overhaul over the last seven months, it is now time for the 350GT to spend some time at its new home! Later this spring we will be preparing the car for an appearance at the upcoming Concorso Italiano in Monterey, California.

The 350 GT is now fully assembled and ready for road testing!





Entire braking system has been rebuilt	Reworked Ansa exhaust now installed


Back on its wheels for the first time in several months	Almost ready to start road testing

Lots of progress in the last few days. We have now straightened the previously damaged driver's side window frame so the glass now rolls smoothly all the way to the top. Carlos has installed the new rubber door seals and mechanical reassembly is continuing at a healthy pace!


Engine bay is filling up rapidly


Carlos installing new door seals with assistance from Tanner


New seals are a huge improvement	Reinstalling the door trim panel

Time to install the rebuilt suspension and brakes and get the car back on its wheels.


Installing the rear control arms and Koni shocks	Note OEM style beveled washers for upper balljoints


Installing front control arms and Konis	Rear hubs and rotors going into place


	Front hubs, rotors and calipers now installed

Cleaning up the air cleaner covers.


Air cleaner covers have been painted bright white at some time in the past	Original cream color beneath the stickers


	Covers have been media blasted


Repainted cream, per original	Original stickers saved and re-used

The modified Ansa exhaust has now been ceramic coated satin black and is ready to install.

When parts are not available, we are very fortunate to have talented machinists who can make them for us on the team. Corey fabricated a complicated, multifaceted, brass fuel line fitting for the 350GT, as well as a new bronze bushing for the steering box cap.


Headers and exhaust have now been ceramic coated in satin black


Inside tips have been powder coated in International Orange, per original	Ansa stickers add the finishing touch


Brass stock for fuel line fitting	Finish fuel line fitting


Original bushing in steering box cap was damaged because of a previous lubrication issue	Boring out the recess in order to press fit a new bearing bronze bushing


Machining the new bronze bushing	New bushing now installed

We have now received the rebuilt and restored Konis, fabricated and installed new "Cavis' plug wires with Bakelite plug wire ends, and begun the process of fabricating the new engine bay fuel lines. We should have the exhaust back from being ceramic coated early next week, along with the new fuel line banjos which are currently being Cad plated.


Header flanges show evidence of exhaust leaks	After cleaning, the flanges are being surfaced to promote a better seal


Left hand flange has been surfaced flat	We used a CAVIS stamp to replicate the look of the original plug wires


Modern performance and reliability with the look of the original plug wires	Plug wires and rebuilt distributors now installed


	Starting to lay out the fuel lines and fabricate the fuel line banjo fittings


Banjo fittings will be cadmium plated	Rebuilt and restored Konis with new springs

Good progress with the suspension, brakes and exhaust.


The suspension control arms have now been powder coated semi-gloss black	Godwin pressing the new bushings into the control arms


	Jake and Josh working on fabricating exhaust sections from headers to main mufflers


	Jake TIG welding the new exhaust sections together


Trial fitting the new driver's side connector pipes


Grinding back and metal finishing welds	Starting to mock up the new passenger side exhaust connector pipes


Josh has now rebuilt the calipers and master cylinder	Preparing to reinstall the rebuilt main drive shaft

Rebuilding the brakes, steering box, suspension, etc.


Front and rear suspension has been removed


Front and rear suspension will be completely rebuilt	Removing all the old, worn out bushings


Boosters and cylinders will be rebuilt, rear suspension uprights were damaged and will be replaced	Steering box should be lubricated with 90 wt gear oil, not grease


Steering box cap showing clearly that box was not adequately lubricated	Much needed rebuild of steering box underway


Replacement rear suspension uprights	Corey polished the steering shaft and machined new bronze bushings in the machine shop


We discovered that one of the rear control arms was bent!	This angle demonstrates the issue more clearly


With the control arms straightened, we will now have them blasted and powder coated semi-gloss black	Brake calipers were in a terrible state


	Rebuild in progress using new seals and stainless pistons


Valve covers have been refinished	Angle drive that sits on the back of the right hand camshaft (see bottom left of image below)


	Time to reinstall the intakes and rebuilt Webers

Lots of progress in the last couple of weeks.


Distributors have been completely rebuilt	Rebuilt differential now installed


Pirelli Cinturatos - as fitted to the car when new	A little engine bay clean-up while the carbs and valve covers are removed


Overly complex quarter light latch mechanisms required adjustment to remain closed	Mechanism will be re-plated during next phase of work


Time to rebuild the Webers	Coolant expansion tan removed for repairs


Expansion tank has been repaired several times in the past


Rear rotors were badly scored	New rotors have been sourced and installed

The differential has now been completely rebuilt and will be reinstalled in the car on Monday.


About to get the differential rebuild underway	We had initially thought this steering arm was damaged...


It turned out the cap had been tack welded to a new arm to look like an original	Jake welded the original cap back in place


Removing cam covers for refinishing, Webers will be fully rebuilt	All gasket sealing surfaces were ground flat


Damaged flanges will be resurfaced	Machining the flanges flat on the lathe


	We fabricated several new bushings using bearing bronze


	New crown wheel and pinion now installed


	Confirming perfect gear mesh using paint


	Diff is now fully rebuilt





Diff will be reunited with the car on Monday


	Correct fuel lines and fittings


Thanks to Valentino Balboni who kindly supplied us with a new and correct Ansa exhaust system

Differential rebuild underway.








Differential removed for rebuilding


Tag denotes 4.27 final drive and 1965 model year	Metallic powder in the gear oil confirms the need for a rebuild


	There are some gouges in the output shaft splines





	More damaged splines


	Ill fitting splines


	Worn clutch pack will be replaced

I am pleased to report that we now have the first stage of the mechanical overhaul underway. As we work our way through the repairs we will also take the opportunity to correct a few points of originality along the way as the owner wants this car to be as original and concours correct as possible. For example, the DCOE 40 Webers currently installed are Spanish made. As production of Webers moved from Italy to Spain in the early 1990's, clearly these carbs cannot be correct for this car. Our research leads us to believe that the 350GT had Webers specific and unique to the 350, namely DCOE 40 (20) and DCOE 40 (21).


Impressive front grille on display with the car raised in the air


Suspension control arms will be refinished in black	Aftermarket ride height adjustable shocks will be replaced with shocks and springs of correct spec


Spare wheel well is incorrect and will be replaced	Distributors will be rebuilt and refinished to concours standards


Seized fuel sending unit was the cause of the inoperative fuel gauge	Amazingly intricate cog wheels of the fuel sender looks like it was designed by a Swiss watchmaker


	Webers are incorrect and will be replaced with Italian made originals


Fan thermostatic switch is defective	Several bushings have perished and will be replaced

I am delighted to report that we will have this exciting project underway very shortly.

Return to CJ Workshop


	NOS Lucas coils, new expansion tank cap, relocated relays, refinished air cleaner boxes and reservoirs


Bonnet strikers were previously black, now chrome plated	Fuel filter bowl now has correct FIAAM screen printed logo


Brake reservoirs had originally been painted black, now cad plated per original	Master cylinders have also been refinished and new brake lines fabricated and installed


Cars all lined up before the gates opened


Valentino Balboni inspecting the engine bay	Having fun yet?


Valentino Balboni makes an event like this so special	A nice surprise!


First in class!	Best of Show! What a day!


Jake is putting in some serious hours fabricating the new wheel well before the car heads to CA


With the new well installed and painted, the underside of the car is greatly improved	We also made a new wheel cover out of Beech wood


New jack and tool roll are perfect replicas of the originals	Some of the team who worked extremely hard to get this beautiful car ready for Concorso Italiano