Refurbishing the Maserati Merak wheels…again

In a previous post back in December we explained how we need to further perfect the Merak wheels. Magnesium wheels are somewhat of a challenge to work and unfortunately the previous restoration did not bring them back up to the standard we wanted to we have stripped them back to carry out the task once again.

It’s a time consuming task but each wheels has been individually stripped with a hand tool and a skilled hand to ensure every angle has been worked on.

First glimpse of the Merak seats

As I had nipped over to our trim shop to drop off some bits I couldn’t help but take a couple of pictures of the Maserati Merak interior.

Kim mentioned that there were a couple of areas she wanted to look at but all in all, they are all taking shape and looking fantastic. Just the rear column to master now and we’ll be looking at refitting the interior early in the new year!

Here’s a sneaky peak at the interior look gorgeous.

Shaping the rear interior engine casing

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]This may look like we’ve made a bit of an error with the template of our rear interior engine housing but this is exactly how it should be. Even the rear seats on the Merak aren’t the same size!

Here we the top of the rear interior engine housing that Asa has had to draw up a template for before forming it in 18 gauge steel. This is now in the hands of Kim, our interior specialist, as she works on the final pieces before the interior gets fitted.

The interior engine housing sits between the two rear seats and is actually takes up most of the room in the back. This piece forms the top of a column which runs to the height of the seats.

The entire piece will then be shaped and covered.

Here’s some examples that we have found on Google[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” images=”8918,8919,8920″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Acquiring an airbox for our Maserati Merak

The new old airbag has arrived for our Maserati Merak. Next stop, the paint shop where we’ll prepare it ready for a fresh new look. Next time you see it will be just before it’s fitted in the car and it’ll be finished perfectly in good black with a brand new filter.

Perfecting the Magnesium wheels

Magnesium has several key properties that make it an attractive base metal for wheels: lightness; a high damping capacity; and a high specific strength. Magnesium is the lightest metallic structural material available. It is 1.5 times less dense than aluminum, so magnesium wheels can be designed to be significantly lighter than aluminum alloy wheels, while exhibiting comparable strength. All competitive racing rims are now made of magnesium alloy.

According to Wikipedia, a notable disadvantage historically affecting magnesium wheels was their susceptibility to corrosion.

The Maserati Merak wheels have been somewhat of a challenge to us at Bridge Classic Cars. When they originally arrived to us, they, along with the entire car, was looking in a very sorry state.

After carrying out a full restoration on the wheels they are now looking much better but still not perfect so we have given ourselves a second chance with them.

Today we have started to strip them back to bare metal (by hand) to start the process once more. These are not like your regular alloy wheels so the regular treatment you would normally be able to do does not bring them up as good as they can be.

Stripping them back reveals the corrosion and pitting that has occurred over years, it then gives us the opportunity to repair the areas before reapplying the top coat. This should give a much cleaner, crisp finish.

Fitting the engine into our Maserati Merak.

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Great team work today as the newly rebuilt Maserati Merak engine was gently lowered into the vehicle before being fixed into place.

She’s finally starting to look like the gorgeous 70’s Supercar she once was.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” images=”7595,7596,7597,7598,7599,7600,7601,7602,7603,7591″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Building the bulkhead

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]We are now well on the way with refitting our 1976 Maserati Merak.

Probably one of our most challenging builds to date, not only did the car come to us as a ‘box of bits’ but sourcing parts and information regarding this vehicle has been somewhat of a challenge.

As mentioned previously, all anyone seems to have for this vehicle is a manual. I’m sure you’re thinking ‘a manual is all you need’ but when it is all in Italian it makes some tasks tricky.

Luckily we have built up a fantastic contact book of Maserati specialists who have all been great and the guys at McGrath Maserati have been amazing help to us today as we fitted up the bulkhead ready for the fuel tanks and engine to be fitted.

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The Mazzy Engine Returns

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]We teased you with some images back in August of our 1976 Maserati Merak engine just as we were completing the rebuild. Well next week we’ll be introducing her back to the body shell once again as she gets fitted back in ready for the final stages of rebuild.

The original Merak’s three-litre engine produced 190 PS (140 kW; 187 hp) at 6000 rpm and 26 kg·m (255 N·m; 188 lb·ft) at 4000 rpm.

Three twin-choke carburettors (one 42 DCNF 31 and two 42 DCNF 32) fed the engine, and the compression ratio was 8.75:1. Maserati declared a top speed of over 240 km/h (149 mph).

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The Wrinkle Effect

Our Maserati Merak’s upper steering column has arrived back to our Ipswich workshops from the paint shop earlier today.

Check out the amazing effect you can get from a really good wrinkle texture paint coating.

1976 Maserati Merak Engine

It is always pleasing when one of our engines is rebuilt. Here are the first pictures of our totally rebuilt 1976 Maserati Merak engine.

The engine has been totally stripped and has been rebuilt using original parts sourced from all over the world.

This is another challenging rebuild as parts are no longer available and when you work to such exacting standards it always stretches our team to the max.

The engine will be married to the refurbished gearbox and pictures of the finished unit will be posted in the next few days prior to it being married to the body.

We are well on with the trim which will be in vibrant red, stitched in green to match the body.

Fitting the fans

Things are starting to pick up pace on the 1976 Maserati Merak restoration. We’ve had a few quiet weeks on her as the workshops have been busy with other jobs but now the wheels and suspension are on, the car is starting to take shape.

As you can see, John has been working on fitting the radiator and twin fans today. Along with the Air Conditioning Radiator and Air Conditioning Separator.

1976 Maserati Merak on it’s wheels

It’s been a while since we last saw this but this afternoon we finally fitted the wheels back onto the Merak so she can finally come off the dollies.

Maserati Merak enjoying the sunshine

It’s been a while but as the suns out and she’s off the ramp we decided to work on fitting the chrome work, vents, suspension and braking system outside in the sunshine.

Fitting the Maserati wheels to the tyres

This is turning out to be one of our toughest challenges to date.

One of our first tasks after collecting the vehicle was to send the wheels away to have them professionally refurbished. The wheels on the Maserati Merak were cast light alloy Campagnolo 7½J x 15″, fitted with Michelin XWX tyres measuring 185/70 at the front and 205/70 at the rear. Anyone who has refurbished wheels in the past will recognise just how difficult it is to work on repairing a wheel like this.

The tyres were special order too…nothing on this car seems to be easy but it’s all worth it in the end!

We have had two separate attempts on refurbishing the wheels but you do have to draw the line somewhere, as the more you try with this particular wheel, sometimes, the worse they can become.

The first attempt looked fantastic but did have a few imperfections to them so we worked on the imperfections that little bit more and went for a second attempt…the results are great. We decided to stop there rather than push our luck too far, striving for perfection on a set of original wheels that are over 40 years old.

Getting ready for a paint run

Here’s a collection of original Maserati Merak parts ready to go off to paint.

Where possible, it is always best to use original parts providing they are in full working order.

Fitting the Maserati Merak Suspension

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Work is underway today to fit the front suspension to the Maserati Merak.

As we are used to so very often, a full classic car restoration is never as straight forward as the guys on the TV show you.

We are currently working from a very old but original Maserati Merak manual, the biggest problem being that the entire book is printed in Italian…makes life very tricky!

The diagrams are good though, here are a selection of images of the front suspension.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” images=”4771,4772,4773,4774,4768,4770,4769″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Looking lovely tonight…

Working late in the workshop tonight preparing for the arrival of our Series III Jaguar E-Type Convertible. Couldn’t help but stop and admire the beauty on our ramp.

Maserati Merak

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Bridge Classic Cars can now reveal that the next restoration will be… a Maserati Merak.

This 3 litre version, believed to be an SS but still has to be confirmed was purchased after the owner realised that after four years the restoration was beyond his reach.

The car originally in Verde Indy Green with red leather was to have a colour change but here at Bridge Classic Cars we have decided to put her back to original, unless sold prior to paint when a new owner can change the specification.

Another reason for putting her back to original is this is the ACTUAL car featured on the album cover of Dexy Midnight Runners organist Andde Leek. A signed record sleeve accompanies the car.

The car is for sale and interested parties should contact us as soon as possible as our concours rebuild projects don’t remain for sale long as they are seen as serious financial investments when some classic cars are rising 30% per year.

Bridge Classic Cars have also secured a complete collection which comprises of a Austin Seven Nippy, Austin Seven Special, Austin Top Hat, Armstrong Siddeley Lancaster and a MGBBT.

More information will be posted on their arrival…[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” images=”525,526,527,528,529,530,531,532,533,534,535,536,537,538,539,540,541,542,543,544,545,546,547,548,549,550,551,552,553,554,555,556,557,558,559,560,561,562,563,564,565,566,567,568,569,570,571,572,573,574,575,576,577,578,579,580,581″][/vc_column][/vc_row]