Preparing for Power: Installing the firewall mat, fuel tanks, pumps and filters.

As engine installation is looming near it is time to start getting the engine bay ready to accept its power plant. This includes the installation of some of the many restored components including the fuel tanks, fuel pumps, fuel filter, as well as some other ancillary components.

With lots to look at we will keep this a photo heavy post. Enjoy.

Here is the completed Fuel tank, pump, & filter assembly with all hoses and clamps installed. Close inspection of period photos confirmed without doubt that the fuel hoses were rubber on the outside and not cloth as is often fitted (and correct to later Ferrari's) during restorations.

Original Bendix design fuel pumps were sourced. These are identifiable by the manner that the wire comes out of the case which differs markedly from the newer electric Facet units. Another difference is in the internal design as these pumps make a distinctive clicking sound as they fill while the newer pumps just produce a steady whirr. Getting the right pumps was hard but will add to the period feeling with every engine start.

Correct Serflex Minus clamps were used throughout.

Another detail not overlooked was the wrapping of the wires between the fuel pumps and the chassis. Again period photos were referenced to get the wrap looking correct. Dino's used very few plastic tie wraps anywhere and where they did they were made by the company Colson. On the fuel pumps a singular Colson tie wrap is used to bundle the wires and it goes on the lower hose that joins the 2 pumps together.

The completed fuel tanks shown installed from the passenger side. Their full restoration was chronicled in previous blog posts.

Fuel tanks and firewall as seen from the drivers side



Close up of Alternator junction block. Later cars used a larger junction that contained 2 fuses while earlier cars used a junction without fuses that was riveted to the fiberglass firewall panel.

Again original Serflex hose clamps are used on the fuel tanks. The parts book shows these oriented horizontally but period photos show them vertically installed (as shown). We opted for vertical installation because it is factory correct and allows for easy access to check tightness when the engine is installed.

The fuel transfer pipe had its original SAIAG stamp faithfully reproduced and re-applied. The fuel drain plug was also safety wired in place as per factory delivery.

In many of the photos the firewall matting is visible. While later E series Dino's used an exposed aluminum firewall, earlier Dino's used a foam covering. This material has not been available from Ferrari in decades and was terribly fragile even when new. The original material was made up of soft open cell foam with a crusty and lightly textured outer coating encased in a mesh re-enforcement.

Through intensive research and extensive testing we were able to come up with a procedure to re-manufacture this firewall matting. The final result is nothing short of spectacular as our custom blend uses modern materials to produce a mat that is infinitely more durable and functional than original while maintaining a 100% concours correct look. It truly is the best of both worlds marrying function and form.