As i remember it ... In the 288 GTO, the transmission case is made of magnesium ... which degrades over time, and out-gases as it does so. When the clutch fluid absorbs too much "magnesium gas", the clutch fluid becomes ineffective, and the clutch no longer functions. The solution is to "seal" the magnesium, which protects both the magnesium itself and the fluid it's containing. Once upon a time ... I offered to pay Ferrari Classiche to re-cast the 288 transmission housing in aluminum. But they are so confident in the "sealing operation", that an aluminum replacement was deemed wholly unnecessary.
Or you can use brake fluid specifically designed to be compatible with mag. That is the reason behind the outgassing. Such fluid is made, has been around a long time and unlike Ferraris solution actually works. And actually in a 288 it is the bell housing that is the problem, not the transmission case.
Please remember ... both the magnesium housing itself and the fluid it contains need to be protected from magnesium decay. A better fluid only solves one of those, whereas a coating on the magnesium addresses both.
And once the Bell housing is redone "resealed", eventually will it have to be done again? I had mine done 15 years ago at an authorized Ferrari dealer. Should I be checking?
If it was done correctly and I believe it was, you shouldn’t have to worry about it again. That said, no need to check, you’ll find out if it’s held up as soon as you try and drive it.
Does anyone have a photo of 288GTO #56643? UK supplied new to Hong Kong. Any ideas anyone? Many thanks. Robert
On BaT this morning is a set of 288 GTO Speedline wheels, plus the toolkit and jack from a 288GTO. Doesn't say which serial number car, but perhaps someone here will know.
April 22, 1985 factory completion date. Sold new via Italian Motors (Sales & Service) Ltd. in Hong Kong to the first owner, Sam Tramiel, a polish american businessman resident in Los Altos Hills, CA/USA, son of the owner of Atari Computer Corporation and Commodore International in California (USA). Picked up by Tramiel directly at the factory in Maranello on the 16th May 1985. I took this pic at Concorso Italiano 14 August 2009. Marcel Massini Image Unavailable, Please Login
I believe the fifth picture is taken at Forza Service in The Netherlands, not Munsterhuis. Gr. Martin
Nice! Do you know which one this is? Fioravanti told us at our 288 GTO Reunion that the air inlet at the trailing end of the 512 BB LM's quarter window was employed into the 288 GTO's design, yet another Motorsport linkage for the GTO
I think the man who bought the wheels also owns WeatherTech Inc, and an original 250 GTO, if I am not mistaken, so he can buy any Ferrari he wants. I would imagine with an original 250GTO he probably gets Most Favored Nation status in Maranello when he visits.
In this image of the Lauda GTO you can clearly see how the curved 3/4 window facilitates rear air inlet as mentioned by Fioravanti Image Unavailable, Please Login