***UPDATE***
Just Fitted NEW CLUTCH, 760A Battery & starter solenoid (mid
Spet 2007)!
***
This is the best of both worlds!
Initially a luxuriously appointed 1992
2wd PLUS now she’s been upgraded by Carrera Sport to 1998 SV
Engine+Clutch+Gearbox+Instrumentation, this gives more power, faster
acceleration through the gears and more reliability, yet with all the
refinement of the original that the cheaper SV interior lacked.
I'm only the 2nd owner, and enjoyed her
for 11+ years, and always had her maintained by legendary Carrera Sport.
Number plate comes with the car "?666 LAM" plus I have a number of spare parts also negotiable, including a rear SV fin with body panel it bolts to, wheels/tyres and others.
As you may know all early Diablo engines
suffer from oil distribution problems, not suffered by SVs and later. Something
to do with baffles in the sump or something. Anyway, mine was no exception and
unfortunately for me caused a main bearing to spin. After I was continuously
let down for over a year or so by a firm of racing-engine builders I decided to
replace rather than repair...so I asked around insurers and found a 1998 SV
that had suffered a front impact, bought it and stripped it completely of every
last nut and bolt, (I have time-lapse footage of the stripping!), All the parts
I didn't need I then gradually sold off over the next few years or so and
eventually got all my money back! I have the chassis number of the stripped car
and HR.Owen have it's original history if you ask.
Mike Pullen at Carrera Sport fitted the
engine+clutch+gearbox and a speedo sender-unit conversion that the Lambo
factory put together for me for free (because newer cars have a different
sender signal system that routes through the GFA if that means anything to you).
I fitted the low-profile dashboard with some cunning electronics to convert the
circuitry, not a simple task to calculate but I drew wiring conversion plans
you can copy so you know exactly what's been done and how.
So now the car is more reliable, more
powerful, and has a better ratio gearbox. The catalysts have been emptied to
allow better power from better exhaust flow and slightly louder too.
I had the air-con converted to modern
gas (legal environmental requirement) late last year too, so that should see
you good for another 18 months or so, (all modern air-con needs re-pressurising
every 2-3 years).
She's booked in at Carrera Sport to
have a new clutch & starter solenoid next week, (solenoids tend to play up
if you don't use the car much).
I fitted a brand new top of the line
£113 Bosch Hi-Tec S001 760Amp battery yesterday (11/9/07), see http://www.boschautoparts.co.uk/pcBatt9.asp?c=2&d=1
The stereo is uprated Alpine: Power amp
is "V12" MRV-T407 http://www.mmxpress.com/alpine/alpine_mrv-t407.htm and CD+radio head unit CDM-7861R with head-unit which
takes one CD inside behind its cool tilting fascia plus it can control a 6-disc
changer if you want (not fitted), plus remote control !
Both clutch linkages have been replaced
with stronger units (commonly snapped parts on unmodified SV's), Brake fluid is
uprated high-temperature "blue".
Tyres are all fresh, rear 335-35 ZR17
Michelin "Pilot Sport" and front BF-Goodrich 235/40 ZR17
(transformationally better handling than Pirelli P-Zero 245mm original
equipment that tend to tramline and fight you).
I’ve had armourfend stone-chip
protection on the front, virtually invisible and brilliant.
The other spare parts I have from
memory are:
- Fitted all-weather 3-ply breathable cover was £200
made by http://www.carcoversuk.com/index.htm ;
- 1 front & 1 rear 17" original 1992 style
wheels, same as on car,
- tyres are fitted to those , plus 1 extra rear tyre;
- SV-style rear-fin and the body panel it goes on;
- 1992 main exhaust manifolds;
- new spare air filters;
- new wheel centre-logo badges & mountings;
- original front fog & flash headlights, (I've
replaced with brighter cool lensed ones), [the
original lights and new bull badges are impossibly hard to find]; - Brand new boxed front discs;
- the original rear-view mirror (replaced with one that
is higher-up out of the line of sight and doesn't interfere with the
stereo
because it's mounted on the windscreen just where the aerial is embedded into the screen); - a spare ignition coil;
- plus a bag full of all the little screws, nuts and
fittings from all over the car that are hard to get hold of but prove
useful now and again;
[All these negotiable extras].
.
I have receipts for all work and Mike has always done what's needed, (except
for simple stuff like replace the ignition coil).
I also can show all MOT's and insurance
docs to verify mileage etc. etc.
Speedo of original 1992 engine as it
was when the old engine was removed:
The interior showing SV instruments &
pod.
Interior with door open.
The stereo head-unit tilts up
automatically to replace the CD inside, but also can control a 6-disc changer
(not fitted).
This shows an SV rear wheel which was
only temporary, all wheels & spare wheels are originals like the front one
here.
