Maserati Biturbo!

timing belt is a pain and constantly needs changed

define "constantly"? it cannot be any worse than the every 20,000 I do on my fiat

Most italian cars with timing belts need them changed every 30k miles. Rather than a small block chevy for a swap ( I imagine hood clearance would be an issue with a carb), why not an aluminum 5.3? Unless the maserati engine was blown up id keep it though, italian engines are kinda thr whole point of owning the cars.

Careful. It might get crushed by Clarkson. There's one at the end on my block. Fun to look at.

My quest for a semi-local Milano has failed.

There is an early BiTurbo for sale in town though.

I'm very tempted, if my XR4ti sells before it is gone.

I'm sick, I know it.

I have always like the looks of the outside of the bee's but the interior just turns me off. Leather marshmallows are what I think of when I see them, and not in a good way. And it may be a trademark but that clock is tacky and awful

So engine wise, what makes them unreliable? Assuming one gets rid of the carb (I hate carbs) and megasquirtz it.

I'm fine with 30K belt changes (my other choice is a Milano).

I did find a GTV6 locally today. But the Maserati is calling me like crack.

Get both!

Carson wrote: Get both!

Buy them for me!

Psh. I'd buy them both for me if I could, I've long wanted one of each, I started this thread, after all.

I'm going to go look at the BiTurbo tomorrow. I doubt anyone else in San Antonio is looking for one, so I have time on my side.

Apparently the carb/fuel pump/lines are jellied up.

Look and the building it is abandoned in front of is probably the old Maserati dealer.

m4ff3w wrote: I did find a GTV6 locally today. But the Maserati is calling me like crack.

Do yourself a favour and take the GTV6 instead - it is a better car...

I think having a biturbo would be fun, but I dont think id get one for my only car. At least an alfa is easy to work on. From what i have heard, fiat has decided to mostly stop supporting the older alfas, so if you want one now would be the time to get one and buy whatever parts it needs. You can get the best milano gold there is for under $7k, a decent biturbo can be twice that. Actually if I had more extra money, id probably buy a biturbo if i came across a decent still running one. There was one for sale here a while ago that would have fit those requirements, but it was an automatic.

So I went and looked at it today. It has a mechanics lean.

The mechanic did/had done the following: Repaired fuse panel Adjusted Valves Timing belt Head gaskets

The car needs: clutch slave tank\carb\fuel lines\fuel pump cleaned out. Mechanic said all are gummed up for sitting for 3 years. Possibly (likely) just get new fuel pump. tires.

The body is excellent. I could not find a hint of rust. The car is sitting on some nice 15" OZ/MSW basketweave wheels.

The question is... do I get divorce papers if I bring it home?

m4ff3w wrote: The car needs: clutch slave tank\carb\fuel lines\fuel pump cleaned out. Mechanic said all are gummed up for sitting for 3 years. Possibly (likely) just get new fuel pump. tires. The body is excellent. I could not find a hint of rust. The car is sitting on some nice 15" OZ/MSW basketweave wheels. The question is... do I get divorce papers if I bring it home?

No, but she gets the big diamond and vacation in Aruba... alone...

Actually, she OK'd the purchase.

I may have slightly underestimated a few things..

[4:06 PM] m4ff3w: how much do you love me? [4:06 PM] carly: what do you want [4:06 PM] m4ff3w: gosh. [4:07 PM] m4ff3w: why do i have to want something? [4:07 PM] carly: because that's what you usually say before you want something [4:08 PM] m4ff3w: would you still love me if i sold the merkur, too? [4:08 PM] m4ff3w: and we jsut had one vehicle for a few weeks? [4:08 PM] carly: for what [4:08 PM] carly: does it run, will it have a key and does it have ac [4:09 PM] carly: and does it run well without needing a ton of work [4:09 PM] m4ff3w: a little bit of work, a/c is there, and it has a key [4:09 PM] carly: what is a little bit of work to you [4:10 PM] carly: ac is there on every car but that doesn't mean it works [4:10 PM] m4ff3w: about 5 hours of work. [4:10 PM] carly: 5 hours your time or my time [4:10 PM] m4ff3w: a/c is most definately not there on every car. the fiat didnt have it [4:10 PM] m4ff3w: 5 hours of real time. [4:10 PM] carly: mmhmm [4:10 PM] m4ff3w: :X [4:10 PM] m4ff3w: its really pretty [4:10 PM] carly: how much is it [4:10 PM] m4ff3w: prettier than any car i've ever had. [4:11 PM] m4ff3w: i think i can get it for 1k [4:11 PM] carly: how much do you think you get for your car [4:12 PM] m4ff3w: i hope to get 2k for my car. [4:12 PM] carly: and where is the new love of your life located at [4:12 PM] carly: and i want pics [4:12 PM] m4ff3w: bandera & 410 [4:12 PM] m4ff3w: no pics, i went and looked at it during lunch. [4:12 PM] carly: oh [4:12 PM] carly: what is it [4:12 PM] m4ff3w: maserati biturbo [4:13 PM] m4ff3w: http://www.allsportauto.com/photoautre4/maserati/biturbo/1984_maserati_biturbo_coupe_01_m.jpg [4:13 PM] m4ff3w: looks exactly like that, but with different wheels. nicer wheels. [4:13 PM] m4ff3w: no rust or dents anywhere [4:14 PM] carly: what does the inside look like [4:14 PM] carly: seats ripped? [4:14 PM] m4ff3w: on the back a little bit (not back seats, but back of the front seats. other than that they look almost as good as the ones in your subaru. [4:23 PM] carly: if that's what you want [4:24 PM] carly: :X [4:26 PM] focusdchaos: yes, this is what I want [4:27 PM] carly: then do what you will

man you got the OK, so go ahead and seal the deal before she changes her mind! The conversations between my wife and I are very similar, but she just wants to make sure I'm not bringing home an El Camino..

And did you...did you M4ffew? Did you do what you will?

I have a friend who has a Bi-Turbo and runs it on track days. The engine has never been apart. He said the hardest part was getting it to handle and some brakes to make it stop. Which he has done. Tbe car is quick. He recently installed a stock Maserati intercooler. He is a Citroen(sp) restorer so he is able to find a lot of rare things.

I gotta get my 88 XR4ti sold first.

This is the question I get asked the most from my wife:

[4:10 PM] carly: 5 hours your time or my time

I'm still working on getting the BiTurbo here in town.

I called my insurance company to ask about replacing the Merkur with the BiTurbo. They won't insurance "any year or model" of Maserati.

I called up progressive, and the BiTurbo would be $8/term than the XR4ti. Oddly enough, both Alfas (GTV6 & Milano), 944s, and even 928s are less expensive to unsure than the Merkur.

gamby wrote:

Woody wrote: Fix: Small Block Chevy, Painless Wiring Kit.

This has been fantasized around here before. As anyone actually done it? The thing would be a killer hybrid in the spirit of Iso and DeTomaso. I think it would be sexy as hell.

I like the idea of an aluminum LS? engine and a pair of turbos.