Silver Ferrari 400GT

[@CarWizard]

Those air cleaners are literally violin cases. Lol. Love the 400GT styling. Enjoy Tom!

[@tomyangnet]

I'll enjoy it at the job's end! Thanks David!

[@Haffschlappe]

I guess the wizard wouldnt touch this car?

[@tomyangnet]

@@Haffschlappe if David is brave enough to work on a Veyron, then this 400 should be a piece of cake, but we tend to stick in our lanes!

[@TheJaredsalinsky]

Warmed my heart to see that 400GT running somewhat smoothly again! Hopefully the leaks cooperate and can be fixed somewhat easily, and the clutch job goes smoothly as well! Great video. Really shows your skill level and attention to detail. Can’t wait to see more! Thanks Tom

[@tomyangnet]

She's responding well to the attention! Once I can find that rattle in the exhaust, she'll make a great wail at full tick!

[@Schlipperschlopper]

@@tomyangnet The rattling sound could have come from the engine due to bad ignition (there were some cylinders cutting out) it sounds metallic could be a combustion pinging or knock..I would change all plugs and check the wire harness too (dont forget the ignition condensers if it still has those, dont know if a dinoplex CDI ignition was optional on the 400 those can become faulty too and cause pinging, can be replaced with an MSD). A compression test would also be a good thing.

[@MarkHenion-pd9qs]

Can't believe the difference!! Excellent job!! Thanks for the test ride!!

[@tomyangnet]

She's coming back to where she should be for a V-12 Ferrari!

[@Schlipperschlopper]

yeah this master tech knows his job!

[@1BCamden]

This car got to you just in time !!! Fantastic episode, that distributor drive is an expert based item, sounds strong on the test run, interesting finds with the 20cent o-rings. You have saved another one !!! Best regards for Christmas and the new year

[@tomyangnet]

I don't think this car got a thorough service in years! Happy Holidays!

[@stephenhenion8304]

Those Black Airboxes look like my Guitar Case..SERIOUSLY!!!

[@tomyangnet]

@@stephenhenion8304 maybe for a yuke!

[@dsj6677]

NEW O RINGS, CARB CLEAN AND ADJUSTMENT, RESET FLY WHEEL, FOR STARTERS IS NOT BAD.... NOW VALUES ADJUSTMENT, SEAL ANY OIL LEAKS, NEW CLUTCH. I SEE YOU TONY

[@tomyangnet]

Shes' slowly coming back to life!

[@karlfrench8538]

One of my favorite Ferraris. Really interesting video.

[@tomyangnet]

The last of the "affordable" Colombo V-12s!

[@Schlipperschlopper]

I also like the Dino Bertone Coupés sold by Fiat

[@BradP69]

I’ve always loved these, awesome!

[@tomyangnet]

Great cruisers!

[@curiousoffice]

I watched the entire video all the way through. This channel deserves 10x the number of subscribers that it currently has. Such great, original content from a deeply experienced talent.

[@tomyangnet]

@@curiousoffice thanks for your kind words, but I have just the right amount of people watching that care and appreciate this content, including you!

[@RoeVenturesLLC]

30:19 v12 symphony

[@tomyangnet]

They do make great music!

[@tjjoseph333]

The 400 presents in person far better than in photography. The 62-64 Lusso is the same in even more dramatic fashion. We had a half dozen of these new when they came out and I was always impressed by the coachwork - that double take affect. I don't think any of them were manual cars and I remember the automatic being a Turbo 400. Very cool.

[@tomyangnet]

I think these 400s are aging well. The creased angle designs of the 308GT/4 and this 400GT took some time for me to appreciate, but it's not weird looking like the Lagonda. The automatic versions of this model really made them into laid back cruisers. At least the 5-speed gear box makes this car more sporty!

[@Haffschlappe]

They Look like the older Fiat 130 coupe

[@Schlipperschlopper]

@@Haffschlappe yes the 130 was also a nice looking car!

[@r.hagenau3541]

Great to see that old Lady being taken care of. Fell on hard times in the past with someone who didn't have the money to properly maintain her.

[@tomyangnet]

@@r.hagenau3541 common story with a 400GT. Luckily this one is in good condition and wasn’t too far gone.

[@marcusbonello3106]

Great stuff Tom. Always a pleasure to watch and learn about the appendices that make our glorious engines work as they should. Thank you. Merry Xmas Tom and wishing you a great 2025 :-)

[@tomyangnet]

Thanks Marcus! Happy Holidays to you and yours as well!

[@calebmcdonald8458]

Excellent work on a car you definitely do not see everyday! Especially with the DCOEs and not the injected model. Should be a great car when you're all done with it. Keep us posted!

[@tomyangnet]

There will definitely be more videos on this car! Thanks for watching.

[@lukereardon1821]

Love that car. I guess one day all the cars you put right for all your customers will be restored and run perfectly as they will be worth a fortune. Glad we get to watch you fix them now. Great drive at the end!

[@tomyangnet]

There seems to always be a steady stream of broken Ferraris coming into my shop!

[@lukereardon1821]

@ and because of your videos a lot of people in the future can enjoy what it was like way back in the 2020’s. Please keep ‘em coming!

[@edmatthews9235]

I keep seeing the Sunbeam Tiger in background. My 1st cool car was one of those. Ford v8. Bless you for working on that huge Columbo v12 wow. My 1st guess is Bad old fuel caused many problems. Love that 400 in Silver.

[@tomyangnet]

It's a Sunbeam, but just an Alpine. It might not have a V-8, but nothing is better than having a convertible for a hot summer night drive!

Please add more videos on the work you are doing on this 400GT, as I working on my 365 GT4 2+2 and would welcome the heads up on how best to tackle the various services needed. Thanks again for the great videos!

[@tomyangnet]

My advice is to learn some more curse words! Italian ones might work better!

@@tomyangnet Already done :) ... I started to do a light refresh on the suspension and before I knew it I had the suspension completely removed and every piece refinished correctly... including the fasteners. On a side note, given that your 400GT looks to have had minimal serving, I would bet that the shocks are knackered. On my car the shocks had no leaks, but seemed stiff. Once I took them apart, I found every orifice plugged with hardened rubber bits. Clearly, the various internal rubber seals were no match being subjected to almost 50 years of shock/hydraulic fluid. Once everything was cleaned and new seals installed, the shocks now work as expected.

[@tomyangnet]

how are the load levelers? Those failed pretty often and I've given up trying to rebuild them. Even Koni won't support them. I just install the coil over update and call it a day!

@@tomyangnet Surprisingly, my load levellers are fine... for now, anyway. So far I have only heard of one fellow that has successfully rebuilt his. When I contacted him about the rebuild, he stated it was a ton of work and really not worth the effort. That said, like you mentioned, should the levellers go sideways, replacing them with an adjustable coil over setup is the best path forward. Interestingly, I was told that Ferrari convinced Koni to make the load levellers for them... and no other manufacturer jumped on boardc to use them and so the market was exceedingly small. Consequently, Koni then decided it was not worth the effort to support these specialty devices. As I recall the front shocks are no longer available (NLA) and so the only option is to rebuild. The rears can still be found, but if one is rebuilding the fronts, then might as well rebuild the rears too. Lastly, there is a seller on Ebay that sells the correct "winged" Koni decal for reasonable $ and so will nicely refinish the shocks to look like they originally were. Replacement, new, shocks use the later Koni "triangle" decal which is not correct for the older cars.

@@tomyangnet Surprisingly, my load levellers are fine... for now, anyway. So far I have only heard of one person that has successfully rebuilt the load levellers. However, when I contacted the person, he told me it was a lot of work and really not worth the effort. Consequently, replacing these with a coil over setup is the way to go. I did find a shop that apparently retrofits the original load levellers with a coil over mechanism so that the result looks stock. However, the price is very steep... upwards of $3600 USD for a pair. That said, the front shocks are NLA and so the only option is to rebuild them. The rears are still available, but if one is rebuilding the fronts... then it makes sense to simply rebuild the rears as well.

[@johnandrews3568]

Love me a manual 400GT. Looking forward to following this car's journey, Tom.

[@tomyangnet]

Thanks for joining me on this trip with this 400GT. I've got a valve adjustment and clutch to do, so stay tuned!

[@power2me1]

great sound

[@tomyangnet]

wait until I get rid of that rattle and she'll really scream!

[@chesswizard31]

Lovely cars. They are becoming less misunderstood and more appreciated finally. Like the Porsche 928.

[@tomyangnet]

Just like the 928, their price of entry is only the beginning. It takes a brave owner to weather the cost of repairs!

[@rustyturner431]

I REALLY wanted one of these, back in the day...until I talked to a couple mechanics and was shown some service records. Kept me in line as a 2-cam Ferrari guy! I'm a very competent and neat worker, but I have no interest in tackling something like a valve adjustment on a 400...if I want frustration I'll engage my daughter in a discussion of politics.

[@tomyangnet]

The four-cam Colombo engines spin up fast, and have a great wail at 6-7K, but I prefer the simplicity of the 2 cam engines and ease of service!

[@rustyturner431]

@@tomyangnet Yes they do, but they are a lot harder to maintain and service...and I've always done all my own wrenching (which led to some interesting mysteries at first). I've spent much time behind the wheel of several Daytonas, but I choose not to spend time under the bonnets! Good video...

[@Haffschlappe]

Compared to a Jaguar V12 Injection car These are simple

[@tomyangnet]

@@Haffschlappe There's a reason why I won't work on injected cars!

[@Schlipperschlopper]

@@tomyangnet yep! It can be a nightmare! Even on an old VW flat4 412 LE !

[@bernardquasaar1254]

Engine sounded great even without fine tuning. The speaker wires with tape on them on top of the back seats though😭

[@tomyangnet]

@@bernardquasaar1254 the owner has a work in progress!

[@Schlipperschlopper]

yeah sounds like a hell of a race cam V8 :-) Even after the tuneup some clyinders missing I think the plugs are trash

[@tomyangnet]

@ it still needs some work, but at least now it runs and I can move it in and out of the shop without burning up the clutch!

[@Schlipperschlopper]

@@tomyangnet yep :-)

[@MrJearley6]

Thank you for this video!! Your right nobody likes to work on the 400 or 400i !!!!

[@tomyangnet]

I have to admit that I prefer to work on the earlier Ferraris, but once you know what to expect, it's not that bad, as long as the customer knows too!

[@tomyangnet]

@@DontDrinkTheFlavorAid It was worse in the 90s when these cars were worth $25K! These cars are going up a little in price, so the customers are a little more willing to spend some money to make them right.

[@Haffschlappe]

Its a god idea checking the floats for leaks somtimes the soldering becomes leaky and they fill up with fuel

[@tomyangnet]

If they survived a trip in the ultrasonic cleaner, then I think they won't leak! Thanks for the advice!

[@Schlipperschlopper]

@@tomyangnet Fuel penetrates faster than water and cleaner

[@robertbcope]

Man oh man. This is the next car I want to get. In manual.

[@tomyangnet]

@@robertbcope get them while they’re still affordable!

[@robertbcope]

@@tomyangnet I know it, I'm trying. So many of the good cars have slipped through my fingers by jumping just as I was financially ready. Alas. Hopefully this time it will work out. A Countach used to be "almost affordable, just another year or two". Whoops. I'm very tempted to unload my NSX for one of these, but that feels crazy in a way, too.

[@tomyangnet]

@@robertbcope you may regret selling that NSX!

[@rivenmotors7981]

Great presentation and diagnosis, seems like a good product for an engine design like this would be a camera/strobe light that can be easily mounted with a remote screen that allows you to adjust the timing on the fly. I really admire the styling of the 365/400GT's but it's hard to call them lovely -more handsome and dignified instead. I think a blooper reel of your profanity working on these cars would be great as just watching you work on these tightly packaged italians is maddening. My Fiat 128 was a pain just to disassemble the engine accessories so I'm swapping in a Honda Fit 1.5 powertrain instead. Also did the same to my Lancia Montecarlo/Scorpion with a longitudinal Subaru SVX 3.3 flat six but there was bags of space in that bay.

[@tomyangnet]

@@rivenmotors7981 I could probably rig up a go-pro under the car while I stay up top and adjust the distributors, but that might be too slick for me! If I posted a blooper reel it would spoil the glamorous illusion of working on broker Ferraris! Thanks for watching.

[@tonysangwine-gould4733]

Looking forward to seeing the next update.

[@tomyangnet]

Working on the valve adjustment and clutch replacement now!

[@tonysangwine-gould4733]

I do love the 400GT and 400i. I have a Fiat Dino 2400 coupe but don't fancy the bills on a 400, great to learn from your vids.

[@tomyangnet]

@ these cars are perfect for someone who works on their own cars. It’s not hard work, just a lot of it!

[@wilhit10]

Extra red RTV is a sign of excellent craftsmanship. I especially love having to go back and clean it all off.

[@tomyangnet]

I guess the good news is it wasn’t Honda bond, or ultra black RTV!

[@Schlipperschlopper]

In german workshops nobody uses this except for valve covers. (paste applied thin!)

[@tomyangnet]

@ you kind of have to use it on valve covers or it’ll leak, but only a smear.

[@Schlipperschlopper]

@@tomyangnet yep

[@shkokyone6748]

Must say, Great Video, very Professional 👍👍👍

[@tomyangnet]

Thanks for watching!

[@gregstillman5197]

Hope we get to go for a ride when it's fixed.....

[@tomyangnet]

@@gregstillman5197 maybe after I do the clutch, provided there isn’t snow on the ground!

[@tonysangwine-gould4733]

Excellent incite to see what problems bad maintenance can cause. How many years had that car been not running properly I wonder?

[@tomyangnet]

@@tonysangwine-gould4733 it’s a slow process of degradation, and some people who have never driven a Ferrari may not even have known what its full potential could be! The power coming back though!

[@villagerobot]

Cool videos - they should have a LOT more views. I know it can be a bit depressing to make videos and not really get a lot of views - when you see the rubbish that get 100K+ views. You showed up by "algorithm luck" on my timeline one day - so I think there is hope for you for wider circulation.... I own 72 classic cars and wish I lived nearby you as it is hard to find somebody to work on the cars that has a reasonable approach to things. I liked the video about the black 250 GTE (one of my favorite cars that I would like to own someday) and that you thought it better for the owner to do slight improvements and get some use of the car rather than opt for a full blow restoration right off the bat. Merry Christmas from Denmark.

[@tomyangnet]

Thanks for clicking on my video by chance. I create this content in reaction to the dreck I often see on YT, but also realize many more people want to see the junk. I am lucky to be creating content that I find interesting and have a place to share them on YT, and hopefully more and more people like yourself will find them and stay! Sharing, liking, and subscribing is what gets us like minded people with similar feeds to find channels to find this. Somehow it works. Sometimes being too popular has its pitfalls. It's a balance! Thanks for watching.

[@Haffschlappe]

I recommend Bosch Platinums or Champion double copper plugs in those old cars...dont use the New multi Elektrode plus...those need higher ignition voltages

[@tomyangnet]

Even the platinums are a little overkill. I used to get simple NGK BP6ES plugs for a couple bucks a piece. Now the only ones that are available are the resistor plugs, but still cheaper than the Platinums, and you'll never reach the service interval!

[@Schlipperschlopper]

@@tomyangnet With NGK here in Germany we have problems since they come from China....in carbed cars if they become wet with fuel or oil once (for example during start) they cut out and never recover and work reliable again...i think they are now made by Torch in China and with cheaper ceramics. Bosch and Champions work best on old cars IF they are made in Germany or Belgium or UK...they clean up nicely even when flooded with fuel...I test plugs in two stroke engines....you cant use any NGK of the newer series in a two stroke motorbike MZ engine they cut out after a few miles. The Bosch platinums with single electrode are expensive (NOS only made in Germany) but work fantastic even on clapped out oilsmokers ;-) Old Champions N 6 YC copper or the better N 6 Y CC double copper also work fine. Are you sure BP6ES are not too hot for the Ferrari? Originaly the cars came with heat grade Champion N 6 YC = NGK heat grade BP8ES. Autolite plugs were fine too when sold under Motorcraft brand for Fords some years ago.

[@tomyangnet]

@ I know NGK heat ranges are opposite to everyone else, but the 6s seem to work for me, 7s work too, but the color of the 6s look good to me.

[@vincentjmarino]

I know it's still not running right but it sure sounds good.

[@tomyangnet]

@@vincentjmarino it’s an improvement, and starting to sound like a proper V-12!

[@6996brandyl]

GOOD VIDEO!!!!

[@tomyangnet]

@@6996brandyl thanks!

[@pavunistao]

My dream car (one of). But when the opportunity arises I'll try to stick to one with electronic injection.

[@tomyangnet]

I find the CIS cars to be a little less visceral. Those carburetors give it a good sound.

[@miamimo70]

Nobody wanted a Ferrari with a trunk, but now the values are climbing!

[@tomyangnet]

@@miamimo70 all the Ferrari 2+2s cost the same as the 2 seaters when they were new, so people did want them. It just took many years later for the secondary market to want them!

[@miamimo70]

@tomyangnet I loved the 400/412 before everyone else did I guess 😏

[@lyonheart84]

Most likely not old enough to have had the distributors overhauled, might have come out if long term ownership from somebody who stopped maintaining it 20 years ago. I guess the biggest issue is they got to a point where they were almost worthless so people just didnt want to spend a lot on them 😥

[@tomyangnet]

I think because these distributors are not as easy to remove and check on a 400GT compared to a 330, they were left where they sat and slowly got worse and worse. Hopefully the new owners of these cars that appreciate the rewards of care and proper maintenance will bring these cars back to their former glory!

[@arts.4014]

Love the 400! However, the last 400 GT I drove had a clutch that was ten times heavier than the clutch on a 330 GT - how heavy is this one? Also, that engine bay is terrifying, considering how packed it is! How many hours did going through the ignition a carbs take? And, more importantly, which choice words did you use getting the distributors/angle drives in?... :^)

[@tomyangnet]

I have found most of the heavy clutches on Vintage Ferraris come from hydraulic master cylinders. This 400GT has a cable actuated clutch, which seemed fine. I don't think Ferrari got the ratios right when they spec'd the bore sizes on their hydraulics! There were more than a couple dozen hours to get to this point!

[@russvague2748]

Can’t imagine the time and cost!

[@tomyangnet]

30 hours so far! If you have to ask the cost...

[@Haffschlappe]

Modern Chinese ignition Contacts suck i only use NOS Bosch

[@tomyangnet]

Many of the reproductions stink. You have to know which ones are better and stick with them!

[@Schlipperschlopper]

@@tomyangnet The rubbing distributor cam follower plastic parts on the newer contact sets are made from a kind of cheap Lego plastic (look like Teflon but arent!) and wear off quite fast even if lubed properly, the NOS ones had Pertinax hard bakelite cam followers and those almost dont wear off, thats the reason we only use NOS sets by Bosch, Facet, Unipart, Lucas, Beru, Schier, Bremi, Magneti Marelli. They are all fine if not made after 1995....from early 2000s they started with that strange el cheapo plastic.

[@supersonique001]

Looks like another Ferrari migraine coming on !

[@tomyangnet]

@@supersonique001 I pre-medicated knowing this car was coming in!

[@supersonique001]

@@tomyangnet LOL! Merry X-mas and a Happy New Year.

[@tomyangnet]

@ you the same!

When you mentioned the models that have the DCOEs, you forgot to include the predecessor to the 400GT.... the 365 GT4 2+2 which also had the DCOEs.

[@CarWizard]

I dont think he forgot. I really dont.

[@tomyangnet]

You are correct, but I was thinking of the particular cars. the GT/4s and the GTC/4s.

@@CarWizard Technically he did. Mr. Yang only mentioned the C4 and the 400GT. It is a minor oversight, as the C4 and 365 GT4 2+2 are very similar mechanically.

[@jsmith1174]

Looks like the Ferrari from Daft Punk Electroma

[@tomyangnet]

I have not seen the Movie, but I hear that was a 412, which is the last version of this particular model. Is it worth a viewing?

[@jsmith1174]

@tomyangnet absolutely, especially if you like their music 🖖