Diablo Dilemma

4 minute(s) of a 72 minute read

Actually, I only canceled the V8 after Nelson Racing agreed to rebuild and TT the orriginal V12. This will be Nelson Racing's first V12 twin turbo built for a customer.

Sorry it's been awhile since an update. A proper update with pictures will be coming soon.  

Here's what's been happening since my last post:

• previous underside damage is mostly repaired
• Tom Nelson says the trans is in bad shape.
• Trans is ready to be rebuilt and modded
• Symmetrical twin turbo system and pipes have been purchased and made to fit the dimensions of the car.
• Turbos will be "hung" on the engine next week and pipes fitted.
• As soon as the fit is right, the engine will be pulled out and torn down for a COMPLETE rebuild by NRE:  custom everything. Then I can start posting pictures of the build.

After the twin turbo V12 is built, I will post a video of the engine dyno runs. Tom feels that the Lamborghini engine block will handle the power, and expects serious hp and torque figures on pump gas. The race gas figures should be ludicrous.  

Hang in there and keep being patient, TCL. I will do my best to make this thread worth the wait. In fact, since the build is about to begin, I should probably warn you now...

.....anyone who doesn't want their ass blown out, should stop following this thread now. Unless you're ready to take that step, this thread is not for you. ....because when you see the dyno video, this engine might make you blow an ass gasket!

You have been warned.

9-20-2011

Nothing like seeing/hearing in person for sure, but in the vids I've seen, they seem to sound like Japanese tuner cars. I can't describe exactly what I mean, but on idle they seem to have the same type of "burble" that you hear from a souped up STi or something.  

One of the big considerations in doing this project is the exhaust note. I hope it won't be terribly altered (for the worse), because as the saying goes, "I shoulda had a V8".

There's no changing it now. V12 TT is coming.. like it or not. I hope it sounds Italian-esque, and not tuner-ish.

Good to hear. I have heard so many things about these engines being fragile. As long as the block is strong (and we don't have to reinforce it with cement or something silly), then it'll be all good.  

Tom Nelson feels it's strong enough, and it's certainly in the better interest of NRE to sell me a V8...

...so I guess I'll just close my eyes and put my trust in him. He certainly has enough experience with insane hp, and knows that reliability is one of my biggest concers. I hope he's right.

..On a separate note, I've been invited to an official unveiling of the Aventador tonight in NYC.

Should I start a separate thread, or put the pics up here? Maybe I'll start a separate thread and throw a link to it on here. Should be a crazy night. I'm not driving, so I plan on getting quite smashed. I'll try to hold the Blackberry steady when I take the pics.

Lol! Well, I got really lucky... I was in the right place at the right time. Even though the car was in aweful mechanical shape, I practically stole it. The owner was faced with a serious financial crisis, and needed cash practically the very next day. I was more than happy to take the old girl off his hands, and he was even happier that they didn't foreclose on his house in Malibu.

Proportionally speaking, there's no reason you couldn't do the same type of thing. There are Ferraris in the $30K price range. The internet (and current state of the US economy) makes it easier to find people who are desperate to sell some old fancy car they can't afford to fix.  

There are plenty of classic Porsche 911's out there for cheap ($15-20K range). You just have to keep looking. Those old air cooled 911's are just waiting to be ressurected and twin turbo charged. If you want it bad enough, you'll get there. Just do it!