Maserati Quattroporte project

Hi guys,

I just purchased this 2007 QP duoselect last month and have begun ordering from Jeff a whole bunch of stuff to upgrade the car.  

Since I am all the way in Indonesia, I've to wait quite a bit before the wonderful pre-christmas boxes arrive.  But when they do.....

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/34109082@N00/5210018557/][img]http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5169/5210018557_bff831e21e.jpg[/img][/url]

First day, I decided to attempt the easiest part of the job which is to install the air filter, the executive front grill and the Larini xpipe/mufflers combo.

Air filter took all of 5 minutes, most of them from removing the million torq screws from the engine cover...

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/34109082@N00/5216412563/][img]http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5250/5216412563_4a594d14a3.jpg[/img][/url]

The front grill only took 5 screws and completely transformed the look of the car.  I have no picture but y'all know what it looks like....

Then, I called a buddy of mine, and we decided to tackle the Larini x pipe and the mufflers right in the basement of my house.  It's a bit tricky negotiating the pipes under that little space, but we got them on finally.  The first time we started the car, I almost jumped in surprise.  It was very loud.

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/34109082@N00/5213945129/][img]http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4089/5213945129_e647f16962.jpg[/img][/url]

Here's my buddy under the car.  Yeah, you practically have to be 120lbs or a contortionist to slip underneath.....or Asian hehe.

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/34109082@N00/5216432365/][img]http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4131/5216432365_394163d1be.jpg[/img][/url]

We made a small blunder and installed the xpipe upside down and it was hitting the floorpan.  We were sitting there for a long time trying to figure out how such an expensive pipe can be made so poorly when my 5 year old daughter came by and said very innocently, "Pa, why is the shiny pipe pointing up?" My buddy and I looked at each other, gave an obliging smack to each other (j/k) and went back to work putting the xpipe on the correct order.

All done!

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/34109082@N00/5216075159/][img]http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4110/5216075159_4ea652f857.jpg[/img][/url]

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Seeing we still have plenty of time, we decided to rip out the interior of the car.  All the gummy buttons, panels and knobs are all removed to be refinished by a guy who used to work for Ferrari and Audi.  

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/34109082@N00/5216664770/][img]http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4126/5216664770_3c8ce8a494.jpg[/img][/url]

All parts out!

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We also removed all the pillars and the headliner and I will be refinishing them in black suede with black stitching.

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/34109082@N00/5216062315/][img]http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5047/5216062315_c470e36b32.jpg[/img][/url]

Tonight, I will tackle the DBW and ECM myself.  And this weekend I will bring the car to the mechanic to get the springs installed.  Some things you just can't do yourself.  :running:

:biggthumpup:

ohhhh dayummmm,  really looking forward to this!!!!!!!!!!!:runcoold:

Damnnnnnnnn Not only do you have one of the cars I want but you have the other one too ?????????????? 

Trade me for one hahah

Ballin!  I'd be scared to rip apart such an expensive car :)

very nice

Wow dude, this build is going to be sweetttt.  I love the fact that you have a super expensive car, but you're doing a lot of the work on it yourself and w/ friends instead of paying a shop to do everything.  That's true tuning right there.

I need a career change apparently.... will be in for updates...

Ok, so I cheated.  I got a guy who works for me in the office to come and help me do the wiring on the dbw/ecm install.  He's a wiz with cabling, soldering and computer stuff and is in charge of all the IT and computer installs at work, so I am "assuming" that he will be able to help me do the dbw/ecm install.

Anyway, the whole job took right under 2 hours and most of the time spent was figuring out how to release the connectors from the ECU.... *sigh*

Here's a pic of the guy laying out all the parts needed for the install.  His ashen face was not coincidental.  He told me straight up that soldering a $2000 computer at work is MUCH less pressure than soldering the ECU of a $200,000 car.  

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/34109082@N00/5218529094/][img]http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4083/5218529094_7f8fd24fc2.jpg[/img][/url]

Once we did the first solder, everything else went muuuch quicker.  Done in 45 minutes.

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The last pickle was trying to find a place to mount the 2 modules and I actually spent the better part of the hour trying to find a right place for them.  I decided on velcroing them on the bottom of the passenger airbag module behind the glove compartment.  I figure if the airbags blow, I'd probably not have much use for the dbw/ecm anymore....

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After we were all done, we said our hail marys and turned on the ignition.  Good, no errors.  I can't drive the car around yet to test it because....well, because there isn't really any interior for me to sit on, everything was out of the car!

So, I will post my review in a couple of weeks.  :)

Oh I forgot about the pic of the executive grill.... :)

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/34109082@N00/5217976825/][img]http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5210/5217976825_f0cf0c2cbe.jpg[/img][/url]

[QUOTE=romeo291;357690]Wow dude, this build is going to be sweetttt.  I love the fact that you have a super expensive car, but you're doing a lot of the work on it yourself and w/ friends instead of paying a shop to do everything.  That's true tuning right there.[/QUOTE]

Thanks, man.  I've been ripping cars out for years.  Just because it's a Maserati doesn't make it any different.  :)

so what is it you do again?? PM me lol i want in!!

this pic is worth more than most cars here...........
[IMG]http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5169/5210018557_bff831e21e.jpg[/IMG]

subscribed! Can't wait to see everything put together!

[QUOTE=jtanoyo1;357714]Thanks, man. I've been ripping cars out for years. Just because it's a Maserati doesn't make it any different. :)[/QUOTE]
 
QFT:biggthumpup:
 
I gotta see what else you got in-store for this =)

sick build.

[QUOTE=MR.J;357735]QFT:biggthumpup:
 
I gotta see what else you got in-store for this =)[/QUOTE]

What's QFT?

[QUOTE=ALEXTHESUS*PECT;357719]this pic is worth more than most cars here...........
[IMG]http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5169/5210018557_bff831e21e.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE]

LOL.....It's very close in the 5 figures..... eek.

[QUOTE=xxjustimajinxx;357715]so what is it you do again?? PM me lol i want in!![/QUOTE]

I usually make offers to some people that they can't refuse....you want in?

[QUOTE=jtanoyo1;357821]What's QFT?[/QUOTE]
Qouted For Truth. lol
 
[QUOTE=jtanoyo1;357825]I usually make offers to some people that they can't refuse....you want in?[/QUOTE]
 
Shieeet Im in!

Then I need you to do something for me.... LOL.


Nah, I am in building materials business.  :)

I thought QFT stood for Quite Fucking True. 

Nice to see another Porte. I was looking at some for sale last night. Here state side they are relatively priced to those of very nice japanese luxury cars. The cars get cheaper, but the parts don't lol Thats what I tell my customers all the time.

Good choice on the Larini too. I love it on the 360

I paid over $200k for mine used.  It makes me puke to see that these cars go for a mere $50k on edmunds....

I'm use to hearing that QFT means "Quit F**kin Trying".  Ohhhhhh the internet.  

Anxious to see more of the Maserati Build.

[QUOTE=jtanoyo1;358301]I paid over $200k for mine used.  It makes me puke to see that these cars go for a mere $50k on edmunds....[/QUOTE]


import duties are a bitch eh

Totally offtopic but how is business there? My family has been in building materials for decades mainly homes but economy here sucks

This shit is sick!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Nuff said

[QUOTE=ScottyTuned;358307]I'm use to hearing that QFT means "Quit F**kin Trying". Ohhhhhh the internet. 
 
Anxious to see more of the Maserati Build.[/QUOTE]
 
Really??? oopsss =)
well thats not what I meant at all srry for the mix up :slap:

that's what i thought it was for the longest time. but i also use it for quoted for truth.

Congrats, nice pickup

[QUOTE=jtanoyo1;358301]I paid over $200k for mine used.  It makes me puke to see that these cars go for a mere $50k on edmunds....[/QUOTE]

Thats crazy.  Lots of people who are getting into them at $50k don't know what they have coming.  The F1 pump craps out yearly on the North American version.  Not a cheap fix.  I personally would get the automatic.  They hold their value much better over here too.  Less fun to drive but less of a headache.

Yes, nothing here is cheap.  As I have said millions of times, you guys have it lucky.  :)

Mine's the F1 transmission model, I only drive the car on weekends and hardly ever push it to its limits, so I don't think I will have too much problems with the transmission...*hope*

[QUOTE=brainneeded;358421]quoted for truth.[/QUOTE]
QFT!

i also thought it might mean quit fucking talking.

Well, I got the headliners and the pillars back last night.  I am quite pleased with the result.  We did the stitching on the pillars to match the seats of the QP as accent.  I will be putting the panels back in today.  Stay tuned for more pics.

[IMG]http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss176/jtanoyo1/IMG00163-20101207-1458.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss176/jtanoyo1/IMG00162-20101207-1458.jpg[/IMG]

nice!

Looks very nice so far. Can't wait to see the interior completed. I was actually told that the car is meant to be driven hard and when you baby it, you have more problems. The 07 is more reliable than the earlier models though. 
 
Any ideas on which wheels you will put on there?

Thanks.  I got the 22" Klassen CSV in high polished in and out on the way from the US.

I got home from work today and found a small package from Ultimate Pedals.  Woopee.  Bust out the makita drill and went crazy on the car....

I started with the brake pedal first because I figured I should give my strength to the hardest one (aluminium is gonna be a b1tch to drill).  So I was there with the drill for a good 10 min and the hole was just not going through.  My face was turning red, my back was killing me and my clothes were drenched.  Did I use the wrong drill bit?  What the heck?  .....oh wait, of course, clockwise stupid!!!  Took all of 10 seconds after that!!!

[IMG]http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss176/jtanoyo1/IMG00169-20101209-1947.jpg[/IMG]

I double-taped the dead pedal on.  I had to use longer screws because the ones given by Ultimate Pedals were just too short....

Finished! :)

[IMG]http://i573.photobucket.com/albums/ss176/jtanoyo1/IMG00170-20101209-2008.jpg[/IMG]

looks nice.

So most of the interior is back on.  I can't be happier with the new buttons, panels, headliner and pillars, here are some pictures of us putting things back on.  I still got the center console, arm rest, seat controls and rear entertainment system to put back, but otherwise the car is 90% finished!

Here's my buddy screwing back on the o-shit handle:

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Especially lovin' the color-matched diamond stitched sunvisors:

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Not to forget the color-matched exposed stitched pillars:

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/34109082@N00/5267993606/][img]http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5005/5267993606_de0d5b53d2.jpg[/img][/url]

I will post formal pics when everything is finished! :)

fuuuu <3333

Why not paint or dye the rest of the interior trim? Looks really out of place after the amazing job done on the rest of the headliner.

damn, what are your plans for an almost already perfect car?

The whole car was reaaaaallly dark after the black suede headliner.  That's why I kept the beige colored plastic parts to give some accents.

I love you

[QUOTE=325irollin;361113]I love you[/QUOTE]

Err....and I love you too?

[QUOTE=jtanoyo1;361225]Err....and I love you too?[/QUOTE]
:smiley-rofl: