Welcome to the Maserati Khamsin Registry…

Step 2: Unscrew and remove the bolt at rear of each of the two bumper shocks, which hold them in place. Pull the two bumper shocks out with a twisting motion; again these are heavy so be careful; you don’t want them falling on your kneecaps when they come out.

Step 3: Peel back the small metal strips that hold the rubber in place.
Forcing a screwdriver between the metal housing and the rubber, force the rubber out. You can facilitate your task with WD40. Some small metal plates which hold the rubber in place will also come out. Set shocks, rubber and plates aside. Repeat procedure on other side.

Note that this operation is rendered easier the more trunk trim you remove. On my car we cheated somewhat, dodging around some of the trim such as the large rear box sections which border the trunk on the left and right side. While this is a little more time consuming we advise removing all leather covered trim behind the rear seats, setting it carefully aside, noting where each piece and screw fits, taping each screw on the back of the part by its assigned screw hole for ease of re-assembly. Note order in which you remove the trim pieces so that you may refit them later in proper reverse order. If you are planning to redo the leather interior of your car this is the perfect time.

Step 5: Peel back carpet and under carpet towards the front of the car.
If you plan on leaving most of the trim in place you must however remove the two small trim panels which are located right behind the end of the rear glass, one at each end; this will allow wiggle room to pull the rear glass out from the inside.

Step 6: Remove leatherette which hides frame under rear glass by pulling it off (it is glued on), unscrew frame brackets which hold the glass in place at each end on the inside of the trunk. Note that there is no need to remove the chrome trim, which holds the glass in place from the outside.

Using plenty of WD40 gently tap the glass out of place towards the inside of the car, being careful not to damage the rubber gasket.

Carefully wiggle the glass (with rubber gasket) out of its place and out of the car. Again with plenty of WD40 carefully peel the rubber gasket off the glass, clean the glass and set it aside (it actually makes a great shelf for displaying your 1/43 scale Maserati models!). Wash the rubber gasket, ridding it of any grit or dirt, making sure you don’t crack it. Set aside. Also carefully clean the entire metal area where the glass was held in place in the car.

Step 7: You must now remove the long thin trim panels which are located just inside and below the glass opening. Set them and their screws carefully aside.

Peel back loose undercarpet and you will see where the rear lights are held in place by nuts and brackets: loosen and detach lights from frame.

Bring the rear light wires upwards to their general intended location.

You will need to cut an opening in these new sheet metal panels, roughly in their center, for the bracket to pass through, however it is easiest to mark this spot and to cut an opening towards the bottom. Doing this will allow you to fit them from the inside of the car after you tighten the brackets to bumper nuts, which you will do once the brackets at their other end have been attached to the trunk floor. Set plates aside.

Step 11: Have your body shop specialist cut off the two rear brackets (see step 9 photo 2 detail B) which used to house the rear bumper shock absorbers. This is necessary to allow the exhaust to be raised and be flush with the rear of the body as on the original Euro version; due to the huge US rear bumper the US version has the exhaust much lower. This is near the fuel tank so exercise great caution. If the car is in the process of being totally restored remove the fuel tank. If not the trick is to fill the fuel tank to the brim; it is fumes which are dangerous, not contained sealed fuel itself, as long as it is not overheated. Make sure your fuel hoses aren’t dried up and leaking or letting fumes out.

Using a plasma torch, a percussion tool or a small body shop saw (but not a torch unless fuel tank and all hoses have been removed), cut away these brackets. The whole purpose of this is to thereafter raise the exhaust mufflers and tips into the space you are clearing for them. Do not cut into chassis or body. The metal is quite thick, this is a gritty task, but soon enough will finish the task in a couple of hours and the heavy brackets will be history. The bracket on the right rear of the car has a hose which goes through it; this is part of the fuel tank; be careful around it. When you finish this, before going on to stage two of the exhaust muffler raising job, either re route this fuel line up and away from where the exhaust muffler will be or thoroughly wrap it in fire proof heat shielding material.

Step 12: While the Euro rear bumper has seven bolts only the four (two at each end) that cater to the two brackets are relevant; you have a choice (the Khamsin is truly a car for independent thinkers!). The first solution is to cut off the three central ones flush with the surface of the bumper. They would simply attach to the body itself, not the frame and are therefore structurally useless in case of impact. The second solution is that, if you look carefully, the holes for these three bolts were in the body shell and plugged up for the US model; you can just tap these plugs out with a hammer and screwdriver. Just make sure that when fitting the bumper in place you use silicone, applied from the inside of the trunk, to prevent water and exhaust fume ingress. Which solution you choose is irrelevant, as long as you do it properly.

Step 13: Attach the two brackets loosely to the rear bumper, with nuts or washers that prevent backing out. Now position the bumper and its brackets in place by inserting the brackets in the holes you cut out for them. Mark the spot where the bumper should be positioned (it should be close to the body but not touch it; 5 milimeters or 1/5 of and inch is about right). Make sure carefully that bumper position will be correct vertically, side to side and front to back; have a good photo of the back of a Euro car handy.

Step 14: Once you are satisfied of the correct spots with the aid of a tape measure, mark them (there are two bolts per bracket detail A), procure the right bolts to thread into the brackets through the floor (make sure ahead of time that you have them handy). Drill the holes in the trunk floor, again be extremely careful as you are close to the fuel tank. Repeat on the other side. Note; these holes will be just under the lower end of the big box-like leather trim panel on each side of the trunk. As mentioned above you can either remove the trim panel completely or, unscrewing the screws that hold it onto the edge of the trunk floor, push it aside slightly while drilling, taking car not to damage the leather. Repeat procedure on other side. Set bumpers aside, position brackets in place loosely.

Step 15: Now is the time to cut the hole in each sheet metal panels roughly in their center, for the bracket to pass. It is easiest to mark this spot and to cut an opening towards the bottom. Doing this will make it much simpler, allowing you to fit them from the inside of the car after you tighten the brackets to bumper nuts (which you will do once the brackets at their other end have been attached to the trunk floor). Set the plates aside for now.

Step 16: Remove the brackets from the trunk, reattach the bumper loosely to them and mount the brackets and bumper in place. Tighten all bracket to bumper and bracket to trunk floor nuts gradually. Using shims of various thickness at the bumper end between the bumper and the nuts will allow you to achieve a consistent and adequate gap between the body and the bumper as you finalize its position, take your time doing this; it is important for an even fit but do not overtighten.

Step 17: Now slide in the sheet metal panel. Rivet it in place along with the small extra piece that you cut to slide the panel in place around the bracket, closing off the hole as tightly as possible under the bracket. Repeat on other side.