I'm going to see a supposed Murena "S" at the weekend. It is a 1982 model, so it must an aftersales kit and it has a 4 branch manifold (with 4 output silencer!) and twin Solex carbs. Question is, is there any other way to determine if it is a genuine "S" kit with the hotter cam?
Cheers,
Antony
Although the original question was asked some time ago and no longer requires an answer for that particular purchase, the following may be useful for others in future.
To tell if a Murena is a genuine 'S' is easy - the chassis number starts VF853C432 EX 75.... Only the 'S' had the EX (1984) designation and the 75 start to the six digit number.
To tell if an earlier Murena has had a genuine Prep 142 modification, it is not that hard for anyone that knows the cars well. It really should have the type approval sticker next to the chassis plate, but that could have been removed of course. The obvious external sill extensions and rear wing could have been fitted to any car, and could be copies. Or a genuine car might not have them (personal taste). But if the engine modifications are not genuine they should be easy to spot. A genuine Prep 142 kit used a unique inlet manifold with 15 degree incline so that the unique airbox sits above the fuel tank; it used twin Solex 40 ADDAE carbs. (the 'S' used twin Solex 40 ADDHE); it has a thermostat extension housing; a different water pipe under the inlet manifold because the original was coolant heated and the twin sidedraught carb. manifold was not; it even has a different dipstick tube.
I would suggest that if a Murena has been modified but not using the original kit, then it will most likely have twin Webers or Dell'Ortos which is the first giveaway. In case the original Solex have been changed, does the leftmost intake sit above the fuel tank? It will on a genuine manifold. On a 'fake' it is unlikely to have the original airbox or air filter. But of all the things that I doubt would be changed, would be the coolant pipe or the dipstick tube! Those for me would be the most positive indications.
As for the camshaft... That is always going to be difficult to prove without stripping and measuring, unless you know how a standard Murena 2.2 performs and can easily tell on road test that it is better. And it is easy if you know how a standard 2.2 goes, to tell if the camshaft is better.
This still doesn't tell you if it is a genuine Prep 142 cam. It could be any fast road cam - Holbay, Piper, Kent, Politecnic ... However, the chances are if it has any of these fitted they will all be better than the standard and possibly better than the Prep 142/"S' cam too.
For anyone unfamiliar with the car, simply take a few photos of the carb./inlet/manifold/airbox areas and email me. I should be able to tell you from those.
Roy