| Author |
Message |
Anthony Acunzo (Yank05)
Junior Member
Username: Yank05
Post Number: 107
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 06, 2002 - 8:07 am: | |
should have said "if the dealer did NOT foul those plugs, what the heck is going on here" |
Anthony Acunzo (Yank05)
Junior Member
Username: Yank05
Post Number: 106
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 06, 2002 - 8:05 am: | |
Dave, I hope not. This car had virtually everything done to it - ignition rebuilt, carbs rebuilt, every gasket/seal was replaced all by a well-known, reputable mechanic. If the dealer did foul those plugs, what the heck is going on here!? |
Dave328GTB (Hardtop)
Member
Username: Hardtop
Post Number: 277
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 05, 2002 - 10:33 pm: | |
Some years ago, I bought a 77 GTB cehap that had deferred maintenance and had been driven very little the last 5 years or so. Nevertheless, it ran pretty good and had none of the issues you mention. After a quick 1000 miles and some tuning, it ran really good. The running you describe could be very expensive to sort out. My gut says this car could swallow 5-10K quickly. I would be very wary.
Dave |
Bruno (Originalsinner)
Member
Username: Originalsinner
Post Number: 694
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 05, 2002 - 3:10 pm: | |
Bottom line is price$$$.Should be able to steal it right now.And of course condition and records. |
Anthony Acunzo (Yank05)
Junior Member
Username: Yank05
Post Number: 104
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 05, 2002 - 2:57 pm: | |
thanks, so far...
Philip, the plugs were not firing, thus the motor was pushing raw fuel into the exhaust causing the original thermal reator exhaust to burn. I was told by mechanic this is a common problem with carbed cars - sometimes causing them (especially cars with cats) to catch fire and burn. This exhaust should also be replaced before I will consider the car.
Thanks,
Anthony |
Philip Airey (Pma1010)
New member
Username: Pma1010
Post Number: 35
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 05, 2002 - 2:32 pm: | |
Fouling plugs indicates a rich mixture. red hot exhaust indicates it is way lean. Doesn't add up.
Carb rebuild is a $1000 job. |
Philip Airey (Pma1010)
New member
Username: Pma1010
Post Number: 34
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 05, 2002 - 2:30 pm: | |
Anthony
Have a PPI done from a known source, ask them to do a leakdown test. All in mine cost me $500 but it is worth it for the piece of mind. Get the shop to put it up on a rack and go through it with the tech. Look for any kind of fluid leak (coolant, oil, fuel) and get an understanding of how tight it is. Invariably the older cars SEEM to have limited mileage per year and the belts/seals/gaskets will go.
If the seller is genuine, ask them to do a carb tune up. it ought to run well. If not, walk away. They'll have to do it to sell the car or take a big discount for poor running which makes no sense unless it is a major problem/they can find a sucker. |
Anthony Acunzo (Yank05)
Junior Member
Username: Yank05
Post Number: 103
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 05, 2002 - 1:04 pm: | |
This car is on consignment at a dealership. The owner said it was in top shape when he delivered it there. When I went to test drive it, it ran like crap, running on less than eight cylinders causing the exhaust to glow red hot. I was told by some reliable sources that the dealership (like many dealerships) do not know how to correctly operate the older carb cars, and fouled the plugs. So, I was treating this "poor running" incident as a coincidence, but now I am skeptical. |
Anthony Acunzo (Yank05)
Junior Member
Username: Yank05
Post Number: 102
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 05, 2002 - 12:49 pm: | |
Yes, Dave the car was definitely a garage queen at first. I will contact the previous owners too, maybe I can assess how the car was treated (somewhat) by talking with them. The car was gone through mechanically about a year ago in which the belts were changed among many other things. Both a compression and leakdown were done and were okay (of course I'll still have another done if I have it inspected). Visually, the car looks as if was treated well - the interior is still pristine (all original,unmolested), good paint, wheels superb, all tools, original books. The engine is now very clean (spotless) due to the recent major service. I have recents from the last couple of owners too, showing some of the work done - all at a reputable dealer. Apparently, the current owner relocated and is selling some of his other cars too (including a '78 400). He spent a great deal of money on this car, so naturally I questioned him why he is selling it so soon after all this major work was done.
The current owner put 4K on it in two years, but in fact, the green deposits on the plugs were found after all his driving, which is now worrying me. The mechanic (who knows Ferraris) did not think anything of it, he just made the comment on the bill.
Should I still get a pre-purchase on this one or just move on? So many good things were done to it by a well-known professional, that's why I am (was)considering it. |
David Jones (Dave)
Member
Username: Dave
Post Number: 415
Registered: 4-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 05, 2002 - 12:12 pm: | |
Anthony,
is this the same car that had the green deposits on the plugs?
It sounds like the first owner only put around 525 miles a year on the car according to your records... So yes it was a garage queen.
I would be just as concerned with the fact that the car has had 3 owners in the last 6 years...
Any idea how the car was treated?
Why the current owner is selling?
When the "mechanical overhaul" was performed? Was it recent or 4 years ago?
Were the cam belts changed then?
Have you done a compression test or leakdown test to determine if it was antifreeze on the plugs?
|
Anthony Acunzo (Yank05)
Junior Member
Username: Yank05
Post Number: 101
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 05, 2002 - 10:50 am: | |
Hi,
After 14 months of searching, I found a potential
carbed 308 canidate that meets my requirements. I promised myself I would never get a garage queen or car that has been sitting. Here is a quick rundown of the car I am looking at:
It was a garage queen up until 1996, which the original owner only put 10K on it (poor car). It was sold three other times (I have records) since then (the car now has 21K). The reason I am considering it is because the current owner had a total mechanical overhaul (not a rebuild though) done to the car by a very respected, well-known mechanic. Everything done to it was written down in exceptional detail by this mechanic. Of course, I will have a pre-purchase inspection done. Is there any other thing I should consider, i.e., what happens to the insides of the engine (pistons, cylinder walls) after years of idle time?
Your opinions are appreciated,
Anthony
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