Birdman's 308 fuseblock retrofit ROCKS!!! | FerrariChat

Birdman's 308 fuseblock retrofit ROCKS!!!

Discussion in '308/328' started by RVIDRCI, Jan 10, 2006.

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  1. RVIDRCI

    RVIDRCI Formula 3

    Dec 1, 2005
    1,576
    Long Beach / Phoenix
    Full Name:
    Luigi
    Hey 308 guys,
    I completed instal of Birdman's Ferrari Parts 308 fuseblock kit on my 85 QV.
    Let's just say THATS the best $100 bucks I've ever spent!!!
    Everything works better, windows, dash lights, turn signals, HORNS!!!
    Took all of about 1 hr to do, and I really took my time about it, HIGHLY reccomend this kit. I'll PM Birdman, nice product.
    Ciao,
    Luigi
     
  2. snj5

    snj5 F1 World Champ

    Feb 22, 2003
    10,213
    San Antonio
    Full Name:
    Russ Turner
    I wish he had a Mondial to do this with....

    Hey, wait a minute,...he does**!

    HINT

    **well, his wife does, actually.
     
  3. jwise

    jwise Formula Junior

    Apr 2, 2003
    781
    Portland Maine
    Agreed- it really works well, and if you want to go back to original- no problem. Now, if I could only have some time to figure out how to attach the original labeled fuse covers???
     
  4. spiderseeker

    spiderseeker Formula 3

    Jul 22, 2005
    1,718
    Colorado
    Full Name:
    Steve
    Jwise- I just used velcro to attach my fuse labels to the inside of the panel cover , next to the relay labels.
    Steve
     
  5. EuroDino

    EuroDino Formula Junior

    Dec 5, 2004
    328
    Southern California
    Full Name:
    Joseph Fischetti
    I ordered Birdmans fuse boxes for my 308 GT4 over the Thanksgiving Holiday.
    He is a very easy person to deal with - highly recommend him, and his product.
    I'm scheduled in Feb. to have Eugenio's put them in, along with a few other normal service items the GT4 will be going through.
     
  6. Mike C

    Mike C F1 Veteran
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Aug 3, 2002
    6,081
    Southeast USA
    Full Name:
    Mike Charness
    I just placed the old ones on a copier, then took the black and white xerox, cut out the labels, and used rubber cement to attach them on the inside of the vinyl panel cover. Works great as a ready reference.
     
  7. jwise

    jwise Formula Junior

    Apr 2, 2003
    781
    Portland Maine


    I love simple solutions- thanks.
     
  8. gil308

    gil308 Formula 3

    Jun 22, 2004
    1,975
    Charleston, SC
    Full Name:
    Gil
    I have never had any electrical problems or noted any deficiencies...but I would be interested in more information on the replacement...
     
  9. barcheta

    barcheta F1 Rookie

    Nov 15, 2003
    3,738
    Bottom line: fuses don't blow. fuse panels don't melt. Interior lights are brighter. Switches work better.... it's just a great all around improvement. Frees up a couple hundred bucks also to spend elsewhere on your car.... :)
     
  10. RVIDRCI

    RVIDRCI Formula 3

    Dec 1, 2005
    1,576
    Long Beach / Phoenix
    Full Name:
    Luigi
    DITTO...
    I could not be happier. Just an amazing overall improvment with minimal fuss.
    Totally do it yourself with instant results. Makes you feel like Phil Hill's pit crew. I think my 308 is actually FASTER now.
    BELLA!!!
    Ciao,
    Lou
     
  11. BigAl

    BigAl F1 Veteran

    Mar 17, 2002
    6,146
    TX
    Full Name:
    GSgt Hartman
    interesting. My driver window is slow and I def DON'T feel like tearing into it to clean the old grease. Always try the easier fix first....
     
  12. spiderseeker

    spiderseeker Formula 3

    Jul 22, 2005
    1,718
    Colorado
    Full Name:
    Steve
    #12 spiderseeker, Jan 12, 2006
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    This is why replacing the original fuseblocks with Birdman's (NAPA style) is important- the melted fuse connector in the photo is for the fuel pump. A PO's solution was to use a 30 amp external fuse !- scary stuff. Needless to say I have the updated fuse panel now and use the stock fuse size (16amp I think).
    P.S. I built the "NAPA" style fuseblocks myself, if I had to do it again, I'd buy Birdmans, I only saved $25 for an afternoons work and driving all over town to get the parts.
    Another P.S- replace all the relays too, it will prevent many future problems as well.(about $100)
    Steve
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    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  13. RVIDRCI

    RVIDRCI Formula 3

    Dec 1, 2005
    1,576
    Long Beach / Phoenix
    Full Name:
    Luigi
    Can you source me on relays for $100.
    I'll do that also.
    -Lou
     
  14. spiderseeker

    spiderseeker Formula 3

    Jul 22, 2005
    1,718
    Colorado
    Full Name:
    Steve
    Lou- I bought mine through Rockauto.com about $9 each for most of them.
    Steve
     
  15. gil308

    gil308 Formula 3

    Jun 22, 2004
    1,975
    Charleston, SC
    Full Name:
    Gil
    Ok...I'll take it...where do I get one?
     
  16. spiderseeker

    spiderseeker Formula 3

    Jul 22, 2005
    1,718
    Colorado
    Full Name:
    Steve
    Either go to Ferrariads (above) or contact "Birdman"- just do a search for him.
    Steve
     
  17. bert308

    bert308 Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Nov 30, 2002
    1,776
    Roermond Netherlands
    Full Name:
    Bert Kanters
    #17 bert308, Jan 12, 2006
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  18. andy308

    andy308 Formula 3

    Jan 16, 2005
    2,020
    Sarasota, FL
    Full Name:
    Andy
    I just ordered mine from Birdman and can't wait to get them in, I fully expect my car to do over 200mph after!! Ha Ha!
     
  19. Birdman

    Birdman F1 Veteran

    Jun 20, 2003
    6,687
    North shore, MA
    Full Name:
    THE Birdman
    Hey Guys,
    I don't know how I managed to miss this thread. Thanks John for pointing it out. Thank you all for the kind words. I'm glad you like the fuseblocks. After I made my first set for my car, I knew this was something that would help out all 308 owners. I had no idea they would become so popular! I have been building so many that I had a bunch of the parts machined and anodized. The new ones are nice looking and less hand-built looking.

    I have tried to price them reasonably, which means cheap enough that they are a great deal and I feel like I am helping my fellow Ferrari nut, but expensive enough that I don't mind the time/money it takes me to keep parts in stock, build them, ship them, answer questions, etc.

    PLEASE do not expect that your windows will be faster. SOME people experience this if the fusebox was the issue, but windows in 308s are usually slow because of the hardened grease in the motor gears. A little more voltage from a better fusebox certainly helps, but it's not the complete fix. However, the OEM fuseboxes in these cars totally BLOW (ha ha get it?) and replacing them usually makes all kinds of things work better. But the real benefit is more reliability. I have a saying that I think is very true: There are two kinds of OEM 308 fuseboxes--those that have left you stranded, and those that will. My car was overheating because the fusebox melted on the fuses that ran the fans. Others get stranded because the fuse holder that runs the fuel pump melts. The fuseblocks in these cars are a terrible design. If you want to read a little more, I put up a site:

    http://www.birdmanferrari.com

    Thanks again for the positive comments, it really makes my day to hear that this thing has helped someone out.

    Best,

    Birdman
     
  20. spiderseeker

    spiderseeker Formula 3

    Jul 22, 2005
    1,718
    Colorado
    Full Name:
    Steve
    Birdman: you said "The new ones are nice looking and less hand-built looking."
    If the changes are noticable , how about some close-up photos ?
    Steve
     
  21. M.James

    M.James F1 Rookie

    Jun 6, 2003
    2,721
    Worcester, MA
    Full Name:
    Michael.C.James
    Funny, I had the same 'burn' marks on my old fuse covers, too. Birdman's fuse block kit brought back my driving lights and a few other circuits I was having problems with. Now if only my radiator fans would spin faster......
     
  22. DN35

    DN35 Formula Junior
    BANNED

    Nov 22, 2003
    611
    Illinois
    Full Name:
    D. Norton
    I have one of B's kits waiting to be installed on mine - just concerned about f'ing something up. I just need to grow a pair....
     
  23. Birdman

    Birdman F1 Veteran

    Jun 20, 2003
    6,687
    North shore, MA
    Full Name:
    THE Birdman
    #23 Birdman, Jan 20, 2006
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  24. Birdman

    Birdman F1 Veteran

    Jun 20, 2003
    6,687
    North shore, MA
    Full Name:
    THE Birdman
    It's just 4 screws and transplanting the wires. You won't mess it up. Just label the wires so you can get them on the same tabs on the new fuseblocks, pull the wires, unscrew the old blocks, install the new blocks with the new short screws (paying attention to Left and Right...they are different from each other and labeled on the back), replace the wires, pop in the fuses and go. Even if you go ridiculously slow, it won't take more than 10-15 minutes. You can do it!

    Birdman
     
  25. Birdman

    Birdman F1 Veteran

    Jun 20, 2003
    6,687
    North shore, MA
    Full Name:
    THE Birdman
    I should give a big thanks to Chris Marsh, another Fchatter here, whose company did the nice anodized aluminum pieces for my fuseblocks. I sent him my precious hand-made template plus some drawings with specs, and he did a run of parts for me that were absolutely perfect in all ways! So this is a real Fchat product all around.

    Birdman
     

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