Thank you Birdman!

[mcfarlin]

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of driving through the Colorado foothills with a great group of car guys and gals. On the way to Golden I lost power and had to be pushed onto the shoulder. (Oddly, two cops passed by without as much as a honk!) It didn't take long to figure out that I had the dreaded Fuse Block Syndrome that seems to haunt the 308s. I could kick myself because I was aware of the possibility of failure and I ignored it for too long.
Anyway, I cut the drive short, went home, and ordered Birdman's fuse blocks. Simple and quick installation and now everything works better, even the windows! The best part is the renewed confidence in the car. Can't wait for the next run. If you have not done this yet, do it now.
Thanks Birdman!

Mike in Colorado

[AZDoug]

I am waiting for mine to arrive.

I was going to make my own replacement, then i saw they were offered as direct bolt in replacements and simply ordered them.

I honestly can't believe Italian electrics.

Worse than Lucas, at least the fuse block is. Whoever decided to make the block out of a thermoplastic, that melts under heat needs to go back and take Common Sense 101.

And those lead foil capped ceramic plug fuses, my God. Though they are low tech and can be made in small quaint villages that lack proper plumbing, much less sophisticated machinery.

Doug

[wakko]

Originally Posted by AZDoug

I am waiting for mine to arrive.

I was going to make my own replacement, then i saw they were offered as direct bolt in replacements and simply ordered them.

I honestly can't believe Italian electrics.

Worse than Lucas, at least the fuse block is. Whoever decided to make the block out of a thermoplastic, that melts under heat needs to go back and take Common Sense 101.

And those lead foil capped ceramic plug fuses, my God. Though they are low tech and can be made in small quaint villages that lack proper plumbing, much less sophisticated machinery.

Doug

Yea, when I was experiencing a money drought a year or two ago, I noticed my fuse box was getting hot and some stuff was weak and or intermittent.

I started driving around with the cover to the fuse and relay box open and at night I saw stuff arcing. So I started to solder in ATC 12 guage fuse holders just to eliminate the arcing and fire hazard but still keeping the stock blade terminals. I found Birdman's replacment fuse panels a bit ago and saved the link. I have ordered them from Birdman and they are on the way now. :-)

Cant wait to get them.

[Birdman]

Mike, thanks very much for the public endorsement! (I always like to see a thread that says "Thank You Birdman" as opposed to one that says "Birdman you SUCK!" ) Can I put your comments on my website?

Eric and Doug, yours were both shipped priority mail this morning. Sorry for the delay...I got a little backed up because I had a backorder on some parts.

It has been so long since we had a nice day here in MA, I forget what driving a 308 is like.

Birdman

[klatu]

Originally Posted by Birdman

Mike, thanks very much for the public endorsement! (I always like to see a thread that says "Thank You Birdman" as opposed to one that says "Birdman you SUCK!" ) Can I put your comments on my website?

Eric and Doug, yours were both shipped priority mail this morning. Sorry for the delay...I got a little backed up because I had a backorder on some parts.

It has been so long since we had a nice day here in MA, I forget what driving a 308 is like.

Birdman

Hey Birdman, you can add me to the "Happy customer list". My windows didn't go any faster, but all is well. Thank you
Rob

[enjoythemusic]

Originally Posted by Birdman

(I always like to see a thread that says "Thank You Birdman" as opposed to one that says "Birdman you SUCK!" )

Hey, i've met this Birdman character many times as he is kinda local to me so i can say (in HUMOR as he truly is a great guy)...

HEY BIRDMAN...

[Birdman]

LOL! All my fuseblock customers...

[Birdman]

Hey Gang,
Just so nobody freaks...I'm going on vacation with the family tomorrow and won't be shipping fuseblocks until after July 15. So if you don't hear from me....that's why!

Birdman

[jeffQV]

I just wish the block for the mondial was a simple!!!!

[308 milano]

Add me to the "happy customer list", best thing I could have done to my QV was to loose the OEM blocks! Thanks Jonathan!

[RDzingel]

I ordered a set a couple of years ago and just got around to installing them last night. After I was finished, I went to turn the car on and I couldn't believe how loud the warning buzzer was! Electrics seem much happier. Car feels "newer".

I'm not very mechanical but I was able to do the swap no problem.

Should be done for every car IMO.

[wakko]

Originally Posted by wakko

Yea, when I was experiencing a money drought a year or two ago, I noticed my fuse box was getting hot and some stuff was weak and or intermittent.

I started driving around with the cover to the fuse and relay box open and at night I saw stuff arcing. So I started to solder in ATC 12 guage fuse holders just to eliminate the arcing and fire hazard but still keeping the stock blade terminals. I found Birdman's replacment fuse panels a bit ago and saved the link. I have ordered them from Birdman and they are on the way now. :-)

Cant wait to get them.

I received mine and just put it in, it is amazing how things work/run with the proper amount of juice flow'n to them. My car gets happier with every issue that gets addressed.

Thanks again

Eric

[RDzingel]

My car pulls stronger to redline now. Previously, it would surge as I got into the yellow. Now it's powerful and smooth. Better voltage to fuel pump?

[Birdman]

Originally Posted by RDzingel

My car pulls stronger to redline now. Previously, it would surge as I got into the yellow. Now it's powerful and smooth. Better voltage to fuel pump?

I think you might be imagining that this is attributed to the fuseblocks, but it's conceivable that you had a bad connection in the circuit to the coils on the old blocks.

Birdman

[mcfarlin]

Originally Posted by RDzingel

My car pulls stronger to redline now. Previously, it would surge as I got into the yellow. Now it's powerful and smooth. Better voltage to fuel pump?

It also could have been a loose fuel pump fuse. I had a similar symptom before I installed the new blocks.

Mike

[mwr4440]

Originally Posted by Birdman

Hey Gang,
Just so nobody freaks...I'm going on vacation with the family tomorrow and won't be shipping fuseblocks until after July 15. So if you don't hear from me....that's why!

Birdman

Bird,

Where does a guy go "on vacation" when his office is 100 feet down on a pristine Caribbean Reef, or other "away from it all reefs of the world." Just wondering ...


Im a very "Happy Camper" owner of your fuse blocks too.

[Nurburgringer]

I had my '85 QV home approximtaly 12 hours before retrofitting with Birdman fuse boxes. Picked up fuses per the owners manual the day before, and spent about 1 hour making the switch.
thanks B-man!

1/2 way done, new vs. old

[stratos]

Add my thanks to the list.
Fitting the fuses made a lot of improvements in several areas:
- Faster windows
- Better lighting
- Smoother ignition (used to back-fire a lot more, this is a carbed 308 with Hall-effect OEM ignition)
- Tacho was going crazy above 6K RPM, not anymore

I also found that the original transparent plastic covers can just hold in place between the outer fuse holders. Once the outer cover is fitted they stay there.

I'm off on a 3 weeks vacation soon but when I'm back I'll order an additional 4 kits for friends that asked for them.

[spiderseeker]

When I changed my fuseblocks, I also changed all of the 25 year old relays, doing both will make the electrics 95% more reliable in 308's. (relays are about $100, to replace them all at RockAuto.com or equivalent)
Replace both and drive with confidence.