I want to be my own 308 mechanic. What next?

The 308 is mechanically a very basic, simple car.

You could certainly do all regular maintenance items, like brakes (same system as any other 80s car), all fluids (same), clutch (easier than almost any other car), belts (same as other belt drive cars, but easier than most because access is actually easier), fuel injection (exact same CIS system as used on millions of VWs etc.).

There is also plenty of info and resources, both in the form of manuals, specs, etc. and forums like this.

Like any car, a lot of it has to do with your motivation. Most successful DIYers do it because they enjoy learning about the car and doing the work. I.e., it's a fun hobby. If you are doing it purely to save money, and aren't really interested, it's a lot more difficult IMO.

 

There is a reason Dave Helms can charge $127.00 an hour. IMHO, he is one of the best out there. The guy is just unbelievable.

As for doing work yourself,

There are no Chilton's shop manuals for Ferraris, so most of the information you will need to understand the systems are going to be pieced together from what few resources that are available (many of which are wrong), in addition to owner's manuals, and parts diagrams. You can probably do routine maintenance without much fear, but I would not be doing diagnostic work, attempting complex repairs, or touching the electrical system without the guidance of someone who knows what they are doing.

I know I am the minority in this section, but I used to be pretty good with a wrench in college and I won't touch my Mondial unless I absolutely have to. Its just not worth the aggravation to me. Others live for this stuff. I am sure they will chime in.

Good luck!

 

You need to learn to use the search function here, not just because this question has been often asked but also because so many of the little queries and problems that arise have happened to someone else and have been worked thro' & resolved here

 

OK, if you have the will then I would recommend:

- Get an old 80's automotive tech book, these are easy to find a cheap, spend your spare time learning how these components actually work: transmission, clutch, starter, alternator, sparkplug, fuel, air, timing,... They're pretty simple and fun to learn, with your background, it should be a piece of cake.

- Spend sometime do a search on a subject you're interested in here in fchat, and read away.

- Buy some good but yet affordable metric tool set i.e. Craftman, Huskey, Blue point, I generally keep away from cheap tools made in the Far East, basically you get what you pay for. And build up your tools as needed. I started it out with a small carry-on toolbox and now I have 2 nice Craftman tool chests, complete with air compressor, air tools

- Buy some high quality jack stand and jack, your life depends on it.

- Start it out with basic maintenance such fluid change, to get a feel the tools, and car, then moving on to other things.

Most important: Safety and have fun.

 

All good info above.
Another thing you can do is just skip to a random page here in the 308 section and read some of the technical discussions. With a fertile, technical mind, you can teach yourself to be a mechanic. Nobody taught me, but then again, the engine hasn't turned over since I began his belt/valve job, either...

 

Mark,

The knowledge is something built up over time. Everyone starts out with limited knowledge.

As for your second point, observe and then ask for help, before jumping in and taking something apart. In this manner, you can avoid damaging something.

It's not too difficult, just take your time and ask questions and seek advice, there are a lot of great people here willing to help.

Buy the tools as you need them, but you will need for starters a metric socket set and metric open end wrench set at a minimum. Get a quality brand. Then buy the other size sockets or wrenches not included in your set as you need them.

And most of all, use redundancy to lift and secure the car off the ground....do not skimp with your lift, jacks or stands. This is where "over engineered" parts matters most.

You mentioned Dave Helms - most "pro's" don't have a quarter the knowledge, experience and ethics he has, he is the best. All the more reason you should learn how to service your car, if you ever get in over your head he's nearby.

Good luck,
Phil

 

Basic maintenance, fluids, etc. are pretty easy. The problem is that most of the work you will be doing is a result of the fact that your car is nearly 30 years old. Things will inevitably become knackered or even perished (there's a difference - ask any Brit). Beyond a basic set of metric tools plan on buying as you go and making lots of trips to Sears. Last week I took off the distributor caps to send to Dave for fresh wires. Turned out that although I have a number of 8mm devices I was lacking a socket extension that was just the right length to undo the forward bank lowermost dist. cap bolt. So don't go out and spend 3K but plan on buying what you need as you need it. Also, be prepared to go to Dave with a "boy am I stupid" look on your face - he'll understand. Lastly, you'll need to be prepared to make decisions on what you want to attempt and what is such a PITA that it makes more sense to have a pro do it. With my wires I'm probably saving a few hundred by not driving the car into Dave's shop and saying "fix it" but I am assured of getting thoroughly tested wires, plug extenders, etc. There's a decent "how to" on this task on BIRDMAN's site and I could certainly do it but I think I'm buying some peace of mind from Dave

Good Luck!

 

Get a shop manual, find the page on torque settings and then buy a good quality torque wrench. This will get you over the 'how tight does this need to be' and overtightening risks.

Get an air compressor, not for the air tools but so that you can blow things clean after washing in degreaser. Along with that goes ear plugs and safety goggles.

Good trouble light, preferably without glass and filament, e.g LEDs

Get a parts manual, it is invaluable for determining in what sequence the car was probably put together.
Patience, think about what you are doing before you start. If something goes wrong, stop and think.
Remember that last thing that you adjusted or changed. If the problem gets worse or doesn't go away, put that back to where it was, then do the next thing.

They are simple cars, enjoy the hobby.

Gerrit
http://dino308gt4.com

Have you hugged your car today?

 

Factory parts and service manual as per above posts-- also electrical diagram book is invaluable. Note that Ricambi and TRutlands have the parts books online as part of their websites-- http://www.ricambiamerica.com/index.php http://trutlands.com/

Many specific procedures can be found in the tech questions section.

Basic quality metric mechanics tool set ffor a start and then get/make other tools as needed.
Note that need thinwall spark plug wrench.

Before doing something look at the book and the car and visualize the procedure.

Check books for specs on torque belt tension etc.

 

Your first task should be to change the oil. Start by draining the gear box fluid, then overfill the engine with an additional 7-8 qts of oil . Then spend a few hours wondering why the dipstick is registering infinite oil.

Just kidding. I have a structural engineering degree as well, and thats what I did.

You sound like me, moderate patience, really no experience, and I have done and learned alot. The most important things are a) patience b) the correct tools and c) fchat and the search function. $127 per hour isnt bad considering i have probably 100 hours into a job that would take a pro a few hours. But, I am having fun, learning alot, and its really rewarding to get an old carb'ed ferrari running just right....

 

If we didn't hear this one so often, I wouldn't have laughed out when I read this.

 

Agreed....


I am in the same position - not necessarily out of choice, but out of the fact that noone around me knows much about them - at least that does it full time. I plan to tackle things as I need to and learn as I go. So far its been working out just fine.

So, whats next?? A good prayer...thats what...


PDG

 

Gather all of the safety info you can FIRST. Hopefully you know the solution in the battery can hurt you - bad. Running machinery demands respect! Belts and fingers, timing light cords etc. don't mix. Jack stands and WHERE TO PUT THEM is huge. If you're a struct Eng, you'll appreciate the "why's" on this point. Also be forever aware of hot parts and fluids, never uncork a hot expansion tank to check the antifreeze level etc. Get the geekiest or coolest safety specs you feel comfortable with, and use them just about always. A respirator is a very nice to have item to help you survive the hobby. Disposeable surgical gloves also make it easier to play with the machine. Brake fluid is so weird in that it feels like it washes right off with soap and water, but your hands feel like sticky leather after they dry for a while. (this is only a partial list, your mileage may vary etc-etc-etc)

-Sorry- I'm sure you have an excellent mother

As for the machine: I'd start with the finest torque wrenches you can get your hands on. Along with that, every tech manual and parts book. Have provisions for scrupulous cleaning of every part you touch, and show respect for all fasteners. They are actually pretty straight forward automobiles, but quite time consuming.

 

I am not a mechanic but with each car I own, I get a little more into the maintenance myself. I have a 4 post lift which certainly helps. I purchased my '77 almost 2 years ago and found it needed a little more work than I expected. However, with the knowledge on this board, I have done everything myself. In no particular order:
-replaced fuse blocks with Birdmans and cut out all unnecessary wiring with the help of Pauls exploded view electricals. Everything works now.
-changed belts and tensioners as well as the cam drive bearings.
-rebuilt the water pump
-replaces all fuel and vapor lines as well as coolant lines.
-synched the carbs and the list goes on.....
As some others have stated, it is actually a simple car to work on if you aren't scared of it.

 

I've found that one of my most important tools is my digital camera.

I take lots of pictures as I go through any repair project. It's a great way to document how it "was"--just to make sure everything is the same post repair.

 

All good points. I'm not a mechanic by trade or training. Just a guy who grew up around cars and loves working on them. I've had a lot of fun, learned a lot and had some challenging experiences working on various 308/328/mondials. As someone said -- at the end of the day, they are just cars. Yes, there are some special things about them, and this website is loaded with tips and warnings on what to do and how to do it. But they really are just cars. Most of the "universal" techniques that go along with working on various components of the car are applicable to these F-cars.

The one tip that I will give you is to know the limits of your competence. That doesn't mean that you shouldn't take on tasks that you haven't done before. You learn from doing, and most things are fairly intuitive on these cars. Personally, I find the parts manual much more helpful than the shop manual for most things, as it shows all of the parts and how they go together relative to one another. That said, there are certain projects I have done only with the help of someone who has done it before. Pulling the engine was one of them. Rather than learning from my mistakes, I learned from being told by someone else about their mistakes as we went along, and how to avoid them. Remember:

Experience is what you learn from your mistakes;
Wisdom is what you learn from other people's mistakes.

 

Don't be to spooked by all the OH don't touch it stuff. It's just a car and really pretty easy to work on. Parts are a bit of an issue but if you don't mind looking around you can find em. Ferrari of Denver has the basics but they are a bit expensive. I have been keeping my 76 308 alive for 16 years with out going broke. I've done brakes, clutch, timing belts and tensioners, Water pump, headers, carbs, ignitions (on several others as well) made some pieces and gotten by without others. Right now I'm working on some body issues, they can rust a bit. I haven't had to buy any special tools.