Chronicles of Barron

Whelp, it's been awhile since I've done anything to this here car, don't want to do anything overly extreme like shift shaft seal seeing as how I'd like to drive it this weekend. I took the cowards way out and decided to have a look at the non working parking brake. After getting it up in the air it's easy to see the cables were no longer on track, no longer adjustable and just no longer. I started the tear down knowing I had the desire to drive critical deadline looming with 3 days away. All proper car builds have a deadline. Was able to get the cables out pretty fast since they had plenty of slack. Little plastic cable runner do dads had failed decades ago so I had to think up a better mouse trap, plus I don't have new plastic doodads. I went with what's in my tool box option A, brake lines. I whacked one in half and used the nut and short piece of tubing with "bell end" I didn't need to say "bell end" but you UK guys love the word "bell end" so "bell end" it is. The threaded nut just bolted right in the mount tab like it was made for it, slide the tube thru and bobs your uncle. Don't bend the tube yet, you need to slide cable thru first, then bend down appropriate angle, on the passenger side I used a spring instead (cable wouldn't slide thru tube, crimp was to large) the cables themselves were trouble to get adjustable again, I used a torch and proper amount of hate. Was able to get it apart and properly greased. Works as it should now. Reassembled and adjusted as it should. Need to get it dialed in now but I was able to crack the deadline by 3 days, ok so the job took an hour or so... Anyway here's pictures, try not to forget fellas, no matter what you post there must be a picture of something, otherwise someone should turn the hose on you
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

That's preservation oil on everything by the way
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Here's the tools you need to almost destroy the cables to get them to work again
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Here's the magic, now remember this is race car fixes, I'm no restorer. You need a good working parking brake on your race car in the pits
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

One more
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Well one more, this is how I adjusted it with one hand
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Finally, that's the spring I mentioned
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

I looked up and noticed it's time to do the cv boots, the car was helping with disassembly whilst driving
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Pretty sure? I've rented the track tonight to make sure

 

So what I've learned after lubing and pathway management of the parking system.... The 1983 euro did not come with a parking brake

 

Come everyone, sit by the fire while I tell you what happened to the Ferrari last night.....
I went to dinner last night at the Bravern, it's a mediocre steak house that thinks it's not, anyhow I take the 308 cause it's sunny with a slight chance of rain later, no biggie. I pull up to the valet and tell the kid with the Mohawk "there's no parking brake, leave it in gear".......

 

3 hours later I'm coming down the escalator and notice the driving lights are on and there's two security guys standing politely next to it, limousine directly behind it. I think when I see lights on, these guys left key on and don't understand that it'll burn out the coils, probably not but I've killed race cars in the past. So I get to the valet and it's a manager who's first words are "I'm sorry but...."

 

He explains the Mohawk used ignition key in the door and twisted it, got it out and tried to bend it back and it snapped, yes it's the original, no I don't have a spare. Now this is where it's still not a big deal, I'm patient and no longer kill people in foreign countries. But, they called in a locksmith while I'm upstairs having food I don't like, they know I'm up here, the waiter lets me know I have a neat car, I ask him how he knows I didn't take a bus. "Your the only guy in the restaurant with a tattoo on his neck" so they know. The locksmith tries to make a key I guess, I'm sure he doesn't have a Ferrari/fiat blank but I'm wrong all the time, anyway, he snaps the home built key off in the ignition in the on position. Thus my car is on for who knows how long, all the while a guy is chattering in my ear about how they'll pay for everything and it'll be towed wherever I need it last night. Limo is there to take me where I want. This is professional. Nobody gets yelled at, I never reveal my hand in public. So now I have the car sitting here in my barn, immobile and no way to check ignition. Holiday weekend so no action. Now I'll have to spend my time and money dealing with this before being reimbursed. Oh and no original key now, diminished value to my ultra rare race car, with btw more horsepower than all of you. So what to do, scrap it? Trade it for several 360's? Full race? Lift it with 4 wheel drive? As an interesting side note, tow truck guy said he towed a 308 last week that dropped its valves, he offered a low price and fella thought about it

 

I like pizza