GT4 Birdman Fuse Block - A few things to Share | FerrariChat

GT4 Birdman Fuse Block - A few things to Share

Discussion in '308/328' started by newto308, Apr 15, 2023.

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  1. newto308

    newto308 Karting

    Mar 20, 2007
    92
    McLean, Virginia
    Full Name:
    Chris
    Finally getting around to installing my Birdman Fuse Blocks I bought a few years ago and I wanted to share some feedback with the GT4 Owners. First, I cant say enough good things about the high quality of Birdman's product. If you are not familiar with this issue, see the first pic below. The original fuse block design in these cars goes all the back to the late 30's when they were installed in German WW II Tanks. Obviously, they are past their prime, and you can clearly see the bulge and melting (first pic) of the block that creates the electrical system degradation through increased resistance. You really need to remove the glove box on the GT4 to do this job (pic 4). This is because of the second issue (see pics 2 &3). The Birdman Blocks have connectors that are at about a 30 degree offset angle to the original blocks where the connectors are 180 degree opposite of each other (north and south). The angle on the Birdman blocks changes the orientation of the connection wires and moves them outward from the firewall, vice sitting flush against the firewall. The original blocks were a very tight fit with many of the original connectors leaving an imprint in the leather of the glove box leather (see pic 5). So, upgrading to the Birdman Fuse Blocks with the 30 degree angle connectors will prevent the glove box from going back in a GT4 in its original location. It is better to modify the bottom lip of the Glovebox (that cannot be seen because it is underneath the dash and above the passenger's legs) than to attempt to change the orientation of the glove box in the dash, and re-drill all of the mounting hardware holes. I started modifying the bottom lip of my glove box (Pic 6 &7) by carefully pulling back the leather and fabric liner inside the glove box. I started to cut the aluminum, but ran out of time and will have to finish when I get home. Headed out on a business trip, will follow up with the finished product. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
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  2. dyerhaus

    dyerhaus Formula Junior
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Nov 4, 2012
    892
    Santa Rosa, California
    Full Name:
    Christopher Dyer
    With all the random electrical issues I experience from time to time in my GT4, I'd love to upgrade the fusebox. I feel like that would help with a lot of the issues. However, the problem I have is I like to take my car to concours events. Modifying the glovebox where it's not seen isn't a big deal, but I haven't found a fusebox replacement that allows me to us the original clear covers. So you end up with a fuse box with no covers on them. I had an email conversation with Birdman about this about a year and a half ago, he said he was working on a version for the 308 GT4 that would utilize the original covers. I haven't seen anything on his page about it yet though. Patiently waiting!!
     
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  3. newto308

    newto308 Karting

    Mar 20, 2007
    92
    McLean, Virginia
    Full Name:
    Chris
    There is a "Concourse" or "Show Car" workaround. The core issue is one of increased resistance, and resulting heat, due to a reduction in current flow. So the simple fix is to solder some ten gauge romex core wire (or ground wire) to the original fuse blocks and connect the fuses the way the "Birdman Blocks" do. See attached photo's. There is some plastic that needs to be removed via a Dremel tool to enable to connection of the two and three fuse buses. You want to spend dome time cleaning all the metal surfaces to shine like a new penny before you solder. With the original fuse covers on this fix is virtually invisible given the available viewing angle once installed in the car.

    The other fix is to rivet individual 5X20 fuse holders on the original fuse blocks after removing the original fuse holders buy drilling out the mounting rivets (You then need to solder a 10GA Romex wire to create the two and three fuse bus as in the previous example). The shorter 5X20mm fuses will fit (Birdman Blocks use the 6X30mm fuses) and the 20mm fuses are available in the amperage. They will also fit under the original covers to maintain stock appearance.
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  4. absostone

    absostone F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Jul 28, 2008
    10,023
    Search turtle farmer here
     
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  5. newto308

    newto308 Karting

    Mar 20, 2007
    92
    McLean, Virginia
    Full Name:
    Chris
    This is the finished/modified glove box back in the GT4 with the Birdman fuse blocks installed.
     

    Attached Files:

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  6. samsaprunoff

    samsaprunoff F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    Jun 8, 2004
    4,456
    Edmonton, AB Canada
    Full Name:
    Sam Saprunoff
    Good day Christopher,

    I had created replacement fuse blocks for the 308s and Boxers quite some time ago (2007) and these used the then modern ATC fuses, but maintain the use of the original covers. Here is the link of the thread I created about the project:

    https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/boxer-fuse-block-upgrade.140216/page-4#post-136832573

    Cheers,

    Sam

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  7. francisn

    francisn Formula 3

    Apr 18, 2004
    2,015
    Berks, UK
    Full Name:
    francis newman
    I was very lucky to get one of the last of Sam's short production run and it is a work of art.
     
  8. Quasimotor

    Quasimotor Formula Junior

    Jan 4, 2004
    351
    Yonkers, NY
    Full Name:
    George Avgerakis
    Does anyone have some solutions to keeping the cover in place? Or even how it was originally done on the 1984 308 ?
     
  9. GordonC

    GordonC F1 Rookie
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Aug 28, 2005
    4,163
    Calgary, AB, Canada
    Full Name:
    Gordon
    Originally - look at the photo's of the Sam Saprunoff fuse box with covers in place - that's how it is done originally. The clear covers have tabs on the end which fit and clip into the fuse platform base.

    The Birdman fuse boxes don't accept the original covers, you have to leave them uncovered.

    Gordon
     
  10. samsaprunoff

    samsaprunoff F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    Jun 8, 2004
    4,456
    Edmonton, AB Canada
    Full Name:
    Sam Saprunoff
    Good day All,

    Also, the covers are not normally clear from the factory. Well, let me rephrase these...they are clear, but have or should have factory applied labels detailing the fused loads and another label dictating the fuse size. The early car fuse cover labels were anodized Aluminum (black with white/silver? lettering) and the later cars used a printed label. The picture above was a replacement fuse cover, as my original was melted when the three outer (right) side fuses melted (black block). I have since applied the (aluminum) labels and so they look as they did when the car left the factory in 1977. A previous post shows the factory labels on the cover:

    https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/gt4-birdman-fuse-block-a-few-things-to-share.676026/#post-149105543

    Cheers,

    Sam
     

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