308: Carbs , Intakes, Oh my!

ok this thread is just an attempt to help my fellow wrench turners. i replaced my intake gaskets and my carb gaskets . i also checked the needle and seat and float height and travel in accordance with the manuals / books i have. my 308 still would not idle below 1500rpm, the idle creeps up as the car warms up, and it backfires at shutoff.
i ordered new linkage today , another set of gaskets, and i will commence taking the **** car apart again. i feel the intakes are warped and i will send them to a machine shop, when i find one. i made helpful tool by cutting off a 13mm wrench to get at the left rear side carb bolt under the pump housing. i had to use a 1/4 inch drive deep 13mm socket to get to the intake bolts under the metal carb vaccum lines.
i cannot understand how the car has such good compression, and does not leak or use any coolant, with such large vaccum leaks. should be a blast after the carbs are finally synced with a good seal!
it took me about 15 hours start to finish, including cleaning and exploring the now clean engine compartment.
i noted in the archives that there is no set torque for the nuts. 15 to 18 ft -lbs seems to be the norm for the given size of the fastner in aluminum. i will post an update when possible. maybe i can save someone some time!!

 

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great question, i was scared to pry on the engine bits at first, but i could not get the darn things off, i learned to NOT USE A PUTTY KNIFE as the angle is no good and the potential to gouge the mounting surface exsists.
i used the good old fasioned crow bar, look carefully and you can see the tabs on the head you are supposed to pry on. i will be taking the car apart when i get off work today, i will try to shoot a few pics to show when i pryed the heads off. to note , they came right off with the crow bar with no damage noted.

 

yes the fun with vaccum lines, there were lines that went to nothing, were plugged up. were loose, ect. i plugged all vaccum sources and with the car cold, i found that the intakes were leaking by spaying carb cleaner around the top and base. i removed what i could. i should be able to remove / and replace this stuff much faster this time. gaskets wont be here till monday or so anyway.

 

i had an ex girlfriend by the name of Gina. seeing her name used to chill me to the bone, bieng as this car Hates my guts, perhaps i should name my car after her as well!!! thank you for the chuckle! michael

 

yea , good observation, i left the oil filter and the pcv tube thingy on. i may take them off this time to speed the process up. i have only put 126 miles on the car since i got it. hopefully i will be able to DRIVE it soon!!!

 

yep , i used carb cleaner and scotchbrite. i have a good selection of tools ( i work on business jets for Gulfstream) but the metric crows feet i have wont fit around the 1 left rear carb bolt!!! so i cut a 13mm wrench the EXACT size to get it in there . i swear it took longer to get to those nuts than any other part of the whole job. at least my new gaskets will come right off this time, i think it took 2 hours just to clean the old intakes. im going to make a few patterns and make a few extra sets of gaskets so i dont have to wait on Trutlands next time i do this. i made the gaskets for the coolant cross-over pipe since i forgot to ask for them!!!
if this does not fix this i am buying new / used intakes. the car is VERY strong, so it should be fun to actually drive it!

 

HOPE THIS HELPS SOME

 

YES THE BOLTS WERE STILL IN THE INTAKE! the pics were for reference while the rest of the coolant was draining. i placed rags around the base of the block coolant inlet, i almost had a wrench fall into the area where the timing belts and tensioners reside. i think QV'S and 328's have a block off plate to keep stuff out.

it only took me an hour and 32 minutes to get all this stuff off this time !!!!!!!!!!!! i hate to brag , but it went well!! pics!

 

great info, and great pics, in my case, Pierce Manifolds just redid the carbs in and out for the previous owner, but i will check for leaks there when its back together. seems there are several 308 all taken apart right now!!! i hope the rtv is what caused my promplems, i would hate to have to buy new intale manifolds!! grrrrrrrr

 

! ouch!! work safe man!!! its no fun to damage yourself or the car! its just my opinion, but if you have removed the nuts then you REALLY should remove and replace the gaskets, else the intakes will leak or warp from bieng re torqued.......let us know how it goes....... off to work i go , a Gulfstream GIV needs my help!!!

edit.... ya did get all 9 nuts off each intake , right? !!!

 

well , to answer your question about the fuel vapor tubes, i dont know. when it was delivered a few months ago , this was the first carb 308 i ever saw, heard or sat in. i am not sure if there is anything missing or not. i really wanted a euro GTB like a '76 or a '77 since they are faster , lighter and dont have as much crap on them...... and i LOVE the euro bumpers! if i can help with any specific pics let me know, i like my little Nikon, and it takes great pics!!
i have a nice piece of flat , heavy glass and a quality straight edge. i am going to do a poor mans check and see if the intake has any warped spots. new gaskets should be here by tuesday. with all the on and off of the carbs, i think i have the tuning and syncing down now, thanks to Birdmans thread!