The ultimate definitive carbs driveability poll

How about none of the above? ('78 GTS)

 

Mine does none of the above but you should add "intake pop" to the list, as in pop through the intake. This is more common than "backfiring" (through the exhaust) and is sometimes brought on by a lean condition. Often when one steps gently on the gas at low RPM, the change in vacuum leans out the mixture a tad and one carb will cough. This rarely happens at high RPM or when you jab the gas and the accellerator pumps squirt. Many people do not even realize the car does it because of the sound deadening in the airbox. If you do the Russ Turner mod and take out the sound deadening you are more aware of what the carbs are doing, as well as getting a better howl!!

Another thing to add to the list is "backfire on shut down" which many cars do as well. (Seems to be mostly a function of the idle speed being too high, but I'm not totally sure about that.)

Electronic ignition seems to completely cure plug fouling.

///Birdman\\\

 

i cant wait to change out to a digital ignition.
the car is great to drive, and it is my favorite car i have owned.
BUT, every time i turn around it has something going crazy with the ignition.

s.

 

none of the above as i run with an electromotive ignition on my carby 308.
the garage gets kind of stinky tho - carbsssss.

my only complaint with the carbs is when i go thru altitude changes here in colorado. i live at 7400 feet, can drive to 11,700 feet and back down to 5280 feet in denver. at 11,000 feet, the carby 308 is running pretty darn rich.

i usually have to drive with the windows up so i dont get that distracting engine noise thru the carburetors - gosh, what a nuisance............lol

 

Most people stick with points just because they are already there. As Artvonne here often points out quite correctly, points are simple, reliable and not rocket science. They may not be the greatest but they will usually get you home.

The problem is that a hot coil (or a coil without a current limiting "ballast" resistor) will fry your points by arcing them. A high voltage coil will eliminate fouling and make the car run cleaner, but you can only run a hotter coil with an electronic ignition of some type. If you drive a 308 with and without a good electronic ignition, with all other variables the same, you can definitely tell that something is "better" with the electronic system, and you can ignore the spark plugs for a long time, especially with an electromotive system that uses a waste spark system. (The plug fires once to ignite the mixture on the power stroke, and again at the end of the exhaust stroke, which cleans the plug. Of course this is not why the waste spark is there, but a side effect.)

Anyway, the injected cars would foul plugs just as much if they had to use the same whimpy ignition system that the carb cars suffer with. I guess what I'm saying is that the plug fouling isn't so much a carb characteristic as a points characteristic, and with 308s the two go together.

///Birdman\\\

 

Mine has fouled plugs a couple of times, and it can take longer to start when really, really hot than when just "warm", but other than that, it actually runs pretty darn well for a 27 year old car.

 

something going crazy with the ignition = Marelli

My experience:
Webers start every time, very reliable, just keep clean gas flowing through them often.
High energy coil, electronic ignition firing (optical or Hall effect) and spark control (like MSD) and hotter plugs goes a long way to keep plugs from fouling, and are infinitely more reliable than the stock Marelli.
Minimal popping, and only at closed throttle at high rpm
Never use the starter enrichment ("choke")

 

None of the above.

Fires right up every time.

 

I vote "none of the above" also. '78 carbed GTS.

 

I would also vote "none of the above." Once the carburetors are adjusted and synchronized, they tend to stay that way for a while. If the carbs are set up correctly, there should be no fouling of spark plugs in stop and go traffic. I've never experienced these problems in five years of ownership. I have never experienced fuel starvation in normal driving.

Starting the car has never been a problem either. I just follow the cold and hot start regimens outlined in the owner's manual. I never use the choke even in sub-freezing weather.

My car has been tuned to its current setup with ANSA Sport exhaust and air pumps disconnected and so I never have experienced any backfiring in normal driving. I can induce some flames via the exhaust tips with a certain gas pedal maneuver previously discussed in another thread.

Compared to an injected car, my throttle response might not be as instantaneous at certain RPMs but that's about it.

 

Throttle response of a carbed 308 is vastly superior to that of a Kjet injected car. EFI has good throttle response, but not mechanical injection!

 

Agree with Barry's post. I've driven over 200 carb cars in the last twenty years and most have not exhibited any of the symptoms listed in the poll.

OTOH, there have been a few cars that exhibit multiple symptoms no matter what has been done and no matter who has done it!

-Peter (my GT4 was as good as my t Coupe in drivability, but stinkier )

 

None of the above. I only get some popping in the intake when cold but goes away after the motor warms up. Last carb adjustment was 2000 with a plug change. Just runs great

 

My old 308 would experience fuel starvation in corners. I posted about it a number of times. Tweaked float levels, double checked and triple checked them, rebuilt carbs by Pierce Manifolds--never solved the issue.

Had issues with vapor lock (or something) to where car would sometimes not "hot start." When it would start, a quick jab of the throttle would cause it to stall.

Plugs would foul in traffic, eventually got around this problem.

Intake popping, especially on overrun, was normal and I had it, no biggie (and had experienced this on other cars). Occasional muffled backfire when turning off, yes.

The solution was to upgrade to a 328. I don't perceive any issues with throttle response in the K-jet; when I punch it, it goes!

 

77 carbed 308. Runs great, exhibits none of those problems.

 

Voted hard to start with the caveat that once you're moving they are better than injected models of a similar era.

 

fill float bowls..pump the pedal a bit and it starts right up.

Only time I have ever fouled plugs was when points were 'going".
Did have one intermittent coil but once it was replaced the car ran perfectly.

If carbs are setup right, they should not need constant care. A properly tuned carb 308 should not exhibit any of the listed problems.

 

A lot of those issues (including on my car) are because of a weak ignition. I've personally know of at least one person, and read about several others who've gone with a Crane set up and it transforms the car.

Get rid of the points, or get them set correctly, and most issues go away.

 

None of the above.
Get in. Turn key. Let fuel pump run. Pump gas pedal three or four times. Start car. Always works.
"Most carb problems are electrical".

 

Well, not an owner of said vehicle so cannot say for sure (I am an interloper here with a 348 spider) but last Sunday drove a carb'd 308 GT4 and it didn't have the low rev driveabilty of my car - stumbled a bit at part throttle. But when I gave it some stick, what a fantastic car. Totally different than mine, different sounds (wonderful noises!) and when I caned it the car was fantastic. Really shoved you back in the seat and of course the induction noise was fabulous.

Great car - my first Ferrari love was the 308 (December 1976 R&T with the blue GTB on the cover) and now I really want one.

The car really reminded me of my mate's 69 911 - part throttle at start up, similar steering feel etc. Great car.

Cheers
Kev

 

Kevin, I'm glad you enjoyed driving my car last sunday. I'm still dreaming about the screams coming out of your tubi.
I would also vote for none of the above. Haven't fouled a plug or had any problem starting the car yet.

Rocco

 

None of the above. The only problem I have is an occasional high RPM break up. That will be addressed in-time.

 

Probably ignition, not carbs.