another rookie question for my 400i..

2 caps near the radiator (left front)
Check the higher one first, then the lower one.
Make sure the engine is cold or you're going to have one hell of a burned hand.

What is the serial number of your car? Look on the plate just in front of the steering wheel.

 

Kerim
Setting the level is a bit different than most cars. Must cars run with the radiator liquid full when hot or cold. The expansion on most cars is taken in the "expansion bottle". Some modern cars have pressured bottles but most don;t.

On the other hand the 400i takes the expansion in the rather large top tank of the radiator. It has an "expansion bottle" but it is only a backup and should be empty even when engine is a at normal running temperature. I am sure it will fill up with water or steam if you overheat! So the correct level according to the owner's manual is 15 or 18 mm below the filler neck of the radiator. I may not have this exactly right but it is shown well in the owners manual. If you don;t have one GET ONE, they are on ebay all of the time.

Someone please correct my level setting is not stated correctly.
Ken

 

Do not worry, the coolant will come out throught the over flow, I know becouse I have filled both also, Now thanks to tne earler post I know why I keep blowing coolant after I do that, I wondered why it would not loose antifreeze on long trips? it was at the correct level all along! Thanks guys what a great resource!

 

I would have never done it that way unless I read the book. When I went out to check it I looked at that massive tank on top of the radiator and said I know why this works. Hey, I have only had my 400i for 6 months.

I just got a workshop manual so I may get real "dangerous"!
Ken

 

Kerim--

I'm also a relatively new F-car owner that is spoiled by modern technology on the other cars in my garage. I have been lucky to find a group of local F-car owners that are extremely knowledgable and willing to help - I would suggest that you start going to as many of the SoCal get togethers as you can, in hopes of finding a similar bunch. Most of this stuff is covered in the manual too.

Brennan Johnson
'84 400i #47583
San Luis Obispo, CA

 

I don't know what the 'real' answer is but I'll take this opportunity to open my big mouth.

My thought is that the top radiator cap should be topped off and the lower expansion bottle should be near empty.

My reason:
As the coolant expands in the radiator it compresses the air in the expansion bottle until it (if ever) reaches the relief cap pressure (around 13 psi).

This works because air compresses much easier than water. If the lower bottle is filled with water the new expansion volume has no place to go. It then blows past the relief cap. As the system cools and the water contracts it creates a vacuum. This lowers the boiling point of the water....

So, in a nut shell. Upper cap toped off. Lower bottle empty.

IMO

 

Ferrari Manual, (I cannot copy and paste sorry) say's
"check water level in radiator exclusively with engine cold. Level must be about 0.59" (15mm) below connection between filler neck and radiator. The expansion tank should be completely empty"

During service I will always top them up a little high, knowing full well when driven the expansion and "blow" off will correct the level. Typical Ferrari no two cars act the same.

Koisokok You are in my area, pm me if you need assistance.

 

Yeah, trust Damian-he's worked on my 400i more than a few times, and it's never run better!

 

Hi Folks--Recent purchase of VIN 49041 400i GT with 30,500 miles from new. (Been resprayed) Just put on new TRX tires (originals dated 4883!). Replaced bulbs to brighten and improve visibility. CSR headlamps and hi-zoot 55W H1 bulbs tomorrow. Where might I obtain 2 intake air filters? Anyone know of a K&N that fits? Also, cover cracked and missing plastic "plug" for outside hinge, Driver's side seat. (Shiny plastic). Door weatherstripping? Is that custom part or just run commercial stuff? Also, the RF door speaker grill is missing a tooth. Any leads on such misc. parts??? THANX !! EHT

 

Congrats on your new toy.

Fill out your profile Ed. the 'regulars" here are more likely to reply when they see you've taken the time to fill it out.

#49041 1984 Blue/Blue 5-speed
For sale at Motorcar gallery in October of 2005.
If I remember correctly this is the car you bought from Steve and you live in Roanoke, right? (doing it from memory my database isn't on this computer)
If so, I know what you paid. You bought a nice one.
I almost bought that car.

Remember to always post a disclaimer when you talk about milege on a 400i. None of them were delivered with MPH speedos so the speedo in your car doesn't show actual mileage.

Door speakers grilles are tough to come by. You'll have to try Europe.
Weatherstrips? Really tough to get the right, factory correct ones.
Plastic plug, used only.

 

dstacy--Thanks for the reply and tips. Any leads on intake air filters? Any K&N that fits it? And same filter on 365, 400i and 412 engines, I presume? (Think I'll make a "shopping list" for factory visit next month.) Here's my "tip of the day:" Daniel Stern for all things auto lighting. Yep, bought 49041 from Steve Alderman. (I once repeated to my wife the quote from someone at R&T that "Every car guy should own a V-12 Ferrari before they go to that big garage in the sky." She remembered it and is now proud owner of 49041.) After time in the air to replace lube in engine, diff and trans, and misc inspections, am told lots of evidence car has been well cared for. The example I remember is all modern, high quality oil lines and fittings. Comforting thought with 18.5 qts in system! Got the idle set down to spec at 1000 and everything seems to work properly. Tire wear (originals including spare which has never been on the ground produced late 1983) make 30k miles from new quite reasonable. Will have more "news and view" after this weekend's road trip to Raleigh. Does DOT cert require an English units speedo? Treating leather just now. We are all patiently waiting to view and be dazed and amazed at Steve's "latest" acquisition. He is probably working to remove his bank records from the web before he buys/sells anything else. EHT

 

Ed,
I found the part number for the speaker grille for you. The bad news is I couldn't find one in the US. The number is 253-30-628-17. Left and right are the same.

DOT certification did not require the speedo to be in MPH. Most of them were changed once they got to the US.
I wouldn't doubt that it really does have aprox. 30k miles on it. I was trying to say that the miles on any 400 speedo are 99% of the time not correct because the speedo in the car isn't what was in it new.. I'll bet yours isn't off by more than 10 or 20% though. So maybe it has 33k or even 36k miles. Close enough. She's definetly very low mileage.

'twere it me, I'd use a factory air filter. But thats just me.

"well cared for..." Yes I remember thinking yours was a very nice example. I'd have no trouble saying I owned your car. Like I said, I was VERY close to buying it.
You did well. Beautiful color also.

 

Ed,
Did you balance the banks with a vacuum gauge when you adjusted the idle?

As for the air filters. K&N doesn't have that size. They make one a little longer that can be cut down. EuroSpares has the factory filters at a very good price.

They also have door seals. I used a COTS product from Clean Seal that worked well. The difference between the COTS and the Ferrari seal is the Ferrari seal is molded flatter and so the door closes easier.

 

Hey now there is a good tip.

Thanks!

 

Ed,
Do I remember correctly, isn't this the color of your car?
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Wow, thanks a lot for all the terrfic source material! Looking thru my records, 49041 went to DOT Cert. on "2/29/84" (a leap year, apparently). No mileage recorded, so I am guessing it was delivered new and had factory/delivery mileage only on it. Think I'll call the 30k mileage "from new" with 95/95% confidence, as they say. I will check with EuroSpares for filters and door seals. Obtaining two complete sets of OEM "Code Cut" keys from Peter Micieli of Ontario Maserati/Ferrari. Only the glove box key is a problem. Not sure it matches pic in Owner's Manual, but that's a nit that I am not worrying about. (Absolutely NO interest in having a garage queen for show.)

Interesting note about balancing left and right banks with a vacuum gauge. See only 1 idle adjustment location in Owner's Manual. I DID notice left bank exhaust is rich enough to leave a light deposit on trunk lip directly above exhaust. (Because of curious aeordynamics, I also notice a light dusting of road dirt all over license plate and rear light panel after driving!?) Anyway, I'll have to have the mixture and balance checked for each bank.

Ah yes, the colour! Curiously (perhaps), Celestial Blue is the green that Italian cycling team uses on its Bianchi frames. For a number of years, that was THE Bianchi colour. Haven't checked, but I would SWEAR that factory Celeste of 49041 is the same blue. I had to laugh when the Interior/Exterior colours came back from the nice folks in Maranello as "Blue/Blue." Right. THANKS again to you all for the very helpful info and tips. EHT

 

Hey Ed, I found your speaker grilles

http://www.eurospares.co.uk/searchResult.asp?M=1&Mo=&A=&B=&S=253-30-628-17

Same grilles used in the rear deck also.

15 pounds plus shipping.

If you buy some get 2 extra and I'll help you with the inbound freight.

 

Dave--DONE. I just now sent EuroSpares a note asking for quotes on grill, as well as filters and a few other misc items. I will let you know their response.

Thanks.

EHT

 

Here is what I have on your car:

#53281
ZFFEB06S000053281
1984 400i Auto
Black/Tan
Four owners. Last owner since 2004. For a long time in a private collection
10/2005 for sale privately (New Jersey),
12/06 for sale on Ebay,
4/2007 car in (CA),

 

...and here is what I have on yours:

#47583
ZFFEB07B000047583
400i 5-speed
1984
Silver/Black
24k miles in April '06,
US marker lights with gold fog lights
4/14/2006 for sale on Ebay (CA)
3/2007 car in (CA)

 

Dave--Looking thru my Owner's Manual last evening and (duh) there are in fact two (2) idle adjusments; one on EACH BANK. Steve and I use same place for service in Roanoke, Sports Car Clinic and owner Marc Wilson does the work. Marc is quite knowledgeable, so I am assuming while I was looking at the wire controling each bank, he was showing tme the adjustment on ONE BANK, but adjusted BOTH BANKS to set down the idle. It was 1200, so I am guessing about 1000 rpm each side. But again, think I'll have him look at "balance" and mixture on both sides (re: lite dusting of exhaust soot on left corner of trunk lid).

Again, reading manual, not sure why Premium fuel is required if compression ratio is a very modest 8.8:1 ??? Our (East Coast) Shell Hi Test is 91 octane (average of Motor and Research). I think our Amoco/BP is 92. Won't be long before hi test is all gone.

Not sure about the wine in Texas, but I did/do enjoy Lance's fave, Shiner Bock ! EHT