My Trip to Montreal for the GP in a Mondial! | Page 2 | FerrariChat

My Trip to Montreal for the GP in a Mondial!

Discussion in 'Mondial' started by Birdman, Jun 12, 2007.

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  1. Birdman

    Birdman F1 Veteran

    Jun 20, 2003
    6,687
    North shore, MA
    Full Name:
    THE Birdman
    Thanks for the comments guys. I'm glad you are enjoying it. The whole time all this crap was happening, I was thinking "Man, this sucks, but this is going to make SUCH a great story on fchat!!" I was actually writing the story a little on my laptop each night so I wouldn't forget anything. If the car hadn't broken down, the story would have been much less exciting.

    It really wasn't as bad as it sounds, because I was staying with a friend and wasn't getting raped on using his mechanic's garage. I was a little worried about getting the car home, but it's just a cooling system....there are only so many things it could have been. It was just a matter of getting it fixed within a reasonable time span.

    Yes, my wife is a saint, but don't tell her. She'll start reminding me!

    I shot about 400 pics, so it was tough to narrow it down to the 50-something I posted. Definitely the most pics I have ever put in a thread.

    Change the coolant hoses on your old car or don't drive it too far!

    Birdman
     
  2. WaltP

    WaltP Formula 3

    Nov 1, 2003
    1,505
    Cape Canaveral/Atlanta
    Full Name:
    Walt P
    That is a great story, thanks for taking the time to post it.
     
  3. sjmst

    sjmst F1 Veteran
    Lifetime Rossa

    Jul 31, 2003
    9,853
    Long Island, NY
    Full Name:
    Sam
    I admit, I didn't read this whole thing.
    But let me guess: You took the Mondial for a road trip and it broke down?

    Who'd a thunk it?

    My Wife wants sooo badly for me to get rid of mine. She is scared it will leave us stranded. Hell, it only did that ONCE. And the fire went out even before the FDNY arrived. Sheesh. She really holds a grudge.
     
  4. LNR

    LNR Karting

    Apr 28, 2005
    128
    Chino, CA
    Full Name:
    Lyndon
    Birdman, great write up and photo coverage. There isn't any publication that could have covered the CA F1 event like you did. Thanks!

    Also, glad that after all the hassle, you made it home with the Mondial.

    Please post more pix!
     
  5. wetpet

    wetpet F1 World Champ
    BANNED

    May 3, 2006
    10,210
    #30 wetpet, Jun 13, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    it was funny, sorry, i couldn't resist this photo.
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  6. 350HPMondial

    350HPMondial F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Feb 1, 2002
    5,191
    18 mi from the surf,, close to Pismo, CA
    Full Name:
    Edwardo
    I love your 348 wheels, , i want some too,, are they all 7.5J X 17" ??? or do you have a staggered set up?

    (Great story too.)
     
  7. Chiaro_Slag

    Chiaro_Slag F1 Veteran

    Oct 31, 2003
    7,789
    CA
    Full Name:
    Jerry
    Excellent story and write up. Good for you to have the skills to fix your car!
     
  8. sailrat

    sailrat Karting

    Nov 28, 2006
    78
    MI
    Full Name:
    Brad
    Great story and great pics.

    Glad you made it home.
     
  9. davem

    davem F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Jan 21, 2002
    8,234
    Stepford, Connecticut
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    dave m
    A great read.....Those 348 wheels look better on Mondial's than 348's!
     
  10. FasterIsBetter

    FasterIsBetter F1 Veteran

    Jul 22, 2004
    5,844
    NoNJ/Jupiter FL
    Full Name:
    Steve W.
    Jonathan,

    Sounds like you had a great trip, problems and all. Wonderful story. Good advice about changing the cooling hoses. Just did that with the 308 and some of them were not in great shape. Glad I got it done.

    You might want to consider pulling the radiator again and having it recored. You can get a modern, high efficiency core put in for not a lot of money, and it will improve the cooling power of the radiator. I've done that with old Jaguars and it really makes a huge difference.

    Regards,
    Steve
     
  11. Theo

    Theo Formula Junior

    May 6, 2002
    359
    Westford, MA
    Full Name:
    Theo Pappas
    I guess that was the reason we never hooked up for a ride back from Montreal! I loved your writeup but sad about your problems. Nice that you got back home. When I drove my 328 up to Montreal for the race back in 2002, breaking down was always on my mind but it ran fine.

    I'm so jealous of your pass. I was in Grandstand 12 next to you sitting on hard bleachers in the hot sun. It was worth it!

    Hope to hook up with you and other Fchatters in the near future.

    Theo
     
  12. Mr. Nice Guy

    Mr. Nice Guy Formula Junior

    Apr 11, 2007
    301
    Southern NH
    Full Name:
    Eric
    JB -

    Man, what a trip! Look at it this way.... you'll NEVER forget your trip to Montreal!!!
     
  13. Jet-X

    Jet-X F1 Veteran

    Nov 2, 2003
    5,688
    Orange County
    Full Name:
    Brian
    I feel your pain - my Mondial overheated on me the other day and dumped its coolant all over the 405. Ironically, my radiator was ice cold - nothing being pumped through. At the shop now, waiting to see what is wrong...
     
  14. NYCFERRARIS

    NYCFERRARIS Formula 3

    Mar 2, 2004
    1,009
    WOW! Great write up, I felt Like I was there with you....Oh wait, I kinda was since this has happened to me in my 308QV....with the girlfriend, who was so very excited to go with me in the "ferrari to the hamptons" well the 'ole 308 was no match for teh Grand Central Pkway summer traffic and boiled over very quickly in the middle of the highway traffic....it was terrible...AAA took forever to come, Elite would not take me as they were closing...UGH...anyway...the girlfriend now HATES ferraris ( and to think she DID get past the fact that the QV's a/c is nonexistant....

    Anyway...I would never take the 308 out at all in anything but the dead of winter and no traffic..... I do take the Mondial T back/forth to Montreal often .. great drive and it does not miss a beat, but I only drive alone.... I don't know anyone but my dog who dares go anywhere with me in teh Ferraris...they are certain they will never get there or come back...

    BUT that is what we love about these crappy old overpriced cars that we know in our hearts are worth so much more in parts than on the road ( OK TED Rutlands )..it is all about romance and adventure and that is PRICELESS!!!!

    Great story ( p.s. will there be a Bridman radiator flush kit available for purchase with combined shipping withthe fuse block?) hmmmmm ... I guess I need to search the old fchat and get the cooling hose sizes again and start changing hoses...
     
  15. Birdman

    Birdman F1 Veteran

    Jun 20, 2003
    6,687
    North shore, MA
    Full Name:
    THE Birdman
    That's fer damn sure!!

    ;)
     
  16. Birdman

    Birdman F1 Veteran

    Jun 20, 2003
    6,687
    North shore, MA
    Full Name:
    THE Birdman
    Ouch! I KNEW one of the people up there taking pics was an fchatter!! Good shot!
     
  17. Birdman

    Birdman F1 Veteran

    Jun 20, 2003
    6,687
    North shore, MA
    Full Name:
    THE Birdman
    Edwardo,
    They are stock 348 set up....I think 8" front and 9" rear, but I would have to check to be sure. I can't remember. Yes, 348 wheels look considerably better on a Mondial than a 348! They fit the design of the car better IMHO. Gotta admit, even on a flatbed the Mondial looks hot!!! (And it was hot, you shoulda felt the radiator!)

    Birdman
     
  18. Birdman

    Birdman F1 Veteran

    Jun 20, 2003
    6,687
    North shore, MA
    Full Name:
    THE Birdman

    Brian-
    Most likely your thermostat is dead and not opening. That's about the only reason the radiator would be cold, except of course for the water pump being dead (a broken belt or something else).

    NYCFerraris-
    If your fcar is overheating, something is wrong. The car should be able to do stop and go traffic all day long. It's a simple system. Most likely, your rad is old and semi-clogged by calcium deposits or something. When new, these cars had perfectly sufficient cooling systems.

    Steve-
    I actually talked to a radiator shop today about re-coring the Mondial rad. Once I flush everything out and change all the hoses so it won't clog again, I will take it down. I have to measure it so the guy can give me a quote. Then it will be up to 120 degree weather! When I do it, I'll post a thread. For now the car is "grounded" until I have time to do this. Not taking chances. I'll drive the 308!

    Birdman
     
  19. DinoScuderia

    DinoScuderia Karting

    Apr 15, 2007
    206
    USA
    Full Name:
    Dean
    Great story Birdman. Thanks for sharing, it has kept me riveted this morning.

    I was waiting for some punchline to do with some rubber from the flushing kit getting sucked into the system.

    I loved the comments from your wife :)
     
  20. jeanlucco

    jeanlucco Rookie

    Sep 22, 2006
    24
    Denmark
    Full Name:
    Jean-Luc
    Hi Jonathan, thank you for your story. Before to go down to my garage to install your fusebox on my GT4 I decided to take a look on my computer. Conclusion: no fusebox changed but great fun to read and look at your pictures. F1 will always remain the state of the Art in terms of Automotive engineering.
     
  21. Peter of Montreal

    Jun 13, 2007
    2
    What wrong with a reliable Volvo? I know! Nothing compares to a Ferrari!

    Great story Jonathan!
     
  22. buzzm2005

    buzzm2005 Formula 3

    Aug 23, 2005
    1,733
    NYC
    Full Name:
    Buzz
    LoL! I took my t to Watkins Glen from NYC in Sept 2005 for the IRL. I had owned the car for 3 weeks and she was due for a major. Miraculously, nothing went wrong. She started right up even after she was rained on for 12 hours.

    Great story and great pictures.
     
  23. Doody

    Doody F1 Veteran

    Nov 16, 2001
    6,099
    MA USA
    Full Name:
    Mr. Doody
    great great story, dude. thanks for posting it!!!!

    doody.
     
  24. grub

    grub Karting

    Jun 19, 2006
    101
    Sydney OZ
    Full Name:
    Grant
    Fantastic story and a great write-up.

    It's amazing to watch F1's live. The sound, the smell, the speed, just the pure excitement of it all! Paddock club would be a dream come true. Glad one of us finally made it in there! I think i need to go to another race... Forza Ferrari!!!
     
  25. rush109

    rush109 F1 Veteran

    May 26, 2005
    8,100
    Montreal, Quebec
    Full Name:
    Joshua McRae
    THE BEST THREAD I HAVE EVER READ EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
     

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