308 GTB in the wet | FerrariChat
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308 GTB in the wet

Discussion in '308/328' started by johnvwatts, Sep 6, 2008.

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  1. johnvwatts

    johnvwatts Formula Junior

    Jul 7, 2007
    523
    England
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    John v watts
    #1 johnvwatts, Sep 6, 2008
    Been having a few probs in the recent wet weather. Found a good post "308 in the rain" which details the problem on pre 77 GTB's namley that the front (nearest to driver) spark plug wells fill with water when either washing or more annoyingly when stationary in a shower. This causes the car to run on 7 on 6 or even 5 cylinders and the water has to be blown out or soaked up with paper.

    I was thinking of fabricating somethiing out of ali to go over the bank but am not sure whether the water is coming in off of the rear engine cover lid or getting in the vents or both. The idea would be to cover the plugs in a shield and drain the water away fron the area. Has anyone gone this route . Pic?
     
  2. 308 milano

    308 milano F1 Veteran
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    Jan 15, 2007
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    Kim
    #2 308 milano, Sep 6, 2008
    I would leave it parked till the weather cleared.
     
  3. maurice70

    maurice70 F1 Rookie

    Jan 25, 2004
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    maurice T
    #3 maurice70, Sep 6, 2008
  4. judge4re

    judge4re F1 World Champ

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    #4 judge4re, Sep 6, 2008
    I drive my GTS QV in the rain from time to time (it is a car after all) and have not had any issues with cylinders cutting out. Now the wipers sucking is for another thread...
     
  5. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
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    #5 f355spider, Sep 6, 2008
    I was unaware until recently, but apparently the cars made prior to 1978, had a different sealing system for the plug wells, and make them more prone to water intrusion. The fix for 1978 and later cars is simply to get new rubber plug covers. But I guess the solution for the earlier cars is not always solved with new covers.
     
  6. wise3

    wise3 Formula Junior

    Oct 10, 2004
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    Ward Orndoff
    #6 wise3, Sep 6, 2008
    Last edited: Sep 6, 2008
    77's and older came with a splash shield that covered the front bank of plugs. Basically just a curved piece of sheet metal that goes above the spark plug wires, but below the throttle cable, and clips on to the cable (loosely) to keep it in place. Unfortunately they tend to get discarded. My first '77 had the shield, and I never had any rain issues. My current '77 did not have a shield when I bought it, and I had the problems you describe above, even though my boots looked fine visually.
    The newer cars had cam covers with a raised lip around the spark plug wells, which made for a much more effective water seal.
     
  7. Artvonne

    Artvonne F1 Veteran

    Oct 29, 2004
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    #7 Artvonne, Sep 6, 2008
    I see in the service bulletins a modification to the plug wells, where the hole is bored oversize and a steel pipe is pressed in. In the illustrations the plug wire goes through a rubber or plastic cap and the cap sits over the pipe. My 77 does not have this, but instead has rubber plugs that fit snugly into the cam cover holes and over the extenders, and the plug wires attach over the top. I also have no shield to block water from dripping in over them. I drove all day in moderate to heavy rain and never had so much as a sputter. Even washing the car and running the hose over the deck lid I have never gotten any water into the plug wells. Maybe the modification wasnt such a good idea?
     
  8. johnvwatts

    johnvwatts Formula Junior

    Jul 7, 2007
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    #8 johnvwatts, Sep 7, 2008
    I don't generally use the car in the wet but sometimes you get caught out. I think I going to go for the splash shield idea. Will fabricate something up as this seems the simplist solution. At least its good to know it had one originally as can't believe Ferrari would not have thought of it - it rains even in Italy after all........
     

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