Caps and Rotors | FerrariChat
Buy

Caps and Rotors

Discussion in '308/328' started by CliffBeer, Jun 28, 2009.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. CliffBeer

    CliffBeer Formula 3

    Apr 3, 2005
    2,198
    Seattle, Washington
    Full Name:
    Cliff
    #1 CliffBeer, Jun 28, 2009
    Have been looking around for a set of caps and rotors for my '82gtsi....seems like caps are around $250 and rotors are around $125 for good quality parts. So, even without considering wires and extenders I'm looking at around $750 in total for both banks.

    That's so annoying - just the other day I got a new Mallory cap and rotor ($18 total), FoMoCo plug wires ($35), Motorcraft plugs ($.69/each) for my GT40 - totalling less than $60 for all. Runs like a champ. 415hp and 425ft/lb tq. That's a very inexpensive tune up for a lot of hp/tq!

    Is there a consensus on a reasonably priced and reliable electronic ignition system for the twin dizzy 308?

    Thanks in advance.
     
  2. dakharris

    dakharris Two Time F1 World Champ

    Jun 7, 2001
    29,441
    Sleepy Hollow
    Full Name:
    Cavaliere Senzatesta
    #2 dakharris, Jun 29, 2009
    Welcome to just one more of the joys of 308 ownership. Buying them is the easy part. Wait until you try to install the forward one.
     
  3. Spitfire

    Spitfire Formula 3

    Nov 16, 2006
    1,602
    #3 Spitfire, Jun 29, 2009
    Last edited: Jun 29, 2009
    I recently installed the Black Stallion Motors electronic ignition system on my '77 GTB. The installation was reasonably straightforward, and my car runs like a charm, but what I really like about the BSM system is that it almost looks stock.

    This doesn't really answer your question however, because you're looking for consensus, which is something I doubt that you'll get. The Electromotive is another popular system -- for me, I didn't like the fact that it's a more difficult installation and it definitely doesn't look stock.
     
  4. maurice70

    maurice70 F1 Rookie

    Jan 25, 2004
    4,334
    Sydney
    Full Name:
    maurice T
    #4 maurice70, Jun 29, 2009
    And the other good thing about it is that you aren't at ransom to the original caps as the BSM uses a Bosch cap.
     
  5. Spitfire

    Spitfire Formula 3

    Nov 16, 2006
    1,602
    #5 Spitfire, Jun 29, 2009
    +1. The same thing for the rotor arm too ... it's a Bosch item.
     
  6. f308jack

    f308jack F1 Rookie

    Jun 7, 2007
    4,300
    Cape Town, South Afr
    Full Name:
    Jack Verschuur
    #6 f308jack, Jun 29, 2009
    Cliff,

    The rotors for my '82 were the white plastic ones: the are dirt-cheap from Superformance. No problems since install 7000 miles ago.
    The caps are a different story.
     
  7. M.James

    M.James F1 Rookie

    Jun 6, 2003
    2,721
    Worcester, MA
    Full Name:
    Michael.C.James
    #7 M.James, Jun 29, 2009
    No, they're Magnetti Marelli items....real Magnetti rotor arms are NLA. The SuperPerformance UK/Rutlands parts are made-in-China repros (thats why they're $40, not $68+). They will work, but require alittle 'prep' to get the arms to fit onto the crankshaft. I'm running one now, it seems to be working fine.
     
  8. M.James

    M.James F1 Rookie

    Jun 6, 2003
    2,721
    Worcester, MA
    Full Name:
    Michael.C.James
    #8 M.James, Jun 29, 2009
    BTW, $250 for a genuine Magnetti Marelli distribuiter cap is C-H-E-A-P. I haven't seen a brand-new, OEM in-the-box Marelli cap for less than $400.
     
  9. chrismorse

    chrismorse Formula 3

    Feb 16, 2004
    2,150
    way north california
    Full Name:
    chris morse
    #9 chrismorse, Jun 29, 2009
    Norwood has been doing 308 ignition updates for quite a while, costs about $1000 - 1200.

    He takes the best parts from the two distributors and makes one good one, modifying the ignition curve, taking a light cut off the perimiter of the distributor body, so a $16. chevy v-8 cap works, (looks like a euro single distributor car now).
    Gone are the points, replaced with a magnetic pick up from chrysler, add a slightly modified ford rotor, a set of wires and an MSD box and you have a modern, cheap and reliable ignition system. The tachometer is sent out for recalibration, so that it reads correctly with a single 8 cylinder output. No synchronization problems either.

    I did mine several years ago and it has performed flawlessly, (hated the pitting points and drifting timing from wearing rubbing blocks).

    I consider this an intermediate, (stock lookng) upgrade, halfway to a full electronic/coil on plug ignition.
    The Norwood conversion still does not utilize a vacuum advance, which would help fuel economy.

    hth,
    chris
     
  10. CliffBeer

    CliffBeer Formula 3

    Apr 3, 2005
    2,198
    Seattle, Washington
    Full Name:
    Cliff
    #10 CliffBeer, Jun 30, 2009
    Thank you gents. I'll take a close look at the Black Stallion system - sounds like a good balance of cost, complexity/simplicity, appearance, etc. I have no problem spending a grand or two up front to be able to install a $25 bosch cap and a $15 bosch rotor on a nice reliable electronic system.

    Thanks!
     
  11. tuttebenne

    tuttebenne F1 Rookie

    Mar 26, 2003
    3,218
    Bay Shore, NY
    Full Name:
    Andy
    #11 tuttebenne, Jun 30, 2009
    Another side to this is that once you do the distributor work you probably will never have to do it again. I have been running 22 years on the same caps, rotors, and wires. This stuff is not cheap like the stuff Ford uses, nor is it made in the same quantity. If you want a Ford v-8, great. But if you want a Ferrari v-8, that's great too but there IS a difference. BTW, make sure you even need these items before thinking about ordering them.
     

Share This Page