What have you done to your Ferrari Today?

I took yet another beating from this elegant, red Italian machine….three of four self-rebuilt carburetors are installed….the 2-1 cylinder carburetor (front right in the photo) is there for the photo….I hope to heck (restraint for profanity) I never do this again in my lifetime.

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I feel your pain. Recently did the 4 carb overhaul, and didn't remove the engine cover, which I now understand was the source of much of the pain/hassle.

 

It's a monumental experience doing this job. I recently completed mine for the second time on my 78 GTS. Each job; removing the carbs, cleaning and rebuilding the carbs, installing the carbs and tuning the carbs is a chapter in itself. Once you get one done, you look over and realize there are three more to do. If you take the four tasks just mentioned, that's 16 things to do and by my last count there are 23 adjustments to fine tune them. Good luck and enjoy the adventure.

 

Mockup of the engine rewire.

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The passenger door wouldn't "spring" open when you operated the handle (inside or outside) - 1985 QV. I thought a spring might have come off, so, off with the door cards, careful manipulation while peering in with a torch, and it all looks normal. Then I notice the locking cam wheel thing (that engages the latch) was a bit sluggish, so a spray of WD-40, and it's good as new. Should have gone straight for the spray first!

 

Following various source information, I had good success with synchronizing the carburetors. As it was my first time, I freely admit the process was clumsy.

However, my fuel leak from the 1-2 cylinders’ carburetor continued, specifically from the accelerator pump. I thought an old diaphragm was the cause so I replaced it during the rebuild. I reinstalled the carburetors and then found the leak was still a problem.

I concluded the pump itself was the culprit. I’m curious what others think of the interior photo of the pump shown below; not good is my thought.

So, off came the rear two carburetors to remove that single accelerator pump….I ordered another one and new diaphragm from Pierce Manifolds; what an amazing source to have.

The show will go on once that package arrives! For now, I wait in quiet anticipation…with a beer and FChat as I read tales of others actually driving their cars.

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Passed Ca emissions test today no problem!

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I replaced the faulty accelerator pump, fired her up and found ZERO leaks.

Carbs are near synch’d.

I ordered a high vibration MSD coil to go with the MSD 6A. New plug wires will install in the next four days.

I drank a cold one.
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Love the color.


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Very nice, may I ask where did you get your smog test? I also live in Irvine.

Joe

 

Hi,
Jamboree Smog. Corner of Grand and Fairhaven in Santa Ana. I stopped by at 8:00 am on weekday and no one else was there while my car was tested.

 

I installed new plugs and wires and added the individual, Weber DCNF, air filter base plates.

MSD High Vibration coil is the plan for today; car has a single and distributor and coil with a recently replaced MSD 6A.

1978 GTS


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Is it a Magnetti Marelli distributor/cap?

 

If tuned right, these cars will pass CA smog every time. Congrats!

CA smog laws are so ridiculous. Last time I checked, the air over Kalifornia isn’t confined to the state line…… just sayin’

 

I unfortunately had to buff out some scratches on the 308. I was driving yesterday and a sheet of light plywood flew off of a truck going the other way. I swerved to miss it but still took a corner near the front left tire. Fortunately the rubber of the tire took the main impact. Overall I feel I was lucky as the sheet didn't hit me personally as my windows were down. I have a few light scratches that I couldn't buff out at the wheel well.

 

I picked up my car from the restoration shop.

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Yowza. Very classy color combo.

 

What a color! Beautiful !

 

A bit of a change if I may, I nominate myself for the daily Darwin Award….

As I prepared to install a new dizzy, I go to disconnect the battery…..what terminal do I disconnect when the instructions CLEARLY state, “Warning. Disconnect the negative terminal first then the positive….”

I disconnect the positive first and then hit the connector against the spare wheel bracket….blew the MSD box….$300 screw up. Thankfully, there’s Amazon for idiot moves like this.

RTFI, Dane.

 

Looks great David. See you in San Marino?

 

Pine Green looks great when the sun hits it.
Congratulations

 

She sparked like crazy. I can’t honestly explain it. I’ll need to do a little homework.

Perhaps my MSD box just defecated the bed, and I’m blaming myself.

 

I now believe I know what happened…Setting all pride aside, I’ll explain my mistake.

I installed a new hose and clamp near the coil. Voltage arc’d from the clamp to the coil tower which literally burnt the tower boot and the positive side of the tower. I witnessed the arc and immediately shut the engine off, but it was far too late.

This eventually caused MSD box failure; I saw where something very similar happened to another member here, but this was not due to a clamp type and positional mounting error.

Black avatar is to acknowledge my shame. Live and learn.

 

I’ve researched what type of cap I have (PO install). There are no markings that would give me any indication of brand. I’ll keep looking as I’m now curious.