22 hour Dino Road Trip

That's awesome Joe. Can't wait to see the pictures. As for the hot/warm startup issues, I think that's common to all Dinos. I was told a long time ago that it was because of vapor lock. Just hold the throttle open.

 

That's fantastic, and certainly makes me feel a lot better about my wimpy little 600 miler this coming weekend. Does your car have working A/C? Can't wait to see the photos!

 

Congrats on the safe completion of this (long) trip. You've got hair on you b___s!

 

If it the ambient air temperature is hot and the engine is fully hot, I raise the engine compartment lid if I am going to be setting for much time at all, maybe even a fill-up. All the engine heat rises and percolates the fuel in the carb bowls which causes hard starting. Dino's are prone to this.

 

Add to this the newer higher ethanol content and the gas has an even lower boiling point.

I leave the motor running during fill ups. I know, safety first. I always put out any lighted objects before filling up.

 

Hey Joe,
I just acquired a Dino and was wondering about long trips in it. [But I still have your ole blu GTC to fall back on - as you know well the 330 does have more room than the Dino.] I'll be coming into this forum to learn more about Dinos.

 

I generally fill my tank with the engine running -- the car has been 100% reliable even for hot starts, but I just don't want to find out the hard way. It's rarely a powerful crank with a hot engine, but it turns over very softly.

One interesting item, after I remove the gas cap and start filling the tank, a couple of seconds after the new gas hits the old, the engine revs slow and it almost dies. Cold gas?? It makes a difference? I generally always have at least a third of a tank in there, because my fuel gauge goes from F to 1/2 as soon as there's any room in the tank at all, and then seesaws from E to 1/2 at every turn. If I haven't been paying attention to the mileage, I never know what's in there until I stop and let the car set a while, ao as soon as I can after I see it at 1/2, I fill 'er up.

 

We recently drove our Dino from Toronto to Halifax Nova Scotia and back......no issues except a stolen hub cap. Keep the gas pedal floored when hot starting then release as soon as it catches. Forza Dino

 

Just from an old elctromic engineer: Dinoplex was high tech in the 70's but the technology was pitiful 10 years (much less 35 years) later. The germanium power transistors died with regularity. The silicon transistors used in the 80's and ever since are pretty well bullet proof. A decent electronoic shop can change out individual devices but best to just change out the whole electronic package for a modern replacement. If the Dinoplex works, keep it. The replacement will not make you run better. If there is a problem, go modern and enjoy the way the Dino was supposed to run when it was new.

The only place where you are likely to find reliable and knowledgeable service is at an aircraft maintenance facility. These guys figure out ways to repair/replace avionionics in ways the manufacturers never envisioned. The Ferrari electronics is in the same league and you want the same kind of expertise to say what is possible and what is not.

The whole subject of unique spark profiles only makes sense when idling 400 cu/in monsters. Forget it all with the Dino.

John

 

Joe,
AndruetBiche's got it right, above. With a hot start, especially on a hot day, the mixture is too rich if the throttle is closed. The engine needs more air. So, engage the starter and push the accelerator to the floor and hold it there (more air) until it starts.

Btw, if that's an original Dinoplex in your car, congratulations. You have one of the few remaining units. As John Corbani mentioned, they had reliability problems. If you really want to improve hot starting and system reliability (assuming you have an original Dinoplex) here's an alternative: Consider installing the "modern" Dinoplex by Superformance in England for about $500 ( www.superformance.com ) and an optical point system conversion kit (Crane-700-0231) from Summit Racing, $130, ( www.SummitRacing.com ). If you don't want to spend $500 for the Dinoplex, I previously had great succees with an MSD-6A for about $200 total from Summit.

Hope this helps.

Bill

 

Nice shots! Thanks for sharing. Was yours the only Dino?

 

Hi

Interesting thoughts on the hot starting problems. I get it as well. But once i fitted a more powerful starter (from Superformaance UK) the engine turns over a lot faster and seems to cancel out this effect.

Foot flat on the pedal, crank and she fires up pretty easy now. From cold it is instant.

Personally i cannot see how a vapour lock forms as there is a continous flow of fuel through the fuel lines and with the carb bowls full it shouldnt boil up. I did put some heat resistant matting under the fuel bowl nearest to the thermosat housing but inconclusive.

I changed the Dinoplex to a Superformance Super 4 ignition which worked really well. Then i decided to upgrade the disy and went for the Black stallion programmable ignition system (expensive i know at £1175 but i didnt know about the goodies you guys get in the states) but it works wonders with starting and general performance.

Tony

PS:- not plugging superformance UK, but as they are only 20 miles down the road from me they are a blessing from above for getting spares.

 

I left 2 months early for the 2004 National meet in Monterey so I could kick around the Sonoma Wine country in June with the FCA-Pacific Region (great event!) and even made it from Seattle to Ukiah in one day. After that I spent 2 months in Southern CA and made Monterey for the event. Then back up to the PNW and must have cover 3500+ miles. The only problem was midway into the trip as I had bought some wine that I had placed in the rear trunk. It had gotten a little warm on the trip to So CA, which necessitated immediate consumption.

 

scott, you did not mention your trip from seattle in the dino for the 1994 national meet in monterey.

 

DZ,

Thanks for the memory jog, I still have the sticker on my windshield from the 1994 Monterey FCA Rallye when you were my navigator. We wouldn't have done as well as we did without your keen eye. Thank you, that was a very fun time!