308 carb rebuild complete - by Pierce Manifolds

Since you mentioned you have three, if and when I can locate one, certainly...

The reason I asked in the first place is maybe it can cure my: "the-car-dies-when-pointed-uphill" syndrome. Less fuel in the bowl, less chance of flooding (which I suspect is the culprit - flooding. Fuel pours out of the leading float bowl, overflowing the emulsion wells)?

Just to be sure if its the same, this is what your concave float looks like?:
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Let me re-assure the others who are also reading this thread:

Yes, my floats are set exactly spot-on to the requirements of the Ferrari workshop manual. So highly unlikely I'm getting this flooding problem pointing uphill due to what many may think my floats are set too high if reading my previous post.

 

As near as I can tell from the photo, you're showing what looks like my single concave float.

Flooding uphill? Did you install the needle valve? <jk>

Interesting about the uphill bit. I have to drive up a *VERY* steep hill for about 1/2 mile to get to my house. It's at least a 15% grade (estimating based upon each house's foundation is as high as the roof of the house next to it). The car will refuse to run at below 2500rpm, but will easily pull 3K minimum in any of the gears. I don't know if this is some sort of flooding situation, or simply a lack of low end torque - most probable. (If I get behind some granny going 15mph, the car will stall in 1st. I have to back down to a side street and get another run at it!)

In any event, I'll trade my 3 if you want. No hurry, just whenever.

 

Driving is not the problem, its when I'm stopped at a light, that it'll start to run rough, then cough and spit and then die. Only one occasion when I was driving to Dave Handa's house, there was an incredibly steep hill I drove up, pinned it in 1st all the way up (7000-7500RPM) because if I drove slower, I knew it would probably die. Must've scared the s--- out of the people living along that road...

Thanks for the offer. I'll be working on the car this winter (I'm hoping at least), so I can pop the carb tops off and do the switcher-oo with you.

You said single concave float. What, it's only concave on one side? Mine had a slight concave on both sides.

 

I have a question regarding the carb body color. Mine were gold, perhaps anodized gold. I assumed that was the way they were new. Im not picking nits here, just wondering what is "correct" for the resto nut as apposed to just a straight forward rebuild. Maybe the carb cleaning chemical removed the gold color?

 

Newman: Mine were aluminum in color - maybe a bit darker than native aluminum.

Peter: By 'single concave' float, I meant I have just one. It's concave on both side. Ain't the English language grand?

At the risk of thread hi-jacking, I was contemplating your 'hill stalling' problem. I surmise that you're assuming that excess gas is coming out the little hole visible near the A/C jets while on a hill. I'm wondering if it might be seeping between the carb top and the carb body - as in gasket not sealing. That would certainly cause problems. I think this is a real possibility, as the gasket mating surfaces are HORRIBLE. Of those people who have checked, I've never heard of *anyone* that had a choke cover that fit even remotely well - that's why the front of the carbs always look cruddy. OK, choke cover isn't your problem, but I found significant high spots on my carb bodies where they mate to the top cover. The cover (w/o gasket) would rock back and forth by perhaps .050" - maybe more. I'm sure that the gasket wouldn't make up for this kind of unevenness. Anyway, gas seeping under the cover could get into all kinds of goofy places - all of which would channel it down the carb throat.

 

Mike and Hans,

That's the thing with these things, multiple issues could be at play with my car.

I've got a new fuel pump in there now, but haven't been faced with the situation with tackling steep hills. Will report if and when that happens.

As for gaskets and sloppy fit, it could very well be that (but gaskets are new. But new gaskets on poor surfaces wouldn't do squat for sealing, so maybe that's a cause...).

Mike, when stopped on a hill, if I feel its going to die, I rev the hell out of it and hold it there, it doesn't die then... Not good for the clutch when taking off, but sounds great... Yes, I haven't grown-up yet! :-D

 

You bet...

 

Hello Mike
looking at the before pics of the carb, your lead casting plugs were leaking a lot. i would be interested in knowing if that goes away now. mine do not leak anymore since i did my last rebuild as i reamed out the lead plugs and replaced with seal-all. i am all for teh concave float design as it permits more fuel in the bowl, so less chance of cornering effects.
john

 

other than the retune for the altitude change here seems like you have done all the carb work for me !!!! great thread!!!!! cant wait to get the car..... michael