Hello, I have recently got a 75 gt4 with twin dizzies, a used but not flogged car that has not seen a lot of use in the recent past. Sparks/oil/filters replaced and trying to give the car some decent long runs to run the engine clean but there in low revs/feathered throttle its often not all 8 firing, clears its throat as it opens up but also detected some misfiring higher up the rev range. not a mechanic but will obviously run through the possible causes with a good shop, but suspect that the ageing ignition system needs an overhaul (coils? points? etc). My questions are: Are electronic ignitions a big improvement in driveability and reliablility, and what systems are known to be good and good value. Who stocks them (preferably in the US)? Are there non Ferrari specific systems that work just as well and could be better value? Note, this is not a concourse car - it is a car to be used and enjoyed. Hence i want the machinery to work right, before looking exactly right (ie original). it will be driven on the road, sometimes in traffic and it may get a track day blast where the final seconds doesnt matter ie a road oriented conversion would be the idea. Right now, i am looking for a clean firing engine in the lower revs. Any comments much appreciated. thanks
It depends on how much you want to spend. I went with what I think is the easiest system. It is the Pertronix system which puts 2 pick ups in one dizzy. Time the engine from 1 dissy . I did the conversion years ago and have not touched it since I installed it. There will be other who chime in here so you'll get a lot of options to choose from.
I put a BSM system from Australia on my GT4. We tuned and played with various advance settings and the results are good. Better starter, runs dead smooth, definitely more torque, and I recall the mechanic on before and after timing runs up a hill in third gear gained about 20% improvement in times. However I suspect part of this 20% was due to an idle car that was well out of tune as well. Recommend.
Welcome, and congrats on the new ride. You should fill out your profile and provide some relevant information. As for converting to electronic ignition, do a forum search for "Electromotive" or "308 electronic ignition". There are a bunch of threads that discuss doing the conversion to electronic ignition on these cars, and in particular using the Electromotive system. You can also check the website of Nick's Forza Ferraris. He sells the Electromotive system, set up for these cars, and there is good information there as well. I installed the Electromotive system on a 1978 308 GTS that I owned, and it definitely improved the performance of the car. If your car is running well, there is no power gain from going to electronic. So if it ain't broke, don't fix it. But if you are at the point where you need to do a major overhaul of the engine electrics (distributor caps, rotors, wires, plugs, extenders, etc.), converting to electronic might be a good alternative.
Thank you for the fast replies and i will check out those threads. I will fill out my profile later tonight! The car is in CT now but previously was in the hands of a FC member in California who had it since 1987. Its silver with boxer pants, a good 50footer but plenty of scuffs up close and just the thing for when my 5 year old sails into the garage on his bike but refuses to accept the space between the trashcans and the car isnt wide enough. looks to be fairly rust free as 'California car' but with a similarly parched interior - leather restorer is slowly breathing life into that.
I recently purchased a setup (Electromotive) from Nick Forzza. It is a complete kit and Nick was very helpful. It is not installed yet but from others that have it, it sounds like a big improvement. The cost was partially offset by not having to rebuild the two dizzies on my '79 308 GTS.
Here is a thread on what i had on my prior GT4: http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=75853&highlight=mallory BTW, where in New Canaan are you? I am heading up there for my 25th HS reunion this weekend.
Norwood has a good conversion that uses a lot of common detroit parts: Chrysler magnetic pick up ford rotor chevy 8 cyl dist cap $16 at Napa, (definitely not two $300+ ferrari caps). Norwood takes both distributors, disassembles them, uses the best parts to rebuild one distributor. They use different springs to change the advance curve. Machine the outside of the housing, just a bit; enough to allow a chevy cap to fit, (now it looks like a single distributor euro engine). They send your Tach off to Palo Alto speedometer for recalibration. A block off plate for the 2nd distributor, (which is not needed). I paid about $1000 for the above work, (I already had good wires and MSD system). This is a relatively simple and easily maintained system. Buylletproof reliability. 100 bucks at any napa store and you are on your way, (pick up rotor, cap). I've had it about 4 years and it has been flawless. If I had it to do again, I would have looked into some of the more modern systems that allow addjusting the curve AND take into account the engine vacuum signal. (this has got to provide better mileage. HTH, chris
I have done the forza setup on my 1980 gtsi. Night and day difference. Not only more power but better drivability. I live on the Stamford/new Canaan border if you want to check it out
thanks all - Ang sounds like we are very close, I'm 2minutes off Ponus Ridge. I've been in touch with Forza who was indeed very helpful. At the stage now where preparing a fall/winter job list... Speaking of which - has anyone installed the Electromotive themselves - any special tools/knowledge required? or is this best left to a good autoelectrician? Guy
I've done a couple installations. If you can follow a wiring diagram, pull spark plugs, and turn a crank to find DTC, then you should be ok. The trick is to read ALL the instructions until you understand ALL the steps. A good project for winter. Take your time and everything will work out.
Well the invitation is open anytime. I amright off ponus ridge. I had installed the kit myself not very hard
Guy, Set up a warm garage, pizza, chianti (for when the car starts), and some Saturday we'll all get together at your place and have a tech session ... In no time, your puppy will be converted...
Sounds like you are going to have fun and electronic is a good idea for the sparks. I had mine done a few months ago but it still took quite a time on a rolling road with a gas analyser to get the carbs correctly jetted. I had quite a lot flat spots that the electronic ignition made no difference to. With a 35 year old car you can have no idea what PO's may have done, and further more the fuel has changed so, as I found out, using the original factory spec doesn't work any more. There is some good info on this site by others that have posted jets that work well. Enjoy!
Another thought. If you have a sparks problem you will get back fires. If its carburation you probably won't.
