308 Manifold Corrosion Problem

The problem with my '77 308 GTB started when the idle would go to 2000+ RPM after the car warmed up to operating temperatures. I thought there was a possibility that there was a vacuum leak in the system someplace. I thought it could also be the acelerator circuits in the carbs. I don't understand everything I know about Webbers, but I know they have adjustments for accerlation. Anyway, I took the car in and the mechannic said that there was a leak in the manifold gaskets and that I would need to change them. Now he has the manifolds off and they are a mess. There is corrosion where the antifreeze goes through opr past the manifolds.

I think this problem was caused either by the antifreeze or an electrolsis problem.

I'm having a machinist weld some material onto the manifold and then he'll resurface them to make them useful. This should fix the immediately problem. On the off chance there's an electrolsis problem, I'm going to put a new grounding strap on the engine and use distilled water for the antifreeze. I'm changing antifreeze brands to one that does not have any phosphates in it.

I purchased the car in January '05. I'm still getting things dialed in with it. It has had this problem since I bought it. Incidently, I've driven it less than a hundred miles since I've bought it, other than bringing it home.

I'm putting this on the list so that everyone can benefit from the knowledge of this problem. At some point, someone else will run into this problem and now they can have a heads up.

Bob Wassam