308 with carbs

8 yrs with my carb 308 and never tinkered once.

Maybe that was the problem, they should be fixed correctly the first time as opposed to being tinkered with all the time.

 

I live in Md. Where the seasons change a lot, and since I drive quite a bit all year I do adjust idle screws half a turn when it starts to get really cool in the fall, and back the other way in spring. Perfect.

 

Same for me, always ran great after I rebuilt the carbs.

 

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I love my carb 308. The idle is rock solid and doesn't vary, quick starts hot or cold, and it sings a beautiful song at speed. Running around town, my car really feels eager even when slightly pressing the throttle.

However, it took me three years to tame it. When I first got my 308, it would snort and pop, miss at higher rpms, and it would seem quite variable and strangely responsive to idle mixture adjustments. I changed jets numerous times experimenting and would normally fix one part of the problem, but exacerbate others.

After a phone call with Mike at Pearce Manifolds (who was very kind and generous with his time), I took his advice and changed to sealed throttle shaft bearings. Success and wonderful results, and like Big Red, no more tinkering. My guess is that much of the frustration with the 40 DCNF carbs relates to air leaks through open throttle shaft bearings (the originals were to be packed with grease to seal them, so you can imagine how short a life span the grease may have).

I have posted these photos before, but let me do it again as I hope this could be helpful to carb folks. Original on left, sealed on right. You can only imagine how when the throttle closes the vacuum pulls air through this area, making it impossible to accurately adjust the idle mixture, which affects rpm up to 3000 or so.

Sorry to ramble so long. I hope love for the carb cars spreads- the carbs are beautiful works of art, but like anything else need knowlegeable maintenance. Too many amateurs, like me, think they know what they are doing with carbs. Mike helped set me straight. Getting the carbs right is the most rewarding thing I've done to my 308.

Jeff
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Here some more pics. Of carbs.

This is much nicer than CIS. This is an OLD Ferrari. The way Enzo made them.

I also installed new SEALED bearings when I did them.
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That first pic is very pretty Claude !

Thank you for sharing a clean stack up close.

 

Why? All about the ponies....

308 carb'd - 240 hp (255 Euro version)
308 Bosch inj, 2V - 214 hp
308 QV - 240 hp

 

Just closed on mine today - '77 GTB. I also started with the mindset of getting a QV until I drove in a carb'ed GTS - sold.... Took over 6 months to find the right car.

 

Early US non catalyst cars had the same cams as Euro and are rated at 255 too if I'm right.

 

This is the case more often than not. Once properly tuned, they run beautifully. And that sound!

 

Carbs are just classic Ferrari. That's it. Some people get it. Others don't. To me there's just something special about the carb cars that we would never see again after 1979 (or 1980 for Alberto)!

Ciao!

Hannibal

 

Because REAL cars have carbs!
The sound just can't be replicated.

 

They sound better
They look better
They smell better
They perform better (vs 2V) or same (vs QV)

And they are quite reliable, as far as i am concerned. So the right question is the opposite: why buy an injected car - unless it is cheaper?

 

Yes, FI is that horrible, troublsome way of runnng a motor. The no stumble as you corner hard, the smooth running, the better gas mileage. All the headaches of FI why would anyone want one of those type engines.

Just kidding, but in reality FI is a better system than carbs. I have 2 DCOEs on my TVR and I never really adjust them except in winter and summer 1/2 turn to compensate for air density. Wanted carbed Boxer, but was not able to get one, I'l live with the FI in both my 308QV & Boxer.

FYI, Ferrari was using FI on some of their race cars in the 60s and putting carbs on the non-factory privateer cars as they produced less HP.

 

Who is the stud driving your car???

Hope things are good Bob. Need to meet up soon.

 

You're in California. Fuel injection is your best friend, unless you really do like to tinker.

 

Merc was using it on Gullwings in the '50s.

 

Of course FI is better. Otherwise we would still run carbs.

Now what is the best choice for a 308? that is an other story no?

 

That is the 100 glass cars only.

 

carbs are cool
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because the first 308 model had carbs. Carbs always work, car never stops because of a bad F.I. sensor.
You just need to fix carbs one time (very well) and then you have many years ahead without any problem. Carbs sound is very good and better than FI cars.
The only real problem they have is a bit of smell of gasoline when they are in your garage.
Yes, the FI cars work a bit better, but also a 2015 Ford F150 works better: we are talking of a vintage car historic value and not about how well it works.
FI cars are excellent too, cost less and work even better: you can choose the one you like more!

ciao

 

Carbs are VERY cool!

(great picture, Robert!)

ciao
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The OP is from California. I promise, a non-cat carb'ed 308 will be a nonstop headache unless he lives somewhere without the biennial smog test.

A 308 with cats and carbs can be done, sometimes involves tuning for the test and then retuning so it runs well.

It's probably different in Shanghai.

My Porsche has carbs, but it is vintage so exempt from resting. If someone really wants a non-FI 308, the GT4 is a lot less trouble - also exempt due to being pre-1975.