Boxer - Carb or Injection

While the BB512 may be a little louder with its intake roar, the BB512i is FASTER, has more torque, has an improved transaxle, requires less maintenace and is easier to drive. And, its pretty raw too ! I went through the same decison making about 18 months ago and ended up with my BB512i and have never regretted it.

 

Hi........

Check the attachment for information for people in the market for a Boxer.

Check the Website for specifications and production numbers and literature references.

Two considerations for a BBi purchase: cost of injection system service and the TRX wheel/tire "problem". The carburetors on a BB can develop excess clearance at the throttle shafts = tune-up problems. Otherwise, the BB is a visceral "rocket ship", like all of the Boxers.

There was a Boxer Buyers Guide in an issue of Forza Magazine some time ago.

Frank..........23005
www.masiarz.net/bb_resource
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While the BB512i has a little less horsepower than the BB512 and 365GT4/BB, the BB512i has more torque and a lower gear ratio which results in a faster 0-60mph and acceleration up to top speed per Ferrari and all the tests I have ever read. Ferrari made those modification as a direct result of complaints from American owners about the slow acceleration of the carb cars from what I have read. I do believe the carb cars were a little faster top end, but that doesn't matter much to most owners, especially here in the USA. And why would a BB512i need custom exhaust work whereas a BB512 would not? My Ansa Sports exhaust that was installed by the dealer in 1982 sounds just fine. It is a carb car with all the excess fuel and moisture that will require more exhaust work rather than an injected car.

 

I have owned both a 512BBi and my current 365BB. Both are fast but the 512 BBi is tuned for more mid-range power and greater torque while the 365BB has its slightly higher power output at the top end. Power figures are as follows:

512 BBi 340 hp at 6200 rpm, 333 lb-ft. torque
512 BB 360 hp (DIN) at 6800 rpm 333 lb-ft. torque
365 BB 344 hp (SAE) at 7200 rpm, 302 lb.-ft. torque

Magazine road tests of the period are all over the board when it comes to performance figures. Some of the cars tested in the U.S. were modified to meet emission requirements and some were not. The 1975 Road & Track test of a Euro-spec. 365 BB has times that were adversely affected by a slipping clutch. Mel Nichols, author of the definitive Boxer book, "Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer" believed that the 365 BB was faster than the 512 BB, although his book was written prior to the introduction of the 512 BBi.

The 365 BB has the lowest gear ratios of the line with a final drive of 3.75. The 512 BB and BBi have a final drive of 3.21 or 3.44, I can't remember which. The carburated car is definitely louder and raw while the 512 BBi is a bit more refined. Both are exciting. You should probably drive one of each in order to determine which better suits your preferences.

Mike Sheehan has an article on the different Boxers in a 2000 Sport Car Market magazine. You can access this article online at his website www.ferraris-online.com. Happy hunting!

Steve Biagini

 

Steve,

Both the BB and BBi have final drive ratios of 3.21:1

I've got just about every magazine test report that was ever written about the 512s.

Both of the cars are amazing. I decided to buy a BBi because I knew I would be driving the car quite often and I didn't want to deal with the expense/issues of keeping six-two barrel Webers tuned correctly.

Here's a favorite quote from the Sept 1984 R&T magazine- "World's fastest cars" issue.

"...when the Boxer decides to really get up and go, it goes. What was it's speed - 284 kilometers (176mph)?... It just feels tight and race-breed all the way through." - Phil Hill

 

i agree with all the above comments. i too began looking for a bb and found that the bbi seemed faster and was more bearable to drive in all real world conditions. it remains very raw maybe a bit less so than a bb ...but not much! i also have the ansa sport exhaust and no smog stuff...and btw...it simply screams!!

 

Gary,

The carbed Boxers have 4 three-barrels, not 6 two-barrels, which was the Daytona setup. It is my experience, that, once set up properly, they will remain that way for quite a long time. However, emissions compliance is extremely difficult with the carbed cars, and it is probably advisable to take advantage of antique car emission exemptions if you have a carbed car.

Steve

 

Yep, my '77s both went "exempt" last year, and inspection fee dropped to $12.

FREE! I'm FREE at last!

That's why I bought the non cats cars in the first place!

Where's a good carb Boxer? Did the 110,000 mile black one in Chicago change hands after failing to meet eBay reserve????

 

Oops! DUH...Brain lapse.... I was thinking about the Daytona carbs.

Yep, my injected car barely passed the emissions test after a 2nd attempt and lots of tweeking. I'm not exempt here until 2009 (because my car was titled as an 1984).

 

In my state of Illinois, the car must be 25 years old and one must apply for special antique plates in order to be exempt from emissions testing. With the antique plates, the car is supposed to be driven only to and from shows and service appointments. There are a lot of those happening on summer weekends!

 

CARBS CARBS CARBS CARBS CARBS!!!!!!!!!!! questions?? see my profile!

 

Show and/or race cars under 25 years old also are eligible for exemption if they meet the guidelines of 625 ILCS 5/13B-15(f)(9) (in other words, operated exclusively in amateur or professional sporting events or exhibitions).

 

the 365bb is the quickest from 0-60. Its' power to weight ratio is better than the others. The 512bb has a higher top end speed. The 512bbi is more civilized, but in my opinion does not look as good as a 365 which has clean unadulterated lines( much like comparing an early vs later model countach). The 365bb is much rarer and therefore probably more collectable, but then again I am biased!
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Sorry, larger photos for the sight impaired!!
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Sorry - Not sure this is accurate, "Ferrari made those modifications as a direct result of complaints from American owners about the slow acceleration of the carb cars from what I have read."

None of these car's were EVER built for the American market and certainly no comments or 'complaints' would have swayed Ferrari opinion at the time as it was NOT a marketing factor.

You may have some very nice examples over there now, but NONE ever started life as official imported or 'US' spec cars.

It's only right you stick up for the BBi as you own one, (as I do), but the BB is a faster, louder, rawer experience, if a little more troublesome ownership propersition - Set-up, servicing, etc
Would be owner's should be given all the FACTS and allowed to make up there own mind based on their test drive experience of different cars, there expected ownership budget and heart over mind decision making process.....

My Heart said BB, my Head said BBi.....Head won !

Seb

 

Beautiful Car Greg - love the air box covers !

Seb

 

Thanks. Has proper white leads fitted since that photo and now looks alot better

 

Boxer512, my comments are based on what I have read that was written by Dick Fritz(Amerispec) and Richard Merit(DOT) back when the Boxer was new. Gerald Rouse of the FML also made several trips to the factory back then to pick up Boxers to import to the USA. While they were not ever officially imported to the US, Ferrari cooperated with gray market importers as the USA was still the largest market for the Boxer even though they were all gray market cars. Changes were made to appease the American market even though the cars came here unofficially. In fact, Ferrari preferred it that way as they saved on warranty! Rear air was added to the 400 as a result of request from American importers and it was a gray market only car too. As to my comments on performance, I base that on magazine tests of the time as well as Ferrari's own specs which list the BB512i as the fastest 0-100kph and the 365GT4BB as the fastest top end. of course Americans prefer acceleration over top speed.

 

THAT's what I'm talkin' about!

Sounds wonderful...a head to head test of WELL TUNED, properly set up cars..

365BB
512BB
512BBi

That'd be cool..

To clarify: No special tag required in Texas, 25 year old cars go "Exempt" from smog check on age alone...