Broken 365 Turn Signal/Headlamp Stalks | FerrariChat

Broken 365 Turn Signal/Headlamp Stalks

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by mikewestrick, Apr 22, 2004.

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  1. mikewestrick

    mikewestrick Rookie

    Apr 21, 2004
    21
    Fort Wayne, IN
    I am at a loss for repairing or replacing the turn signal and headlamp stalks on my 68 365 GT 2+2. The original handles were not with the car when purchased. The bases are still in tact inside the steering column switch assembly. I have removed the bases with the switch contacts and could likely machine replacement plastic switch bases, but am at a loss for the metal shafts and plastic handles. Any suggestions out there or maybe some left over parts?
     
  2. wax

    wax Five Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Jul 20, 2003
    51,528
    SFPD
    Full Name:
    Dirty Harry
    Hit up zac on Tom Yang's site.

    This link is from their old message board, but after reading the message & changing shorts ;), click on zac's nic - you'll be off and running with an email.
    http://www.tomyang.net/cars/wwwboard/msg/1296.html

    Hope never fades, does it?
     
  3. Verell

    Verell F1 Veteran
    Consultant Owner

    May 5, 2001
    7,017
    Groton, MA
    Full Name:
    Verell Boaen
    mikewestrick
    I've been making reproduction stalks for 308s & 400s that use a Vitaloni switch for a couple of years now. I suspect the 365 may have used the same switch. Here's some early samples of my work:

    http://www.ferrarichat.com/discus/messages/256120/202534.html

    If you send me a pix of the column end of your switches & I can probably tell if it's basicly the same as a 3x8 switch.

    The one mold I'll have to make is for the switch mechanism inside the headlight twist knob. The metal pieces for the contacts willl have to be hand fabricated also.

    [email protected]
     
  4. mikewestrick

    mikewestrick Rookie

    Apr 21, 2004
    21
    Fort Wayne, IN
     
  5. wax

    wax Five Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Jul 20, 2003
    51,528
    SFPD
    Full Name:
    Dirty Harry
    Could be - I haven't communicated with him. If not... sign up for Tom's "newer" site - zac is a regular on this vintage-centric site who answers queries on the board, as his email contact seems to be "disabled" on his profile.
    http://www.tomyang.net/cars/ferrari.html
    --

    Though I scanned a great deal of F-Chat before joining, I hadn't seen the post Verell linked to on the old F-Chat site.

    Verell - who has earned his Consultant stripes (*Bows* I am not worthy) is no slacker & were I in your shoes, I wouldn't hesitate. He certainly didn't hesitate & his can-do approach is what this board is all about.
     
  6. Bryan

    Bryan Formula 3

    PartSource (Geoff Ohland) in Camden, Maine had a rebuild for the 365 GTC/4 headlight/hi-lo-flasher switch, which may be the same as the 365 GT 2+2.

    Similar core exchange process to radiators, etc. Send in your old one. If they can rebuild it, they will send you a rebuilt one and use your old one as the next job. ~$600 for the C4 headlight switch and stalk!!

    207-236-9791
    http://www.partsourcenet.com/

    I got all excited one day when I found out the the early 308s had exactly the same switch as the C4 and I figured that the 308 parts should be relatively easier to find. Then I discovered that the 308 switches are also as un-obtainable as the C4!

    I took my turn signal apart once and cleaned it up and it works fine. You have to be careful with all the little balls and springs. However, if something plastic is broken, that's challenging!

    and that's what's broken on the headlight switch for the C4. Inside is a very simple set of electrical contacts with a poorly designed set of channels and a small ball that closes/opens the contacts for the headlights. The channels in the plastic knob were worn and I see no way to fix this. The turn signals were much more straightforward and fixable.

    Photos at

    Contacts at end of stalk
    http://home.earthlink.net/~f365gtc4/images/SwitchContacts.jpg

    Switch control
    http://home.earthlink.net/~f365gtc4/images/Switch.jpg

    Interior of control (sorry for poor focus)
    http://home.earthlink.net/~f365gtc4/images/SwitchInterior.jpg
     
  7. Verell

    Verell F1 Veteran
    Consultant Owner

    May 5, 2001
    7,017
    Groton, MA
    Full Name:
    Verell Boaen
     

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