So gentle folk, I plan on replacing the fuel injector and bits, plastic mounting bushings, "O"rings and lines Verrell look for my purchase soon) but I would like to know what I should do while I'm in there. If I remove the intake plenum to gain access to the injectors what else should I contemplate folks? Thanks, Lester
You don't need to remove the plenum to remove the injectors but it does make life easier & then you can clean the whole lot up on the bench. If you are going to do it then the safest thing to do is to remove the manifolds and plenum in one unit (thereby avoiding the risk of a space dropping down the manifold if you just try & lift the plenum off). To do that loosen the nuts under the plenum (but don't remove them) and then unbolt the manifolds & lift the whole lot off in one. The obvious major thing to do while you are in there is check the water manifolds for weeps & also replace the two big coolant pipes connecting up the waterpump/T'stat housing. If you do that look at which direction the hose clips are pointing so that you can still get to the mechanisms (to tighten them) with the manifolds/plenum on. It'd make sense to replace the hoses running back to the expansion tank as well.
^ What he said ... Watch out for those little spacers in the thick rubber gaskets. Check a parts manual if you don't understand. You can also cleanup and replate all the metal fuel pipes. They were very pretty at one time and didn't collect rust.
Use 2 wrenches when removing the fuel line from the injector. Set them up to 'squeeze to losen.' Do not be sorry you didn't. The last bit of advice maybe to clean your fuel distributor. The amount of old gas varnish that can come outta those things can be absolutely amazing. If you don't want to fiddle with it send it to Larry Fletcher at CISTECH. He is one of the few today with the tools, know how and patience to clean and tune these things. There is a threaded brass looking coupler on the front of the FD that connects to one of the bigger OD plactic lines. It also contains a filter of sorts. You might want to change that out too. Go to Bosch for the part.
And since you ask while you ask while you are there with the plenum off, this is the good time to inspect or replace all the vacuum hose and maybe the water hose behind the thermostat housing and clean that valley too while you're at it. That what I did when I had my plenum off. And as mentioned above, please be careful with those metal collars as I almost had a heart attack when I thought I lost one inside the manifold but ended down in the valley. "Whew"
I replaced the injectors whilst replacing all hoses around the engine that also required to remove the plenum. It is not difficult at all to remove the plenum but as mentioned above consider those stupid spacers. When re-installing i glued the spacers for a next time. With the plenum removed you could also remove the injecor holders where the plenum is mounted on. That makes it really great to replace the injectors. You need much force to push the injectors in with the seals in place. When you follow this procedure you also create space to clean-up the area below the plenum and maybe replace some hoses whilst being there since these will be 29 years old. Some pics from my job: Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
and some more pics showing the top of the engine before and after the job. You will also have access to your motor number, take a picture and keep with the history of your 328: Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
and I tell you that it was great fun doing it. One day I worked for hours, the next just 15 minutes because i had no inspiration or time. This is why i like the winter period here meaning lots of time to do jobs like this.
With the plenum off, it is a great time to upgrade the oil pressure gauge. http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/ferrari-parts-collectibles/499999-modern-oil-pressure-sensor-kit-3x8-mondial-etc.html ... and since the car is currently inoperative, it is also a great time to redo the suspension and to have the interior leather redyed.
This... this may be more of a project than I had planned, I'll check into having new frames manufactured, no need to use an old one, and to fabricating new engine blocks from carbon fiber. Thanks guys!
