Hi everyone, I have a 78 308 gts, and have been noticing that the fuel lines are cracking and in some cases leaking, I have replaced most of the lines, but noticed something strange, and was wondering if I can get someones input. The fuel line leaving the fuel pump, and moving to the carburators, was cut in half, and a 3 way splitter or a T splitter was placed, adding another fuel line that had no destination, it was basically about 4 inches long, and a screw was placed at the end of it, and clamped on tight so no gas leaks from it. Is there any reason this fuel line is there. I was thinking that maybe it reduces the fuel line pressure when someone shuts off the car. Anyways, I decided to just have a straight fuel line traveling from the pump to the carburator.
Hello from Germany, this is mysterious and there's in fact no reason for such a fuel line setup. At least nothing, what would make any sense. Pressure reduction after shut-off can be also no reason, because due to the return line from the right front carburettor to the right fuel tank pressure will immediately drop to zero after you shut down the engine / fuel pump. The fuel line union on the right front carburettor is not just a fitting, but some kind of a simple pressure regulator because it only has a bore of 1.8mm in diameter. At least on my Euro carbed 308 GTB. When you replace your fuel lines take the best stuff you can get. I prefer and recommend, due to today's fuel additives and increasing ethanol blends to go for most modern FPM/ECO lines instead of the old NBR/CR lines. No way the very old textile braided stuff. And no nice looking steel braided lines, which show no warning signs of deterioration until they completely fail. Best Regards Martin
On the '78-'79 308 they added a pressure limiting device on the output line of the fuel pump (that would divert fuel back into the fuel pump inlet line) if there was a downstream blockage -- see Fig 59, page 67 in the 150/78 OM. No real problem with what you've done -- you're back to how the '77 and before 308 are configured.
There is another thread recently active from someone with an '80 carb car. Took me by surprise. They claim about half the '80 cars were carb.
Seamus; do you have a link to that thread; I cannot find it. In 1980, when the first test results about the 2V injected models werde published, suddenly demand for the last carbed models increased. My car is the fourth last built carbed 308 GTB sold in France by Ch. Pozzi ( Ferrari France ) and spent its first few years in Paris. It seems, that Pozzi and others bought out the last carbed cars. First registration of my car was in 1982. Also worth of notice is the fact, that Ferrari still built carbed cars, when the 2V i-models were already on sale. My car was manufactured in October 1980. There's a book published since some months - I sent it back to amazon with horror - which lists all Ferrari serial numbers and which designates cars like mine as 'post-series-cars'...... This is BS in my eyes. Best Regards from Germany Martin
i'm out of my element here, but could the line have been used as a diagnostic "tap" at some point in the car's history to monitor pump output?
Took me awhile to find the thread. Here it is: http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=191764&highlight=1980+carb Seamus
this might be a possibility, but if yes, a plain stupid one. Because one can disconnect the fuel line directly at the pump and install a temporary t-joint. Or much easier; connect the pressure tester to the pump and leave the line to the carbs alone. One doesn't need the engine running to test the pump. At least, this is, what I have done. If the pump is o.k., it delivers the required pressure and quantity running with the 12 V battery voltage. It doesn't need the 14V from the alternator while the engine is running. And it's safer, because at least I don't like fiddling with the fuel delivery system, while the engine is running. Too much danger of fire hazard inside my workshop. Best Regards from Germany Martin
