HELP! 328 running rough!

I have a 1986 328GTS with 6,500 miles on it. I went up to Lime Rock Saturday (July 9th) and the car was running great, On the way home it started suddenly running really rough almost like a motor when the choke is on. At first, I thought I was running out of gas. Luckily I was 4 miles from my garage and nursed it back....When I shut it off, smoke was coming up from the center area of the rear bumper between the exhaust tips........A gray colored smoke..Looked like a Barbecue grill with the lid shut....This continued until everything cooled down........I looked under the car and found no leaks...the oil was right up to the full mark on the dipstick.......All the gauges were reading what they should. Any ideas? I bought this car from the original owner and it has only had oil changes as far as I know......There is no mechanical noise but the motor seems to backfire...not loudly out the exhaust, but more of a "popping" sound..........If anyone can shed any light on this problem, it would be greatly appreciated. I was wondering if it could possibly be spark plug related? It came on very suddenly and when it happened.

 

If the car only has 6,500 miles on it, and has only had oil changes in the past 19 years, DO NOT DRIVE IT!!!!!!!!

Get it to someone that knows what they're doing, and have the engine gone through completely.

If you drive the car, you most likely will destroy the engine!!!!

 

Ok, now you know why hanger queens get such a rough time....'cause when you think that low milage beauty is like new....you find out that a few gremlins lurk about!
Sugestions:
1) Get a full 15,000 mile service. (belts, idle gear, rubber hoses, brake fluid, and coolant flush & plugs)....about $4,000 would be a good guess. Do it now.
2) Your problem,,,,,almost certainly a cylinder not firing, causing fuel to get into the header, causing smoke and loss of power. Cure. new plugs, and a new ignition cable set, also check the distributors.....could well be duff if they have sat for almost a decade. Allow another $1500.(more if distributor is bad).
3) Drive lots.....this car wants to be driven, not sittin'.

Good luck! Jay

 

Thought...if you do not have a friendly mechanic, try IFS(independant ferrari service) 508 238 4224, in South Easton, Ma. John Tirrell. He looks after my 89 328. Does great work.
I am in Litchfield...where are you?
Jay

 

Thought...if you do not have a friendly mechanic, try IFS(independant ferrari service) 508 238 4224, in South Easton, Ma. John Tirrell. He looks after my 89 328. Does great work.
I am in Litchfield...where are you?
Jay

 

I wouldn't drive the car. The catalytic converter is probably clogged which will be caused by a misfire. Also, get the belts changed at the very least.

 

I am in Pawling, NY.......about 40 miinutes North of White plains. Looks like I'll have to do the major service on it....then I can sleep a little better. If a belt broke, it would not run at all and make a lot of noise...right?

 

I will get it serviced.....It is my 1st Ferrari and will be my first experience with a Ferrari dealer. How do they treat these cars there? No extra chips or scratches from working on them? No marks on the wheels from removal/install? I am used to regular car dealers that don't take any care when working on you car. That is why I try to do all my own maintenance work on my other cars.

 

It would make a lot of noise when the valves hit the pistons, bending the valves and possibly punching holes in the pistons!

Outcome; expensive engine rebuild.

 

The 2 dealers in my area treat the cars like their own.

All body panels in the work area are covered, and great care is taken to ensure no damage is done to customers cars.

 

I changed the plugs out for some new NGK Iridiums and fired it up. The car ran better than when I bought it. I have a feeling the Champion A-6G plugs that came out were original with 6500 miles on them.........I am amazed it ran as well as it did with 19 year old plugs! Will be doing the belts soon!