More 308 questions

Hi Patrick, congrats on getting my 308! When will the car be delivered to you? I am glad the car has found the great new home. I really loved that car and am missing it already. During my 9 years of ownership, every time I got into the car and turned the ignition on, it was the great moment of pure joy and excitement. Of course, sometimes, it refused to start due to some issues, but it always came home in a matter of 1 or 2 days in a greater condition. As I told you before, it used to be my daily-driver for more than a few years between my home and my work. It is meant to be driven. As long as you keep the car happy, it will make you happy also. You will be able to establish a very special relationship with your car, and that was why it was sad to let it go. My new 355 is unfrotunately in a shop for the header replacement, valve repair, tensioner bearing and timing belt replacement, etc. If you have any questions about the car, just let me know. Enjoy your 308!! Yoshi

 

The 3K idle is generally attributed to 1980 (first injected) models. What you should do is a search to find threads which tell how to back the 3K idle to 1200 rpm or so. There are at least 4 ways to do it, all reversible and fairly easy. Some just involve reversing vacuum hoses, most common involves choking down the hose into the cold idle plenum and lastly simply unplugging the cold circuitry connectors. Legend has it that in the switch from carbs to injectors, Ferrari was scared about meeting all the regulations so overdid that one. Couple years from now come back and re-read your worries and you'll get a laugh how easy-going you will have become. Seat time will overcome your apprehensions, there's really little you can do wrong, just avoid hitting hard objects.

 

Same story I've heard. The goal, as it seems, was to use high engine speeds - complete with whatever cold bearing threats went along with it - to heat the cats and the O2 sensor (K-Jetronic Lamda equipped). As you may recall, that was an era where emissions regulation was running amuck (sound familiar?) and manufacturers were doing all kinds of crazy things to make their cars pass emissions tests. I have retrofitted my gray-market Mondial QV back to fully standard specification. It runs great and passes emissions tests here in Texas, even though it doesn't have to do so legally. It now uses the 1200 rpm warm-up and settles down nicely to 1000rpm within a minute. My '79 308GTB is just raw car with none of that foolishness to complicate matters. -rick

 

As stated before, it really depends on the pump and the station. I know which pumps to go to and which to avoid now.

 

I think you'll be impressed with the balance and handling of the car, as compared to your TA. Probably not as fast in a straight line as your TA however. Give it a couple drives and you'll be hooked, it's a uniquely Italian automotive experience.!