What to look out for when considering a Mondial?

Search FChat for Hot Start problem, burned fuse block, two fans necessary, AC not working, weak dash lights, gas gauge not working properly, rust in fuel tanks, long water hose issues, short gas hose between fuel tanks, cam timing belts age, condition of radiator, plus.


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Make sure the cosmetic is ok....all mechanics can be repaired.

 

Condition of the roof and it’s latching components. Condition of the B Pillars.
Does the heat / AC work? Fan?
Age of tires
Carfax, Does it make sense?
Past maintenance history.
Shifting and clutch?
Speed of windows. All functional?
Every switch - functional?

Get someone qualified to do a proper PPI. money well spent for sure.

Any specific questions are welcome as I also have an 88.


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Two common problems that can be dealt with.
Good luck.


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Bought my 88 3.2 convertible sight-unseen but with someone being nice enough to do an at least amateur "eyes on" for it back in 2016-ish.

My recommendation is to find those things that ARE hard-to-fix when looking. As mentioned, the mechanicals can be fixed, and, assuming it's not a salvage title, bodywork can be fixed as well by finding the body panels (wrecked exotics places) or a quality shop and good body people to work on it. All that should be reflected in the price.

However, some things are much harder to repair. The top latches and the b-pillars on the convertibles are NOT available for purchase, like anywhere. My top originally did not latch because they were broken. I was able to get new latches from someone here on FChat (I actually believe it was ronfrohock too, but I might be mistaken) who custom made them and I have a spare set of b-pillars from FChat too.

I wish I would have gotten the new switch panel that I thought someone had made a long time ago, because while mine is ok, it would be nice to have a "like new" one.

The OEM steering wheel is the same one used on the TRs, and it has this little trim ring that is not available either. You might be able to buy the steering wheel, but finding that ring is a pain. The last one I saw was $250 for just the ring on Ebay. Mine had this horrible "F1 wannabe" steering wheel installed when I got it, and while I do have a Momo (via 308/328) on it now for look/feel, I was lucky enough to find an OEM steering wheel and ring after I bought the car in case I want to go back to stock.

I also replaced the fuse panel / fusebox with "guido's" fusebox to ensure the wiring wasn't an issue at the box. The 308s used to have "birdman's fuse box" but I don't know if he works on those any more.

Things that can be fixed just require expenditure of cash OR wrenching and parts.

One of the first things my independent mechanic recommended was replacing gas hoses to avoid "fires" like the 308/328s, which I did. I don't know if Mondials spontaneously combusted as bad as older 308s "back in the day" or not, but I wanted to make sure. I believe he also replaced the coolant hoses, but I'd have to pull out my receipts.

If it turns over and doesn't smoke (and doesn't make noise), the engine is "probably" ok, so then look for things that can't be easily done.

 

Some random thoughts.

Since you are dealing with ac, check that the heater works, the heater valves have a spring insert that weakens over time, and the valves are not readily available, there are some cheap spring inserts to rebuild that don't work so well either. There are some relays under the dash that can affect the ac, so might want to see if you have a relay rather than an ac compressor type of issue.

The rear window not going down is not trivial. The replacement mechanisms are not available, and they look very difficult to remove. Not sure anyone rebuilds old ones, could be a motor re build requirment or hardened grease. But of course it could be wiring connections, or more likely simply a failed switch, which a shot of electrical cleaner and switching on off repeatedly can solve for.

You should expect to replace some fuel and coolant hoses due to age. They are not all so easy to access.

A fuel distributor rebuild will probably preempt all kinds of unusual running problems.

The distributor coils, caps, rotors and wires are expensive and often not changed as frequently as they would be on a "normal" car. Ie often are still originals.

The shift shaft seals can leak, as can the differential seals. Not too bad to replace, but would be good to inspect to see if they will need attention.

Fuse boxes delaminate, and the connectors to the fuse box can overheat and cause connection problems. GT Car Parts has a modern fuse box remanufactured that are plug and play. There are other fuse box solution available too.

The 88 is well designed, and as the run out year is the most developed. It drives very nicely, long wheelbase makes it very stable at speed, and is arguably the best built and driving Ferrari of the era.

 

His name was Ron Frohock. I happen to know he has a decent quantity of the various latch replacement parts on hand but only three pair of B Pillars remaining. And when they are gone, they are gone.


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Also do consider that not being able to roll down a rear window means you will NOT be able to open your top.
The rear window repair - if mechanic - seems to be a real pain for very limited access to where it is mounted. If not DIY, count in some $$$ for that job.
If electrical, it could be as little as a faulty or oxidized switch.

Find out what a "mechanics - out" job of that window would cost at a dealer or workshop of your trust and try to talk down the price with that at hand.
Then hopefully with Fchatter's help you might find out a can of deoxit was all it took.....

 

The 35 year old dried up grease in the rear window mechanisms is another reason they won't work. Taking them apart, cleaning everything and relubing them cured mine. its a bit of a pain to get everything apart back there, but still do-able if you are mechanically inclined. Compared to something like trying to put headers on a C3 big block Corvette, its a piece of cake, lol. If the motors are fried, however, you have a major issue. Replacements are pretty much unavailable.

 

Just a minor correction if I may . Mondials and all Ferrari's of this era cannot have rust in the fuel tanks. The tanks are made out of aluminum and the fuel pump is outside the tanks unlike the 348 and up, and with those beauties you have a whole different issue deteriorating rubber inside the tank.

Speaking about rubber getting bad. Rubber does not have eternal live and fuel tubes/lines are often forgotten to be replaced. So far I haven't seen any Mondial that had all new fuel tubes and in IMHO it is a must to replace it to drive safe. Mid engines, hot exhausts, and deteriorating fuel tubes go very well together for a fire party

 

Correction on this: The Mondial T has two fuel pumps inside the tank (probably for being a disguised 348?)
But it is not a big deal to check those rubbers.
(see my description on cleaning the 348/T Fuelpump filters)

 

Tanks are made from aluminium

 

Read everything you can on this forum before you buy, like I did. Develop a checklist, then go see the car in person and have a very qualified for Ferrari mechanic. Do a PPI for you, we can't tell you everything you need to watch out for! Do the work, it's worth it! 3 years to find mine! I bought a 1988 3.2 because it's still mostly analog, only one simple computer for the ABS. And you can service the engine with it in the car! The 3.4T added a lot more complex systems that can go wrong, and cost a lot of money to fix.

 

OK. Crud.


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In addition to a visual PPI, I would pay a mechanic for an additional hour to drive the car in the freeway and sit in traffic, and make sure the temps stay in the proper zone.

Having recently thrown more money than I can bring myself to confess down the toilet, to mechanics who didn't know how to diagnose why my Mondial was running hot, I can assure you I would do that next time!

Upside - its finally fixed and the car is great. (it was inadequate coolant flow due to an incorrect core, two missing baffles, and degraded long coolant hoses under the car)

 

Since the technician/mechanic is out driving the car have him/her also stop for lunch (on you) for at least half an hour; then they might discover the car will not start.

[Ask a whole bunch of us how we know about this.]. SG


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