Ferrari Mailing List: Re: Standard vs U.S. Spec. ignition timing

[red5hilser (red5hilser]

My Euro 208 GT4 is so 'grey market,' it's black. Just four 2-throat Webers 
sitting on top of the 4-cam V-8, Euro cams and timing, with headers emptying 
into a large tin can called a muffler and out the 4 exhaust tips. No oxygen 
sensor, no cats, no smog equipment, no nada. 

It was 'federalized' by pasting a?MPH speedo cardboard dial over the?KPH. That 
was the alpha & Omega of the federalization process. Don't ask me how it was 
done, but it was. IMHO, either some $$$$ changed hands, or the importer was a 
bigger bullshitter than I ever was.

The first and only thing that I changed?to the entire car was to change the 
spark to a Crane 'Fireball' XP700 pointless ignition,?leaving the disconnected 
original equipment in place.?The Crane unit is hidden and out of view.

Don't ask me how it got passed the Federal Inspectors, but It came with all the 
necessary documents and approvals to get it registered in most states, albeit 
not Kalifornia.? I did have some trouble getting it legalized in The Peoples 
Republic of Tucson, too. I might have exaserbated the problem when the smog 
inspector was both eating a greasy taco and trying to inspect my new car, kept 
getting his greasy handprints all over the paint. Guess I shouldn't have 
shouted, "Hey Pancho, get yer friggin' taco hooks off my car!" I finally had to 
drive up to my cousin's home in Bullhead City, Arizona, where there?are no smog 
checks, and it passed beautifully. Same here in Arkansas, except since it's a 
'78, it qualifies as an 'Antique Auto.' That plate ran me $9.50 and as the lady 
in the DMV said, "It's good forever." No need to come back and renew it, ever. 
<g>

Yer pal, Ferrari Bubba



-----Original Message-----
From: Rick 
Subject: [Ferrari] Standard vs U.S. Spec. ignition timing



Hello Friends,

I have an '83 Mondial QV with the electronic ignition modules, synchronized to 
the TDC sensor and fed by the RPM sensor.  This car is a true 'gray market' 
car.  
It was imported to the U.S. new and specifically to go around FoNA. That being 
said, a few tweaks were added to the car to 'federalize' it.  An oxygen sensor 
was added, with its little control box, controlling an inserted valve used to 
modulate the fuel pressure feed to the fuel distributor.  That's all since been 
removed.

What I am interested in learning is based upon comments Ric Rainbolt made, 
regarding Jim Wilcox's 308GT4, when they were discussing ignition timing.  The 
U.S. cars are timed differently from the European cars.  Its an EPA thing.  But 
since my car is European, I suspect that the ignition modules are timed to that 
specification, not the U.S. setting.

Are there different model numbers for the different modules?  I can't imagine 
that the TDC sensor was offset to change the timing.  That would be very 
difficult, and silly - not the Italians are immune to silliness.

This topic is a parallel to Peter's questions about cam timing.  Anyone have 
insight into this ignition timing variation?

rick
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