Ferrari Mailing List: Re: Hello from the South

[francis newman (francis]

Thanks Matt

I have already used Leatherique - worked really well. But now parts of the 
leather neeeds recolouring.

I would maybe attempt the boot replacement myself at some future pouint, but 
right now I just want to run the car and I need it sorted quckly.

Thanks for your advice.

Best

Francis 

On 5 Jun 2014, at 19:16, Matt Boyd wrote:

> Two quick comments on your post, Francis.
>  
> First, consider Leatherique as a leather treatment before you use Connolly. I 
> have nothing against Connolly, but just give Leatherique a look. I use it in 
> my cars and am very happy.
>  
> The CV boot is actually a pretty rewarding job that you could consider doing 
> yourself. It's a bit messy. All you need is a good socket with an allen 
> fitting. It is really pretty cool seeing how a CV joint works. Of course do 
> this only if you feel it hasn't been compromised too long, but if everything 
> is still good just clean it all up, repack it, and put it back together. I 
> did have problems getting the clamps tightened properly (and I cannot answer 
> if yours should have one or two clamps), but other than that it was 
> straightforward.
>  
> Good luck!
> -Matt
> '85 euro 308
> 
> 
> On Thu, Jun 5, 2014 at 1:36 PM, francis newman <francis [at] fntn.co.uk> 
> wrote:
> Hi Robert and all
> 
> At this stage in my learning curve carbs are not something I want to get 
> involved in. Maybe one day. Did a 230 mile round trip to my brother om 
> Monday/Tuesday to give a talk on Ferrari to his Probus club. Car ran really 
> well. I know it is running rich but I checked the plugs afterwards and they 
> look pretty good, but that was a good long blast. I don't think they would be 
> so good after shorter runs.
> 
> I always check in the engine compartment after a good run, and I noticed some 
> liquid on a chassis part under the driver side engine end of the CV joint. A 
> bit off poking around and I found a split boot (gaiter we call it over here) 
> so the liquid was congealed molten grease!
> 
> So have it booked in to my local Ferrari indy shop (who have looked after the 
> car for the last 15 or so years) to get the mixture sorted and the boot. 
> Maybe one day I'll learn how to do it myself but meanwhile I just want to 
> have it running properly and enjoy it.
> 
> A couple of points.
> 
> 1. This boot was secured by a clamping ring. The other side isn't. There are 
> some posts on Fchat showing 308 boots which suggest that the boot has a 
> flange that fits into a groove on the differential end of the C/V joint. No 
> clamping ring. Is that correct on the GT4. Maybe a wrong boot was used in the 
> past.
> 
> 2. I suspect the previous owner had the car set up a bit rich to achieve max 
> output on a dyno. I am not too bothered about achieving max figures. Just 
> want the car to run nicely in all conditions, short or long journeys. Is that 
> a good choice?
> 
> Next thing to sort is the A/C.  A 2 hour drive even on a moderately warm UK 
> so called summer day makes a pretty warm cockpit. I suspect all the gas has 
> leaked away through lack of use but will get the system checked prior to 
> spending money on the gas.
> 
> 11 weeks of ownership. 1200 miles driven. Learning more and more about the 
> car. Loving it.
> 
> Not enough time to do all the things I want to.
> 
> In no particular order (but I will have to make a plan).
> 
> Fit a heatshield between exhaust and rear trunk ((It has a  "very loud" 
> Stebro exhaust which has no studs for a heatshield so I would need to anchor 
> it to the trunk. Non original I know, but there are enough other non original 
> bits that it doesn't concern me).The previous owner told me that teh exhaust 
> is coated and it doesn't need a heatshield but I'm not sure I agree.
> 
> Re connolise front seats.
> 
> New carpets and mats
> 
> Tidy up surface corrosion on frame extensions, anti roll bar and coil springs.
> 
> See what scrapes need sorting out under the car
> 
> Clean up engine compartment.
> 
> New tyres. Mine are 11 years old.
> 
> And the big one. Complete repaint over next winter. There are enough bits 
> that need rectifying to warrant it.
> 
> So enough to keep me busy for quite a long time
> 
> And of course, I know I have to post pics - and will do in due course. In 
> fact I will write a blog on my ferrarimania.com website which I haven't 
> touched for more years than I can remember!
> 
> Put a new battery in it last week. What a difference. On start up the engine 
> sounds like it's turning over at twice the speed and fires almost 
> immediately. $90 or so well spent.
> 
> Francis
> 
> On 31 May 2014, at 03:35, Robert W. Garven Jr. wrote:
> 
> > Francis,
> >
> > Glad to hear you are having fun. Your car has the fixed bulbs right. The US 
> > cars have a sealed beam type. Actually the carbs were one of the easier 
> > projects I tackled as all the parts only go in one way!  HA
> >
> > Rob
> >
> > <Weber Exploded View.jpg>
> > Robert W. Garven Jr.
> > rgarven [at] gmail.com
> >
> >
> >  "The Ferrari is a dream - people dream of owning this special vehicle and 
> > for most people it will remain a dream apart from for those lucky few." 
> > Enzo Ferrari
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On May 30, 2014, at 5:39 PM, francis newman <francis [at] fntn.co.uk> wrote:
> >
> > Hi Rick and Rob
> >
> > Headlights didn't go according to plan The plastic holders just didn't 
> > work. So a trip to a local fasteners shop gave us all we needed, (sum total 
> > $3 ) new screws and all was well and I will refurbish the rusty wells over 
> > the winter.
> >
> > Rob - yes there is rich and rich. Once again I had cylinder one not firing 
> > (wet plug) and changed all the plugs. Now fine.
> >
> > No Rick. Carburettor stuff beyond my competence to sort. So over to the 
> > shop.
> >
> > Yes - pics soon
> >
> > Onwards and upwards.
> >
> > Got to prepare a talk on Ferrari have to give on Tuesday, so not much time 
> > to post further.
> >
> > Best
> >
> > Francis
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On 30 May 2014, at 13:11, Rick Lindsay wrote:
> >
> >> Hello Francis,
> >>
> >>> Have being doing work.
> >>
> >> :-)
> >>
> >>> Can't remember when I last reported but latest stuff has been replacing
> >>> the outer headlights with new ones, replacing all headlamp bulbs with
> >>> H1 nd H4 and completeley rewiring them direct from the battery with
> >>> local relays tirggered from the original circuits.
> >>
> >> I replaced the headlights in my 308GTB with flat-face lens and reflectors, 
> >> and halogen bulbs. I did not rewire or go to a relay switched system but 
> >> the improvement was considerable. I also just replaced the headlight lamps 
> >> in my Volvo 1800ES.  I used Sylvania blue-white sealed beam lamps and the 
> >> improvement is astounding; weak yellow to crisp, bright white.
> >>
> >>> They now work as intended and are a zillion times brighter1
> >>
> >>> Tomorrow my friend and I are going to replace the original rather worn
> >>> out  metal headlamp cup hoLders with some more modern plastic ones.
> >>> Will then post some pics.
> >>
> >> Please do.
> >>
> >>> I know that is non original, but I would rather something that works
> >>> properly. I will retain the old stuff in case a future owner wants to
> >>> return to originality.
> >>
> >> That is my work model as well. I try to avoid non-reversible changes.
> >>
> >>> 1,000 miles so far.
> >>
> >> Excellent. Running better all the time I would bet! These cars like to be 
> >> driven. I could make up some physics to explain that but I'd rather just 
> >> enjoy it.
> >>
> >>> Next step is getting the carbs reset as it is running rich.
> >>
> >> Do you have emissions testing as part of your MOT for old cars? That 
> >> varies state-to-state here. In Texas there are no inspections required for 
> >> old cars. (Old defined as >= 25 years.)
> >>
> >> Running rich is better than lean. Lean translates to lower power and hot. 
> >> And one might ask; Is it rich all across the power band or just at idle?
> >>
> >> Do you plan to rebuild your 40DCNFs? If so, doing it yourself? The job is 
> >> not hard or even complex but it is long and tedious. Fortunately, your 
> >> carbs probably need nothing more than adjustment, since you drive it a lot 
> >> and its running well.
> >>
> >> I let my 308 sit unused for a long time when my mom lived with us, and 
> >> before she died. We did little more than care for her for over a year. 
> >> Once I got the 308 back out I noticed a 'stumble' when adding a little 
> >> Wellie. Stomp it and it would go like stink but small throttle opening 
> >> produced a very unsatisfying stumble-lag-then-go. The problem was gum 
> >> built up in the accelerator pump circuits. The added air was not being 
> >> enriched so the charge leaned out, and the engine stumbled.
> >>
> >> If you choose to adjust and re-sync your carbs yourself, please let me 
> >> know. There are numerous tricks that make the process much less tedious. 
> >> But before you do anything, make sure you have a nice, clean, correct air 
> >> filter. A clogged-up air filter can cause rich running!
> >>
> >> Best regards,
> >>
> >> Rick
> >
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