82 Ferrari 308 GTSI Fuel Injection

[robert12]

I have an 82 Ferrari 308 GTSI Fuel Injected. I recently had the timing belt changed and rebuilt the first head with new valves and new guides. I also replaced the clutch with a new one, new spark plugs and wires. Since then my car has not been running good. My thoughts are that when the mechanic replaced the timing belt, I'm guessing that there may have been 1 tooth off time. Also I believe that the fire order was wrong because I lost some power and he also touched the flywheel while working on the new clutch replacement. Since then, when the car is warm, I am unable to start it without putting my foot on the gas as a carburator car and not as the fuel Injected car I have. Furthermor, the exhaust manufold becomes bright red and hot enough to melt the aluminum skirt cover. (I also lost the famous Ferrari Wistle sound from the air intake :0( ). Please any help is kindly appreciated on any of the problems I am undergoing.

[ysrjunkie]

Ignition is off! The more you run the engine the more you may damage it. Who did these services for you? Was it running alright before the services were performed? If so, the shop needs to stand behind their work. Good luck. It sounds like you have issues that will test your patience.

[tr0768]

My guess is that the cams slipped a tooth or 2 when they tried to retension the belt. Remove the cam covers and double check the vlave timing. Unless they used a cam lock tool it is nearly impossible to keep the cams in time when tensioning the new belt. I purchased a set of cam locks from Unubtaniam, and they work perfectly. Simple in construction and easy to use, a real no brainer.

I would not run this motor until you determine which cam is out of time. You can bend valves and may have already. Tow it back to the shop that did the belt replacement and stand there while they remove the cam covers and check the timing. Once the cam timing is corrected make them do a compression test to see if you have low compression in 1 or more cylinders(bent valves). Even then they should do a leak down test on each cylinder. Then run a vacumn test as the motor is running to see if you are pulling the correct vacumn.

Howard musolf
tr0768
1981 308gtsi
1982 400i Cabriolet
Maserati Spyder

[ysrjunkie]

I would check the ignition timing first. It is easier and most likely the culprit. It could be cam timing too like Howard said. But it would take less than a half hour to check ignition timing. If both banks manifolds are getting red hot, that would send me to ignition timing too since if one cam was off, one manifold would be red. Good luck.

[robert12]

Howard, thanks for the info I had the same thoughts ... can you send me the site where to buy the cam lock tool?... thanks

[tr0768]

Go to Ferrarichat.com and search "unubtanium" and his number will be availible as well as his other products. He lives near Shirley Mass. He has all new hoses and ferrels for hi pressure fuel injection, and injector removing tool. His cam locks are simple blocks of maple split thru the center from end to end and machined out to clamp around the ends of the cam shafts. The 2 haves are clamped together with long bolts and nuts. Very simplistic and effective. We have done a number of sets of 308 timing belts with no slippage and no problems. If you decide to purchase them order 2 pair and lock the cams on the left and right bank at the same time.

Howard Musolf
tr0768