When I was 17 my friend and I were rebuilding his two-stroke single bike. It all went back together perfectly, we took it outside, he kicked it over and it ran like a dream. So he put it in first and let the clutch out, and disappeared 10 yards backwards up the road before falling off. Timing was 180 out and it was running backwards. One of us thought it was really funny!
Thanks Jack! This car purchase is what attracted me to your channel at the time. I love 308s and I don't know if I'll ever get to own one. So I appreciate you sharing your ownership experiences, good and bad. Merry Christmas to you and your family! (From the US)
Lol which has been the good bit😢😢😢I was given some great advice from my Father who owned 308 then 400i finally a 82 512, he said always set aside 25% of the value for servicing and unseen issues ... if not buy a Mercedes
Watching this in Australia at 4.30am before work, and I had to suppress a cheer so I didn’t wake the family when that beauty fired up! Congratulations Jack. Your patience and persistence has been inspiring. Can’t wait to see you get it out on the road.
This is still my favourite Ferrari design. Love your house and location, looks like Hansel & Gretel land! Living in the tropics I forgot how much I miss the seasons.
That sounded very promising! It's easily done with the dizzy - when I was working on my other half's MG I managed to get the thing out by 180 degrees, as well as fitting the rotor the wrong way round (as it then looked right, if you know what I mean) when timing to TDC. It was only desperation that led me to eventually get it right as I was convinced I had checked... Great that the guys who did the heads looked after you as well.
Jack, that smile at @17:02 was the exact reason why your channel deserves all the love it now has! I'm glad to have been a contributing artist, a friend, and a follower for all this time, since almost the very beginning! Your content is getting increasingly better, and I wish you and yours a wonderful Holiday season! Regards, Steve the "designer" from Canada!
Nice to see a superb company like Tayna "silently" contributing to content creators like yourself. I've used Tayna solely on my 6 cars for the last 10+ years and cannot sing their praises enough (especially as you get through many batteries with 6 cars! just because keeping them all charged and in use etc is difficult). Keep up the good work, glad it is hopefully finally resolved. Still loving the content (been 'following' since the early 911uk 964 days etc, and still love the vid with Clinchy)
Another great video, thank you Jack. I really appreciate that you show what didn't go according to plan and how you eventually made it work. There are too many channels that skip all that. Merry Christmas to you and all your viewers. 🎄
I picked up a Carrera 3.2 in the condition of your 308 and it took me about a year to do an engine rebuild myself finishing about 3 weeks ago. It took about month to tear it down, 7 months at the machine shop waiting my turn in the queue, and then about 3 months of me actually doing the rebuild. I'll probably tackle a 308 at some point so I'm always interested in your progress. Keep up the good work.
Well done Jack! Really pleased for you and the 308 sounded great. You cannot beat the extreme satisfaction after resolving a long running issue. I remember when I lost drive on my Mk1 Golf GTI after recently replacing an outer CV boot. Thought long and hard and finally worked out I had accidentally pulled too hard on the driveshaft when refitting everything such that I had popped off the inner CV circlip resulting the splined shaft coming out of mesh with the diff spinning round losing traction to the other wheel. Another time, the timing kept going out which turned out to be a slipping crankshaft sprocket due to worn woodruff key! A.common fault I later discovered after desperately asking around. It all helps to keeps the grey matter ticking over!
Jack I admire your honesty with these videos, we all fail sometimes, our job is to make sure the important stuff is done to mitigate the damage and to learn from our mistakes, thank you for this journey, can't wait to see her on the road
Congratulation JAck... you have been putting more and more energy and spirit to me for keeping our old Pug 505s running till the end of the gasoline era in the future... 😊😁😁
Great to hear that car running properly, grand job. Re: Tayna. I've bought several batteries from them, over the years, for different cars. Service has always been great, the batteries arrived very quickly, well packaged and protected.
Finally a early Christmas present from No 27. Fantastic to see it running again. When starting an engine that had been open to the damp my dad used to recommend hot water in the cooling jacket and warming up the plugs.
Another entertaining video Jack! Anyone who been around Fiats since the mid 60's is familiar with the overhead tappet design you are working with. It is one of the most brilliant designs that was ever done on overhead, and especially double overhead cam, engines. It meant that, prior to this design, you didn't have to remove the cam shaft to change the adjustment shims!! I don't know about the 308's factory tool for compressing the valve spring to remove the shims. Why it's not like the FIAT 124's tool, which was designed years before the 308 motor, is unbelievable! The FIAT factory tool was a cheap stamped steel tool that was precisely built to the width of the tappet itself. It straddled the tappet, and pressed down on two edges of the tappet. It surprises me that the Ferrari factory tool for this would not be the same. Unless, of course, you didn't get the factory tool. The tappets for the 308 look smaller than the FIAT 124. But it would be funny if they were the same size! You spent a small fortune for a "Ferrari " tool that is the same as the FIAT tool?! On top of that, it appears to be a more poorly designed tool! I still have my factory FIAT tappet/valve spring compressor tool in my tool box. It is tool number FIAT-SAT-A.60594. I looked for the valve adjusting tool on "Mr. FIAT". It sells for $57.00. They have the one you are using, for the FIAT (Ferrari) Dino, for $236.00. Probably the same for the 308. The two tool one. Really stupid. They must not be the same diameter tappet. I would suggest having a shop make you a properly sized FIAT type valve tappet/spring compressor. It would be well worth it. If you want to complain about changing valve lash on double overhead cam engines, just try going through the process of the conventional (at the time) removal of the cams to change the valve shims! Alfa's, Jags, Etc. enthusiasm! Thanks again, Jim
Congrats on finally getting the beast started and running. Can't believe it's been 3 years since I first logged on to this channel. How time flies! Best wishes for Christmas and the New Year! 🙂
I cheered when she started Jack!! We all need small victories. My 944 left me in Tesco’s car park last week. No one around to tow me. Call AA. Started on a jump pack but wouldn’t rev. Got towed home and the very young technician said he thought it might be the distributor leads… but he wasn’t very familiar with ‘that kind of ignition’ 🫣🫣🫣. Turned out he was right, changed them in sub-zero weather so I could get the car back into storage. The relief when it started was incredible. Love seeing the 308. It’s why I started watching and I do miss your videos where you are trying to get your cars back up and running!
Great news, Jack! Sorry about all the troubles leading up to the final start...but when it did fire up it sounded fantastic. Looking forward to the next videos.
There is no finer moment than when an internal combustion engine comes to life after a rebuild. Congratulations Jack, and I am SO hoping the Influenzo runs properly now. Best wishes for a Good Yul.
The great thing about the 308 is that it is basically a very reliable everyday car. I did 121,000 miles in a QV and it never broke down once. A mate did 97,000 in a carb car like yours and it was also built proof. I know a guy who used to work for Ferrari and he logged over 750,000 miles in various 308's without a breakdown. The other thing is that it is one of the Ferraris that you can work on yourself as you are proving. Lastly parts are readily available and cheaper than a normal modern hatchback if you know where to go and the tricks. The steering rack is the same as an Issigonis mini and can be bought for 10 per cent of the price Ferrari will charge you for the exact same part. The clutch is the same as a Fiat 1 tonne van, the sills cost £50 etc etc. We stripped my starter motor and alternator at 100,000 miles and they didn't even need new bushes! The clutch was only 20 per cent worn so we only replaced the thrust bearing, BUT the reason for that is unlike 99 per cent of people who don't know how to change gear, as a biker I always match the revs when changing down and when healing and towing. That simple skill simply eliminates clutch wear. Now I know what you are thinking, I must have pussied around in the car for it to have lasted like that. WRONG! Exact opposite, as a 26 year old I followed the advice of the older Ferraristi who told me "Son to get Ferrari to last you treat her like a passionate woman, warm her up gently (and avoid 2nd gear until the oil temperature is on 210) then when she is ready, thrash her like you stole her and she will love you forever and never let you down" Well I followed that advice to the letter and most of my gear changes were on the red line. I used to cross Europe at 140MPH + all day and still get 23 MPG. At 158 MPH and 0-60 at 6 secs, the 308 is not fast by todays standards, but it is still one of the best sports cars ever made. I might get another, and funnily enough I would get a LHD this time as the ergos work much better on that side.
Jack, one of (the many) things I like about your videos is that you show your progress "warts and all", and I'm sure I'm not alone in relating to all those annoying little mistakes, spillages and broken stuff just because we forgot something. And wishing you a very merry Christmas.
Congratulations Jack, on getting the Ferrari back running again! It has been a long journey!! Can't wait for the first drive....Happy Holidays to you and your family.
Oh well done Jack. So happy for you. Admire your patience and perseverance- necessary ingredients for any classic car owner who does their own work, yet all to often absent in so many. Again, well done mate. Martin
Well done Jack! You mentioned something about a tube being bent in the oil pan (sump), and I wonder, did you remove the dipstick extension tube before removing the pan? If not, that bends and damages the dipstick tube extension and I believe it can lead to leaks and erroneous oil level readings. To remove the oil pan, you should first remove the dipstick tube from the engine, then reach inside the pipe fitting still attached to the side of the pan (which does not get removed) and you'll be able to slide out the dipstick extension tube from within the oil pan. Then it is safe to remove the oil pan. There are topics on F-chat if you want to read further.
Jack, I’ve watched for countless years and multiple episodes of the Influenzo. But your face at 17:00 mins into the video was absolutely worth it all. You have gone thru what people call traumatic bonding and therefore can never sell the Influenzo.
I know naff all about engines but for some reason I find it calming seeing someone put one back together. Setting up 2 carbs on a 2 stroke bike was my limit - those banks of carbs on the Influenzo look like nuclear power plants to me....
Hi Jack - Great video as always - I too used Tanya recently (with the discount code of yours) and well impressed - ordered 2 pm and delivered next day by 3pm - whats not to love 😀
I was so happy to see it run and it sounded amazing for the short time it was running! As a car guy myself, I know you felt amazing to get it going after such a big job!
I did something very similar with a Nissan 240SX I rebuilt in 2003. The rotating assembly was timed properly, but the distributor was set at 0 instead of the correct 20deg BTDC. I spent an hour trying to get it to start before I found my error. And yes, that first roar after you've rebuilt an engine is...pure joy.
So pleased for you things finally seem to all be working with the Ferrari. I was becoming quite wary after the valve stem seals diagnosis and then months of no more reports.
Hey Jack! Working on cars in the cold is a pretty miserable thing to do! I remember working on my car in high school in Feb outside: it was cold, damp and I had oil in my hair, etc. Good on you for cracking on like you have winter be damned!
Awesome job Jack! Glad to see the Influenzo fired back up! I know it has been one long battle getting it sorted. I almost think your car has been more work than my 1977 GTB that had been off the road for nearly 30 years when I bought it. Mine needed a full restoration, but at least no cracked heads. I look forward to seeing the videos of it out on the road again!
I thought that I might leave you a helpful comment Jack? I can see that the valve shimming tool you are using is the one for the car albeit an early version which is available on some American websites selling Ferrari Parts? Their is a better tool which does the same job but doesn't require a pry bar to depress the valve spring like you have? Its the valve shimming tool for the Fiat 124 Sport (1968 to 1975) and NOT the later ones which were made for the Fiat Twin Cam engines and Lancia Beta,s which had wider cam lobes. The early Fiat Twin Cam engines had the same width lobes as the Ferrari 308. When setting the valve clearances the adjustment table will give you the data for tolerances and although on production cars of the same period the tappet clearance when set is acceptable if the gap lies within the manufacturers tolerance for the 308 its NOT? When selecting the correct shims you need to set the INLET VALVES TIGHT AND THE EXHAUST VALVES WIDE. EXAMPLE: Say the tolerance for both Inlet and Exhaust valves is 14 to 16 thou? Then you set the INLETS on 14 thou and the EXHAUST on 16 thou. If you set them as i said; then the valve duration periods for Inlet and Exhaust will be correct providing the cam belts have been fitted correctly. On the 308 the Exhaust Valve lift is 8.3mm and the Inlet is 8.9mm and so scavenging works best on the overlap with this setting? When its right and the carburettors are balanced correctly and the ignition timing and advance working correctly the engine should pull 7700 RPM in top gear happily? You will need to access a test track to do this though? Perhaps you might make a video of this one day and should you need any help with setting the car up just let me know?
That fleeting expression of pure glee on your face as you lean across the engine to rev the carbs is worthy of a thousand words! Have a merry Christmas!
Fantastic to see her again Jack. I was worried for you when she didn't fire up, but a big grin on my face when she purred into life after sorting the distributor. World's 2nd most famous 308. 🙂
Another great video Jack, it's great to work on something where everything is so clean, and indoors. The many times I've yearned for a garage in the past when I've had to work on a car outside, sometimes in bad weather. Looking forward to the next video. Best wishes, Bob M.
Jack ,i just dipped back in to see how it was going with the 308 great to see it and also to hear it sounding so good. Well done for sticking with it getting it sorted,
I wonder if a Lancia Beta valve adjustment tool would fit your Ferrari? They actually work pretty well - ever so much easier than what you have been using. I believe both cars use the same shims so there is probably a reasonable chance it would work. I actually have one (in Australia) which I have had for about 40 years but you are welcome to it although I note they have them at a few suppliers in the UK - unlike here.
Haha well done Jack, two things popped in watching this episode; firstly, all the Ferrari experts getting white knuckles watching this episode, and secondly, the quintessential British car enthusiast working in a garage and it’s snowing outside 😀
This is great news Jack! I've followed you and the Influenzo since the very beginning. So pleased that your perseverance and irrepressible enthusiasm for the recalcitrant 308 seems to be finally paying off. 🏎🏁👍
Shim changing tools I use are for VW's. They have a proper ramped buchet depressor tool and special pliers that reach around the cam. I think the shims are the same size as well. 😃😃If not check out Matt Armstrongs channel where he's fixing a lambo
Congrats Jack! The sound of the engine is promising, I think it will take only a little tuning to be absolutely ok. I admire all the work you've had since you bought that beautiful Ferrari, and no matter what one say, it worth. I wish I had the opportunity to buy a Ferrari like that, I'll put it running properly, just as you've done. Well, looking forward to the next episodes. Stay cool!!
Fabulous! - The Influenzo starts and burbles as a V8 should. I really enjoy your work on this 308. Well done Jack. I remember the day when I found your channel and you pressed "buy"! How time has passed. Merry Christmas from New Zealand, David.
Persistence rewarded? I really hope so. This is a wonderful project and a twisted tale of diagnostics. Keep going Jack!!! I hold my breath for every episode. All the best. It looks cold. Summer here in NZ.
That sounded the best its sounded. Straight away it sounded sweet. I cant wait to see the proper running in video and then it being put through its paces.
Wish you had filmed lowering the car onto the oil tray Jack!! I can imagine the air was blue for quite a while!! Great to see the Ferrari back and you on the tools!
The joys of the single-handed single garage rebuild - without a second pair of eyes, cockups like forgetting oil drainers are still under the car are just inevitable. That motor did sound very healthy when it finally fired up properly - roll on spring-time!
Fantastic that you have it back together mate and it is sounding great. It is amazing how similar you engine looks to my 360 engine. A lot less of a difference than I would have thought.
Nice to see some spannering again. You must be mightily relieved that it's looking good. Hopefully you'll get to get some driving pleasure from it soon. BTW, brave of you to go out in the salt! Have a good Christmas.
Well fair play to your perseverance. We learn through our mistakes and as long as they’re not a drastically financial disaster all is good. I have the variators to change on the Granturismo in the summer. Oh the joys. You could always sell Influenzo T Shirts to help refill a few coffers of its repair cost
I like the fact you show all your mistakes rather than making it look like everything went smoothly. Not only is it honest, but it shows all the possible issues one may encounter - not that I'll ever own a Ferrari, but it does make it more entertaining.
Hallelujah! Influenzo lives! It was so rewarding to see the engine coming together, and to hear it bark once again. I suspected that it was a timing issue, and you got it proper sorted. Well done, Jack, and Happy Christmas!
Jack I so admire your perseverance. Its great when you're refitting those heads/carbs etc for the second/third time you can do it without checking any manual. 😂 Well done it sounds pretty good for the first fire up. Onwards and upwards.
Great news Jack .Admire your resolve .I chickened out and had a F specialist do the cam seals + valve adjustment + lower engine + g box gaskets + belts and tensioner + gear lever shaft seals ……bill came to around £5 k …..clocked up 37 hrs on the sheet .Runs like a sewing machine .They are not complicated Infact pretty simple and robust engineering .It’s all worth it the sound of the Quad twin choke Webbers throwing fuel in .
it's a learning curve, and what you have achieved is something incredible to bring this beautiful 308 back on the road And just listening to that engine is music to my ears. Looking forward to episode 28 to see it on the road. And just to say you have the patience of a saint. Merry Christmas and a happy New year.
Great video! Ferrari 308 is a beauty. Thanks for sharing with us. You are very very patient with Ferrari's. I never knew they had good and bad sides. TV makes them look easy to own.
Happy and Merry Christmas to you as well Jack 🎄🎄 Thank you for all your reviews of interesting cars, repair and fault finding videos and all the other content you make. You do a splendid job and I wish for you that you get +200K subscribers before summer hollidays 2023 - you deserve it. Looking forward to see your videos in 2023 🙂
When I was 17 my friend and I were rebuilding his two-stroke single bike. It all went back together perfectly, we took it outside, he kicked it over and it ran like a dream. So he put it in first and let the clutch out, and disappeared 10 yards backwards up the road before falling off. Timing was 180 out and it was running backwards. One of us thought it was really funny!
I've done exactly the same thing, think it was on my MZ.
Yes, timing paranoia is healthy. Reverse on a motorcycle is less so…!
👀🧐😎😜🏴
Great story. Thank you for sharing.
Atleast it wasn't the gearbox out in reverse.
I had one that would run forward or backwards
Lol I did same on my RD200 😢😢
Thanks Jack! This car purchase is what attracted me to your channel at the time. I love 308s and I don't know if I'll ever get to own one. So I appreciate you sharing your ownership experiences, good and bad. Merry Christmas to you and your family! (From the US)
To you too Jeff!!
Lol which has been the good bit😢😢😢I was given some great advice from my Father who owned 308 then 400i finally a 82 512, he said always set aside 25% of the value for servicing and unseen issues ... if not buy a Mercedes
Watching this in Australia at 4.30am before work, and I had to suppress a cheer so I didn’t wake the family when that beauty fired up! Congratulations Jack. Your patience and persistence has been inspiring. Can’t wait to see you get it out on the road.
Same (in South Oz) had to keep turning the volume down 🤣 have a great day
@@1BCamden haha. I’m in Sth Australia too.
Melbs (ex-SA lol) and same here
Goolwa here. That’s in south Oz too.
Rose Park. I reckon Jack exists to make our car purchase decisions look sensible. (The poor bastard!)
This is still my favourite Ferrari design. Love your house and location, looks like Hansel & Gretel land! Living in the tropics I forgot how much I miss the seasons.
Jack, you show us the (self inflicted) issues too, which is what makes this channel so refreshing - greatly appreciated
That sounded very promising! It's easily done with the dizzy - when I was working on my other half's MG I managed to get the thing out by 180 degrees, as well as fitting the rotor the wrong way round (as it then looked right, if you know what I mean) when timing to TDC. It was only desperation that led me to eventually get it right as I was convinced I had checked... Great that the guys who did the heads looked after you as well.
Jack, that smile at @17:02 was the exact reason why your channel deserves all the love it now has! I'm glad to have been a contributing artist, a friend, and a follower for all this time, since almost the very beginning! Your content is getting increasingly better, and I wish you and yours a wonderful Holiday season! Regards, Steve the "designer" from Canada!
Nice to see a superb company like Tayna "silently" contributing to content creators like yourself. I've used Tayna solely on my 6 cars for the last 10+ years and cannot sing their praises enough (especially as you get through many batteries with 6 cars! just because keeping them all charged and in use etc is difficult). Keep up the good work, glad it is hopefully finally resolved. Still loving the content (been 'following' since the early 911uk 964 days etc, and still love the vid with Clinchy)
Another great video, thank you Jack. I really appreciate that you show what didn't go according to plan and how you eventually made it work. There are too many channels that skip all that. Merry Christmas to you and all your viewers. 🎄
I picked up a Carrera 3.2 in the condition of your 308 and it took me about a year to do an engine rebuild myself finishing about 3 weeks ago. It took about month to tear it down, 7 months at the machine shop waiting my turn in the queue, and then about 3 months of me actually doing the rebuild. I'll probably tackle a 308 at some point so I'm always interested in your progress. Keep up the good work.
In the nicest possible way I love it when your 308 isn’t performing as Enzo intended as your fixes and content is fabulous and a must see.
Well done Jack! Really pleased for you and the 308 sounded great. You cannot beat the extreme satisfaction after resolving a long running issue. I remember when I lost drive on my Mk1 Golf GTI after recently replacing an outer CV boot. Thought long and hard and finally worked out I had accidentally pulled too hard on the driveshaft when refitting everything such that I had popped off the inner CV circlip resulting the splined shaft coming out of mesh with the diff spinning round losing traction to the other wheel. Another time, the timing kept going out which turned out to be a slipping crankshaft sprocket due to worn woodruff key! A.common fault I later discovered after desperately asking around. It all helps to keeps the grey matter ticking over!
I applaud you sticking with this project through all you’ve both been through. You now have more experience than a great many Ferrari mechanics.
Jack I admire your honesty with these videos, we all fail sometimes, our job is to make sure the important stuff is done to mitigate the damage and to learn from our mistakes, thank you for this journey, can't wait to see her on the road
Congratulation JAck... you have been putting more and more energy and spirit to me for keeping our old Pug 505s running till the end of the gasoline era in the future... 😊😁😁
3 years, hope it get done and can enjoy the real Ferrari Experience with this lovely 308. Cheers
Great to hear that car running properly, grand job. Re: Tayna. I've bought several batteries from them, over the years, for different cars. Service has always been great, the batteries arrived very quickly, well packaged and protected.
Finally a early Christmas present from No 27. Fantastic to see it running again. When starting an engine that had been open to the damp my dad used to recommend hot water in the cooling jacket and warming up the plugs.
Another entertaining video Jack!
Anyone who been around Fiats since the mid 60's is familiar with the overhead tappet design you are working with. It is one of the most brilliant designs that was ever done on overhead, and especially double overhead cam, engines. It meant that, prior to this design, you didn't have to remove the cam shaft to change the adjustment shims!! I don't know about the 308's factory tool for compressing the valve spring to remove the shims. Why it's not like the FIAT 124's tool, which was designed years before the 308 motor, is unbelievable! The FIAT factory tool was a cheap stamped steel tool that was precisely built to the width of the tappet itself. It straddled the tappet, and pressed down on two edges of the tappet. It surprises me that the Ferrari factory tool for this would not be the same. Unless, of course, you didn't get the factory tool. The tappets for the 308 look smaller than the FIAT 124. But it would be funny if they were the same size! You spent a small fortune for a "Ferrari " tool that is the same as the FIAT tool?! On top of that, it appears to be a more poorly designed tool! I still have my factory FIAT tappet/valve spring compressor tool in my tool box. It is tool number FIAT-SAT-A.60594. I looked for the valve adjusting tool on "Mr. FIAT". It sells for $57.00. They have the one you are using, for the FIAT (Ferrari) Dino, for $236.00. Probably the same for the 308. The two tool one. Really stupid.
They must not be the same diameter tappet. I would suggest having a shop make you a properly sized FIAT type valve tappet/spring compressor. It would be well worth it.
If you want to complain about changing valve lash on double overhead cam engines, just try going through the process of the conventional (at the time) removal of the cams to change the valve shims! Alfa's, Jags, Etc.
enthusiasm!
Thanks again,
Jim
I’m working on my Mondial QV in snow covered Alaska and can relate. Love the videos!
Congrats on finally getting the beast started and running. Can't believe it's been 3 years since I first logged on to this channel. How time flies! Best wishes for Christmas and the New Year! 🙂
I cheered when she started Jack!! We all need small victories.
My 944 left me in Tesco’s car park last week. No one around to tow me. Call AA. Started on a jump pack but wouldn’t rev. Got towed home and the very young technician said he thought it might be the distributor leads… but he wasn’t very familiar with ‘that kind of ignition’ 🫣🫣🫣.
Turned out he was right, changed them in sub-zero weather so I could get the car back into storage.
The relief when it started was incredible.
Love seeing the 308. It’s why I started watching and I do miss your videos where you are trying to get your cars back up and running!
Great news, Jack! Sorry about all the troubles leading up to the final start...but when it did fire up it sounded fantastic. Looking forward to the next videos.
There is no finer moment than when an internal combustion engine comes to life after a rebuild. Congratulations Jack, and I am SO hoping the Influenzo runs properly now. Best wishes for a Good Yul.
The great thing about the 308 is that it is basically a very reliable everyday car. I did 121,000 miles in a QV and it never broke down once. A mate did 97,000 in a carb car like yours and it was also built proof. I know a guy who used to work for Ferrari and he logged over 750,000 miles in various 308's without a breakdown. The other thing is that it is one of the Ferraris that you can work on yourself as you are proving. Lastly parts are readily available and cheaper than a normal modern hatchback if you know where to go and the tricks. The steering rack is the same as an Issigonis mini and can be bought for 10 per cent of the price Ferrari will charge you for the exact same part. The clutch is the same as a Fiat 1 tonne van, the sills cost £50 etc etc. We stripped my starter motor and alternator at 100,000 miles and they didn't even need new bushes! The clutch was only 20 per cent worn so we only replaced the thrust bearing, BUT the reason for that is unlike 99 per cent of people who don't know how to change gear, as a biker I always match the revs when changing down and when healing and towing. That simple skill simply eliminates clutch wear.
Now I know what you are thinking, I must have pussied around in the car for it to have lasted like that. WRONG! Exact opposite, as a 26 year old I followed the advice of the older Ferraristi who told me "Son to get Ferrari to last you treat her like a passionate woman, warm her up gently (and avoid 2nd gear until the oil temperature is on 210) then when she is ready, thrash her like you stole her and she will love you forever and never let you down" Well I followed that advice to the letter and most of my gear changes were on the red line. I used to cross Europe at 140MPH + all day and still get 23 MPG. At 158 MPH and 0-60 at 6 secs, the 308 is not fast by todays standards, but it is still one of the best sports cars ever made. I might get another, and funnily enough I would get a LHD this time as the ergos work much better on that side.
Amazing comment!
Jack, one of (the many) things I like about your videos is that you show your progress "warts and all", and I'm sure I'm not alone in relating to all those annoying little mistakes, spillages and broken stuff just because we forgot something.
And wishing you a very merry Christmas.
Congratulations Jack, on getting the Ferrari back running again! It has been a long journey!! Can't wait for the first drive....Happy Holidays to you and your family.
Oh well done Jack. So happy for you. Admire your patience and perseverance- necessary ingredients for any classic car owner who does their own work, yet all to often absent in so many. Again, well done mate. Martin
Well done Jack! You mentioned something about a tube being bent in the oil pan (sump), and I wonder, did you remove the dipstick extension tube before removing the pan? If not, that bends and damages the dipstick tube extension and I believe it can lead to leaks and erroneous oil level readings. To remove the oil pan, you should first remove the dipstick tube from the engine, then reach inside the pipe fitting still attached to the side of the pan (which does not get removed) and you'll be able to slide out the dipstick extension tube from within the oil pan. Then it is safe to remove the oil pan. There are topics on F-chat if you want to read further.
Jack, I’ve watched for countless years and multiple episodes of the Influenzo.
But your face at 17:00 mins into the video was absolutely worth it all.
You have gone thru what people call traumatic bonding and therefore can never sell the Influenzo.
I know naff all about engines but for some reason I find it calming seeing someone put one back together. Setting up 2 carbs on a 2 stroke bike was my limit - those banks of carbs on the Influenzo look like nuclear power plants to me....
They are a bit of a pain to balance!!
Jack, it's about bloody time you got back to the Main Event of your channel!! Anything with the 308 is what we want and what we need. Thanks again.
Been following this series since the beginning. So happy for you to get this beauty running properly. Enjoy. Well done.
Hi Jack - Great video as always - I too used Tanya recently (with the discount code of yours) and well impressed - ordered 2 pm and delivered next day by 3pm - whats not to love 😀
I was so happy to see it run and it sounded amazing for the short time it was running! As a car guy myself, I know you felt amazing to get it going after such a big job!
big grin on my face when it fired up. Sounds great :) well done!!!
Well done Jack. Great perseverance and little mistakes that we all make. Sounding good too.
I did something very similar with a Nissan 240SX I rebuilt in 2003. The rotating assembly was timed properly, but the distributor was set at 0 instead of the correct 20deg BTDC. I spent an hour trying to get it to start before I found my error. And yes, that first roar after you've rebuilt an engine is...pure joy.
So pleased for you things finally seem to all be working with the Ferrari. I was becoming quite wary after the valve stem seals diagnosis and then months of no more reports.
Congratulations Jack. And watch out in those snowy conditions now in the UK during the testdrive.
Hey Jack! Working on cars in the cold is a pretty miserable thing to do! I remember working on my car in high school in Feb outside: it was cold, damp and I had oil in my hair, etc. Good on you for cracking on like you have winter be damned!
Thanks, what a nice feeling hearing that sound
Awesome job Jack! Glad to see the Influenzo fired back up! I know it has been one long battle getting it sorted. I almost think your car has been more work than my 1977 GTB that had been off the road for nearly 30 years when I bought it. Mine needed a full restoration, but at least no cracked heads. I look forward to seeing the videos of it out on the road again!
Great to see if back running Jack, love this car!
Proving once again that the person who succeeds is the one who doesnt give up. Bravo! Bravissimo!! And a Merry Christmas from New Jersey.
Very enjoyable to watch and of course, happy to see the Influenzo spring back into life, Giac.
Merry christmas in advance
I thought that I might leave you a helpful comment Jack? I can see that the valve shimming tool you are using is the one for the car albeit an early version which is available on some American websites selling Ferrari Parts? Their is a better tool which does the same job but doesn't require a pry bar to depress the valve spring like you have? Its the valve shimming tool for the Fiat 124 Sport (1968 to 1975) and NOT the later ones which were made for the Fiat Twin Cam engines and Lancia Beta,s which had wider cam lobes. The early Fiat Twin Cam engines had the same width lobes as the Ferrari 308. When setting the valve clearances the adjustment table will give you the data for tolerances and although on production cars of the same period the tappet clearance when set is acceptable if the gap lies within the manufacturers tolerance for the 308 its NOT? When selecting the correct shims you need to set the INLET VALVES TIGHT AND THE EXHAUST VALVES WIDE. EXAMPLE: Say the tolerance for both Inlet and Exhaust valves is 14 to 16 thou? Then you set the INLETS on 14 thou and the EXHAUST on 16 thou. If you set them as i said; then the valve duration periods for Inlet and Exhaust will be correct providing the cam belts have been fitted correctly.
On the 308 the Exhaust Valve lift is 8.3mm and the Inlet is 8.9mm and so scavenging works best on the overlap with this setting? When its right and the carburettors are balanced correctly and the ignition timing and advance working correctly the engine should pull 7700 RPM in top gear happily? You will need to access a test track to do this though? Perhaps you might make a video of this one day and should you need any help with setting the car up just let me know?
Kudos Jack- I look forward to seeing your follow up drive.
That fleeting expression of pure glee on your face as you lean across the engine to rev the carbs is worthy of a thousand words! Have a merry Christmas!
I love the ‘Ferrari tribute’ shims - 355, 360, 375…. 😂 ❤
Fantastic to see her again Jack. I was worried for you when she didn't fire up, but a big grin on my face when she purred into life after sorting the distributor. World's 2nd most famous 308. 🙂
Another great video Jack, it's great to work on something where everything is so clean, and indoors. The many times I've yearned for a garage in the past when I've had to work on a car outside, sometimes in bad weather. Looking forward to the next video. Best wishes, Bob M.
Jack ,i just dipped back in to see how it was going with the 308 great to see it and also to hear it sounding so good. Well done for sticking with it getting it sorted,
I wonder if a Lancia Beta valve adjustment tool would fit your Ferrari? They actually work pretty well - ever so much easier than what you have been using. I believe both cars use the same shims so there is probably a reasonable chance it would work. I actually have one (in Australia) which I have had for about 40 years but you are welcome to it although I note they have them at a few suppliers in the UK - unlike here.
Haha well done Jack, two things popped in watching this episode; firstly, all the Ferrari experts getting white knuckles watching this episode, and secondly, the quintessential British car enthusiast working in a garage and it’s snowing outside 😀
Glad to see the 308 again and I hope it behaves on the road.
This is great news Jack! I've followed you and the Influenzo since the very beginning. So pleased that your perseverance and irrepressible enthusiasm for the recalcitrant 308 seems to be finally paying off. 🏎🏁👍
Fantastic!! So good to hear it run again! And well done sticking to it all these years. I'm looking forward to seeing it burbling down the road again!
Shim changing tools I use are for VW's. They have a proper ramped buchet depressor tool and special pliers that reach around the cam. I think the shims are the same size as well. 😃😃If not check out Matt Armstrongs channel where he's fixing a lambo
Yay, was really happy to see it fire up finally!. Can't wait to see the next video with the test drive results. Thanks for sharing mate.
Congrats Jack! The sound of the engine is promising, I think it will take only a little tuning to be absolutely ok. I admire all the work you've had since you bought that beautiful Ferrari, and no matter what one say, it worth. I wish I had the opportunity to buy a Ferrari like that, I'll put it running properly, just as you've done. Well, looking forward to the next episodes. Stay cool!!
Fabulous! - The Influenzo starts and burbles as a V8 should. I really enjoy your work on this 308. Well done Jack. I remember the day when I found your channel and you pressed "buy"! How time has passed. Merry Christmas from New Zealand, David.
Excellent episode Jack. Thank you. Can almost sense your urgency to put this out.
Good to finally seem some more Influenzo and fingers crossed significant progress, cannot wait to see it on the road.
Thanks dude and happy Xmas 🎄!
Seeing it finally start and sound great, that really made me cheer. Well done.
Loved the time lapse rebuild section that engine is a work of art 😍 another great edition Jack .... happy Christmas 🥂
Persistence rewarded? I really hope so. This is a wonderful project and a twisted tale of diagnostics. Keep going Jack!!! I hold my breath for every episode. All the best. It looks cold. Summer here in NZ.
That sounded the best its sounded. Straight away it sounded sweet. I cant wait to see the proper running in video and then it being put through its paces.
Wish you had filmed lowering the car onto the oil tray Jack!! I can imagine the air was blue for quite a while!! Great to see the Ferrari back and you on the tools!
Excellent back on the 308, what a saga. Sounds great, can't wait to see it out on the road again.
The joys of the single-handed single garage rebuild - without a second pair of eyes, cockups like forgetting oil drainers are still under the car are just inevitable. That motor did sound very healthy when it finally fired up properly - roll on spring-time!
I admire your perseverance and was really pleased for you when it finally came to life!
BRAVO Jack your perseverance is admirable. Looking forward to the maiden drive.
Happy Christmas
Fantastic that you have it back together mate and it is sounding great. It is amazing how similar you engine looks to my 360 engine. A lot less of a difference than I would have thought.
Yep.. in theory there is some sort of lineage there! Have a great Xmas Jeff!
@@Number27 Merry Christmas to you too mate.
Nice to see some spannering again. You must be mightily relieved that it's looking good. Hopefully you'll get to get some driving pleasure from it soon. BTW, brave of you to go out in the salt! Have a good Christmas.
Brilliant Jack, auguri. Can't wait to see it running properly. Buon Natale!
Well fair play to your perseverance. We learn through our mistakes and as long as they’re not a drastically financial disaster all is good. I have the variators to change on the Granturismo in the summer. Oh the joys. You could always sell Influenzo T Shirts to help refill a few coffers of its repair cost
I like the fact you show all your mistakes rather than making it look like everything went smoothly. Not only is it honest, but it shows all the possible issues one may encounter - not that I'll ever own a Ferrari, but it does make it more entertaining.
You are a delight to watch Jack - I'd never have the confidence to strip & reassemble all that lot
Hallelujah! Influenzo lives! It was so rewarding to see the engine coming together, and to hear it bark once again. I suspected that it was a timing issue, and you got it proper sorted. Well done, Jack, and Happy Christmas!
Ha, the pyjama bottoms are back. All is good in the world. Wishing you a Merry Xmas Jack.
Well done 👏🏻
Love it! Really love this content. What a great car. Thanks Jack. Cheers.
Jack I so admire your perseverance. Its great when you're refitting those heads/carbs etc for the second/third time you can do it without checking any manual. 😂 Well done it sounds pretty good for the first fire up. Onwards and upwards.
Jack! Have you just been teasing us with your ‘mistakes!’? That start was very satisfying. Thanks for sharing your journey with us. Cheers
Thanks for all the great content Jack! - Happy Christmas & wishing you all the very best for the New Year, PJ Warrior! 🙏🙏
Thank you chap, means a lot to have you coming back to see the vids!
@@Number27 Think I've watched all your vids!
Hoping you, Jayemm & Ratarossa may do a road trip one day!
Good to see Inflenzo running fixed and running properly after some ignition timing issues and also have a Merry Christmas
The issues with the distributor reminds me that it’s often a simple fix.
Great news Jack .Admire your resolve .I chickened out and had a F specialist do the cam seals + valve adjustment + lower engine + g box gaskets + belts and tensioner + gear lever shaft seals ……bill came to around £5 k …..clocked up 37 hrs on the sheet .Runs like a sewing machine .They are not complicated Infact pretty simple and robust engineering .It’s all worth it the sound of the Quad twin choke Webbers throwing fuel in .
it's a learning curve, and what you have achieved is something incredible to bring this beautiful 308 back on the road
And just listening to that engine is music to my ears.
Looking forward to episode 28 to see it on the road.
And just to say you have the patience of a saint.
Merry Christmas and a happy New year.
Great video! Ferrari 308 is a beauty. Thanks for sharing with us. You are very very patient with Ferrari's. I never knew they had good and bad sides. TV makes them look easy to own.
As a Mechanic, i have to say, you did an excellent Job! Take your time and do it right the first time!
Fingers crossed this is it Jack. Really enjoyed being on the journey with you and this beautiful car. Merry Christmas.
Congrats! Great job and it sounds amazing. Can’t wait for you to take it on a road test.
Looking good! almost there, cant wait till the drive video. Cheers!
Jack, this is all so reminiscent of when I rebuilt a Lance Montecarlo… two steps forward one step back … I admire your tenacity 👍🏻
I've been watching you sinse 308 day one. What a beautiful car man. I just smile when I see it. So glad to see it roar XD .. Greetings from Venezuela.
Wow Jack, that was a crazy one but you managed to get it run. Great job, you are not a pro mechanic but you did that? Amazing!!!!
Happy and Merry Christmas to you as well Jack 🎄🎄 Thank you for all your reviews of interesting cars, repair and fault finding videos and all the other content you make. You do a splendid job and I wish for you that you get +200K subscribers before summer hollidays 2023 - you deserve it. Looking forward to see your videos in 2023 🙂
OMG was totally stressed with fingers and toes crossed for you. Happy it seems on the right path! Good luck, buddy!