400iA daily driver

Art:

This is all true fora normal car but NOT true in the case of an MSD equipped 400i. The running with the ignition off is totally normal in one of these cars - it is because their is a large capacitor inside the MSD ignition box which can run the engine for several seconds. Mine (#049773) takes 4 or 5 seconds to shut off. Mark is correct that you can speed the process by introducing a current draw - mine stops when the door opens and triggers the dome light.

Mark: You can prove this to yourself by simply waiting for it to shut off rather than turning on an electrical device that will drain the capacitor and shut it off. Should only have to wait 4 or 6 seconds, but it feels like much longer.

Alex

Alex

 

Ahhh - right - thanks for the clarification. I was confusing the earlier system on my 365gt (#13141) with the later system on my 400i (049773) - sorry, please disregard my previous advise which regards the earlier system. You are correct in your assesment of the problem, then, to - have you tried ferrari uk for the accumulator? They may have it.

Oh, and see my previous post on the running when off - typical MSD behavior, but it only last a few (scary) seconds.

Alex

 

Alex,

That's amazing! Didn't they put some sort of blead on the MSD unit? Still doesn't sound right to me and I'm involved in ignition design.

Regards,

Art S.

 

Art - I am NOT involved in ignition design! I am not saying it is RIGHT, just that I have been around many MDS equipped 400s, and they all do this. Go figure....

Alex

 

Alex,

I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just amazed by this. If it is the way it is supposed to function, to me it's poor design and a possible safety/liability issue.


Mark,

A poor ground would make sense, let us know if it works correctly once fixed.


Regards,

Art S.

 

I have taken apart the shock/levelers from the 84 and later 400s. The set where all 4 shocks have hydraulic lines connected. These have in internal damping mechanism based on a piston and 2-way reed valves. They were trying to kill 2 birds with 1 stone I guess. They do have a rather poor main seal design.

There is a good machinist in Orange county, CA who can rebuild them if yours are leaking ( and it seems most are ) with new Teflon seals.


Tho Nguyen at P.T. Engineering
(714) 850-1226

 

Tho, Do you think if a seal was leaking the leveling side of the unit could pump fluid (ATF fluid) into the shock absorber itself causing it to have very little movement?

I live in Orange County but unfortunately the one in Florida and not CA )

Thanks,
Al

 

Tho, Do you think if a seal was leaking the leveling side of the unit could pump fluid (ATF fluid) into the shock absorber itself causing it to have very little movement?

I live in Orange County but unfortunately the one in Florida and not CA )

Thanks,
Al

 

I'm not Tho He is the machinist. I just posted his info incase anyone wanted to get their shocks rebuilt.

But, I was just at his shop today. I should have taken a picture of the disassembled units.

These shocks are designed to completely fill with ATF. They have about 1.5 - 1.6 square inches of lifting surface between the 4 units. I forget the operating pressure of the system. If its like others, it is about 600psi. That would yeild about 900 - 1000lbs of lift max. Plus the installed height pressure of the coil over springs.

If your car is not raising up, it could be the level control valve. You can losen and adjust the arm on the shaft to set the height. ( under the gas tank ).

If it were leaking so badly that i would not lift, it would be spraying ATF everywhere.

 

Dr. Mike, Sorry about the name. I was in a hurry and clearly didn't read your note as carefully as I should have. *<)

They pump up just as they always have. They just ride very hard. I've bled the system and adjusted the height per the manual (after the problem started not before!).

Thanks,
Al

 

Congrats on the Black beauty as a daily driver. The more I see of this model the better I like it.

 

I like it too, and wouldn't mind at all having the 400i auto model to drive daily.

My early 330 2+2 is essentially an antique, a 1950's Ferrari in 1960's bodywork, and I can't even get "driver" insurance for it.

 

Scott,

My car is not registered as an antique. If you want to use it regularly, try State Farm for the insurance (though I'd prefer Hagarty).

Regards,

Art S.

 

That's great news! Could you post the part number so that I can have it on hand for future reference?

Thanks

John

 

That's great news. Looking forward to part numbres and installation photos. I would much rather give this a try before taking the shocks out and trying to get them rebuilt.

Al

 

Art...I know...my two regular drivers are insured with SF, but here in TX they increased the agreed-value premiums drastically for the classics and sports cars that they will insure...and they won't write coverage at all for my 330, even regular-driver coverage with no agreed value. It's off the charts with them and I suspect the potential cost of stolen parts replacement or even minor collision repair in a non-totaled accident situation has scared them away from cars like mine, and TX law doesn't require ins. cos. to insure everything.

I've been with Hagerty for four years now and am happy with them, other than the gray areas in their use restrictions. Premiums are very reasonable for the coverage: top-limits liability, and agreed-value that they have never declined an increase request on. Mileage I have no prob with...I think I get 2K a year, and after four full years on the road will have done 5K or so.

I'm afraid I would run into the same insurance problems with a 400i or other low-production post-1975 Ferrari.

 

Hagerty had no problem insuring my 1980 400i in Houston.

 

Is that for collector-car or daily-driver coverage?

 

Collector

 

That's my point...getting a decent collector policy is no prob, but I'd guess that Texas State Farm wouldn't write you regular-driver or agreed-value coverage for the 400i.

 

We got a standard policy from State Farm in California. It's not an agreed-value policy, but the value they came up with seems to match the high side of what they are selling for...