| Author | Message | ||
| Ron Thomas (Ronsupercar)
Intermediate Member Username: Ronsupercar Post Number: 1081 Registered: 5-2002 |
Tazio.. I love the 16" rims and the euro bumpers..Is that a euro model or did you convert the rims and bumper.. I want a Euro model for the the power and also the bumpers.. Can I convert american bumpers to euro bumpers.. Jeff. Welcome to the best Ferrari Forum around..This group of guys will have you speaking Italian by the time they are done with you.. $1.6k is waaayyy over priced for window repair.. and I learned that a 30k for a carb 308 should be about $3K... Are you in a location where there is no certified Ferrari dealers?? What I've been doing is slowly purchasing tools here and there so when I do purchase my 308, I can save the high cost of labor.. These guys are great and will help you get through this problem.. Good luck.. P.S. It will cost you more to convert to a small block and you will loose that wonderful sound of music to the rumble of a hot rod.. | ||
| Dave (Dave)
Member Username: Dave Post Number: 604 Registered: 4-2001 |
Jeff, I own a 77 308GTB, and I have done the water pump on mine. The original water pump can be rebuilt for very little. Or yes you can install the newer style water pump, which has an improved bearing and impeller, which is what I put on mine, picked up for a fair price from T. Rut. But the "retrofit" if that is what this place is calling it, is nothing more than taking a die grinder and removing a little extra outer rib from the 328 style pump so that your original pully will clear. The so called retro conversion thingy that they are about to rip you off for took me all of 3 min. Terry is right though, You either need to get a shop manual and start doing some of the work yourself, make more money so you can pay someone else, or sell the car to someone who can take care of it. It's going to be 30 years old before you know it, and a lot more expensive things than water pumps will be rearing there ugly heads. | ||
| Terry Springer (Tspringer)
Member Username: Tspringer Post Number: 819 Registered: 4-2002 |
You dont need a different engine. You need a basic set of tools and a shop manual. Changing the water pump is not rocket science. Are the cam seals leaking? If they do need replacement, you may as well change the belts too. If your going that far... do the water pump at the same time. change all the cam seals, cam belts and tensioners. Also replace the exhaust donuts, have the distributors rebuilt and clean up the carbs. All a good winter project. It sounds like your mechanic has been putting his kids through college on your ticket! | ||
| PSk (Psk)
Member Username: Psk Post Number: 994 Registered: 11-2002 |
Jeff, If you do not want a Ferrari engine IMO you do not get the Ferrari thing. A true Ferrari enthusiasts should not really care what the car looks like on the outside because they will always be in the INSIDE DRIVING that wonderful engine. If you just want a poseur car ... by something else, but don't sacrifice a genuine Ferrari just because you do not care about the thrilll of actually driving a car. All engines are not equal ... Pete  | ||
| Frederick Thomas (Fred)
Member Username: Fred Post Number: 830 Registered: 2-2001 |
When you buy are Ferrari you are paying for the engine. The rest of the car is free. When I bought my 308 it had a few problems at first. I got them all sorted out and the car is rock solid. I think the key is to drive them and they will perform to a high level. | ||
| Roberto (Cuore_rosso)
New member Username: Cuore_rosso Post Number: 26 Registered: 8-2003 |
I want one!!! Tazio, nice car. ;) The euro bumpers and 15" certainly clean up the lines. I think it is absoulutely stunning! Jeff: Nice car too. You have what is a dream for me. I don't own one myself (yet), but from reading this boards on and off, the powertrain seems to be very reliable once properly sorted. Do a search on 308's and read everything you can. There is a lot of great information, and others who have faced similar dilemmas. I think it would be a shame to replace the engine with such character with one with less character, but, it is your car. | ||
| Mitchell Le (Yelcab1)
Member Username: Yelcab1 Post Number: 693 Registered: 11-2001 |
nice bumpers Taz. | ||
| Scott Anderson (Srandrsn)
Junior Member Username: Srandrsn Post Number: 198 Registered: 4-2001 |
Yes it's possible. I also saw that GTS for sale a couple of years ago with a fiero powertrain. A guy here a year ago called Iron Joe was putting a small block on top of the Ferrari gearbox.. the northstar conversion seems plausible. It can be done but if you aren't going to do the work yourself it would cost way to much. If you can fabricate adapter plates... weld... etc you could do it but otherwise take the money and swap it for a QV or find an honest mechanic and get the original engie sorted out ($1,600 for window is robbery) | ||
| Ben Cannon (Artherd)
Intermediate Member Username: Artherd Post Number: 1001 Registered: 6-2002 |
Replace it with a 328 engine! Fablous reliability. (or sell your carb car and get an injected QV, it dosen't sound like you dig the carbs too much...) | ||
| James Adams (Madmaxx)
Junior Member Username: Madmaxx Post Number: 226 Registered: 11-2002 |
It's too bad I didn't fit that well into the GTS yesterday :/ Kinda bumed me out a bit. Damn these tree-trunks I refer to as legs. MM | ||
| Tazio Nuvolari (Nuvolari)
Member Username: Nuvolari Post Number: 310 Registered: 9-2002 |
Jeff, Beautiful car. Please post your serial number. Here is a pic of mine: Serial number: 20783 1977 308 GTB Steel Body  | ||
| Ken (Allyn)
Intermediate Member Username: Allyn Post Number: 1195 Registered: 10-2001 |
Nice car! I love the coupes. Yes, try to be handy. My Europa window stopped working and it took me many times of taking the door panel off and fiddling. First I thought it was the motor, then the wiring...finally figured out the motor gear was jamming in the lifter gear at the stop. A mechanic would have had many hours of labor plus a whole new mechanisim. All that was needed was to fabricate a new stop. My total dollar cost: zero. I probably saved $500 just there. I'm no great mechanic but with older cars, you really can fix anything if you just dive in. Rule of thumb: You can screw up your car for a lot less money than your mechanic can. So if you CAN'T fix it, you haven't lost anything. (Engine rebuilds, belt changes, etc. not recommended as DIY of course!) | ||
| Jeff Joseph (Schy)
New member Username: Schy Post Number: 4 Registered: 10-2003 |
Thanks Tazio. Here you go....   | ||
| Tazio Nuvolari (Nuvolari)
Member Username: Nuvolari Post Number: 309 Registered: 9-2002 |
Jeff, I am hoping you are a bit of a handy guy. If not I can think of thou$ands of reasons to learn a little. $1600 is total rape for a window that won't go up and down. Learn to diagnose your own problems and you will see that most fixes are cheap. I had one dead window when I bought the car that the 'dealer' supposidly could never find. I fixed it in 20 mins of diagnosis and $0 in parts thanks to the good people on this board. There are certain unavoidable costs but owning one of these cars does not have to be the hose job you are getting. Find a new mechanic and spend some time here. The F-Chat community has saved me thousands in little repairs and my car runs better than ever. Welcome to the board. Now let's see a pic of your car. | ||
| Jeff Joseph (Schy)
New member Username: Schy Post Number: 3 Registered: 10-2003 |
Thanks Ken. I'm a "if it ain't broke don't fix it" type of guy but I think you're telling me that is gonna cost me. Thanks James. I was told by a reputable repair facility here in the DC Area that the engine needs to be retro fitted for a new water pump because the old water pump was unavailable. You guys would have any advice for window that won't go up or down. I was told $1.6K for that. | ||
| Ken (Allyn)
Intermediate Member Username: Allyn Post Number: 1193 Registered: 10-2001 |
Jeff, maybe one problem is the way you're attacking your car. It seems from your posts you keep taking the car back for one thing at a time. I don't know about 308's but if it's like my Lotus TC engine, you take it out for the water pump and take the head off. So while you're there, you do the valve guides, valve clearences, check the clutch, carb rebuilds, etc. You spend $3-4k but get all the engine out stuff at once. Doing it one at a time saves money upfront but costs down the line. | ||
| James Adams (Madmaxx)
Junior Member Username: Madmaxx Post Number: 225 Registered: 11-2002 |
Water pump and cam seals shouldn't be 3K. Are you having this work done? MM | ||
| Jeff Joseph (Schy)
New member Username: Schy Post Number: 2 Registered: 10-2003 |
Thanks everyone. Here's what's coming next.... Water pump refit: Cam seal replacement: Another 3K out the window. I think the problem with the car is that it's been stored for the last 13yrs....albeit improperly, I'm sure. But I gather from everyone that it'll be 10K plus for a new engine refit instead of the 4K I was hoping for. | ||
| Alan Leach (Speedy308)
Junior Member Username: Speedy308 Post Number: 237 Registered: 12-2002 |
Amen to that, well put Ken. | ||
| Ken (Allyn)
Intermediate Member Username: Allyn Post Number: 1192 Registered: 10-2001 |
Carb cars need a mechanic who knows how to do them. Once Webers are right, they stay in tune a long time. Problems occur when they're NOT right and someone starts tinkering with the ignition timing or something else instead of addressing the real problem. What issues have you been having? If the compression is good and it doesn't leak or burn oil, I'd say keep the engine and get it fixed right. If it's a bad engine, then sell the car. | ||
| Jerry W. (Tork1966)
Intermediate Member Username: Tork1966 Post Number: 1028 Registered: 7-2001 |
I have my hands over my ears and my eyes closed while I'm screaming, NOOOOOOOO!!!!! I didn't just read that! | ||
| Alan Leach (Speedy308)
Junior Member Username: Speedy308 Post Number: 235 Registered: 12-2002 |
Where are you located???? Welcome to this site. There are folks here to help. You need to find "The essential man" to help you. You've made a good selection, but I found after purchasing the exact same model that years of deferred maintenance and paper clip repairs neede to be addressed. Take heart! Once that baby's RIGHT, you've got something! | ||
| Jay Grande (Jay)
Intermediate Member Username: Jay Post Number: 1525 Registered: 10-2001 |
Yes, this has been done before, especially with the V12 400's with the GM automatic transmissions. People will pull out the 12 and put a Chevy 350 into it. I've actually even seen a real 308 with a Fiero 2.8L GM engine in it...Don't ask! Instead of doing that, Why not put it away for the winter and do a complete engine rebuild? Then you should be good for at least 5 years.  The cost of doing the conversion will equal the cost of retrofitting a new engine. But if you are set on doing it, why not consider the Cadillac Northstar engine. Practically bullit proof and has 300HP. | ||
| James Adams (Madmaxx)
Junior Member Username: Madmaxx Post Number: 224 Registered: 11-2002 |
What type of problems are you having? Are you having the work done, or doing it yourself? I'd say no to the small block idea. Lots of fab work to make it fit right, weight distribution will be off, etc. MM | ||
| Jeff Joseph (Schy)
New member Username: Schy Post Number: 1 Registered: 10-2003 |
I need some feed back..... I can't continue paying $1-$3K every three months to fix minor engine hiccups on my 77 308GTB. I know this is sacrilege but I was thinking of replacing the high maintenance engine with a new after market small block. For me, it's all about the looks and not so much the engine....but before anyone tells me to go get a kit car....have a little heart....I'm just a poor blue collar boy just trying to live out a dream. Has anyone heard of someone doing this? |