| Author | Message | ||
| Mike Charness (Mcharness)
Member Username: Mcharness Post Number: 575 Registered: 8-2002 |
PJM: Yep, so your the way you like it. I'm sure you can see from my profile that I'm not against making minor mods! By the way, it was the picture in your profile that finally inspired me to paint my helmet! I wanted to look that good on the track even if my driving might not be anything spectacular. www.ferrarichat.com/discus/messages/18/235877.html?1053548855 | ||
| peter james moran (Pjm)
Junior Member Username: Pjm Post Number: 55 Registered: 3-2002 |
Mike, I bought the car painted in the pattern the way it is (true, it's not correct), but I liked the look. I repainted the car not too long ago and I resprayed the louvers red again for now, but I'm debating if I will have them striped and reanodized black. Hmmmm... choices..... I'm not trying to keep it original and I've made many subtle changes to the car (example removed side marker lights-hated them). As far as Euro's go the ones I've document had black anodized and I only noticed early all Fiberglas models with red lovers - but, I'll take your word if it's otherwise. Cheers, PJM | ||
| Mike Charness (Mcharness)
Member Username: Mcharness Post Number: 572 Registered: 8-2002 |
PJM: Side louvers over the rear quarters are plastic. Not all 308's have black anodized front louvers... in fact most do not, only the USA 308QVs. Euro QVs' are painted body color from the factory. The mix that appears in your profile picture, of a black center hood vent and red fender vents, is not a factory pattern of any kind. | ||
| peter james moran (Pjm)
Junior Member Username: Pjm Post Number: 54 Registered: 3-2002 |
Peter, I did a lot of research before buying my 308 and considered many choices and while body panels varied in paint applications the louvers should black anodized. If they are not many people painted them red to give them the 328/GTO look. The ones over the side windows are made of fiberglas or plastic (I'm not sure), but I would think a flat black paint would work well, but then you will need to paint the silver detailing on. You are in Sonora? $24K for the services you are specifying seem very high even for the Bay Area. Send me an email off list if you want to swap more info. | ||
| david handa (Davehanda)
Member Username: Davehanda Post Number: 820 Registered: 5-2001 |
Black Chrome by Turtle Wax also works very well for this and the targa top and rear spoiler, and availble almost everywhere...... Creamy, gray looking stuff, if it matters. Using it on the louvers was a tip from the FCA journal a few years back.... | ||
| Eric Eiland (Eric308gtsiqv)
Member Username: Eric308gtsiqv Post Number: 842 Registered: 11-2001 |
I'm not sure if it has coloring in it or not, PeterS. It is a milky liquid that I apply with a soft cloth, let it dry for a few seconds, and then buff to a glossy sheen. I've used it on older faded black surfaces (where the black is either faded to gray or nearly non-existent) and the results weren't that impressive...just shinier  . Griots Garage sells a product that coats surfaces black (I've used it on faded bumpers with great results). It sort of resembles a bottle of liquid shoe polish, complete with foam applicator tip. Not sure if it can be used on metal though. | ||
| PeterS (Peters)
Member Username: Peters Post Number: 546 Registered: 1-2003 |
Eric...Does the Back-to-Black have coloring in the compound? I would think is has to. I'll look for it! Thanks! | ||
| Russ F (Russf)
Junior Member Username: Russf Post Number: 126 Registered: 3-2002 |
Steve. R. I am going to do the interior of my 328 which is now factory beige but faded. The closes that I can match the carpet seems to be palomino from GAHH. The swatch looks nice and is a close but not perfect match. If you have installed new carpet I would certainly be interested in the color, supplier etc. thanks. | ||
| Eric Eiland (Eric308gtsiqv)
Member Username: Eric308gtsiqv Post Number: 840 Registered: 11-2001 |
Very easy to remove -- just unscrew. About once a year I unscrew all but two on each louver, rotate them upwards, and clean down inside below them. The screws fasten through the louver, the metal clip, and the body. You might try giving T. Rutlands a call...they often have salvage 308's / parts. I think the general sales manager there is Steve. As far as cleaning them goes, I mostly use Mothers Back-to-Black polish on them and it keeps them looking new. | ||
| PeterS (Peters)
Member Username: Peters Post Number: 545 Registered: 1-2003 |
Barry's idea is a good one. 'For the Ferrari owner who has everything'...A spare set of louvers! Thats probably another $1200 I could not justify! I can only imagine the look on my girlfriends face when I open that box..Here comes the 'ol shotgun! Anyway, They look very easy to take out, 4 screws, unless there is something I am not seeing...Anyone have a spare set? | ||
| Barry Wolinsky (308gtb)
Member Username: 308gtb Post Number: 512 Registered: 2-2002 |
Thanks, Mike. I'll bookmark that site now for my future viewing pleasure, instead of searching for that thread each time here at FC. Barry | ||
| Mike Charness (Mcharness)
Member Username: Mcharness Post Number: 560 Registered: 8-2002 |
Barry: You can see a quick look in my profile. Detailed pics are at www.tradetutor.com/308GTSB/ | ||
| Barry Wolinsky (308gtb)
Member Username: 308gtb Post Number: 511 Registered: 2-2002 |
Peter, I also feel the body-colored louvers look nicer. I was quite serious in my previous suggestion. You can always replace the red louvers with black ones depending on the look you desire and not do anything irreversible. Along these lines, Mike Charness has done something quite interesting with his QV: that is his 308 GTB/S. Nothing irreversible, once again! Barry ps Mike, I don't have that link available. Perhaps you can post it for me. | ||
| Steven R. Rochlin (Enjoythemusic)
Member Username: Enjoythemusic Post Number: 456 Registered: 4-2002 |
My vote is for red louvers. i like body-matched color. Might one day have the roof, fenders, top airfoil, and engine louvers painted body color. Have also been serviously thinking about THIS for my new interior... http://ferrari308.com/gallery/2001-07-23_1985_308gtsqv_red_tan_euro1/ IMHO it really gives the car a more up to date look. Enjoy the Drive, Steven R. Rochlin | ||
| Barry Wolinsky (308gtb)
Member Username: 308gtb Post Number: 510 Registered: 2-2002 |
Peter, Just get another set of louvers. Paint one pair black and the other pair red. You can then change the louvers to suit your mood. Barry | ||
| PeterS (Peters)
Member Username: Peters Post Number: 541 Registered: 1-2003 |
Ya, this one is really driving me nuts! I want to keep the car original, but black on the louvers would look so friggen good!...I just don't know what to do! Worst case, they could be repainted...  | ||
| Verell Boaen (Verell)
Member Username: Verell Post Number: 786 Registered: 5-2001 |
I'm with you Mike & PeterS. Like the black fender louvers. The front louvers on my '82 Euro GTS QV are black. If they were repainted black, then they were completely stripped & redone as there are a couple of tiny chips by the screw heads & there's no other color underlying the black. The black fender lovers go with some other things like round side marker lights that make me believe that my car has a lot of GTSi parts in in it. The car also came with the '82 GTSi manual. (Ferrari has confirmed that it was built in Oct. '82). Unfortunately, I don't have P.O. names or records to substantiate that the car came this way. Wish I could get Gentry Lane to tell me the name of the owner when the car was serviced by them in '87thru'90. | ||
| Mike Charness (Mcharness)
Member Username: Mcharness Post Number: 558 Registered: 8-2002 |
Peter: "No No" for a euro car that you're dead set on keeping original, but like you, I REALLY LIKE the look of the black inset grills that are on the US models like my 308QV. I know a number of euro owners who have had their front grills painted on their 308s, so you won't be alone if you decide to have it done. | ||
| Steve (Steve)
Member Username: Steve Post Number: 387 Registered: 2-2001 |
Has anyone seen the rear louvers being painted the color of the car? My front are body color and the rears are black. Also does anyone know the paint color for the fender liners. Is it Flat , semi-gloss , or gloss black | ||
| PeterS (Peters)
Member Username: Peters Post Number: 538 Registered: 1-2003 |
Mike..I REALLY want black for my front louvers (it's Euro), but everyone says its a 'no-no' | ||
| Mike Charness (Mcharness)
Member Username: Mcharness Post Number: 556 Registered: 8-2002 |
I'd suggest you try a mild polishing compound first (like Griot's #2 or #3, or a Maguire's clean/polish). That will probalby take off the minor discoloration, or at least smooth it out so it is less noticeable. I've had the front louvers repainted on my 308QV (rather than reanodized) and you can't tell the difference between them and the back grill louvers which are still original. The semi-flat paint looks identical. | ||
| PeterS (Peters)
Member Username: Peters Post Number: 537 Registered: 1-2003 |
Mike...Thnx for clarification. I want to restore the louvers to their original condition, or VERY close to it. Should I try the polishing compound? No offense taken on the wheels! One day I like them and the next day I don't! | ||
| PeterS (Peters)
Member Username: Peters Post Number: 536 Registered: 1-2003 |
Mike...Thnx for clarification. I weant to restore the louvers to their original condition, or VERY close to it. Should I try the polishing compound? No offense taken on the wheels! One day I like them and the next day I don't! | ||
| mike 308 (Concorde)
Junior Member Username: Concorde Post Number: 207 Registered: 8-2002 |
Peter: I wasn't in any way degradating your wheels; I just presumed that since they weren't original 5-star wheels, you weren't worried about a half point difference that painted louvers versus black anodize might make if you enter in concours. On my QV, the judges didn't notice the difference anyway. | ||
| PeterS (Peters)
Member Username: Peters Post Number: 535 Registered: 1-2003 |
Thnx for the tips! Mike: How should I take your comment regarding my wheels? (I hate these wheels by the way and want 5-stars!). I am in the process of dropping about $25K on this car (major on the engine, carb rebuild, gearbox rebuild, new upholstery, hood repainted, full engine bay cleanup/repaint. I guess I am a purest regarding this Euro model!..But I do hate the wheels! | ||
| Dave (Dave)
Member Username: Dave Post Number: 515 Registered: 4-2001 |
Peter, a good rubbing compound will help bring them back to life untill you have time to remove the rivits and have them re-anodized.... FYI... about the wheels... In the U.S. some Ferrari dealers offered light weight BBS racing wheels as a purchase option on early 308's instead of the stock 14's. | ||
| mike 308 (Concorde)
Junior Member Username: Concorde Post Number: 205 Registered: 8-2002 |
You can have the original black anodize redone, but if you take them off and have them sprayed with the right kind of semi-flat paint instead, they'll look like new and that can be done by any bodyshop and no one will be able to tell the difference anyway. I can see by your wheels that yours isn't a concours car, so that's what I'd suggest. | ||
| PeterS (Peters)
Member Username: Peters Post Number: 529 Registered: 1-2003 |
I would like to know how to go about refinishing the rear window Louvers on my 308. Are there shops that do this? Mine have minor discoloration from the sun. |