| Author | Message | ||
| John Cortina (Johncort)
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Thanks for the confirmation and suggestions. Unfortunately the front bonnet already had a slight kink in it when I purchased the car. I will check the back ones and make sure they are mounted rod down...thanks again. | ||
| Warren E. Smith (Magoo)
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John, it is the same on my 79 308. A manual strut at the hood and two gas struts on the bonnet. And yes I agree with Steve the struts are to be placed with the rod facing down. This is the way they were originally installed, and were installed that way to keep the dirt out of the seals. MAGOO | ||
| Craig Dewey (Craigfl)
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John... That is the standard setup on the 86 328 as far as I know. You can buy a gas strut (no button) for the front if you're concerned about someone kinking your hood. | ||
| John Cortina (Johncort)
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I have an 86 328 and the front bonnet strut support is of the button style mentioned by Peter below. The rear deck lid has the pneumatic style. Can anyone else with a 328 confirm this as well? Thanks. | ||
| Steve Magnusson (91tr)
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Another tip that I just learned about gas springs: try to mount/use the strut with the rod end down. Same reason as MAGOO's tip -- it keeps the rod seal better lubricated/preserved. | ||
| Warren E. Smith (Magoo)
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Just a tip guys, If you spray the rod of the gas struts occasionaly with silicone spray and work the bonnet up and down this will keep the seal of the strut from getting hard and releasing the gas. Silicone spray is found in all auto stores such as Pep Boys. MAGOO | ||
| Herbert E. Gault (Irfgt)
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I have 3 sets of aftermarket engine lid struts that fit and work perfectly and are brand new with a lifetime warranty for $75.00 per pair if anyone wants them. I bought them for my car thinking that they wouldnt last long but after a year the originals are still working perfectly. | ||
| Craig Dewey (Craigfl)
|
This weekend I was In Pep Boys so I browsed the gas springs. They had a fairly complete display of Sachs Stabilus type, the brand that is used on the 308/328. They did have a listing in their catalog for the 308/328 Engine bonnet struts (as well as several other Ferraris) -- Part #437002 for $51.00. The store I was at did not have them in stock and would have to call other stores to find them. Other information about these struts: 21.5" center to center, 13" closed, 5/16" holes, approx 60 lbs force. When/If I find a less expensive or easier to find replacement, I'll post it. | ||
| '75 308 GT4 (Peter)
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FYI: 308 GT4 lid struts, button type; Part # 40161903- Special shoulder bolt, 8mm dia. Part # 40249704- Front strut. Open- 350mm eye to eye. Closed- 233mm eye to eye Part # 40045700- Rear engine strut. Open- 366mm eye to eye. Closed- 245mm eye to eye All dimensions in metric (mm) with a tolerance of +/- 1mm "Eye to eye" means the center of the bolt hole to the center of the opposite bolt hole.   | ||
| '75 308 GT4 (Peter)
|
You're not retarded or illiterate Bret, as far as anyone is concerned, I'm pretty much the only one to mention the old button type struts, so it may not ring a bell for most (as not too many here have an old a car as mine). Ferrari progresses slowly, but surely, so my simple (crude/basic) struts evolved to more modern gas-charged ones. | ||
| BretM (Bretm)
|
I got confused, I thought you were talking about the front strut. Mine are gas, I know I'm retarded, damn it's times like this I wish I knew how to read. See so all of you with little kids, get those hooked on phonics things so that your children aren't illiterate (kind of a contradiction since I'm typing this, but we'll pretend that I'm speaking it, not typing it) like me. Hoked on foniks werked fer me, right... | ||
| '75 308 GT4 (Peter)
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I have no idea Magoo, I never had the chance to put each beside them to compare (never had to because I never had a problem with these). If you're curious I could measure mine (open, closed, bolt holes dia.) and you can compare for yourself. If Bret agrees that he enjoys the button struts on his car, then if he could measure his, that'll give you a better idea still (my GT4's struts may me different than your GTS'). | ||
| '82 308gtsi (Mark)
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Thanks for the input. I'll look into everything that's posted and let you know what I found. | ||
| Warren E. Smith (Magoo)
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PETER, can your button type be used or converted to the 308 GTS or GTB? Just wondered, I like that idea also. As long as you don't force the bonnet closed. MAGOO | ||
| BretM (Bretm)
|
same here | ||
| '75 308 GT4 (Peter)
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With all this talk of gas-struts, I'm glad my car has the old button-type. | ||
| Steve Magnusson (91tr)
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Not that this will help you buy a pair retail, but: SUSPA http://www.suspa-inc.com and STABILUS http://www.stabilus.com are two companies who advertise gas springs in the various M.E. magazines (e.g., Machine Design, PD&D, etc.) | ||
| Erik Jonsson (Gamester)
|
I did a little looking and couldn't find the Porsche parts place that makes a "Doubler" kit. They have the same problem with the bonnet struts and someone crafted a bracket/long pin which allows you to use 2 old ones per side. I have seen these in use on many 911/912 with good reports. FWIW | ||
| Kurt Kjelgaard (Kurtk328)
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Dead pneumatics supports cannot be rebuild. Take one of the old ones and compare physically with the replacement you are thinking of bying. If the body and the piston has the same lengths, it will fit OK. Then there is the question of mounting hole size. Finally, be aware that the gas strut has a load rating, often expressed in Newtons. The replacement should have the same rating - if too weak, it will not be able to support the weight of the bonnet, especially in cold weather, if too strong, damage could occur to the mounting or bonnet itself when closing. By the way, the original struts are manufactured in Germany, I don't remember the name of the company, but they deliver to all kinds of European cars. This could be tried also. I just changed both the struts with original Ferrari ones (made in Germany) and paid around 300 FFR a piece (approx. 40 USD). brgds Kurt | ||
| Warren E. Smith (Magoo)
|
One important thing I forgot to mention is if you get a strut that is too long on the travel, it may look good when you put it on, but there may be a disaster when you close the bonnet It really is best to get the right part that works correctly. You have too much to loose using the incorrect part. MAGOO | ||
| Warren E. Smith (Magoo)
|
Craig, not to discredit your statement, but I looked in 4 different stores and tried some of their stock that looked similar,there were some that were close but the travel was too long and the bonnet would not close, others were too short and would not let the bonnet go up far enough. The holes were not the right size and they give you bushings to take up the slack. I even called the manf.gave them the specs and they couldn't find any even close. I just don't want to mislead him in thinking it will be easy. It didn't work for me. MAGOO | ||
| Mark (Mnmark)
|
I had to replace mine as well. Bought them from a bloke named Serio in NJ. I think I paid $25 each for new, generic ones. If you are desperate, I could look up the number, I have it, somewhere... Replacing them was a breeze. | ||
| Craig Dewey (Craigfl)
|
Unfortunately, these are "gas springs" which mean that as they get old & worn they leak. I don't see any way to rebuild them either. I got a set from T. Rutlands when I was in a hurry-- I got tired of bracing the bonnet up with my head! I am convinced that there is a compatible(made for a non Ferrari vehicle) out there that would work acceptably. If you've ever been in the auto parts store and seen the replacement parts display for these, I'm sure you could find something. I even saw one manufacturer that listed the 308 but the store I was at didn't have that exact one. They may have been able to order it. They were considerably less expensive than the ones I bought. | ||
| Herbert E. Gault (Irfgt)
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T.Rutlands has them for a reasonable price. They may be generic, but they work well. | ||
| Warren E. Smith (Magoo)
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MARK, I am certain that they can't be rebuilt. The best places to try are, Italian Design & racing I found a set there with the orig. silk screening on them for my 79 308 GTS. I think he had the generic also.TELE. 480-968-0421 ask for Butch Hooper. Also GT Car Parts may have them. Ask for Bill or Dave. Tele. 623-780-2200. Magoo | ||
| '82 308gtsi (Mark)
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Can the pneumatic supports on the engine bonnet be rebuilt? Do I have to replace them with nos or could I replace them with an aftermarket set? I am working on a tight budget so I would like to repair them if at all possible. Thanks! |