308 to V12 conversion | FerrariChat

308 to V12 conversion

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by sowest, Feb 1, 2007.

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  1. sowest

    sowest Formula Junior

    Aug 18, 2006
    899
    I just saw the thread about the conversion of a 308 to an American V8 and it made me think of the car that was in Road and Track several years back that had a V12 installed. I remember that it was a single cam 365 and that it was installed transversely onto the 308 gearbox. It was a complete running car and Road and Track did a drive test. The installation looked very good and the magazine said nice things about the car. The people that did the conversion were even selling a thick manual with all the instructions and drawings of how this was accomplished.

    Has anyone seen or owned this car? Did anyone get the manual and duplicate this feat?
     
  2. BigAl

    BigAl F1 Veteran

    Mar 17, 2002
    6,146
    TX
    Full Name:
    GSgt Hartman
    several threads on this over the years, might try a search; although it doesn't always return what's in the archives.....
     
  3. Sean F.

    Sean F. F1 Rookie

    Feb 4, 2003
    3,067
    Kansas
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    Sean F
    I have a manual.

    Search for "atlantaman"..I think. He's got one of the 4 that were completed.
     
  4. Newman

    Newman F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner Professional Ferrari Technician

    Dec 26, 2001
    14,510
    Canada
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    Newman
    I have some pics JRV sent me years ago, he converted one, had 6 carbs and looked factory.
     
  5. ferraripete

    ferraripete F1 World Champ

    to me, the road and track car was/ is the perfect beast. 308 good looks and boxer power!
     
  6. Sean F.

    Sean F. F1 Rookie

    Feb 4, 2003
    3,067
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    Sean F
    I think Atlantamans is EFI so he did not have to screw with the rear bonnet to get everything to fit.
     
  7. Verell

    Verell F1 Veteran
    Consultant Owner

    May 5, 2001
    7,022
    Groton, MA
    Full Name:
    Verell Boaen
    Do a general search for V12 and 308. Atlantaman posted a few pix about 3 years ago. Some were in Tech Q&A, & some were in one of the general conferences.

    Hopefully they've survived the hard drive problems.

    If I remember correctly, he did go EFI.

    He's had the V12 out for rebuild for a couple of years tho, has been running an EFI 328 engine.
     
  8. Argento839

    Argento839 F1 Veteran

    Oct 21, 2005
    9,103
    Yes, I saw this with my dad while JRV was doing the conversion down in Houston....must have been around '89. It looked cool as hell and apparently was fast as hell...
     
  9. hanknum

    hanknum Formula 3

    Nov 1, 2003
    2,050
    Santa Barbara
    Full Name:
    Henry
    David Goldsmith is the one who did the R&T conversion and wrote the manual. He lives up in Nor Cal (at least he did about 5 years ago).
     
  10. sowest

    sowest Formula Junior

    Aug 18, 2006
    899
    Thanks to all for the information and the search tips. In general, I am puzzled about why so much money and effort gets put into projects like these, but this car seemed to be a very worthwhile exercise. More power to them, but I simply don't understand the American V8 project.

    There is a 246 here that was totally gutted and turned into a track car. It has a 2V 308 engine in it. All the suspension is fabricated, tubular, heim jointed. It looks very cool and I understand that it is fast. I also understand that it was a very nice, chairs and flairs car to begin with and that the owner is sorry that he did the conversion.

    Again, thanks for all your input.
     
  11. 2NA

    2NA F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner Professional Ferrari Technician

    Dec 29, 2006
    18,221
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    Tim Keseluk
    Where are the pics?
     
  12. opus10583

    opus10583 Formula 3

    Dec 3, 2003
    1,779
    Westchester, NY
    Full Name:
    Mark
  13. 308ROB

    308ROB Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    Aug 14, 2004
    884
    Netherlands
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    Rob
    #13 308ROB, Feb 2, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  14. Verell

    Verell F1 Veteran
    Consultant Owner

    May 5, 2001
    7,022
    Groton, MA
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    Verell Boaen
    The Goldsmith car showed up in the FML 'for sale' section about 4 years ago. It was in Europe at the time, and it's re-importability seemed dubious at the time.
     
  15. Artvonne

    Artvonne F1 Veteran

    Oct 29, 2004
    5,379
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    Paul
    As long as we have a thread dedicated to this, how about everyone dig up as many pics and details relating to this that are available and get it posted. Maybe someone will bite the bullet and give it a go.
     
  16. Artvonne

    Artvonne F1 Veteran

    Oct 29, 2004
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    Paul
  17. robertgarven

    robertgarven F1 Veteran
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    Feb 24, 2002
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    Robert Garven
    #17 robertgarven, Feb 4, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
  18. Peter

    Peter F1 Veteran
    Owner

    Dec 21, 2000
    6,441
    B.C., Canada
    Ducatti-Dino?...
     
  19. Peter

    Peter F1 Veteran
    Owner

    Dec 21, 2000
    6,441
    B.C., Canada
    I have the manual too and since times have changed, you could buy an entire 308 for the cost of just the motor alone, this conversion would be cost-prohibitive nowadays...

    ...Although, it doesn't stop one from substituting with one of the more modern V-12's (there's now a few crashed 456's and 550's out there).

    Hmmm, I can see it now: Dino 456 GT4

    ;)
     
  20. Scuderia_Ferrari

    Scuderia_Ferrari Formula Junior

    Sep 13, 2004
    749
    Ottawa, Canada
    Full Name:
    Jamie
    If this could be done to the 308, would there be any way to do it to a 246 Dino?
     
  21. Peter

    Peter F1 Veteran
    Owner

    Dec 21, 2000
    6,441
    B.C., Canada
    The V-12 would just barely fit in the 308 engine bay (SOHC V-12's only, Daytona DOHC heads were deemed too wide), so I doubt it would fit in the 246. A more suitable conversion for the 246 would be a 308 or 328 drivetrain.
     
  22. 2NA

    2NA F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner Professional Ferrari Technician

    Dec 29, 2006
    18,221
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    Tim Keseluk
    You guys are asking for a visit from the Ferrari Antidesecration Police.

    The way the 246 has gone up in value (unmolested) it probably would not be wise to change it much. It would be fun though.
     
  23. wise3

    wise3 Formula Junior

    Oct 10, 2004
    375
    FL
    Full Name:
    Ward Orndoff
    +1

    Also, the Dino 246 has a 65 degree engine. The 308 is a 90 degree mill, and I doubt that the extra width would fit in a 246 engine bay. The 60-degree SOHC V12 has a better chance of fitting in that direction; but then you would be trying to fit an engine that is 6 cylinders long in the space where one that is 3 cylinders long properly resides. Doubt that it could be done without major changes.
     
  24. Dr Tommy Cosgrove

    Dr Tommy Cosgrove Three Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 4, 2001
    36,571
    Birmingham, AL
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    Tommy

    Actually he doesn't have one of those cars. His is a conversion in process.. Right now he has a badass 3.2 with all the extras in his 80 model. The V12 is sitting next to it. I imagine once he gets tired of the 3.2, he'll be dropping in the V12.
     
  25. Artvonne

    Artvonne F1 Veteran

    Oct 29, 2004
    5,379
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    Paul
    I know it used the SOHC heads because there was not enough clearance up front. But I cant for the life of me see why. Are the heads in cross section that much different from a 308 head? Perhaps a removable sub frame, ie 348/355, so you could drop it out from below, would allow the bigger heads to fit?
    .
    Agree on the Dino, they have really moved into the vintage group. Would be kind of mean to alter one, and you would be throwing away a great deal of $$$$$$$.
     

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