UK GT4 Dino 308 owners

Are there many UK owners of GT4 Dino cars using this forum?

 

I'm probably one of the closest to you being in East Lothian. I've been carrying out a nut and bolt restoration of my car for a number of years now.

 

I'm here. Car currently engine out at QV in Windsor bit hopefully going back in tomorrow. Meanwhile I have spent the last 4 weeks tarting up everything I can lay my hands on. Been great fun

 

Like Francis, My car is at QV in Windsor. I'm in Australia. Do I count?

 

Actually Craig - to be precise your car has gone somewhere else for what reason I don't know - but still in UK, so yes I think you currently count

 

Hopefully not stolen.

 

20 mins north of Dundee. Had to use mine last night since I broke the daily driver. Woke up to it frozen solid!! It actually didn't take to long to get defrosted and turning the heater fan on actually did demist the windscreen. These engines take so long to warm up though.

 

Good to hear from you. I have bought a few parts off QV they seem nice people to deal with. I put my car in my workshop at the end of last year to basically recommission and change cam belts etc. after it had stood for a few years it ended up with a full engine out refurb. as I found rot in the boot floor etc. Hoping to have it finished soon so that I can enjoy driving it again.

 

mine stood for 14 years before I got hold of it last year. Smokes badly on startup, but done enough to allow some fun this summer before I make a decision on how far I go with a restoration.

 

Is it oil smoke or excess fuel?

 

oil smoke, too much to even notice if its running rich. It may die down, it may not, not surprising after doing nothing for 14 yrs. I have rebuilt the distributors and the carbs as they were never going to work. I have only done about 30 miles with it so will see how it goes. I suspect I will be pulling the engine in the winter if other projects allow.

 

If it has not run for 14 years a bit of oil smoke is probably a good thing, does it go away when the engine is warm?

 

Yep, it goes away. I changed the oil and filter before I started it, and just changed both again. Its much better now, so it might survive the summer with me. Been driving it today and the gremlins are starting to appear which is no surprise. Speedo cable has started ticking, but biggest issue is I cannot get reverse more often than not. The gear lever is in reverse but actually it has selected 2nd, so wear in the linkage. Might be a while before I get brave enough to venture more than 5 miles away from the workshop!

 

It may be that the grease etc in the linkage has dried out with lack of use. I have a 1948 V8 Pilot that was in a carcoon for 10 years and every switch/pivot and linkage was stuck with dried grease. The inside of the distributors on my 308 were both caked in thick yellow grease that had gone hard and stuck up the advance/retard mechanism.

 

Ha no. Apparently gone to bodyshop for some remedials Have emailed you pics of trim which looks great!

 

The gear linkage bush had no rubber left in it. Repaired it last night, gear selection much better. 110miles now! waiting for the next thing to break.

 

Result !

 

Indeed there are...

Currently getting mine ready for some historic rallying in May, followed by Le Mans Classic in July - a summer of fun beckons!

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Cheers
David

 

Yes have owned mine for over 24 yrs, I have restored in myself over this time and do all own maintenance on it. Would say I have a reasonable knowledge of them. Does help being an engineer and also work within the engine and driveline industry. Happy to help and offer any advice where needed.
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Both cracking cars, interesting how much the bigger rims changes the look of these cars.

 

And another......plus my first post!

Having loved the looks of the 308GT4 since my student days I have recently taken the plunge and I am a very happy owner in South Wales.

Sorry no photos yet.

Nic

 

Congratulations!

This is mine that I've owned since 1985 - I was the only person that liked them back in those days.

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I'll have owned #9054 for three years this summer. We took it all teh way to Spain and back last September, which was superb. They're fantastic cars for touring in with enough pace to make them fun, but very comfortable and with enough space for reasonable luggage.
I completely rebuilt the rear suspension the previous winter (not the one we've just left behind) and my intention was to do the same with the front last winter, but one of my other cars required a total engine rebuild which took up all the time.

Paul
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Looking forward to getting to know a few of you owners

I have a couple of classic cars and whilst I don't have the time to do all the work on them I do like to do some of the maintenance so its encouraging to see that there is quite a bit of knowledge on the model to help bale me out occasionally.

A quick question, is there a register around where I can find out the manufacture date of my car from the chassis number and also an electronic copy of the workshop manual?

Thanks all

 

Wow. Looks amazing Paul.
I heard the same from a fellow I met who had toured for years in his Gt4. Very much looking forward to doing the same.