Hello all, has anyone had any experience with using 308 heater cores in a 328? Are they physically the same part? ie. the dimension are the same. Thanks for any and all input! Lester
No. You can look at photos/SPC drawings of each at https://www.ferrariparts.co.uk They are sort of cousins, but the bracketry is different as are the hose nipple locations (both on one side of the 308QV while both are at the top on a 328, and the 328 has some additional bracketry on the housing to mount the hot water valve to each).
The bracketry is on the box the heater core is in. I needed new heaters for mine and had them made. It was not expensive but back then I had an old fashined radiator shop that new how to fabricate. It seems a lost art thanks to plastic radiators. Later 328s had aluminum heaters and were disposable. I had mine made from brass like early 328's had. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
The one hose by the way is really the only special coolant hose in a 328. A tight U bend and different diameters at each end. If you are taking all that apart get the hoses too. Ricambi lists them as NLA but Maranello classic shows them in stock.
Thanks guys! That is VERY helpful. One last question, were there any 328 heater cores made with copper tubing instead of aluminum?
"Later 328's had aluminum heaters and were disposable. I had mine made of brass like early 328's had".
The core that you have found looks like it has copper tubes that go through aluminum fins. If this the case, then it should be good. The typical problem with the all aluminum core is that the U bends are glued into the tubes that go through the core and the glue joints leak over time. You cannot weld them because of the glue, and it would be very difficult to re-glue them. The copper tubes are soldered together and can be repaired if needed. Rifledriver, whoever fabricated your brass/copper heater cores is an artist. They are beautiful. We had a local radiator shop fabricate brass/copper 328 heater cores, and they were pretty ugly and cost $700 each!
A radiator shop on Monument Blvd in Concord. The guys were all older than me. I just looked and do no see one in same neighborhood so I suspect it is gone. It was under 200 each. It was about 10 years ago. They did it in house. The worst part of moving is finding new subcontractors. I still send stuff back to California. No place in the country has as many support businesses for the car industry. Longest lasting, biggest car culture in the country. Problem is even there the good ones are retiring.
Well not exactly what I was thinking these would be. As Brian noted, these are still Aluminum internally and it looks like the ends are still glued in. I'll have them pressure tested later this week and report back. QUOTE="Saabguy, post: 148287261, member: 116073"]That is my hope, more information early next week.[/QUOTE]
At this point all I can say to you or Brian is maybe look in Hemmings for radiator service/fabrication for vintage cars. Modern throw away radiators have killed that industry. Replacements for run of the mill cars are so cheap even if they could be repaired it just isn't worth it. Then the old guys who did it for years are dead or retiring. For industrial work and vintage car work there are some guys still doing it but they are not in Everytown USA anymore. The challenge is to find someone who not only can make them but also has some pride in the aesthetics of their work. Getting harder to find. The radiator work I do see is often just embarrassing. I could never install it.
Pressure check and all is good with the copper ended heater cores! Waiting on the hose to come in before I button it up! Thanks all!
Just to confirm, this is the heater hose to which you refer? https://www.ferrariparts.co.uk/part/ferrari/127168 Thanks!
