Upgrade or Stock?

For pure street use I think this "slow and underpowered" mantra is just a numbers game. I mean, what exactly are you trying to do that makes you feel a stock 308 (even a 1980 2V) isn't sporty enough? Maybe some punk in a hopped up Subaru can beat you down the block to the next light but he kinda comes off as a doosh-bag doing it. So I don't know, if that's the kind of thing that keeps you awake at night and bothers you maybe just get a Subaru.

 

Cars have been modded since the days of the Model T. Either modifying existing components or swapping out. I think the bored and/or stroked 308 engines are great.

 

Speaking of blathering on….I think Mr Martin probably could have made his point on this worn-out topic in a paragraph or two….
It’s a silly question as it’s two sides of the same coin (hobby) and there’s plenty of room (and cars) for both sides to peacefully coexist.
- Dave, also the owner of a slow and slightly less underpowered 308 QV.

 

If you want a faster car, dont butcher your 308, just go out and buy yourself something with more power.

Big G

 

Adrenaline rush. For some a best in class concourse finish is a way to achieve that, for others its driving sideways or having something unique perhaps. Same goal though usually and a lot of garage hours involved so I don't personally give it much thought beyond trying to seeing the care the person put into achieving whatever goal they've tried to achieve.

 

"Maybe some punk in a hopped up Subaru can beat you down the block to the next light but he kinda comes off as a doosh-bag doing it."

If you are not happy with the power, the question then becomes, "At what level do you need to be able to "outrun" somebody?" No matter how large an ICE engine or mods you can fit under the hood of a 3x8, a Tesla grocery getter will still blow it in the weeds without any effort at all. So where do you draw the line?

FWIW, when someone asks "how fast will it go?" I always respond, "The speedometer goes to 180 Miles per hour!" The response is usually, "WOW!"

 

I think it you're not happy the question becomes, "What would make you happy?". The answer could be being you buddy's whatever, it might be winning a race class, it might be a dyno number, it might be a sound, it might be reduced maintenance, it might be a ribbon at a concourse. Lots of reasons people play with cars.

 

When I owned my 308 - and 328's I usually never really wanted any more power... it was the creature comforts that I wanted... like AC. upgrading the AC is a great idea on even the most perfect example. getting the windows to work well - helps too. electric power steering for in-town - great add. getting the proper stance in a 308 - like a Euro model - also very good change. Upgrade the dash lights, and all the lights - great. Upgraded fuse box - great idea.... that to me is what is needed.

rarely did I want any more power..... if you are on track - yes, you are going to get passed by new cars... but its still fun. In the mountains I could keep up with most other Ferraris up to the 458's.... then it just go too much work and too dangerous. however, I would do upgrades to ensure reliability... that makes sense.

 

If the aftermarket world for Ferrari were as vast as the one serving Porsche I think there would be a lot more modified Ferraris. Our aftermarket world is only half vast….

 

+1 just Stand back an look at it that is the reason I got my 328 that goes for the 308 also
not for the power you will never catch up in the power race but in styling not many can match your Car so don’t destroy an Icon

 

I love my 328, yeh, it would be nice to have more power, like Sigma said, the look , thats it, it really does not get any better than that. The 3x8s stand the test of time. I like the intimacy of the cockpit, I have small feet so I have plenty of room down in the peddle box. Its an analog machine so one feels connected right to the pavement. Like the the man said, while hes driving, he does not feel the need, or think about the lack of power there of , same with me. My 89 is fitted with the Tubi / Larini / K & N, so it sounds really good as well. I have 17s with 9" rear and 8 " front with 245 45 s on all four legs, so for a car thats 34 years old, the handling is fantastic, its not a 4 S, its 1970 s F1 inspired suspension, design, etc , etc. My brakes work really well, I have done so much restoration , elected , not so much necessary , and the car good for another 24 years and another 100 k miles. You know, If I can spell it out really simple, I dont think there are many cars out there that could have given me the smiles per miles thaT my 1989 FERRARI 328 GTS has afforded me over my 24 years of ownership. My suspension is rebuilt, new motor mounts, and the list goes on and on. I have some of the most powerful motorcycles made in the world, so if you really want to know what fast is all about, you better get on two wheels !!! lol

Big G

 

"so if you really want to know what fast is all about, you better get on two wheels !!! lol"

Unless you are up against an electric car...



and go to 3:50 of this

 

MY Busa has 225 hp at the rear wheel , its fast as hell , those slot cars wont touch me in a roll on , in any gear. I dont have much experience in drag racing, off the line launches, so the slot cars would be hard to beat. If the tesla was up against a pro drag racer, on my Busa, the tesla would lose. In any case, for me, like I said before, you might as well put 1000 HP motors on each leg. I dont get the what all this fuss is about drag racing these slot cars. As soon as you modify these just a little, they really open up. No doubt, that plaid slot car is ultra fast, but in my book, it really does not matter.

Big G

 

It's not really fair to say that the results would be different "if the tesla was up against a pro drag racer..." The Tesla in question can do what it did with ANYBODY driving it - no preparation, no highly skilled driver, nothing. It could be driven by grandma with groceries in the back with the same results.

And then there's this: https://drive-my.com/2019-ferrari-308-gte-450hp-electric-tesla-engined-conversion/

 

Doesn't sound like much fun. That is why many turn to vintage racing which require honing ones lower speed but at limit skills. Cheaper and safer, and most importantly more fun.

Going to the LeMans classic this year if I can find the time, friend has entered his D type jag. Maybe Tesla some day will also be a classic, but more likely we will be on public transit by then.

 

When a friend took me for a ride in his Plaid the rolling acceleration was even more terrifying than standing start.


Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat

 

Just because a 308 is unlikely to ever be the fastest car on the street doesn't mean it can't be a whole lot faster.....I'm not sure I've ever hear anyone say:

When the first guy put a V12 in a 308 back in...84(?) Ezno jimself sent a note saying how much he liked it. Just sayin

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Take the plaid to the track like that guy did a while back, the car is heavy piece of ****, and would get destroyed. Slot cars on the road do not impress me one bit. I could care less how fast they are, they are ugly, and when pushed hard around a bend, forget it.

Big G

 

I hope you finally get this car finished, and it becomes as much as a daily driver as any factory 3 x8 . You must be getting tired of working on it by now ?
Im actually ok with a 3x8 mod, as long as everything stays Ferrari, not like that dude putting the Honda motor in his 308. I have put the MOTO TECHNIQUE video up on this site a few times, that is a great way to beef up a 3x8.

 

The ferrari is a toy, I play with it when I'm in the mood, when I'm not it sits and waits patiently. Changing oil in a daily driver is working on a car...a task that must be done but I know some look forward to oil changes, or washing and polishing. Some a Sunday drive, other a Sunday DRIVE. Its all good in my book.

 

I think that it really depends on what stage of restoration you are on: if you are rebuilding your engine, there are a lot of things that you can do to improve the performance. I only increased the compression ratio, and that gave a bit more low-end torque which is nice to have in town. Won't make it go faster, but more driving pleasure.

 

It's entirely a personal decision how you want your car to be set up. I love a 308 with just a little more poke, really brings out what the car was supposed to always be IMO. The biggest danger is in expecting it to be worth much more with all these goodies as it's really not adding much of a premium as say a 911 with an awesome twin plug motor.

 

You can go fast some of the time, you can look good all the time.

 

$308K 308!