308 Practicality Modifications

For cabin sound and heat, take a look at LizardSkin, which is a spray-on product. It's much lighter than stick-on products, and the installation is easier (if done by a shop, or if you know how to use a spray gun).

For stereo, have you thought about a hidden bluetooth receiver? I've used this in other cars: https://outofsightaudio.com/. It's about the size of a pack of playing cards, so you can hide it just about anywhere in the car.

Maybe upgrade the rad and fans for better cooling? Nick Forza has an oversized rad that fits in the stock location but provides a lot more cooling capacity.

Upgrade the fuse block (there's an Fchatter that offers a product, and also Birdman) and alternator for reliability.

 

What year is the car?

 

- converting the oil pressure system to use a modern sender.
- adding a digital outdoor air temperature display with sender in front grille.
- adding a volt meter / USB port to right of steering wheel for smartphone and Google maps.
- adding Blaupunkt Bremen SQR 46 DAB head unit.
- upgrading the air conditioning blower motor.
- upgrading gauge lighting to soft white LEDs.
- adding (switchable) Hella Supertone (118 dB) horn.-

 

Extra insulation either over or under the center console tunnel, this is where the radiator supply and return lines are. As well as the front area of the cockpit. On a nice sunny day in SoCal you could expect the temp in the car to be hotter then outside.

 

My 328 had a custom cup holder that slid into the storage spot between the seats. I loved it! It gave me an excuse to drive the F-Car to Starbucks on the weekend breakfast pick-up runs! While not the kind of car for driving and sipping on the go, it sure is nice to have the option of transporting sealed beverages.

 

I would just make sure the car is properly sorted and drive it. If you're driving at night a lot then put LED's in for the gauges and a quality headlight but I imagine your car has driving lights so drive with them on. A 308 QV is a great car.

 

I’ve had my 328 QV Euro for 6 months. For the same reasons I changed a few things. Primarily as the weak point seems to be the electrics. So to reduce load:

Led stop/tail do seem brighter than tired regular tungsten. I have flash to pass “spot lights” and substituted H3 halogen with led. I’ve also put led headlights in -H4. I suspect the beam pattern will be crap but I seldom drive at night- I’m more concerned about being seen. The instruments dimmer is pointless and the lighting dire. However the advantage of analogue instruments is the ability to see that the needle is/is not in the usual place. The actual value is secondary (I’ve also learnt that Ferrari instruments are “indicative “ rather than definitive!). Led instruments lights are on the list for future. I intend to get the steering wheel spacer as my arms are absolutely straight when gripping the wheel. I also made up an additional “pillow” that turns the head restraint into something actually useful- but I’m an odd shape with a long body!

I’m still trying to find the optimum place for my phone so I can see the screen, press to answer without taking my eyes off the road. So far it remains in the tray on the front of the centre tunnel and I ignore it. A gizmo that plugs into the cigarette lighter Bluetooths to the phone and transmits FM to the radio antenna so anything the phone can get can be played through the original cassette radio. Inelegant but non invasive and I seldom bother to listen to anything!

Something I’ve not discovered is when to connect to be towed off the freeway in an emergency without scrunching the front valance (regular not deep) or the silencer box at the back. I have a towing eye supplied but can’t find where to screw it in!? This is also relevant as my garage is down a slope…,

 

I added daylight running lights ( DLRs ) .Just felt a bit naked and vulnerable running in the U.K. / EU .
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Buy a 550 Maranello

 

I have an 85 euro spec too (55057). Only thing I might add to all these good ideas is drilled aluminum pedals. Pretty easy mod and they look great.

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I put 300-400 mi. a week on my car.

Here are some of the things I have done:

• LED's in all exterior lights. Make sure you use red LED's in red lenses and amber LED's in amber lenses otherwise they looked washed out. Plenty of threads if you do a search
• Don't even bother wasting time bypassing the instrument light dimmer! Do LED's in the instruments. Plenty of threads. Image Unavailable, Please Login
• Steering column extension is a must for comfort! https://www.hillengineering.co.uk/suspension-steering/steering-wheel-related/sws01b Image Unavailable, Please Login
• Cup holder is a must! I use a cheap clip-on using the ashtray that works great! Can pick up at Autozone for less than $3.00 https://www.autozone.com/interior-organization-and-cargo-management/cup-holder-and-mugs/p/proelite-cup-n-can-drink-holder-2-pack/530055_0_0?searchText=cup+holder Image Unavailable, Please Login
• Replaced the cigarette lighter with a voltmeter/USB quick charger. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C89DSZ7B?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
• As for the stereo, I use a Retrosound. Bluetooth and Handsfree calling. https://www.retromanufacturing.com/ Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

I decided to go down a rabbit hole. The structural tube (in red) is what holds the supply and return pipes. It looks like there are voids beneath the driver and passenger seats, which over time will heat up and cause the cabin to get hotter. Its a heavy lift, but wrapping the tube in Reflectix might help abate the heat.
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The only mod I did of this type was to put the diode in the headlight circuit so you can turn on the parking lights without the headlight buckets going up. Then I replaced the front parking light bulbs with high brightness LED's to use as defacto DRL's,(I think I used backup light bulbs) I had to buy the Euro lenses to have the white section but you should already have that.

 

Driving lights for day and night. You just to not realize how exposed we are until you are in another car and see a 308. I have 2 older KC lights mounted similar to where they would go on a euro front spoiler. Switch is in car.

 

On my 328, I found that a clear ceramic tint on the windshield and windows really helped the AC fight the sun. Still not *great*, but better. The real problem with the AC unit isn't the compressor or coolant, but instead the lack of any recirculation capability.

As far as headlights go, I used the Holly RetroBright LEDs. Good stuff.

 

+1 for the RetroBrights. I installed them this past December and they are a night/day difference, literally. Only issue is that I get a flicker sometimes... I think the LEDs being digital are not tolerant of voltage drops. I suspect the problem is that the switch in the column stalk has seen better days.

If you are in Ramona and driving to our airport then you are likely driving right past me. But I have to ask: are you really OK with parking your 308 at our airport?

 

Skip this one. There's no benefit here.

 

My List of upgrades completed

1) All external lights LED including headlight's
2) removed the carpet on the drivers side so it never gets in the way of the medal's and my feet slide nicely
3) Full AC replacement with modern air
4) Euro tune on the CPU’s
5) Forza coil overs and bushings
6) upgraded stainless steel exhaust
7) Bremen Frankfurt radio with alpine amp - blue tooth and hands free calling
8) upgraded front speakers
9) Upgraded window boosters
10) upgraded fuse box
11) upgraded air intake
12 upgraded fuel pump - Hill

I would do all of them again except I ordered the lowered coil over setup. It is awesome until you hit a huge dip in the road and bottom out. I would stick with normal ride height, or just a slight lower using the regular Forza coil overs. Keep these for auto cross or track.

 

One thing I cannot stand personally is a street car that rides like a floor jack

 

I can't think of a single practical reason to lower a 308......or any practical reason to own a 308 to begin with which I suppose is why lowering is so popular, it improves the impracticality . My car is lowered over an inch (set at 4" under the frame) and I've not had bottoming issues other than needing more attention to driveways and speed bumps but road condition, spring, shock, snubber choices all change outcome.

I was thinking of all the things I've done to my poor car over the years and what might fit this thread. Power steering made the car a lot more pleasant to drive. I was really surprised how much I liked this change, no more fighting with parking spots.

 

I'm currently undoing ALL the suspension mods I've done over the years on my cars dating back to when I was a teenager (yes I still have them all).

I just went bone ass stock on my 80 Scirocco and 82 Alfa Spider. The Scirocco has been "modified" since I bought it in 1985 and the Alfa since 1996. When I mean stock I mean factory spec springs and shocks. Nothing fancy. Back to exactly like it was new in the showroom unsold.

I cannot believe how great the damn ride is on both cars. It's like the factory actually knew what they were doing, lol. And they still handle pretty damn well too.