Just Bought a 77 308 GTB

Like the title says, I just purchased a 1977 308 GTB #22951. The car is in rough shape, missing parts, and in need of TLC. I am turning to the forums, where I can hopefully summon Ferrari experts to help me out.

I’m looking for original specifications.
What color was the car delivered? What interior did it have?

I think the engine is wrong. The timing covers look wrong and the engine number doesn’t seem to match the vin. The engine is stamped 00471.

As the car is not all original, I’d like to make some upgrades and changes to make it more drivable. What do you guys recommend? Feel free to share your cars and experiences with them, as I want to get the most out of this adventure!
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There's no relationship between the VIN and the engine serial number on 308. Your camcovers look correct to me for a 1977 US version 308 (although they shouldn't be painted black ):

Provisions for mounting the two air injection pumps
The two v-belt pulley on the water pump

Although I thought the F106AE engine family marking was for 1978-79 US 308 (but not totally sure what a 1977 US 308 engine family is).

Here's a document that you might find useful in your journey:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/t4qtetedazf88v09xt6c1/MUM_308Gtbna-77-addendum.pdf?rlkey=feb1tw3gwoas6wucqvgeo35dc&st=3cb2bkbn&dl=0

 

Thanks! The electrical and fuel system diagrams are a huge help.

do you know how I find paint color and interior info?

 

No, I don't have information about that (but it's not like it's some piece of "sacred history" -- pick what you like IMO).

Do a search on your "22951" chassis serial number -- there are a couple of prior threads where it has come up here.

 

It looks like you car has been registered on the 308 GTB registry:

https://308gtb.de/serial-numbers/

The color is listed as "yellow (formerly red)"

That doesn't mean it's correct, only that some previous owner listed it as such. I'd look for any clues to red being its former color (overspray, etc.).

 

According to the 308 GTB Registry your car was originally red (now fly yellow)

https://308gtb.de/serial-numbers/

 

Congrats!

 

77 is a good year (I have one). Last year of the good cams for a US spec car, no converters but 2 air injection pumps from the factory. The rear deck lid has two parallel louvers which was the sign of a non-cat car and the clean rear tail panel above the muffler. Fun car.

 

What did Ferrari do to the cams in 78?

 

Awwwww yeah. Congrats. 76-77 are the best years

 

Intake cam lift when from .350 to .310 or thereabouts, can't recall exactly. Duration dropped a good 15 degrees or so as well. 78-79 cars got cats too. Early cams are worth 10-15hp, which isn't much but these cars need it.

 

What makes you believe the cam covers are wrong?

 

+1 -- they had to reduce the exhaust-to-intake overlap to prevent unburned mixture from entering the cats and igniting there (and that stayed the same on the US 2Vi models for the same reason, and those also needed the reduced valve overlap to keep a more constant intake vacuum level and not wiggle the CIS airflow metering flap.

 

They are painted black . Should be plane metal colour .

A lot of cars have been modded seemingly to bring them up to date ,like the next modal 348/355 “look “in there early lives which had black cam cover for example.

How ever , because they are classics now the general consensus in classic car circles to as much as poss return to OEM spec .
Or any upgrades need to to invisible or marque acceptable eg Hills cam bearings which are discrete and a worthy change from OEM .

 

I think you can take off the door cards to see the original color. Most re-paints don't go that far.

 

If your car is equipped with AC I would highly recommend upgrading it unless it works fine for you. Might be ok with a GTB. With a GTS the blower fan is too weak to actually feel any ac on ya.

 

So what you are saying is these 76/77 cams are no good in a QV

 

Did you forget to add a smiley face emoji to your post? There's not quite enough cam lobes on the 76-77 US 308 cams to work in QV.

Ferrari's solution to add more power (i.e., better airflow) was to go to 4 valves per cylinder on the QV as opposed to pumping up the camshafts, but they also had to worry about emissions and cat longevity. Could you run a 76-77 US cam profile on custom made cams in a catless QV? I don't know, and can't recall anyone saying they had done so.

 

What are the best available cams for a street QV with stock injection?

Is there anything better than the stock ones without having to change other components?

 

No, I don't, but maybe others will chime in.

 

You can run performance cams and still keep the CIS, I've done it on the V8's and Flat 12s and it wakes the car up. I wouldn't suggest it on an untouched engine thats running just fine because you'll end up going down a very expensive rabbit hole. During a rebuild is the time to do that.

 

What in your opinion is the "best" street cam set up with stock ignition and injection on a QV ?