My 77 308GTB restomod | Page 3 | FerrariChat
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My 77 308GTB restomod

Discussion in '308/328' started by Newman, May 24, 2025.

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  1. sltillim

    sltillim Formula 3
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    #51 sltillim, Jun 5, 2025
    If you do this the way you are describing, it's going to be effing awesome!!! discretely add width. the lengthening could be hidden in a custom rear buttress - and you already have a composite lid. My favorite modifications are when someone in the know looks at the car, kind of sees subtle differences and says "okay, somethings going here - what did you do?"

    I will post my updates soon but I'm dropping a 360 engine/trans in my GT4. all the added wheelbase is in the back half. rough measurements have it barely fitting without modifying the firewall, but I will likely modify it a little anyway so I can easily remove the interior and work on the front of the engine and change the belts from in the car..
     
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  2. Newman

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    #52 Newman, Jun 5, 2025
    Exactly, I bet most wouldn't pick up on a 3" stretch but the car looks better ONLY if the body is widened or flared. A stock 308 stretched would have that limo look.
     
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  3. vincent355

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    #53 vincent355, Jun 5, 2025
    keep up the good work.
     
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  4. Newman

    Newman F1 World Champ
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    #54 Newman, Jul 26, 2025
    Just an update.

    The interior is mostly complete. I need to put the clock pod (or something else) back in and the passenger foot rest which I'll make out of aluminum.

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    The car came with Superformance repop wheels which I have never liked so I bought the set pictured below which will arrive Monday. They are temporary until I upgrade the brakes and suspension but for now I'll enjoy the OEM wheels. I plan to weigh them complete with tires and compare to the repops. I expect a weight savings. These will put me into the high 2600lb weight range.



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  5. ChevyDave

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    #55 ChevyDave, Jul 27, 2025
    Funny, I was just thinking about this project yesterday....man, that is one sanitary interior. Also, am I missing something, or have you actually eliminated the side windows?
    - Dave
     
  6. Newman

    Newman F1 World Champ
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    #56 Newman, Jul 27, 2025
    No side windows or frames. The main reason for that move is I can't find a left side window frame for a steel GTB, even if I buy a complete door to get it. A previous owner from f-chat (Dave) had some paint work done and the body shop threw the window frame in the garbage during a shop clean up. They provided a used one for a glass car which is completely different, requires a lot of modification to fit and in the end looks wrong. I shouldn't say I didn't find a frame, I found one a year ago and the seller (oldtimer in Italy) wants 4000 Euros for it. I passed and decided who needs door glasses?
     
  7. ChevyDave

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    #57 ChevyDave, Jul 28, 2025
    Well that was some rotten luck but nice pivot. It’s funny; I was so preoccupied trying to figure out what was going on with the windows that I didn’t even notice the wing window channel was missing at first.
    If you stop to think about it, you’re probably no worse off than the boys and girls in Gen 1 Vipers.
    Anyway, appreciate the heads-up on the window frames. I’ll be sure to treat them as the rare and valuable artifacts they apparently are if/when I have any bodywork done.
    - Dave
     
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  8. Newman

    Newman F1 World Champ
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    #58 Newman, Jul 28, 2025
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  9. Newman

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    #59 Newman, Jul 28, 2025
    I couldnt edit the previous post to make it clear but each OEM front wheel is 5.2Lbs lighter with the same size tires and each rear is 5.4lbs lighter. A 21lb weight reduction on unsprung weight.
     
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  10. bitsobrits

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    #60 bitsobrits, Jul 28, 2025
    Is the difference due to the alloy used, or design, or both?
     
  11. Newman

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    #61 Newman, Jul 28, 2025
    The alloy for sure is a factor, I suspect the SF rims are today's aluminum. On the rear rims rather than offset the center like original making the wheel look deeper they copied the front rim look and made the mounting flange thicker and added width to the inside to get the wider rim. It would be less expensive no doubt but the look is wrong.
     
  12. ZikZak

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    #62 ZikZak, Jul 28, 2025
    These are 16", correct? Do you know if they are significantly heavier than the 14" OEMs?

    I wonder how much more a 16" setup weighs vs 14". Obviously the wheels would be heavier, but the 14" tires would be heavier than the 16", so all in maybe the difference isn't that bad?

    I know its cool to think 14" look better, but I disagree; 16" (or even 17") look better, and I think your car proves that.
     
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  13. Newman

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    #63 Newman, Jul 28, 2025
    I happen to have an original 14 to compare. Years ago I weighed an original XWX 15" boxer tire, made in France. I did this after I saw the new made in Serbia XWX's I bought for it. The bead on the tire was almost half the thickness vs the original and going by memory here, I believe the new XWX's had poly belts rather than steel belted. The difference in weight from the original XWX 15" to the new ones was 7lbs less for the new tire! Bear that in mind with this 14" weight. It's heavier than the front 16" QV wheel and tire by 3lbs and roughly the same weight as the 16" rear.

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  14. Newman

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    #64 Newman, Aug 1, 2025 at 3:53 PM
    Weighed my car again today. 2606.6 lbs with a 1/4 tank of fuel and me not in it.
     
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  15. mk e

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    #65 mk e, Aug 1, 2025 at 5:58 PM
    Dude, drive some gas out or drain some oil out or fill the tires with helium, but you have to get a 25xx reading!
     
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  16. Newman

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    #66 Newman, Aug 1, 2025 at 7:53 PM
    A lithium battery would get me there but very expensive or a compact starter which is 8.6lbs lighter
     
  17. bjunc

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    #67 bjunc, Aug 1, 2025 at 8:31 PM
    Lithium batteries are impressively light. But yeah, also very expensive. Already really impressive that you're so close to 2500.
     
  18. mk e

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    #68 mk e, Aug 1, 2025 at 9:05 PM
    burn a 1.5 gallons of fuel or drain a gallon out of the radiator......you're SOOOO close! Yours is almost 400lbs light than mine!....make it 400 , make it 25xx! :)
     
  19. ChevyDave

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    #69 ChevyDave, Aug 1, 2025 at 10:01 PM
    Plexiglass rear window. ;)
    - Dave
     
  20. JAM1

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    #70 JAM1, Aug 1, 2025 at 11:49 PM
    2116lbs is the benchmark. :D

    She looks fantastic, Paul.
     
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  21. Newman

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    #71 Newman, Aug 2, 2025 at 6:55 AM
    If I'm in the 2500's I'll be happy as long as it still looks and feels civilized inside. The hood is surprisingly heavy for what it is so I can swap that, the battery, starter, steering column is also heavy, Tubi exhaust swapped for something I make, Im sure the stainless steel muffler isn't light. The pedal box and booster arrangement would make a good anchor. Brakes too. So there's still plenty I can do to reduce it further :)
     
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  22. Ferraripilot

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    #72 Ferraripilot, Aug 2, 2025 at 9:25 AM
    have you made a list of what you've done to get it where it currently stands? pretty darn light there!
     
  23. ZikZak

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    #73 ZikZak, Aug 2, 2025 at 10:17 AM
    Last edited: Aug 2, 2025 at 10:28 AM
    You could delete the wipers? The motors and associated hardware have to weigh a good bit, and since lots of hotrods are built without them, I'd still consider that "civilized." F40 style door pulls? Or even better, P-car RS-style: https://www.sdg.industries/store/p/mk1-rs-door-pull. I think someone makes an OE-look aluminum expansion tank, or you could fab one. All these are just chasing ounces, probably.

    I have one of those RS door pull kits for my 944, and I got an extra one by mistake (my mistake) - if you think it could be useful, I'd be happy to send it to you. Alternately, the guy who makes them does all his own CAD and manufacturing (I think he does low-volume stuff for VW Golfs), so you might reach out to him to see if he'd do a bespoke system that would work on the 308.

    There is probably some more weight to be lost if you are willing to use other model wheels/aftermarket wheels, but I understand if you don't want to - I think these cars look best with OEM design wheels. I wonder how much it would cost to get a set of OEM-look CF wheels made (just kidding...sort of).

    Finally, how much weight can you lose in an engine? I know yours is stock, but when you build your high-performance engines, do you see some weight come out of them (reciprocating assembly mass)?

    2500lb is a nice round number, and I think attainable. You might even end up below it, in which case you could add some things back to make it even more civilized (2500lb with AC would be a serious accomplishment).
     
  24. ChevyDave

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    #74 ChevyDave, Aug 2, 2025 at 7:00 PM
    - Dave
     
  25. Newman

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    #75 Newman, Aug 3, 2025 at 7:08 AM
    I didn't make a list but I'll do that now off the top of my head.

    removed front bumper, signals shocks and grill, front signals replaced with small bullet lights
    headlight assemblies complete
    spare tire tub and battery cover (was loose in the car from a previous owner so I lifted it out and set it aside)
    blower motors and ducting (they were already missing)
    Heater slide controls, a/c controls, all wiring related to that
    passenger foot rest
    zipped front cover, one wiper arm, washer bag
    stock rad and fans replaced with Ron Davis
    both belly pans and gas pedal plastic surround - I can see the road around the gas pedal opening in the floor
    a/c system including evaporator box but the lines are still there until I remove the right tank to pull them out
    all side glass, wiring in doors, regulators, window frames, recovered stock door panels in fabric
    stock seats replaced with racing seats and aluminum fixed mounts
    console, door pockets, speaker grills, all carpet replaced, rear wall and shelf insulated with dynaliner which is much lighter than the stock jute
    rear deck lid replaced with group 4 lid, no expanded metal, no water shield, no emblem
    no trunk carpet or material of any sort but still retains stock bumper shocks for ease of mounting new bumper at the time.
    single distributor, one coil
    rear bumper with group 4 piece
    no trim insert in rear mail slot
    no metal cover / valance in front of muffler
    no aluminum lower air scoop to direct air to muffler area
    rear latches and cables, has OMP pins and clips
    QA1 coil overs
    OEM 16" wheels

    I think thats it
     
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