308 euro spec question

It was added to American cars to cover up the added exhaust piping required by the catalytic converters. Since the Euro cars didn't have cats, the exhaust is much more compact and is enclosed without the need for the "diaper". In my opinion, the cars look sleeker without the cover.

Also, if I remember correctly, your car has twin exhaust tips rather than the stock quads. If you put the cover on, there will be quite a gap showing around the exhaust pipes.

 

(Please don't classify me as an ASN ), but I'm having a flashback that even on the Euro cars (or maybe it's the US cars converted to Euro) there have been some fairly nice "cover" designs posted here (and maybe on eBay?) I can't remember any specific keywords to help find them quickly, but might be worth slogging thru a bigger search -- could give you some ideas...

 

Please be year specific on this....there has been a lot of discussion about it.

The early non cat US cars came with a LITTLE muffler cover made from staggered slot perforated metal, with ovals cut out for a four tip exhaust.

When cats were added to US cars a larger, LARGE cover was mounted, with punched louvers in vertical rows to allow cooling airflow..

You are also correct an aftermarket cover has been offered, on our old friend ebay, IIRC, with laser cut text (quatrovalve?) or something like that.

I have also seen numerous home built attempts to beautify after market systems, with various success rates.

Now somebody post some pics...many Euro car owners insist these were not on the car OEM, and I concur this is probably correct, as the cars there had several exhaust configurations and rear valence treatments, for single side tips, an example.

Man, I'm exhausted now.............ROTFLMAO!

 

"Archive 'Search' Nazi", as in, USE the SEARCH feature of this software. Never mind that.......

It sounds like you need some assistance. I have provided a sample of the early style grill to my fabrication shop with instructions to duplicate it.

They promptly lost it in the shop....gone forever..but I have photos and drawings for documentation.

I have run into the situation where my ANSA tips are slightly different center to center dimensions than the stock Thermoreactor muffler tips anyway, which maybe explains why so many have gone missing!

My guys could easily make you a single outlet style as well once the perf metal is received, we are currently waiting on a Mill Run for the raw materials...do you have a good dimension or photo of your tips against the rear valence?????????
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What I've posted was a very early 308GTB style.

Your '85 would use the MUCH larger rear cover, IMO, to clean it all up.

Can someone post a later version standard dual type treatment? That is going to be a lot more $$$ to do. I think that later rear muffler shroud is big bucks.....still, my guys are pretty good, I'd wager they could do it!!!!

 

Here's some Euros, obviously the race versions didn't care so much......
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I think that's a glass car...note absence of plate recess indentation of the later steel versions..........

 

"The Original Ferrari V-8" shows the Euro cars to have a single outlet exhaust on the early cars. Don't recall what the later ones looked like but I believe Europe followed the US some on emmissions laws, just not as extreme.

 

They did not mount cats until 1980.....but I have seen both single and double valence cutouts, and our US cars had none at all, by the time the steel production began......lots of photos, the actual tip count doesn't match the valence!!!!!

Fchatter AFire has a 1980 non cat carbed car, IIRC.

 

Dr. Barry and I discussed this really thouroughly as his car (glass) did not have a cover at all and he's sure that's original......

It is probably down in the OLD archives, before Vbulletin was loaded here.

 

You are very welcome....anytime!

 

Another Euro pic from a 'street' car.

 

BTW, for those who haven't looked in awhile.....

I've recently pulled my 'diaper' off my 84 US 308 to access the metal screen that fills the gap between the bumper and the car body - just below the license plate. The heat of the exhaust and age take their toll on these items, the paint blisters off and surface rust collects here (especially on the inside of the 'diaper', around the louvers and screened section). I've spent several days priming and painting these items with fresh paint (using engine paint rated for 500 degrees F).

 

Fist pic should be Chas' car.

Second pic should be a US spec QV.

Personally I think your car would look better without the cover, but I would try to pick the pipes up about an inch so they would fit closer to the rear valance.
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Hello,

this is the original EURO muffler with single tail pipe at the 308 EURO models from 1976 to 1980.

Best regards,

AFire
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Hey Bubba!

Yes, here's my rear treatment, unique to the 1976 North American fiberglass GTBs (no transitional grill):