Is it possible..automatic transmission in a 308?

Hey now! Some of us are corvette owners also!

As to the idea of an automatic transmission in a 308, its an interesting idea but its not one I'd pursue myself.

Richard
'01 Corvette coupe
(searching for a 308GT4)

 

If you folks look at his first post, he refers to himself as a poor boy from NC. So then, why would a ''poor boy'' contemplate an expensive (and impossible) modification such as going from manual to automatic.

I think that we smoked out an another one!!!

 

I guess he uses his right hand for something else, while driving....

 

Did someone say they smelled bacon? Talking about cars? If you don't smell the bacon in YOUR car, get some of this action!
http://www.stupid.com/stat/METF.html

 

BRILLIANT!!!!

Reminds me of the incident with Homer and the fudge covered bacon...hhhhmmmmmm.......(insert drooling sounds here).

 

Just read this thread - just amazes me to read that an owner can desecrate a piece of automotive history like the 308... Even 30 years after its launch it remains the quintessential F-car for most people - PLEASE do not destroy an icon - go and buy a regular commuter with a slush box ex factory and give someone who appreciates Ferrari the privilege of owning one....

 

You can do a rap version of Beethoven's 5th Symphony but that would also be making garbage out of art

Must be too much inbreeding up in Appalachia LOL

 

I think converting a 308 to an automatic is just crazy talk. Buy something else to wreck.

 

I think that was his first post....he admits it's crazy.

But then he was less than enlightened, or he wouldn't have ended up with a '79.............

 

57K miles on the engine... maybe it is time for a rebuild and BlackBeauty's funds do not allow... $5K gets you a Northstar engine not a bad deal - if you can get past the sound and is certainly cheaper than a full engine job ... Although he'll probably have to get something like a Prius engine to get 45 miles per gallon.

Reminds me of the days when people would lump the Jags V12 with GM350 b/c they could not afford the running costs. Many Jag tranditionalists were (are) upset but that didn't deter the rednecks out there. Still it's his car, and 308s are not exactly "rare" cars... Wonder how the tranditionalists would react if he suggested putting a 355 F1 engine combo...

 

Well putting a 350 in a jag may be crude but it wasnt exactly a performance downgrade. Seriously I know of a few Jags that were really knackered and were saved by a cheap powerplant.

A number of exotics in the 60s got hacked to fit chev 327's and survived to be reunited with their origonal engines. In fact I think there was at least one prewar alfa romeo superchatrged staight eight fitted with a chrysler straight 6, untill many years later apprecuiation and budget allowed it to be runited with its repaired origonal engine.

But we are talking about a completly different case here, this is not a knackered car with an owner who has no alternative, this is an "owner" who doesnt appreciate the performance but likes the looks so wants to do a hack job. Its like someone pulling a smooth running V12 from an E-type jag and putting in a diesel gm 350 to get better gas mileage, basicaly they dont get it.

 

With horror.

See this thread

 

Read that thread, most people thought it was a great conversion, the beauty of a 308 with the mechanical beauty of a 355. This thread is about the beauty of a 308 with the mechanical beauty of well, a buick. One is a powerplant to enhance the ferrari experience the other is a powerplant devoid of the ferrari experience.

 

I love the 355 thread - always fun to see people that don't take Ferraris as sacred cows and are willing to experiment a little.

Boxerman - to your point... putting the a Northstar engine would not be a perfomance downgrade (putting on fire suit) anymore than switching out out a Jag V12 for a 350... but I agree that trashing a perfectly fine car is crazy, however; to want an automatic you got to be crazy...which seems to fit the profile of our "owner"!

 

Actualy the northstar would improve acceleration if nothing else, but like a chev in a jag ruin a good part of the experience of the vehicle. Any idea where or how to find a good v12 etype 2+2 stick of course preferably primrose yellow.

Also what type of wheels do you have on your 308/288

 

Patek Philippe's advertising tag is "You never actually own a PP. You merely look after it for the next generation". IMO this should apply to every Ferrari as well.

 

And I personally loved it also. Heck, if I had the $$$ I'd consider it for the 328. However, there were traditionalists that did complain about the conversion...

 

Boxerman - those are HRE Type 57 (I think) with custom offset

 

English is NOT my language and to write a line with 5 words without big mistake, I need 5 minutes.

I have tried to answer with fun because I did'nt want to lost my time to answer to this INTELLIGENT question.
Sorry, perhaps it was only fun for me...

And, Spasso, I never said that anybody is stupid here... Is that addressed to me?


Si tout le monde s'exprimait dans la langue de Molière sur ce site de dialogue, ce serait merveilleux...! ;-)

 

bab13 -
" Si tout le monde s'exprimait dans la langue de Molière sur ce site de dialogue, ce serait merveilleux...!"

..oui mais on serait tous forcer a utiliser un Minitel et de payer 2fr la minute... thank God for Gore and the internet and Shakespeare for the English language

 

Wow, what a thread. And what responses. My own feeling is that yes, its his car. But also, it belongs to the guy on the street, the young man who would love to see, touch, and HEAR a FERRARI.
How about you remove the engine and trans, and where the axles come together you attach a electric motor. Then you have all that stupid space where that horrible engine sat for a big briggs and stratton powered 10,000 watt generator and just a whole gaggle of car batteries, voila, instant Battari hybrid car, yes? No? Batteries in the front trunk, rear trunk, heck I bet it would carry quite a load of batteries.
Okay, how about a SAAB engine and transaxle? Its got cool step down gears like a Ferrari. The engine sits on top of the gearbox like a Ferrari. They made automatics and with the twin cam and a turbo you could equal the power, yes? No? Call it a Saborri? And you know those SAABs are so easy to work on you would never have need of any maintainance.
Hmmm, okay, how about this. You take a VW transporter (thats a VW Bus) and you take the engine and transaxle and hook it up back there. Trust me, it would work and there is lots of room. Or darn, those were stick shifts. Well, then you need that wasserboxer air cooled liquid cooled abortion of a engine thing they made. Yes? No? Its a Ferrrwagen?
Man, your making this tough. You know, they made Geo cars with autos, that lil 3 banger engine. I bet with some engenyouity, er engwinooiti, er, engine-youidiocy you could put that little motor under the front hood and you could have a front drive Georri, yes? No?
Okay, last free idea. You get a used Olds 350 diesel engine from the bone yard, and hook it up to a Hewland automatic tranaxle and stick into the place where the old crummy engine sat. Dont bother cleaning it it will just get dirty anyway, and besides, who cares about THE ENGINE!

 

I misunderstood your intent, my apologies.

 

Can I have the old one .............for a coffee table?

The ex kept all my furniture........

 

Anything can be done....here's my faitilac form many years ago. a 400+hp caddy in an x1/9....with an automatic.

I didn't see it, but a friend told me there was an article in kitcar about a guy who put a fiero engine/trany (auto I think) in a 308 becaus it has cheaper to buy a beat 308 to start with than to do a kit on a fiero.

If mgp it the goal, you could buy a 208 and remove the turbo.

Personally I thing the engine is the car. I don't much care for a '32 ford with a small block chevy in it nor do I think a ferrari with a chevy engine is a good idea....but that is JMHO.

 

If you really wanted to ruin a good car, and waste a lot of money you could do it. I'm sure it would take a few years to do, unless you found a shop that was willing to do the dreaded horror and then it would cost a fortune. Why not just buy a Mera kit car?