Hello, So I inherited this 80 308 GTSi and it has been sitting for the past 28 yrs. I don't just want to started it up I have been told to drain all the old fluids and add new then started up, any pointers from the pros on here would really help. thanks in advance. Ruben,
Give the rise in these cars value even as a died in the wool DIY'r I'd suggest flat bedding it to a good independent shop and letting them service it and get it going. I'm pretty cavalier when it comes to working on my cars but given a 308 thats been sitting for 28 years there are a lot of things to do and check before you start cranking. I'd crank over a car sitting for 5 years if I knew it ran when stored (with some pre start procedures) but 28 years...?? One big question is why was it sitting for 28 years? When internal things get stuck on these cars due to lack of use it gets ugly fast. I'd invest $X on a service at a shop to get it going rather than risking $XXX breaking something.
Don't crank it. 28 years of hibernation is a serious deficit. Unless you are a very serious mechanic, DIY, and know a lot about that Ferrari, please flat bed it to someone who can revive it. A few years ago I revived a 355 that sat around for 10 years. It took 2 months and $15,000. All brakes, all clutch, all gas, all timing components have to be replaced. On your GTSi, all the fuel injection lines, the WUR, and fuel distributor would need to be replaced or rebuilt too. Don't crank it.
I agree with the others to not turn over the engine. For one thing, its going to be a complete waste of time. The gasoline is completely trashed and just "draining" it will not remove it from the system. The GTSi is Fuel injected but the gas that was in there is now varnish. The fuel system needs to be cleaned, inspected, and flushed as does the lubrication and water system. I would be shocked if you didn't need a water pump after sitting 28 years. In the worst case the engine maybe frozen but there ways to bring it back to life unless its too far gone. The oil is going to be garbage as will most rubber parts and hoses. If you snap a timing belt you will be looking at a valve job. Another question is -- why was it parked all these years? Was something wrong with it originally? If you can't answer that question, you have to assume there was. An experienced mechanic can systematically go through the systems to safely bring it back to life. Remember --- there is no such thing as a "cheap" Ferrari, even an inherited one. But you can save money by doing things the right way and not the wrong way. LASTLY -- find the correct mechanic. Someone with experience. Someone you feel you can work with. When you buy a Ferrari you marry your mechanic. Most likely you're going to hear things you won't like. If you don't trust that advice, find someone you do trust. Not knowing your situation you have to be careful of body rust which could get really expensive to fix. You need a really good review of the overall car's status before investing in it. Its better to know than not know. We don't want to give you all doom and gloom. You may have inherited a cream puff. And if you can afford to get it running, its going to be pure joy to drive along with the knowledge that you brought something back to life. Ferrari owners don't really "own" a Ferrari. We are caretakers who pass them over to someone else in the future. Today that is you. Tomorrow it may be someone else. How well that transfer takes place is how well you take care of the Italian Jewel given to you.
I will take this advice and tow it to a shop once I find one. Haha I live 3 blocks from Roselli’s. I stopped by a few weeks ago and they don’t even have the time to talk to me. Sent from my iPad using FerrariChat.com mobile app
What are your intentions with the car? Do you plan on keeping it and driving it or are you just going to sell it? If it was stored for long-term storage properly ie coolant drained and fuel drained shouldn't be too much of a big deal just a new belt job and you'll be good to go but I can assure you if there's 28 year old gas in there you're going to be spending some money
Be prepared to spend a lot of money. I have performed several of these type of repairs. I call them a resurrection as I am not restoring the full car, just bringing it back to life. There is a long list of issues you will face, I typed it out and bumped the wrong button and lost it all. Anyway, it can easily be 25-30 K. If you are told differently, be aware they may not have any idea what they are facing. EVERYTHING will need attention. I am in Georgia and would be more than happy to go over what I think it will take. You could ship it to me and we work through it together. Text me if you want, 770-845-8335
more of a rhetorical (humorous) comment.... hey here's the good news, oh BTW here's the bad news, enjoy your new gift.... Pure speculation on what it will cost until the car is in the light of day. Can it be up and running for a couple of bucks certainly not and not anywhere near wise. Ardent DIY'r under $10k; owner who can only right checks easy $30k . Tons of variables in between: was the car stored properly, what was broke which caused it to sit in the first place, whats the condition of the paint and interior. Far too much unknown to say its either $5k or $30k.
I didn't mean to be all gloom and doom, just wanted OP to know what he could be facing. I am sure it can be made to move on its own for much less but it will be a rehabilitation process that can take a long time and cost a lot. A DIYer could do it for much less for sure. I hope he gets its running and is able to enjoy the car. They really are a lot of fun to drive.
Find an air cooled Porsche specialist, they will understand that early injection and get it sorted....
He's in San Jose, there are enough experts here to get the car running. It depends on his intention for the car.
I just replaced the factory belts on an 328 with delivery milage. Belts were fine and still soft. The car is started at least once a year and all systems will be used and up to running temp. Fluids changed regulary and car ist pushed at least every two weeks. I would take this car into action right away. Another 328 of somebody I know was sitting for 10 years without any care. Half that time outside, at least rain protected. When I changed the belts, they were dry and emitted some crunching noises. I really was expecting them to snap while turning the engine by hand. They still have the shape of their 10 year sleeping position. These were just changed befor the car was put aside. I´m sure, they would have snapped, if someone cranked the starter. The suspension bushings all have detoriated very badly after 10 years improper storing. The factory miles 328 does not have any sign of aged bushings (probably, they are gone too, but no deformation or fractures). So, it really depends on what has to be done to bring a car back into life, depending on its "sleep". But rather expect more...
I agree with Mechaniker that "how" it sat is as important as why it sat, but I also agree that this is likely a costly resurrection waiting to happen. I have a 308 Mondial QV, sibling to the GTS/GTB with largely the same internals. My car mostly sat for about 10 years before I bought it. A partial list of what needed done includes - gas tanks had rusted, fuel sender rusted, Engine and trans had to be split and resealed, shocks rebuilt, brakes rebuilt, brake lines replaced, fuel lines replaced, new fuse box, and there was more, plus a major belt service of course. I think all in the bill for me was $35,000. Money well spent and I love it, but I always think it's good to go in with eyes open instead of receiving a seemingly endless series of disheartening phone calls from your mechanic, which can be dispiriting if you're not expecting it. Still, at the end of the day whatever your repair bill comes to, it will be less than the price of buying a 308 GTS (which would also likely need the standard $10k in sorting!). Nice thing to inherit! Congrats and enjoy!!!! Northern CA roads are some f the best in the world for driving a Ferrari on....
First of all Rubemelz308, have you always wanted a Ferrari, or a 308 in particular? If so, invest the money and you'll have a nice sorted 308 at a bargain price. Or invest around $30k and sell it for around $60k and pocket the profit. Or just sell it as is...you'll probably pocket about the same $30k range. You're in a win-win situation no matter how you cut it.
