Are These Suspension Parts Original or Replacements? | FerrariChat
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Are These Suspension Parts Original or Replacements?

Discussion in '308/328' started by mattyp74, Oct 17, 2024.

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  1. mattyp74

    mattyp74 Rookie
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    Matthew Piacentini
    #1 mattyp74, Oct 17, 2024
    Hello all,

    My '87 328 was in the detail shop last week, and I had them take the wheels off to clean up the suspension parts. I noticed that all four of the upper levers had USA written on them in white marker or paint. The car only has 20k miles on it, but the writing seems awfully clean to be 37 years old, and it got me wondering if these parts came from the factory marked like this, or am I looking at replacements? I have a pretty extensive service records, but there is no mention of these being replaced. I don't mind if they're replacements. I'm just curious and fascinated by how these cars were built back in the day.

    Thanks, Matt

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  2. Steve Magnusson

    Steve Magnusson Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #2 Steve Magnusson, Oct 17, 2024
    That's very typical on F of that era, but it's not a marking for the upper a-arm itself. The factory makes a complete sub-assembly of the whole corner, and the front springs are different for US vs euro (and for GTB vs GTS) so they add that kind of marking to keep track of what components are in the complete sub-assembled corner.
     
  3. BrockBenson

    BrockBenson Formula Junior

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    #3 BrockBenson, Oct 17, 2024
    Just noting my 308QV is a late '84, and those markings were stencilled on in white on my car. That looks like someone may be rebuilt the suspension and hand wrote the same back on afterwards. Also don't remember dots between the USA? Suspension looks very clean for a 37-year-old car regardless of the miles.
    But that's just opinion :)

    Also curious, what is that tube or wire strapped to the brake hose?
     
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  4. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

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    #4 Rifledriver, Oct 17, 2024
    As Steve said, its a factory marking. No mystery, no conspiracy, no counterfeiting. Just an Italian with a paint pen.

    Brake pad sensor wire.
     
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  5. Harry-SZ

    Harry-SZ F1 Rookie

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    #5 Harry-SZ, Oct 18, 2024
    I agree. These arms were probably painted and someone added the u.s.a. by hand.
    It should look something like this (so stencil).
    But please note this picture is a 348 arm and not a 308, but it really looks like this also on a 308.
    There are pictures on fchat in another thread.

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  6. mattyp74

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    #6 mattyp74, Oct 18, 2024
    Thanks everyone for the replies! It's fascinating all the quirks and little details like this that come with these hand built cars. If they were rebuilt, I love the fact that someone took the care to put the USA back on.

    Cheers,
    Matt
     
  7. theunissenguido

    theunissenguido F1 Rookie
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    #7 theunissenguido, Oct 18, 2024
    That "hand" signature USA is original from factory on 328 US model. So, not painted and added afterwards.
     
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  8. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

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    #8 Rifledriver, Oct 18, 2024
    They did not. Its a factory marking. You guys are assuming its done the same way every year since 1949. Guess what? It wasn't. Since I have been working on them for 47 years professionally I suspect I have a little more exposure to them. Believe whatever make you happy.
     
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  9. mattyp74

    mattyp74 Rookie
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    #9 mattyp74, Oct 18, 2024
    Whoa! Just trying to have a fun conversation here, and I did say "if" they were rebuilt.

    I'm new to the community, excited to learn as much about how these cars were built as I can, and I don't know which users are experts and which aren't. If you're the expert in the room and you say they are original, great! I prefer that version anyway, because it means I'm not missing a chunk of service history. Certainly didn't mean to call anyone's knowledge into question.
     
  10. Rifledriver

    Rifledriver Three Time F1 World Champ

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    #10 Rifledriver, Oct 18, 2024
    Those of us who are professionals in the Ferrari business call this place "The Wives Tales Chat Room" for a very good reason.

    Its positively full of experts with a keyboard and internet access.
     
  11. Harry-SZ

    Harry-SZ F1 Rookie

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    #11 Harry-SZ, Oct 21, 2024
    Okay thanks. It looks so very unoriginal to me :)
    So 308 and 348 have a decent stamp/stencil on it and the 328 has a hand-written "u.s.a."
    Strange. But thanks for letting me know.
     
  12. Harry-SZ

    Harry-SZ F1 Rookie

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    #12 Harry-SZ, Oct 21, 2024

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