Valve springs arrived today, cams will arrive Tuesday Image Unavailable, Please Login Plating came back today for the engine and suspension. Image Unavailable, Please Login We put the muffler hangers back together while going through the batch. Because they're seen from behind the car it just makes sense to do them. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Isn't this beautiful work? Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Paul keeps me up to date with regular texts & photos, which I appreciate. Things seem to be going together quite well. How will I ever keep it looking this nice? Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Paul suggested having my starter & alternator tested before the engine is installed, as they're much easier to access now. Both were working when the car was together, but their 45-years old and I'm sure they're original. Here's the starter. Nearly a half-century of gummed-up crud, despite only 54k miles on the car. It will be replaced with a new efficient high-torq unit that will also save a few pounds. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login I'm sure my window motors will look similar when I get to them. The big question (to me) is what will a 340+ hp 308 be like to drive? Will it be worthwhile? I was driving a Viper GTS a few days ago & was thinking how bulletproof and solid feeling it was, but also how twitchy the steering was, the harsh ride, and how the massive tires & neutral alignment grabbed at every dip and bump in the road. Great car, very powerful, but also a little taxing to drive any distance. I really think the 308 will be much more enjoyable as a sports-touring car. And it's probably the same when compared to a more modern Ferrari with massive power and tires. Maybe these little 308s are the "sweet spot" in enjoyable exotic cars. Am I wrong?
I don’t think you’re wrong, but then I am biased. Look, my wife’s Subaru ascent, with a turbo charged 4 cylinder, probably has better acceleration than my 308 ( mine isn’t at 340hp, but a more modest 303hp). But no car puts a smile on my face like the 308. The sounds, the feeling, the handling, how connected you are to the road, while still having a fairly comfy ride compared to a lot or harsher spring rated cars.
Right fuel tank rubber pads were loose and missing texture, one of the three vent tubes was missing and one was bent and cracked as expected when we tried to straighten it out. An old a/c condenser line from a modern car was the right size so number 1 and 3 tube were replaced. Image Unavailable, Please Login
The weight delta from my OEM starter to the gear reduction one I fitted was 9lbs, according to my postal scale. I keep track of such things
I discovered only the rack housing with the cast ends is compatible with the fast ratio gear kit. First time I've run into that. The other style rack with the metal tube end and adapter spacers has a larger OD rack gear and the inner tie rod ends attach differently. I had a few of the other cores in stock so I chose one of them and just traded with Ben. It's a simple swap, the hardest part is changing the right side bushing and thats not even hard. A slide hammer makes quick work of that. The most critical step is setting the clearance on the shoe that holds the rack gear against the pinion gear. My car has had the fast ratio internals done in the past and its obvious the person doing the rack wasn't aware that that step is critical, I'll be correcting that this winter. I fill them with gear oil like they were originally rather than pack them with grease, everything inside is happier if you do that. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
I upgraded my '79 to 3.6L about 5 years ago. Same 360 crank, larger liners Its only ~315 BHP (10:1 CR), but a totally different car to drive, now, it gets out of its own way and will push you back in the seat. You will like it. If it would have been a later 4 valve car, HP would be significantly higher as the 2V heads just don't flow as well at higher RPM, even with a slightly larger valve, but how much time do you really spend between 7K and 9K RPM? Doug
