Question about early QV cars

There are quite a few differences. 83s have no Lambda Control Module or ECU. They have no 02 sensor. 83s have dual exhaust. There are more differences in the fuel injection too. This is just naming a few items so you get the idea that they are different.

 

83 has air injection, EGR and less power.

 

ferrari didn't start using galvanized steel until january of 1984.

regards,

joe

 

Most of the changes came in the 84 model year. 84-85 were rated 5 hp more. Rifledriver noted the EGR which means 83's came with an pump. Early 83's came with the 390 wheels. The later 16's are a big plus. That and the rust proofing are the biggest improvements. Cosmetically, the A pillars were painted body color beginning 84.

Dave

 

The air pump et al doesn't really mean a whole lot compared to rust proofing and 390 wheels. Locally, a friend of mine has an 83 that's been a really good car. It's a late 83 though with the 16 inch wheels and a western car all it's life which helps with the rust but there is some minor issues there nevertheless.

Dave

Dave

 

I can't say what car will work for you but you are missing the point. The 85 will have 02 sensor, ECU, etc. However, the 83 has components on the fuel injection that the 85 doesn't have. So it equals out. IMO if you are looking to save a few bucks on a few components that is a waste of time. You need to be looking at the bigger picture between the 2 cars. HP IMHO is not noticeable at all. I have owned both at the same time. I prefer pulse air injection though.

 

i think there is also a difference in the water pump design, or its placement. can't remember which. supposedly a more reliable pump was introduced in 84.

john

 

Usually, just rebuilt.

 

My QV is an early 83. There are a number of items to keep in mind when looking for a QV. I think the obvious thing is that overall condition (mechanical and cosmetcs) is #1. #2 is color. 16" wheels would be #3. #4 (arguable) Euro chin spoiler. Actual year of the car is after all of those. But then I have an '83 so you might expect I would say that!

When I was looking for my car, all I seemed to see were '83 or '85s. Maybe that was just my luck but the '84 didn't seem to be as common.

John

 

Just my .02 but I have been looking for the best Red/Tan 308 GTS QV I could find for about 3-4 years and for me it had to be a 85'

I have owned and collected many cars (5 Lambos) just to mention a few.

Spoke to a lot of 308 owners and most admit the last of the 308's were the best.

You could add the Euro chin if you like it, IMO it looks great from the front but from the side it does not match the rest of the lower body lines. Like it looks chin heavy. But that is a personal preference that can be added or removed later.

If a sweet 83 comes your way for a fair price and has no rust, I think you'll like it just the same. Just dont pay high 85 money for a 83.

Here are a few pics of mine.
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

I'd agree with 'johhnyb' in that the differences are quite subtle between the early 83s and 85s such that the model year shouldn't be too major in terms of a determining factor. I have the 26th qv to roll of the line - built in jan. 83 - and think the dual exhaust into the muffler with high-flow cats and aftermarket muffler is better sounding (louder and more raspy) than the later single inlet muffler cars - even with tubis. The biggest drawback to me would be the rust-protection that my car doesn't have - now that these cars are pushing 25 years old. The air-pump isn't a factor - unless it's not working properly - and the black a-pillars on the '83s aren't noticable to the untrained eye. The 83 model year is the most common of the 3 years they were produced (84 being least) In terms of collectability, the 85 will always be moreso for obvious reasons. To me the differences between qvs are negligable and my 5-month search for a ferrari last year included all qvs after I determined that I didn't want anything pre-83. I wouldn't trade my 83 for an 85. My advice, as always, just buy the best-cared for car that you can.
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

I previously owned an 83' GTS/QV and loved it due to it being the only year of the QV with the true dual exhaust. The headers on the 84' and 85' models join at a collector before reaching the exhaust. I installed a Tubi exhaust as well as Tubi bypass tubes in place of the cats and the car sounded amazing. The only thing I didn't like about the car was the airpump. The belt that turns it comes off of one of the camshafts. It the bearing in the airpump seizes (which they do) it can cause serious damage to the camshaft. Because of this and the lack of rustproofing on 83's, I would buy an 84' or 85' 308 if I were to buy another again.

 

I have an un-modded '83GTBqv with 60K+ miles. 20K I've put on in 4years. Everything mentioned above with rust & such is relevant. I've never had an issue with an airpump, waterpump, electricals, etc. but at almost 25, things start to go wrong. 3-4K maintenance isn't unrealistic until it's sorted out. I pulled the radiator out for a pinhole this very weekend. I'm starting to replace the hoses as they look good on the outside, but are cracking on close examination. A/C is non-existant, car runs hot, had a hot-start issue (fuel pump was intermittent)

This list is your friend. The cross-reference list is your friend. I still love the looks of the 308 over the 360 or 430. I just waive bye to my friends in the 360s when the lights turn green.

 

Here are a few pics of my '85 Euro QV with only 28k miles. If you can find a Euro car, this is the way Ferrari intended the car to be - smaller, lighter bumpers - deep front spoiler, true dual exhaust, different gearing & cam, slightly higher compression, no smog gear except for straight pipe to hi performance cats. Still slow by modern standards but sounds great getting there!
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

at this point in time..you will have much more issues with the age of the various cars ..now 21 years old fo rthe youngest of them -- than any minor issues between the model years...now if you found the perfect 83 versus the perfect 85 then these model year specific issues come into play. but really you got to find a good one and one that is documented and even then these cars are aging and many parts and systems are showing their age or are beyond their useful life...and need refreshing or replacing. Clyde..how you handling the rad issue...going to WWOC or a local rad shop..new core?

 

Michael:
Did you have any problem registering your car in CA with the little bitty euro bumpers and such? Also, I had thought that the side markers on the Euro versions were round and much smaller? Did they make you change those out?

Pretty car!

 

The car was imported and correctly modified for EPA/DOT compliance in 1987 by a prior owner. They probably retrofitted the rectangular marker lights then. The car was first registered in California around 1997. I got a fresh smog when I purchased the car in February this year - no problems with DMV at all.

 

I pulled it according to a thread here on FChat.
as noted on another thread in tech...remove the grill, remove the hood, loosen & slide the fan motors forward then follow the procedures.

I took it to a local shop. $80 to drop a bead of solder on the upper tank joint or "gulley" on the front & repaint & power flush.

The guy said the radiator was pretty darn clean, so my overheating problem is probably elsewhere. He suggested the Hayden replacement fans and/or a fan on the oil cooler. I may look for replacement fan blades instead of replacing the motors which seem fine as I'd rather not cut the car at all.

BTW: whereas a fellow in the tech section mentioned he found a wrench in the engine, I found cigarette butts between the condenser & radiator. Do they sell Parliment in Italy??? and some general debris. looks almost like a mouse nest though I can't see how one squished between the two units. probably just general fuzz.

 

I repeated my question in the tech thread on the 328 rad...I see you answered it here. thx. I will get to my rad in a few weeks...I purchased the Hayden fans but will do the install when I pull the rad..somewhere on here a 308 guy installed haydens w/o cutting by simply using the Hayden mounting kit that sends plastic clips through the rad to hang the fans and it should fit w/o cutting OEM fan brackets...When I get there I will let you know what I find.

On my Merak SS you would not believe what I was finding in the deep intake of that car...and yes they do have parliment in Italy..sounds like an EBAY auction for those OEM Scuderia ferrari butts might be n order...removing that crap should help cooling.....so far I have worked the other way...new thermostat, new WP, sealed overflow tank, new rad cap...I would love to know what oil cooler fan is being fitted and I guess we may have to look at cleaning the carbon out of the engine and boiling out engine cooling channels(pricey) to really cool off.

There was NNJ college kid on the old f-chat that went through all this and finally tore his engine apart to tackle the overheating issue but never heard from him again on the chat...he had a good thread on installing the haydens (required cutting in his mount)

 

I would suggest replacing your radiator instead of just repairing it. The current owner of 83' QV I used to own repaired the radiator and the car continued to run hot. He proceeded to replace everything (i.e. theromostat, water pump, hoses, etc) and the car still overheated. Finally, he replaced the radiator with a custom aluminum one from Nick's Forza Ferrari...overheating problem solved. Bottom line is that the fins in your old radiator are likely very weak and the corrosion that has taken place over the years may be restricting flow. Best of luck!

 

I have a supercharged BMW 635 (~400hp). Big hp is way over-rated, IMO. It's fun for the first 100 times you drive it, then it gets old. Especially in the States where you can't drive really fast. For the next car (i.e. a Ferrari), hp just isn't going to be a factor for me...
Shawn