Hi: I'm new to FerrariChat and I'm very impressed with the knowledge out there. I have a '75 GT4 that I have modified (a lot). I put a 3.2L engine in it from a Mondial, Accusump, larger sway bar, adjustible shocks and upgraded bushings (fron Nick's Forza) and various other goodies. I have kept the body stock and intend to keep it that way except for euro bumpers (to shed 60lbs or more...). I know I'll never get my money back, but that wasn't the point. I LOVE my car an intend to keep it for a very long time. And it is Very, Very fast. To the point. I have a set of 16" HRE wheels (I have no idea what era) but they are three-piece and look like the 288 GTO wheels. Well some SOB stole my screw-on hub cover on one wheel and I need a new one. Any idea where to get one? Also, I was considering trying to find some similar wheels but in gold. Like the 512 race cars of the '70's. Anyway any advice on where to get replacement hub covers would be greatly appreciated. Ciao! Jon
Jon, I can't help you on the wheel problem but, you mentioned putting on Euro bumpers. This is not a bolt on situation(you may already know this) the body panels are actually different on the cars it would require some panel mods to make them fit properly just thought you should know if didn't already.
Vern: Yes, I found out the hard way. It took a lot of adjusting to get the rear bumper to look close to correct. I'm getting some help with the front bumper. I still thnk it looks better than the US spec bumpers. Thanks. Jon
Jon, Did you cut the rear panel off and put a euro panel on? Or did you just fill the huge gap with bondo?
Sounds like an interesting car..... can you give a few more details about the engine swap please... and perhaps a couple of photos? Being a lighter car than a 348.... now with 270hp ish, is it as quick as one?
It does sound like an interesting machine. Can you tell us more about all the mods you have made, especially engine, etcetera. How about posting some photos.
Another probable Series 1 bites the dust, no offense meant. They are getting scarcer by the day. James in Denver
All: I knew that there would be some strong opinions about that much modification to mu GT4. Yes it is a series 1 and yes it was fun in the stock configuration. However, the performance was not so great. I got a 328 engine from Lyle Tanner in Sacramento. By the way, he is a great resource. I think his web site is ferraripartsexchange.com The 328 currently is in stock configuration. The transplant of the engine as-is and the suspension upgrades were all I could afford. The engine had something like 12,000 miles on it and I just didn't see the need to rebuild the whole thing and do any internal mods that were possible. The transmission from the 308 works well with minor mods to the clutch linkage. The bigger problem was the oil cooler. I was also fortunate that the stock engine cover misses the intake by no more than 1/4". I had an XDi direct fire system I purchased from Nick's Forza and had that installed as well. I could have used the 328 transmission but decided to keep the 308 tranny because I like the gearing better. The car runs great and I use it to commute about 3-times a week. I also track the car which is lots of fun. I have had a lot fewer problems with this set up than I did with the carburated 308. I also get much better gas mileage although I do miss the sound of those carbs.... As for the bumpers, I still have th big rubber skirts on the rear that hide the gap. I can't bring myself to use that much bondo! When I take the car in for a respray in the next year or so, I'll consider some mild pannel work to make the bumpers look right I thought long and hard about retrofitting the car. I know it hurts resale value and I know I'll never win at a Ferrari show, but it comes down to me getting the most out of the car. I want to keep it, even if I do eventually get my 355, I would still keep my GT4. I tried to attach a few photos. I'll resize some exterior shots later. Here are a few shots of the install. Thanks, Jon Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Jamdur, What is the serial number of your car? I ask only because I keep track of every GT4 in the US and what has been done to them.
Jon I would have loved to see the engine swap. What a project! I'm confused though. Your series 1 car had 255hp. You've only gained 15hp or so. Was the old engine going bad?
Jamdur, To let you a little more about me, (paraphrasing Ferris) I have to envy your GT4. I don't currently own an FCar, although I came close to getting a 328 recently and was beaten too it (you can see my previous posts). I wasn't meaning to offend when I made the comment about Series 1. Upgrading to a 328 engine will most likely make the car MUCH more reliable as the 328 is as has always been one of the most reliable Ferraris ever built. I assume you will (or have done) Birdman's fuse box conversion for your GT4 as that will solve MANY electrical gremlins. However, there were only a certain number of Series 1's, and, as I agree with those on the list, the Series 1, if kept stock and a good example, will most likely be a collectors opportunity for future appreciation (albeit not as much as a 246 Dino, but one could hope). That said, it appears you did a wonderful job on the conversion. I'm sure you'll enjoy it and have no problems upgrading to another FCar or selling it in the future. One more comment . . . . . POST MORE PICS!!!! Good luck and enjoy the car, James
I always thought that removing the back seat and dropping in a 355 or better yet a 360 motor and gearbox(moving the engine more forward) would make an interesting project. The GT4 altho being a wonderful car IMO will not be a huge collectable so doing a project like that would be fun. Anyway I like what you did there. P.S. How many people have asked if your accusump is a NOS bottle?
Hi All: First, I'll send you my serial number first chance I get (or when I remember to copy down the number when I'm at my car). Second, Yes, I didn't necessairly gain that much horespower by the stock swap, but because of the 4-valve configuration and the fuel injection, the car has much more potential for modification. Also, although I believe the European GT4 made around 255HP, I don't think the US version was that high. I believe the US version was around 230 or so? I actually think that was a little optimistic. The US version of the 328 made around 270HP. At any rate, the car is clearly faster than it was, and gets up to speed a lot quicker. As I said, the real benefit is that I can tweak the system quite a bit. My goal is a naturally aspriated 300+ hp (in the future). There wan't much wrong with the old 308 engine. The usual stuff, leaking seals, bad water pump, tough to time the carbs etc.. I was looking at a rebuild, but the cost for the 328 motor was not much more than the rebuild (of course the install and fabrication was as much as the motor!). I really take no offense on the issue of leave stock versus upgrades. I had a long and hard debate with myself over that issue as well. I woud never touch a 250, 275 or any of those amazing cars. However I figured that the 308 series in general will never be a high ticket Ferrari. I want to keep the lines as close to "stock" as possible. Dispite the criticisim of the 308 GT4 when it came out, I think the car looks amazing. We will see... Lyle Tanner actuall discussed with me the possibility of installing a 348 engine (or even a 355). The problem is the conversion to the T transmission. The amount of work it would take to redesign the engine bay would pay for the 355 I want to get. Soooo, keeping it reasonably simple (the 328 fits right in-anything later will not fit as-is) seems the best bet. I forgot to mention that I also installed the Brembo GT brake kit to the front. Now that has made a HUGE difference in braking, but requires the 16" rims. I was thinking about submitting an article to Forza on the swap. At any rate I will write something up and have it available for whoever may be interested. Thanks! One last thing. Dispite his amazing although anti-climatic drive this weekend, anyone else shed a tear over Michael's retirement? I'll miss him terribly.
A series 1 US car is actually a euro spec car. It has hotter cams than the series 2, different braking, etc. Most guys time them to US specs and don't get the performance that they should. (thats a little unkown secret for you series 1 guys) I like original cars, but that is my "thing". I've always believed that a guy has a right to do whatever he wants to his car. Its his money and he worked HARD for it. Screw what everybody else thinks. Besides everyone of you guys who modifies a series 1 car means there is one less around. Prety soon I'll have the only one and it'll be a million dollar car I'd love to read it.
Hi Jon, Well, I see that you and I have gone down similar paths. I have a '77 308GT4 but ended up with a massive engine failure due to a failing exhaust valve. I looked at a total rebuild but eventually opted, for similar reasons to you, to look at a later technology transplant. I too looked at the 348 and 355 motors, but with all of the engineering needed to do that, I might as well have bought a 355 or later. I eventually bought a good 328 motor and transplanted that. However, I did not have the ECU and so looked at alternatives. Also, the mechanical injectors were a little sick, so I looked at alternatives there as well. Eventually, I went for sequential EFI and a MoTec engine management system which has been fully Dyno mapped, etcetera. There were lots and lots of little engineering issues along the way, but essentially the 328 bolted straight onto the 308's transaxle with no bother. Externally and superficially, the car looks totally original, which I like. Induction-wise, it sounds quite different, and yes, I do miss that lovely Webber induction noice, but I like the unique noise that this thing now makes as well. For exhaust, the 328 headers eventually run into the 308's muffler sytem at the moment - a weak point and sapping some hp. It sounds good, though - again, different, but good. I'm told that it all sounds a bit 355-sh from a distance. Next, however, I am going to have a custom free flowing exhaust made up to try to get a bit more hp. Nevertheless, as it stands it is significantly quicker right through the rev range than the 308 motor was. It is instantly responsive and pulls hard right through. I haven't got a target hp in mind, though it is currently probably pulling significantly more than a standard 328, given the sequential EFI and full mapping, etcetera, but I don't have dyno numbers to hand. I can post a few pictures if anyone's interested, but don't have them here with me on this computer. Cheers for now, Grahame
Jam, Welcome to Fchat! Looks like you have a nice machine there. Hope you continue to get as much enjoyment as possible out of it. BT
I think its great what you have done, its your car and you are happy with it, you can roughly see what i am doing in this thread http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=94536 Can you show some closeups of the accusump and where it fits onto your engine
All: Thanks for the positive feedback. Grahame, I would be very interested in getting more information about your EFI upgrade. What you have done is exactly what I was planning to do in the near future. From what I have seen, using the 328 intake plenum, the upgrade can be a bit tricky. The clearances are tight getting the electronic injectors installed and the fuel rails uner the phenum. With the clearance under the engine cover so tight, every little bit counts. I have looked at another intake system that is the same dimension as the Webber carbs on the 308 (individual port injection). It looks great but is very expensive. Any photos of your setup would be appreciated. I'm also interested in the choice of engine mamagement. I have looked at a whole range from Motec (Very high end), to Supersquirt II (Very inexpensive). Any thoughts along those lines from anyone? I am also currently running the "cost effective" stainless muffler from my old 308 purchased from Superperformance UK. It sounds okay, but I am considering upgrading to a higher end stainless system for a 328 (maybe a few more Hp?). Well, we have gotten a bit off topic from 308 wheels, but I'm enjoing this discussion! Ciao,
What model is the Accusump as I was thinking of getting one, also can you post closeup pics of where it fits onto the engine etc...
I forgot the model number of the Accusump, but it's the 3-qt unit with the electric valve and set up with 40psi. I have a switch mounted under the dash and rev the engine a bit just before I turn the engine off. That puts about 80psi worth of oil into the unit. I turn on the Accusump and wait about 30-40 seconds before starting the engine to pre-oil the system. It saves a lot of wear. When I track the car, the oil pressure stays nice and steady. The unit works great. If you look at my install photos in a previous posting, you will see the sandwich plate between the oil filter and the engine block. The accusump hose is the thinner of the steel lines you see (the thicker braided line goes to the oil cooler). I looped the line above the left rear shock mount and drilled a hole through the trunk wall. I lined the hole with a split rubber hose to prevent wear and laced the line through. The accusump system is easy to install and is a real engine saver. Worth every penny.
