308 front-end frame/valance variances?

My 1977 308 GTB is in the body shop, due to a front impact. The upper clip was only slightly bent, easily fixable. I was forced off the road and ran over a curb at about 40 MPH. Bumper was undamaged. My valance was shattered beyond repair.

The curb was curving to the right, so the left front lower corner took the impact. My radiator was bent, and the lower box frame was also bent. The driver-side bumper support beam was tweaked a bit outboard also. (Pictures available on the Texas thread.)

Anyway, the car is almost ready for paint--my body/frame guy has done a nice job: He welded in new stronger lower frame crossmembers, and he also supposedly moved the driver-side bumper support beam back to the proper location. This is where my question comes in...

Can any fellow 308 owners take a look at these beams and see if they both are perfectly vertical? I'm talking about the heavier beams that angle forward from the lower main frame rails. The passenger side beam appears perfectly vertical, but the driver-side beam looks a little flayed outboard just a bit. Is this normal? The thing is, my bumper mounts up fine so both bumper beams must be spaced properly... The gap on either extreme side of the bumper appears uniform in relation to the bodywork.
Radiator/condenser went back in perfectly.

HOWEVER, the bumper center is not exactly centered on the horsie hood emblem! It seems to be about 1/4" too far to the drivers' side. The bonnet fits perfectly, even though cross measurements on the bonnet opening are about 1/2" different.

My Euro valance (original Ferrari, bought it from Sean F.) is also a bit narrower than my original. The passenger side mount holes aren't quite lining up. This is also true of the new aftermarket USA valance I ordered from Ferrari Parts Exchange. (I'll keep that for a spare--changed my mind and wanted the Euro look!) My original valance measured 54 1/4" I think, from the upper grill opening, side to side. Both of my new valances are a bit shorter at 53 1/2" Can anybody measure theirs and let me get a good sampling on what's average?

SO, MY QUESTION IS:

Are all these variances normal for a hand-built car like the 308? I've heard stories of doors more than an inch different in length. I want to make sure everything is straight and proper on my car before they paint it!!

Thanks for any help,
Greg

 

Thanks Steve. Appreciate the response.

Can anybody provide any feedback on my frame questions?

308 owners, now's your chance to help a brother out, for free! Just take some measurements for me, that's all I ask!

Actually, a valuable measurement to me would be the inner distance--at the top-- from bumper support beam to bumper support beam, east to west. You'll find these on either side of the radiator, angling down to the lower frame rails.

Much appreciated!

Greg

 

Thanks Michael. Our cars suffered similar impacts....

Newman, great! Thanks for the number! Just what I needed, a measurement from an undamaged car. Can you tell if your bumper is centered on the horsie hood emblem? Beautiful Boxer, btw....

Can anybody look at these bumper support beams, from overhead, and confirm that they do or do not splay outward a bit? My driver-side
beam is leaning a bit outboard. You can easily tell by the gap on the sides of the radiator--is it tapered or not....?
Thanks,
Greg

 

Thanks Newman!

Big help, much appreciated

Greg

 

Thanks so much Newman.

I just measured my car and I'm getting 27 3/4" at the top near the bumper mounts. A bit wider than you. However, my bumper mount holes line up fine; The front nose of the car is centered properly, as evidenced by placing a frame measuring tool on the emblem hole and door seam, on both sides. I'm getting the exact same distance, both sides, so I guess that's what's important.

These cars really do have a fair amount of assembly variance, don't they?


Greg

 

Sivan,
Thanks for the great info..

The car pictured in this thread is not mine. You can see my red 1977 308 GTB on the Texas section. My car is indeed a GTB hardtop....
My original USA valance also measures 54 1/8" or so.
The Euro valance I purchased to install is a bit narrower, so I guess my body guy is going to have to alter it a bit.....


Thanks everybody for all the help

Greg

 

Michael,
Thanks, yes my car proved easily fixed. Damage was not significant, even though it looked and felt that way immediately after the accident.
Curiously, Ferrari of Houston, where I first had it towed to, felt that their estimate would total it out. I removed it from them and towed it over to my buddy's body shop. Their estimate was 1/2 Ferrari of Houston's, and it's looking great so far. (They'll paint next week.) Can't wait to bring it over to Ferrari of Houston and show them!

Regarding the lightweight Euro bumpers, I ruled them out for 2 reasons:
1) I feel my front end is already too light
2) I'll take all the safety protection I can get!

Thanks,
Greg