Started working through a full steering and suspension refurb this weekend. Some gratuitous before and after shots Front bushes first, along with a column UJ rebuild. I think my back now needs medical attention! Car already feeling much better Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
I bet they are. A real mess they were! When I got the car a few weeks ago the steering and suspension was very poor. Really heavy and notchy steering, bangs coming from the suspension on bumpy roads and the car felt very floaty. . It’s already loads better but I think it still needs quite a bit more work. It’s beginning to shine through though just how good the handling on this will be when it’s sorted.
We’ll I figured out why the gear change was a bit odd at times! Guess this is pretty common?! Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
It’s amazing what you will find and the quirks of our 308’s but once they are sorted out they’re bulletproof and amazing.
The car spent its first 6 years in New Jersey before being put into storage in Switzerland for the next 31 years so I guess makes sense. Its a 1978 quarter. You can tell there is a wonderful car in there trying to get out but the front suspension still needs quite a lot of work. Like an idiot I forgot to buy front shock bushes, which have had it, so that's this weekends job. At the moment there's still knocks coming from the front over bumps. If still there after the shock bushes are gone, I'll try swapping the balljoints although there is no obvious play in them. Then the whole rear end needs doing to match.
I paid a garage ( bmw M race prep ) to poly bush my A arms .Used Bells classic a U.K. Ferrari restoration firm to buy the bushes . They did a road or track version .Opted for road . Just did not fancy distorted or cracking the 40 y old metal A arms, grinding adding heat etc , and welding, and the tightening up on its wheels malarkey .I know a lot do it to OEM and poly bushing divides opinion on here . Used super performance for the shockers and drop links conventional rubber used . Just wanted a one time fix .Labour was £2500 inc vat which inc a oil change and g box oil change . The parts I supplied were circa £800 all in . At the time “ Bells “ manufactured there own spec poly bushes and I took the plunge after a phone call .They see a lot of distorted and hairline cracked A arms , after so called refurbs ….by professionals and amateurs , so I did not fancy it DIY .There bushes when in place are indistinguishable from OEM for car show purposes btw a then USP . Very happy with the result .Super sharp super responsive. They know there onions in the Ferrari world . https://www.bellsportandclassic.co.uk/ No affiliation etc ^^^ .
Hi Portofino. Getting someone else to do it is usually the sensible option! Pretty fair price considering all the work involved I'd say? I'll have a look at Bells. New name to me but then I'm new to Ferraris. I've also just gone with the standard road bushes. Its on its original 14" wheels which I'd be loathe to swap out so didn't seem much point in stiffer bushes. I like the down time that working on cars gives me. I've been at it long enough now to have gathered decent equipment which makes all the difference. (I'm almost done with a second cobra replica with a 427 sideoiler that I've built).
I didn’t get chance to replace to shock absorber bushes this weekend yet. However a quick look tells me that they are displacing enough to hit the back edge of the upper arm. There are clear witness marks on the shocker, and whilst it’s impossible to photograph you can see the scratches on the back of the newly powder coated upper arm. There are metallic bumps coming from the front end of the car, I guess that’s why! Better get those front shocker bushes in! View attachment 1960474
Image Unavailable, Please Login This is what the shock bushes looked like!! Replaced them and now the shocks are not hitting the upper arms! Much quieter.
Check out my thread Lloyd “1977 308GTB 21291” I had the pleasure of spending some time with a reputable Koni rebuilder and would guess your shocks have probably never been opened. I learnt quite a bit and if you have access to anyone with a dyno it might be worth having them tested. Control arms look very nice! Cheers
Thanks I'll check that out. I'm sure they've never been touched. At first glance they seem ok, no leaks and they seem to work from a basic "bounce" test but I doubt they still perform as they ought to. No idea where I'd get them rebuilt in the UK yet. There's a bit of play in the steering rack n/s bush so thats on the list, plus I really need to do all the rear bushes next. However I have a project to put a 2 post lift in later this year, and I'm already pondering jobs I can put off until that's in place! I've been waiting on cylinder heads from Edelbrock for nearly 12 months now for the other project car, and they swear to me they're about to ship so that might have to ease up the priority list!
