All, Everyone has different tastes, but many years ago, when I first started looking, I was ready and willing to pay the approximate $7k differential between the price of a 328 over a 308. But then when I was in Algar and saw a 328 and a 308 sitting right next to each other, the styling won out and I saved the $7k and got the car that was on the posterS on my wall in middle school. Now that I'm faced with a possible engine rebuild, the thought has crossed my mind that perhaps I could fit a 328 block in and get the power/low end torque advantage of the 328 and keep the styling that I desire. Resale value is of NO interest to me as I plan to keep the car forever. Questions: i) Has anyone here done this? ii) Does anyone have a line on a 328 engine and required accesories to convert my car, like the digiplex boxes, etc.? Thanks, -Matt
"Atlantaman" here has one. I actually drove it last Sat. I think it is the perfect combo - however you will more then just the longblock. You will have to get the FI and Ignition system also to make it work right. It makes a pretty big difference.
Matt: I also like the 308 styling better than the 328 and decided to get a 308QV even though I paid 328 money for my 308QV. With that said, a 308QV with a 3.2 engine is probably the perfect combo. T Rutlands normally sells 328 engines, so figure about 10K for the engine and labor. You should be able to off set your cost by selling your engine. You may also want to consider selling your car and getting another 308QV or a 328 when you factor in the money issue. I am not suggesting to sell your car, but when you consider your car now has 90K miles, a "new" 308QV or a 328 with 30K-40K miles may make sense. Best of luck. Ken
Hi Matt! Great idea, the 328 engine in the 308QV! How much difference in price would there be to rebuild yours with a Norwood turbo setup? I know James has kits ready, but have no idea how much they cost; also, since you'd be having a rebuild done anyway, you could have the turbo upgrade done RIGHT, and at the same time. Might be too much $$$, but I was just wondering........... Jeff
Matt, i have also driven ATLANTAMAN's 308 and its a blast. his mods to the car are great and you can really feel the difference behind the wheel. may i ask why you are rebuilding your engine at 90k? i have seen / heard of many 308's going well beyond 90k miles. please PM if you dont want to post. Michael
Michael, I posted recently in another thread about my engine having a poor report card with respect to compression and leakdown (rings) on one bank of cylinders. That said, it is still running great, so I'm not sure what to do. This is just one (attractive) idea. With respect to the Norwood turbo kits, in fact I called for James yesterday and have not heard back yet. I'm open to all options. -Matt
Personally, I think turbo lag would ruin the wonderful handling of these cars. That flat torque curve is beautiful for powering through corners. (My EVO would smoke the 328 on track, but the Ferrari is still more fun to drive.) You might search the archives for the supercharger setup someone did on a 308. If you're going for a transplant, you'll probably want to go aftermarket port EFI, instead of any of the '80s federalized CIS systems. Without that big barn door in the air intake, the engine will rev much much better. And the EFI system will do ignition without needing to scrounge an old Marelli system. Also check the thread on individual coil-on-plug conversions (the thread is on a 355, but there's much 308 discussion too). These heads are nearly perfect for individual coils. For me, I just went with the 328. I like the interior a lot better, and I see more of that than the exterior.
Matt, We have a brand new Australian spec 328 engine in our warehouse, and as it's been in stock a while might be-able to give you a good deal - PM me if you want more details.
Matt - I go with Michael's query - why rebuild it? 90 K on a 308 is nothing. You said that the report indicated low compression and leakdown but the engine runs well. If it runs well and does not use excessive oil, I would not touch it. Forget the report. In my opinion, the 2 and 4 valve 308s are some of the finest and most rugged V-8s ever produced. The only ones that I have ever seen to fail were due to oil starvation - there is a required procedure to check oil and when properly done, this will not happen. I know a lot of people like turbos - I've done conversions for customers in the past but personally, I don't care for them. The fact that they put loads on the engine for which it was not designed just bothers me. Bob Z.
The power increase is substantial and the conversion is relatively easy---except for the EFI part The block intakes --everything-- just fits right on.. The crank damper/pulley wheel is different--you will want to keep your origional one and you will have to modify it to slide about .100 " closer to the block by machining some off of the back side The electronics done transition between the 308 and 328 and I think a lot of that revolves around the flywheel--perhaps the 308 flywheel car be applied( if you are in a 308 4v car now) Or you will need to make it EFI like I did. OOPS--forgot to look--are you in an older carb car?
I have a set of 4v intakes that I am currently converting for EFI --preparing a complete EFI package for sale
Atlantaman, My car is a Euro QV (55841). Is EFI necessary? The ignition electronics are different, but could one use the stock K-Jet fuel injection from the 308 and the stock ignition brains from the 328? -Matt
I'm going out on a limb, but I'd guess that much of the "improvement" you get from the turbo kit is simply the effect of replacing the CIS with an EFI. The CIS is a slooow responding system.
Matt, The 328 uses the same K-Jet fuel distributor, & I believe the same system is the same, or close enough so that it would work fine with a 328. Probably could make the QV ignition system work with a 328 also. Haven't compared advance curves to see if they're significantly different, suspect not as engines are so similar. Probably the Euro QV system would squeeze a bit more power out. BTW, This was discussed a few years ago, I recall that the 328 motor mounts were different, using them would require frame mods. However, I wonder if the QV sump/tranny would mount up to the 328 short block. Supposedly the 328 transfer case is stronger, don't know if the 328 bell housing/transfer case would mount up with the QV sump/tranny.
Some options I have thought of and discussed with Norwood, among others: (1) A dry sump 308 block can be modified to accept 4 valve heads. (2) I believe a 308 block can accept liners from a 348, as well as the crankshaft, but I don't recall which rods you would use. And I believe the drive gear for the sump pump will fit the 348 crank. But don't quote me on the liners fitting. The 348 crank by itself will add displacement through longer stroke. (3) 4 valve heads can use modified intake manifolds and you can run carbs. (4) You can blow through carbs with a turbo setup. If you used carb cams and keep compression below 8:1, which stock 308's are anyway, you will still have good low end torque, with the added power of boost somewhere in the rev band. (5) The gearbox is well known for being durable and able to absorb high HP, one I know of in excess of 700 HP. Norwood can verify this. I imagine in my mind, that a very streetable 400+ HP is reasonably available in one of these V-8's using the available parts. One other option would be a 355 powertrain transplant, and this was documented right here on Fchat, you can look in the archives. But I think the 4 valve and two valve heads are more trouble free. And with a turbo a 2 valve head should work quite well. I also am not a big turbo fan, nor do I care to see all these cars being altered so severly to a point where they dont look stock, or worse, modified to where they cant easily be brought back. But before im flamed, I also beleive to each his own, and some of these cars are incredible in the alterations that have been done. Try to imagine what you want in the end. If your after all out HP, the car will be harder to drive normally, and the engine wont last as long. But I do think 400 HP is doable and streetable, and wont grenade itself if its thought out carefully and assembled and maintained carefully. But you would need a mild amount of boost to do it. I cant recall the member, but someone on here converted a 348 to carbs, and I think it worked out awesome. There are many options you could look at that probably wouldnt cost anymore than rebuilding what you have now.
