328 lower panel/valance question | FerrariChat

328 lower panel/valance question

Discussion in '308/328' started by stonker, Apr 17, 2022.

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  1. stonker

    stonker Formula Junior

    Jul 14, 2012
    420
    Surrey UK
    Full Name:
    Stonker
    Is the lower panel on a 328 adjustable? A Car I'm looking at has an uneven gap between the bumper and the lip of the nose. Very close on one end and big gap the other. Just wonderd if the lower panel/valance with bumper on was able to be adjsuted to get a nice even gap?
    It bolts on so I'm guessing there's some adjustment?

    Anyone else had this issue or seen cars with an uneven gap? Hoping it's not a bodywork issue!

    Thanks!
     
  2. SeattleM5

    SeattleM5 Formula 3
    Rossa Subscribed

    Jul 9, 2006
    1,259
    Kirkland, Washington
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    Ettore Palazzo
    Yes, there are two mounting tabs on the lateral aspects of the fiberglass valance/spoiler which mount to fastening points on the lower aspect of the bumper. The mounting tabs have cage nuts that slide up and down and side to side in the tabs to allow for fitment adjustment. I don't have a photo but the parts catalogue image below shows the two tabs called out with red arrows. It's possible that the bolt that goes to the cage nut is loose allowing the valance to sag. Alternatively, the tab might be broken off from the fibergl ass resulting in sag.

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  3. stonker

    stonker Formula Junior

    Jul 14, 2012
    420
    Surrey UK
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    Stonker
    Cool thanks for the reply. But I think you’re talking about the very bottom skirt/spoiler that’s black but I mean the body coloured panel above that that buts up against the nose bodywork that has the bumper built into it. There’s an uneven gap between the metal fibreglass and metal on the front nose section. Hood I’m explaining it well enough.
     
  4. SeattleM5

    SeattleM5 Formula 3
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    Jul 9, 2006
    1,259
    Kirkland, Washington
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    Ettore Palazzo
    I just noted from your profile that you are in the UK. I'm not sure what version 328 you're looking at but the parts diagram that I showed in my original post is from a US version vehicle where the lower valance and bumper are two separate units. Note that non US versions had the lower valance and bumper integrated together as one unit so there should be no gap unless there is true damage to the bumper. Image below is from a parts diagram on the non US version 328.

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  5. SeattleM5

    SeattleM5 Formula 3
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    Jul 9, 2006
    1,259
    Kirkland, Washington
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    Ettore Palazzo
    Sorry, posted my follow up before seeing this. I think I know what you're referring to now but perhaps you can share a photo of the gap on the car you're looking at to be sure. Bottom line, the entire lower bumper unit is indeed adjustable and a loosening of the fastening points may explain it, however, body damage could be the culprit as well.
     
  6. stonker

    stonker Formula Junior

    Jul 14, 2012
    420
    Surrey UK
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    Stonker
    It's actually the lower panel number 20 on the Europsares diagram attached that I meant. The red line is the join between the panel and the body where the gap is.
    Sorry for the confusion! Thanks.


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  7. stonker

    stonker Formula Junior

    Jul 14, 2012
    420
    Surrey UK
    Full Name:
    Stonker
    Sorry to clariy it's the gap between the top of the bumper and the bodywork that I actually mean. As highlighted on the pic below (this isn't the actual car btw). On the car I'm looking at the gap is uneven so I'm wondering if the lower panel is adjustable to even out the gap? Thanks Image Unavailable, Please Login deri
     
  8. s219

    s219 Formula Junior

    Aug 26, 2021
    486
    There might be some other telltales if it's due to damage -- post some pictures if you can. I saw a lot of 328s with tweaked front bumper covers and there was almost always some other clues to go along with it.
     
  9. nerofer

    nerofer F1 World Champ

    Mar 26, 2011
    12,083
    FRANCE
    As said by "SeattleM5" above (see post #4) the diagram you are using here is the one for US cars, which have a different front bumper than "euro" cars; on US Cars, the bumper itself and the spoiler are two different parts, whereas on "euro" cars it is one single part: bumper and spoiler are integrated into ne single assembly on euro cars.
    Note that the front bumper and spoiler for "euro" cars is "No Longer Available" as new.

    Rgds
     
  10. nerofer

    nerofer F1 World Champ

    Mar 26, 2011
    12,083
    FRANCE
    On your picture, the car seem to be suffering from one common disease to many 328s, that is someone has pushed the front top metal part downwards in the center, like if someone has been sitting on it. Very common. Note also that the left and right foglights do not exactly have been fixed at the same angle.
    The bumper is indeed adjustable, but by not much. It really depends if the gap comes from misalignement of the bumper itself, or from the body front clip above; if the whole front clip is slightly askew, for instance slightly lower on one side, then adjusting the bumper will not correct it, and there is another problem that must be investigated.

    Rgds
     
  11. stonker

    stonker Formula Junior

    Jul 14, 2012
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    Stonker
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    Cool thanks Nerofer. Yeah I’ve noticed that droop in the middle of the front clip on a few cars I’ve seen.
    So here’s some pics of the actual car. You’ll see that the gap is much bigger one side than the other so I’m hoping there’s enough adjustment to get the gap more even. If it’s damage to the front clip then it’s a much bigger job that I’m not sure I’d want to take on. I haven’t seen the car in person to do any measurements yet but there doesn’t seem to be any filler on the front clip which is good.
    thanks!
     
  12. s219

    s219 Formula Junior

    Aug 26, 2021
    486
    In the first photo, the grill and lights look a little cockeyed to me, so I think the whole front is a little out of whack.
     
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  13. Milkshaker0007

    Milkshaker0007 Formula Junior

    Sep 22, 2012
    432
    Midlands,uk
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    Paul
    mine looks positively straight in all areas to that 328. same about the lights look not right also.
    something is out of alignment, what's the history from the dealer?
     
  14. stonker

    stonker Formula Junior

    Jul 14, 2012
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    Stonker
    It’s a private sale. There’s no record of repairs to the front end so may have been done a while ago. I’m looking into it in more detail but it seems there’s not enough adjustment between the front clip and lower panel to get it looking right.
    And my concern is that if whoever did the repair couldn’t get right what you can see did they cut corners where you can’t see!!
     
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  15. s219

    s219 Formula Junior

    Aug 26, 2021
    486
    Have you been able to look under the front and inside the front from below? To me it's looking like the entire passenger side of the front clip was pushed up -- could have been an innocent bump into a parking curb or similar, that was never fixed (some people are oblivious to minor fit/finish issues). I'd want to learn as much as possible, look close at all fasteners, look for signs of repaint, etc. If it's an otherwise good car then this could simply be a price deduction.

    I think if we could see side views of the body line between front valance and fender that would also show some evidence.
     
  16. stonker

    stonker Formula Junior

    Jul 14, 2012
    420
    Surrey UK
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    Stonker
    Cool thanks. I've decided against the car as I couldn't live with it as is and fixing it could be expensive so the search continues!
     

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