I know this has been discussed before. I'd appreciate some current input on what to do and recommended contacts. Killed my '79 308 GTS some time ago. Had an ignition failure on one bank and pushed it too long to get it to a safe place to stop. Compression tests appears to indicate I have damaged pistons or rings in one bank. No compression [30 psi] on four cylinders. Torn about what to do. I've had the car since new and has some sentimental value. Not pristine but was a decent driver until the ignition failure and resultant damage. Proper rebuild is worth almost as much as a decent running car. Sell it as a project/parts car? Install a used 308/328 engine? Any suggestions or advice? If I decide to sell it as is or start searching for a suitable transplant engine any suggestions on trustworthy contacts for either option? Thanks
I have a lot of parts to rebuild your engine but still would be costly with the machine work, wow sorry to hear. Fortunate part is the cars are increasing in value so I wouldn't be so quick to scrap it. You could get away with a $20k engine rebuild and your car could still be worth upper 30's and not to far in the future 40's or more Wade
If you keep your car and rebuild the motor, you are not in unknown territory with a different car. How much will you spend looking for one (travel, ppi, etc)? How long will that take? How much will you actually save? What if THAT engine has issues 3 months into ownership? What if you just cannot seem to find what you are looking for? Rebuild yours (here is your chance to tweak it too), save money in the long run and keep your sentimental car.
What I would do is get an accurate assessment of the damage first. Maybe use a borescope in the dead cylinders and THEN decide on whether or not to pull the engine, just one head, or maybe some other plan of action. Borescopes are not cheap, but are a great way of looking without spending any more than you may want to. They can be inserted into the sparkplug hole--very useful. As others have said, don't "give up" on your car just yet!
What he said. Get it done right and drive a "new" 308. Very, very few 308s out there anymore are fully sorted. And almost none are still with their original owners. I'd never let that one go.
+1 Just follow what the doctor ordered... You know what you have with your car. No matter how thorough an inspection you get on another car, there will always be unknowns.
If it was my 308 that I bought brand new back in '79, there is no question that I would have it rebuilt. I would not even consider replacing the car. The best 308 out there is not worth as much as being able to say that you are the original owner of yours.
Agree with everyone, rebuild, definitely. The only question I'd be asking myself in that situation is whether to stay stock or go to a 3.4 or 3.5 liter upgrade during the process.
While 308s aren't a dime a dozen original owners since 1978 ARE few and far between. I'd bet if your scrapped your car and bought another you'd feel a little empty.
I would pull the head on the troubled bank and find out just what you are in for. Too much at stake not to know exactly what you are dealing with.
THIS MAN SPEAKS THE TRUTH!!!! ABSOLUTELY!!! Figure out what you are in for, then contact Wade to get the new parts OR send it off to Newman or one of the others to do some serious upgrades. Its probably going to cost the same or close to it so why not have a bit more fun with it unless, of course, you are a strictly stock kind of guy. PDG
