Need advice on buying a 1989 328 GTS in long term storage

I took Paul’s advice on this and I’m very pleased. The engine burns pure and you can really feel the response improve. Most importantly, it can sit for periods of time.

 

Awesome !

The main thing to know about this motor is that it's an interference design. So if the timing belts break, or shed teeth, the valves will become bent or worse. In addition to the timing belts, make sure that the idler bearings are in good shape. Hill Engineering makes some decent replacements. I believe the current recommendation from Ferrari is 3 years on the belts. I believe the belt manufacturer does not recommend more than 7 years on the belts.

Having the engine in the proper place makes servicing more difficult. Much effort and patience are required.

Those Fram oil filters collapse. Replace it ASAP. I like the Baldwin filters.

Ferrari dealer markup on parts is just shy of criminal. Fortunately, most of the parts can be had from the component manufacturers. Lots of Bosch parts, Stabilus, Veglia,SK, Bendix Italia, etc.

 

Jeff - Good to hear you are getting good results from the C9. See you at Cavallino next January.

 

Looking forward to it.

 

The 328 is the type F106 model designation by Ferrari.

 

For the deck struts: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FS3TXDI

 

Feel free to call me and I can walk you through these issues. I emailed you my cell.

 

Take care at the foglight. It is not easy to find one and could be ( very ) expensive

 

The markings are not on the frame rail, but on the suspension wishbone ("A-arm" in american parlance, usually); euro cars do also have markings on "A-arms" at all fours corners (but they say "euro", although these markings tend to disappear after about 20.000 or so. See the ones on the front lower right wishbone (sorry, "A arm"...), upper side, on my # 80515 the first day after I bought her; the pressure pliers were left "in situ" by someone...markings say "EUR F 106".
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The original struts were made by Stabilus. You can buy them here:

https://www.liftsupportsdepot.com/shopby/1989/ferrari/328-gts/quattrovalvole-coupe-2door/

 

So tell us what did you pay?

 

Hahaha... but you're amongst friends here.

 

Nice car! Love the story! Subscribe

 

While much better than steel, the tanks can rust. See post #28 in the Driver's Side Gas Tank Removal thread. If water sat in the bottom a long time, it can rust out the steel screen pickup, sender unit, and even perforate the tank. In my case, fuel started seeping through the tank bottom and PO's shop went through a few fuel pumps which we deduced later on was caused by the rust particles settled in the tank.

 

On the targa material, I sourced a 2-yard roll for my QV from Matteo Jones of Re-originals. Yours is the brown (tan)/white pinstripe which might be carried by others. Mine was the red-white pinstripe which seemed "NLA" until Matteo sourced a roll of near-perfect fabric in Italy. Two yards means I have enough left over if I ever want to replace the rest of the fabric around the rear windows.

 

I would recommend you post a thread on the IL regional section asking about the best independent technicians in your area that have deep experience with cars from the 80's and 90's. You're better off building a relationship with someone who knows the older cars rather than the younger dealer techs who are more focused on the modern cars.

 

They are both top notch. I favor Continental but you can’t go wrong with either of them.

 

My friend Mike has his race cars serviced at Continental, I have never heard anything bad about them.