Hi, I joined about a year and half ago, this is my first post. I bought a 1978 308 GTS On BAT. I would post pictures but I am waiting for the car to be delivered. Long time car/motorcycle guy. In the early to mid 80’s I was a mechanic before starting my profession. I worked for a shop that serviced Fiat, Lancia, and Alfas. Then for a short time at a Maserati dealer. Right now my other toys are a Lotus Exige and X1/9( I know what your thinking If I have an X1/9 why get a 308) also have a couple bikes. I plan on maintaining the 308 myself to me that is part of the fun. So I am sure I will have a few questions. I’ll use the search first so I don’t ask something that has been asked a hundred times. The 308 I bought had the last timing belt replaced in 2017 and has about 2k miles put on it, I believe. So as soon as I get it I will replace the belt. I have wanted a carbureted 308 for a very long time. I did not expect to win the bid. Super excited!
Your x1/9 would be a good match with your 308. Here’s my Lancia Scorpion and my QV. So please post pics of your 308 with your x1/9 Image Unavailable, Please Login
@TheMayor that is encouraging since I will have to do the timing belt as soon as the car is delivered.
Congrats for your new purchase. You will sure like it. They're very easy to live with for a DIY guy. No hurry for the belts. At 5 years you are still very safe.
Welcome!! My Scoutmaster had a FIAT Sedan, back when only an engineer or architect would aspire to drive one!! We called it the "Dancing FIAT"... Good memories... I've owned: 308GTB*20405 308GTB*22127 308GTB*22641 So let me know I have Tech Bulletins thru 1980 Parts Catalogs (good luck with that one!)... ...and probably some Sales Brochures applicable to your car. ..the GTS as you know, did not appear until '78....
Thanks for the kind welcome to the forum everyone! The shipper will be picking up the car up on Wednesday and I should get it on Thursday. I have been restraining myself from ordering anything for it till I can see what all it may need. I had to go back and look, the timing belt is 7 years old this month. I may be confusing it with the X but I thought 5 years was the limit on the belt. Maybe I will spray some belt dressing on it and let it roll (just kidding) The other items to address is one window is slower than the other, the wipers and maybe the AC. My X1/9 has fuel infection on it . The Exige I have done a lot of mods to, any adjustments are done with my laptop. After driving the Exige yesterday I told my wife I am going from digital to analog. For an old guy like me it feels like going home.
The car was delivered yesterday. I have ordered the timing belts, they should be in next week. It came with some records but I have not gone through them yet. Also it came with a 308 parts catalog and a Dino 308gt4 shop manual. It looks like someone put a euro engine in it (F106A020-03101), I don’t know when or why yet. Since it came with a gt4 shop manual I am guessing that is what the motor came out of. It also has euro bumpers and front spoiler. The car started life black. I found this thread that mentions one of the previous owners, Ric Schumann. https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/threads/home-video-i-recorded-at-a-fca-southeast-track-day-8-22-1992.631829/ Image Unavailable, Please Login
Along with timing belts (many of us have settled on 5 to 7 year change intervals), it's highly recommended to install the Hill Engineering tensioner pulleys. Much higher quality than stock, can be bought from Ricambi, Superformance (UK), and other sources. Some people replace tensioner pulleys at every belt change, with the Hill units that can move to every other belt change. You'll want to have a really good look around the engine for oil leak sources before starting the timing belt job - that's the right time if you need to replace cam seals, cam cover gaskets, etc. Also see what your fuel lines and coolant lines look like - if they're more than 20 years old, you'd probably be wanting to replace all of those, front to back. They can look OK on the outside, and be crumbling internally. The Dino shop manual is likely because it was an available engine maintenance reference, since they're identical power units in those crossover years. Your car has the Euro front bumper - was it perhaps a gray market import from Europe that was federalized? You have the US side marker lights. what's your door frame tags look like? If you post the VIN, members here can tell the original market (ie US, Europe, Swiss...) Cheers, Gordon
I am not sure but the car may have Hill Engineering tensioner pulleys. I will look and see if their any markings that will identify them. The belts and tensioners only have 463 miles on them, my plan it to check the tensioners and see if they are good. If there is a hint of being bad i will replace them. I will take a good look for any oil leaks. I am worried the seals may have gotten hard from sitting. Thanks for the advice on the fuel lines. From checking the receipt of the work just before it was put on BAT it was having trouble starting and idling. It had not been run enough so old fuel, the receipt said they had to use outside fuel to get it started and running smooth. It seems to run ok but the idle needs to be better. It has half a tank of gas. I have octane boost for my Lotus, I will put half a bottle in it and run the tank out. I do not need old gas causing knock. The Vin is 23639. I have the original import sheet. It appears to be a US car Thanks for the help. I will take any suggestions you guys have. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Today I pulled the air filter housing off so I could get a good look around before I do the timing belts. I did get the Hill Engineering tensioner pulleys to install with the new belts. You can tell this car was not driven much. There was oil sitting under the carburetors, it looked fresh. It looks like it is from the oil filter area. It just had an oil change so perhaps it is from the oil change, it's not a lot. The valve covers and seals are not leaking. The carbs are filthy. I am going to give it a good cleaning when I do the belts. Then I can see if there are any leaks I have not spotted. The antifreeze looks like it has not been changed. I am going to flush it durning the belt change. I need to get a carb sync tool. Where is a good place to order one? I also have to order a new AC and alternator belt, totally forgot. It will be another week before I have time to do the timing belts. I really cant wait to drive it!
