Some cool facts about the 308 engine

I don't agree that you need a "vintage Ferrari tech." You need a good mechanic who is willing to "look up" information if confronted with something odd/unfamiliar. Admittedly, as pointed out in this thread, they are becoming increasingly hard to find. Heck, try driving your 1970 Hemi Barracuda into your local Chrysler dealer and ask for a tuneup!

A friend in Maryland with a car collection has a mechanic that restored/works on all his cars. In many cases his mech had never even seen the types/brands of cars involved. Yet he did superb work on all of them. When he ran across something odd/unfamiliar, he did the necessary research and proceeded. I do all my own mech work but wouldn't hesitate to take my 328 to his mech if I still lived in MD and decided to quit doing my own work.

 

I don’t know about that. Had a local mechanic/engine builder with 40 years experience turn my water pump housing to scrap metal trying to get it apart soI could rebuild it. That was on my first Ferrari GTB and chalked it up to a $500 learning curve on my end. Takes less than three seconds to put a kink in the front bonnet of one of these cars if whoever’s working on it doesn’t realize there’s a ball/pin strut that needs released before closing it. Can break quite a few plastic pieces if not familiar with how they release. (Thread on instrument cluster warning lights comes to mind.) Your car, your choice but I am seeking out someone with first-hand experience to work on my 308 if I feel I can’t do the job myself.

 

All true but a huge difference. He didn't need to turn a profit while doing it.

 

I have been in the business over 40 years too. I can introduce you to many contemporaries who are revered for their experience who should never be allowed to open a tool box.

 

I wouldn't argue that there are some weird items like the front bonnet issue that you mentioned. When got my 328 inspected for registration most recently, the inspector couldn't figure out how to turn on the headlights! TBF, I have to admit that after owning the car for 13+ years, the lighting stalk is still a mystery to me.

But I don't understand the water pump issue at all, it's just a water pump - pretty much like every water pump. Maybe he had never worked on one with an aluminum housing but that's no excuse for screwing it up. There are pullers, etc designed for every purpose.

 

I agree. Brought him a water pump and got to buy a NEW water pump once he was finished. We are friends and he felt badly but won’t happen twice LOL