Total Noob seeks advice

Hello, I need some advice regarding the hassles and headaches involved in a "restoration" project. I have been a p-car fanatic for years and have done a good deal of my own wrenching on my 911's and 944 including the restoration of a 1980 911SC. So I am accustomed to difficult wrenching projects that burn deep holes in my wallet. But then this Ferrari on eBay caught my eye...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1977-FERRARI-308-GTB-ROLLING-CHASSIS_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6763QQitemZ7992043789QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

It is a 1977 308 GTB roller. No motor, tranny, interior, etc. I quizzed the seller and he says the suspension is in good shape and the car has a clean CA title. So I am sorely tempted to buy this chassis and convert it to a light weight, minimalist track car. Basically install a motor, tranny, seat, lexan windows, roll cage, fire extinguisher, etc and then go racing. Concours be damned, I'd keep the car as stripped down as possible.

But this project is in unknown territory for me as my whole exprience has been in p-cars. I'd have no fear what-so-ever buying a 911 roller and converting it for track use. And if I don't buy this car, then I probably will get a 911 roller at some point. But f-cars are a whole other world. At just $4k for the chassis, it is hard to imagine I could go wrong. But I felt I should ask some expert advice. So I am coming here.

I posted the question to my regular p-car forum here...

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?threadid=235445&perpage=20&pagenumber=1

...and got answers ranging from "Run away" to "Buy it and drop in an SBC"..

So am I about to bite off more than I can chew or is this a realistic project?

Thanks,

Janus Cole

 

RUN AWAY!!!

Ok, first of all the car is available here: http://www.italianauto.com/page2.html and has been for a while.

Second, a fire can dramatically effect the strength of the metal in the car. It needs to be carefully examined to determine if it's even still structurally safe.

If you look at http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=70118 you'll see a conversation about project 308s and pricing that might help.

Bottom line, it would be cheaper in the long run to buy a running car and strip it down. The only way this project makes sense is if you install a different engine combination: SBC, Northstar V8, or maybe a turbo 3.2 from a 911

 

Thanks very much for the reply. I was afraid it might be cheaper to buy a running 308. Perhaps I will pass on this one - despite the strong pull it exerts on me. I must confess, I never took the non-OEM engine idea all that seriously. Of course, I do happen to have a "spare" porsche transaxle sitting in my basement...the guys who were recommending an SBC or Fiero motor probably didn't factor in the difficulty of cutting and welding new engine and tranny mounts etc. I assume even a Fiero V6 would not work without massive chassis modifications that would probably have me blackballed by the entire Ferrari Community.

That said, may I ask what, if any, Ferrari engines might fit comfortably in a 308? Coming from the Porsche world, I am used to seeing nearly ALL flat sixes fit into nearly all air-cooled chassis. Indeed, I swapped a 3.0 Carrera motor into my 911SC with almost no changes required. Porsche kept the same motor mounts for 30-odd years. Did Ferrari do the same? Can you put a Mondial motor (or a 400i V12!) into a 308 without using a sawzall? Or would this constitute a tragic faux pas on par with installing a Fiero body kit?

 

the engine and transaxles from the whole 308 series should work, ie , i could take the engine out of my Dino and put it in the GTB i have, ect. i would think a 328 engine converted to carbs would be a blast in a stripped down 308. but i agree with the above and would runaway from the 308 project on ebay. T Rutlands get around $10,000 just for a 308 engine, if you do not have a core. the transaxle and all the other bits will exceed another $8500. + all the other stuff you mey not think about until ya try to drive it.

 

I say go for it! Join the small group of crazies that like to have never ending and egregiously expensive project cars...

 

HA! Yes, well, I am already a charter member. Did I mention the "spare" porsche transmission in my basement? All I can say is it already has a lot of company down there.

In any event, thanks very much for the advice. I stepped away from the keyboard and decided not to buy the 308. I must confess it was pretty "touch and go" for a while as my mouse hovered over the "BID" button. But I was able to remain disciplined and let it pass. I do hope, however, to someday post here again when I find my true soul mate with the prancing pony.