Ferrari Mailing List: 308 QV Motor Swap

[Matt Boyd (ferrari308driver]

All,

I am close to purchasing a donor motor for my 308. For the past several years I have been aware of low compression (as in about half the compression of the good side), and a leakdown reveals it needs rings. I have driven it sparingly since, and never hard (surely not at a track event). It has the original motor with well over 100k miles, and it is my goal to someday rebuild it. For the record, it is a Euro.

For the f-chatters amongst us, you may have noticed a Euro 3.0 QV motor for sale from a Mondial from a fellow who did a 3.2 transplant. Thanks to George Parker for turning me onto it since I'm not a regular f-chatter. My plan is to take my motor out and KEEP it so I have a matching numbers motor, but use this one for the time being. I hpoe to rebuild it someday. My gearbox could probably use some attention with respect to the 2nd and 4th gear syncrhos, so that will require some effort as well. I'm not sure if and what else I'll do "while I'm in there" other than really cleaning things up in the engine compartment when it is vacant. Other ideas include perhaps Rick Lindsay's 308 A/C upgrade, perhaps an aftermarket ignition, but if I'm smart I'll just put it back together and enjoy it. Oh yeah, why not put those Energy Suspension bushings in that I bought years ago, maybe rebuild the Konis, etc etc....? ;-)

I'm meeting the seller of the motor at Competizione (Richard Capoccia) on Monday for Richard to help me assess the health of the motor. Basically a leakdown test. Any comments/recommendations here would be appreciated.

For many years, my 308 was a dependable, well-maintained, sometimes daily driver. I'm not looking for a showcar or to build performance mods in, I just think a Euro 308 is about the most beautiful car out there, and I'm fortunate to have had mine for almost 20 years now, and I want to get it back to where I wouldn't hesitate to drive it across the country and back.

-Matt

'85 Euro 308