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Finally moved it from my garage to my buddy's shop. so the sorting can begin. At least now I can say Ive driven my Ferrari, even if it was 200 feet to the trailer. Another good thing, it ran much better in 50+ degrees than in the wicked cold from last month, so that's encouraging.
Job #1... have alternator removed, get it rebuilt and cross fingers that it solves the battery rundown issue.
Finally moved it from my garage to my buddy's shop. so the sorting can begin. At least now I can say Ive driven my Ferrari, even if it was 200 feet to the trailer. Another good thing, it ran much better in 50+ degrees than in the wicked cold from last month, so that's encouraging.
Job #1... have alternator removed, get it rebuilt and cross fingers that it solves the battery rundown issue.
Well, since I posted this, the alternator was removed due to an act of God and did in fact work perfectly fine.
Looooong story short a suggestion on a Ferrari website resulted in mentioning the generator idiot light in the dash in fact must be operating for the alternator to be “excited” and start charging. Crazy, but my light was out and it ended up working.
Drove the car for the first time today, 70 mph with the top off. Yeeeeeeah!
You ain’t crazy. If you are, then so am I. I too think that the 308/328 represents one of the most beautiful cars ever built. Their sex appeal is off the charts.
Been driving it all over last couple days. Running, starting good. Great fun, wife loves it. Finally 3 full months after buying it, I’m getting some fun out of this car. Buying parts are crazy at times though... today bought one little thing from Unobtainium Supply and another from a place in the UK who charged me in Sterling pounds.
Still glad I’m driving rather than fixing or waiting.
That is the owners manual in teh picture. I would suggest getting one. My car was built Sept '78, but its titled 1979, no diff in the cars though.
I would suggest a service manual and a parts manuals, which is very similar to an AIM. I have both, both are xerox reprints in three ring binders, the service manual (in Italian) came with the car, i bought the parts/assembly manual around 2009. The title page calls it a Spare parts Catalog, US Version 1978, and it is written in English and Italian, has lots of drawings in it. My service manual is for 1975, but again, close enuf.
Doug
By the way Doug, I downloaded and made a Spare Parts manual today like the Owners Manual I made before, that can get tossed around without worrying about value. Although when we were fighting with the alternator light and the antenna switch and the door switches, I had to go back and take phone pics of my nice original Owners Manual wiring diagram for my buddy.
Of course after I got the car back I looked at Birdmans site and found his $30 access to those gorgeous colored wing diagrams! Ugh.
SO glad I bought a GTS (targa) instead of a coupe Pantera. It’s more fun.
While the Berlinetta (GTB) 308 F car is more desirable, based on apparent selling price vs the 308 GTS, I agree, the removable roof GTS is the way to go, unless you live in someplace where it is too cold or rainy to leave the top off much. Most of what I hear for reson for buying GTB is "the body is stiffer and it makes a better racing /track car".
Like most owners thrash theirs at the track.
Its easier for us old guys to get in and out of topless GTS anyway...
Doug
While the Berlinetta (GTB) 308 F car is more desirable, based on apparent selling price vs the 308 GTS, I agree, the removable roof GTS is the way to go, unless you live in someplace where it is too cold or rainy to leave the top off much. Most of what I hear for reson for buying GTB is "the body is stiffer and it makes a better racing /track car".
Like most owners thrash theirs at the track.
Its easier for us old guys to get in and out of topless GTS anyway...
Doug
Im not seeing my car as having any racing application any time soon. Its very cool. It’s not fast.
Cruising with the top off is its strong suit, and yes, both my wife and I fall out of the car.
Although, I do know people willing to pull their engines and add all sorts of horsepower to them.
Although, I do know people willing to pull their engines and add all sorts of horsepower to them.
I use a counter top for steadying my self,and try to do 50 slow up and down body drop and raise every 2-3 days to build up my leg muscles to i can do a graceful exit.
The extra HP only costs about $100/HP extra on top of a normal rebuild. Not to make you have sleepless nights, but do you know if anyone every got rid of the sodium filled exh valves on your car? i still have them on mine, and they give me the *******, which is why i decided to have the whole motor gone over, and upgraded, at the same time.
The good news is, if a valve head breaks off, the aluminum heads can be repaired. The bad news is you get to spend a bunch getting the block all rebuilt, also. Most people have the heads pulled and the exh vales changed before that happens..
I use a counter top for steadying my self,and try to do 50 slow up and down body drop and raise every 2-3 days to build up my leg muscles to i can do a graceful exit.
The extra HP only costs about $100/HP extra on top of a normal rebuild. Not to make you have sleepless nights, but do you know if anyone every got rid of the sodium filled exh valves on your car? i still have them on mine, and they give me the *******, which is why i decided to have the whole motor gone over, and upgraded, at the same time.
The good news is, if a valve head breaks off, the aluminum heads can be repaired. The bad news is you get to spend a bunch getting the block all rebuilt, also. Most people have the heads pulled and the exh vales changed before that happens..
Doug
Given the history on this car, Im going to say the sodium filled exhaust valves are still in place.
Im going to pencil that right under the suggestion made on one of the prior receipts that strongly recommends the factory phenolic cam sprockets be upgraded to metal, on my eventual to do list.
Hey, I upgraded the fuse boxes, man. Thats major progress here.
Was at Indy Mecum this week and there was a yellow ‘72 Pantera... seemed like a decent car at first, supposedly 17k miles and numbers match engine. A closer look showed badly checked paint and a poor respray with paint overspray over window rubber and badges, etc. car wasn’t detailed, couldn’t see engine. Didn’t check frame.
Anyway, it took a resounding clunk at $54k high bid, no sale. Even with it needing paint it was underbid; not surprised it didn’t meet reserve. Would have been interesting at a couple more bids. Glad I already bought something.
03-09-2019, 12:45 PM
Another good thing, it ran much better in 50+ degrees than in the wicked cold from last month, so that's encouraging.
