Jack, I'm sure the f-car wine-and-cheese crowd thought the blower was like putting a chev 350 in a 250PF.... In one fchat thread I suggested putting an aluminum 347 in a 308 with blown engine would be a fun f-car hot rod project - there were several "can't believe you'd even suggest putting an american V8 in a ferrari" comments. These are the same folks that don't have a clue about what a "flat crank" is in a ferrari and are more concerned about having the right wheel caps for concours judging...
Ferrari Forum
- Thread starter superflyte
- Start date
Jack, I'm sure the f-car wine-and-cheese crowd thought the blower was like putting a chev 350 in a 250PF.... In one fchat thread I suggested putting an aluminum 347 in a 308 with blown engine would be a fun f-car hot rod project - there were several "can't believe you'd even suggest putting an american V8 in a ferrari" comments. These are the same folks that don't have a clue about what a "flat crank" is in a ferrari and are more concerned about having the right wheel caps for concours judging...
Jack Houpe
GT40s Supporter
Never fit in with the wine and cheese crowd, more drink beer and cut the cheese crowd. I have serviced all 8 of the Ferrari's I have owned in the past 25 years, I really think they are a work of art for the time they were built. I do like to make them better in regards to improvements to the engine that eliminate serviceable items. (get rid of distributor and carbs) Here is a picture of the engine in my Lamborghini Countach I have had for 20 years. Mike Trusty (brain behind me) and I put EFI on this car in 93 and the I have never changed the plugs in the car, it starts the second crank past TDC every time and I have put almost 20k miles on the car. You could never have done that with carbs and distributors.
Long story short, most purist hate me, most mechanics like me.
Rick I am laughing my ass off, great view.
Long story short, most purist hate me, most mechanics like me.
Rick I am laughing my ass off, great view.
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Every year the local F-club has a gathering in the "Little Italy" section of our city. A few years ago the even was widened to include all Italian exotics and race cars. A bunch of my Pantera buddies and I showed up to one of the most unwelcoming events I have ever attended. At least the guy with a Countach was treated the same way. I've never seen so many red cars together in one place around here. The next year they went back to the all-Ferrari theme. I find it funny now because they have 20 or so of their cars in a roped off parking lot so the public can't get close enough to harm them.
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Pete McCluskey.
Lifetime Supporter
Jack Houpe
GT40s Supporter
348 and 355 was Ferrari's turning point in the exotic car market, they realized that if they didn't improve the NSX and a few other Japanese cars where going to put them in the ground. Pete the 355 is one of my favorites also, never owned one but driven a couple, big improvement on the transmission over the cars of past and the sound of the engine is music.
Mark that is a great picture! I love it.
Ok I know this is tread drift, but I still don't know of a good Ferrari forum.
Mark that is a great picture! I love it.
Ok I know this is tread drift, but I still don't know of a good Ferrari forum.
Jack Houpe
GT40s Supporter
I am in the process of rebuilding my 208 turbo, it looks like a 308 with naca ducts in front of the rear wheels. When I bought the car it was original with a single turbo CIS fuel injection and distributor, I stripped the car of fuel and ignition items, took the single turbo off and replaced with the 2 Mitts 555 turbos like on the 288 GTO. The compression was 7:1 and being only 2 liter is was slow off the start but when it hit 1800 rpm and 26 lbs of boost it became an animal. Got black flagged at the Poconos for passing 5 cars in the front straight, the guys with the TR's and 308 would come by the pits and just stare at it.
Here are some pics of my 208 at homestead international raceway in 98 and some of my 80 LP400s and the GT40 side by side.
Here are some pics of my 208 at homestead international raceway in 98 and some of my 80 LP400s and the GT40 side by side.
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Pete McCluskey.
Lifetime Supporter
I know we are drifting again...Sorry.. Cliff what is the bike in the forground of the first pic,BMW?
Pete, yup, '62 BMW R50. I have two actually, also have a '58 R50 which I gave to my dad to go with his vintage Guzzi's but his motorcyling days are over now. Great bike - easy to ride, smooth, stable, non-fussy. I have a successful architect friend who says that bike has the most beautiful lines he's ever seen.
Don't worry about the drift guys, I joined Ferrari Chat a while ago now. I've just been enjoying how this one is developing.
Jack's 208 Turbo looks great. I have a history of 'sleeper' cars myself, though I'd hardly call a 208 a sleeper to begin with. Nothing like blasting past the 'faster' factory originals on a main straight somewhere...
Jack's 208 Turbo looks great. I have a history of 'sleeper' cars myself, though I'd hardly call a 208 a sleeper to begin with. Nothing like blasting past the 'faster' factory originals on a main straight somewhere...
Yes, quite right Troy!
My next project is going to be a sleeper 308 with a 331 alloy block SBF. I've worked out that I'll have to create a bulge in the cabin bulkhead to accommodate the SBF and the transaxle but it won't be hugely apparent. What's more difficult is the height to clear holleys/webers without dramatically changing the appearance of the rear lid. I think I can do it with a suble mod (raise by 1.5 inches) the rain cover in the center of the rear lid grill. In any case with a bunch of go fast bits (alloy heads, roller rockers, forged components, etc.) I should be able to get 425+hp/425+tq. That'll absolutely waste anything on the straight except a 430/599/enzo.... On the outside, totally stock looking. Now that'll be fun!
Pete McCluskey.
Lifetime Supporter
Oh Shock horror Mr. Beer how can you possibly think of doing such a thing to a 308......Opps sorry Cliff, for a moment I thought I was on the Ferrari forum.:laugh:
Sounds like a fun project.
Jack Houpe
GT40s Supporter
Cliff I hope to meet you someday, sounds like we have simular tastes. I really LIKE your garage and those lifts! Got any pictures with the covers off?
I really LIKE your garage and those lifts! Got any pictures with the covers off?Pete, yup, you're right, there will undoubtedly be some Ferrari wine-and-cheese/checkbook mechanic types that sheit their pants when they see/hear an SBF in a 308. It's not like I'm planning on taking out a perfectly functional and running 308 engine and trashing it in the dumpster out back - was thinking I'd find a car with a minor engine fire (lots of 308s like that!) or broken cam belt with bent valves.....
I actually commissioned a local engine builder here in the Seattle area to produce a custom flat crank for this engine - the idea is to end up with sort of a vintage V8 "ferrarord" engine - flat crank, all alloy, IDAs, etc. However, when I drove by last week (after several unreturned phone calls) I see the place is now closed, although there are still some large machine tools in place (CNC, bridgeport mills, etc.). These guys had been doing ferrari engine work for many years. Looks like I'm going to lose my start up money with nothing to show for it best guess.....
Cliff I hope to meet you someday, sounds like we have simular tastes.
Thanks Jack, likewise!
Let me go take some more pics of the cars and the rest of the garage. My wife calls it the "Garagmahal" I call it my "Man Cave"
Jack Houpe
GT40s Supporter
I have one of those rooms in the house, my wife will not even go into it. Would be nice to see your name in the NAME TAG tread for people attending Road America.
