Hi Everyone, Join us on the journey that is our 1985 Ferrari 308 QV Euro. It was, well, a difficult birth. It all turned out in the end, but watch and hear the tale of what went wrong and what went right :)
Good stuff! Thanks for going into this level of detail. It's rather unusual to see such transparency regarding the work done on these cars and I appreciated seeing it all documented this way. The photos were excellent in showing the "before and after" and that adds a lot. I was comparing with my own experience as my Mondial 3.2 had it's own engine out service, a few years ago. As you indicated, 308 values have gone up considerably in recent years. So, dollar-wise, you are STILL ahead. It's great that you are both so positive and upbeat about it, even with all the "bad news", and the whole process (time+money) that was needed to remedy all the issues. The reward for your efforts is you now have a beautiful example of the 308 and with it, a potential concours winner!
Thank you for a thoroughly enjoyable video. I've been watching the 308 videos on Number 27 channel and UA-cam recommended this one. What an absolutely stunning car. I love what you've done to it and the way you have carried out every task exactly the right way. You are also fortunate having some very talented technicians to do work on the car. Despite what it has cost, 308s in this kind of condition must be worth far, far more these days. If I was an envious person I would be envious!
Thanks Phil! Initially I wanted to tear into this myself, but I believe it was the correct decision to let the experts handle this. That stuck head would have been a disaster. I know it seems drastic, but the decision was made to not do further damage to the block and we could always replace the head (we did check first). It runs like a dream now :)
One of my dream cars! I LOVE it! You guys and your videos helped me clean the condensers in my 996.2; replace various worn-out parts and, replace the wiper motor in my recently acquired 84 eagle wagon. Now I'll tackle the grease glue window motors and door locks. I LOVE IT!!! thanks. Dede
Heidi & Franny: Great video! I was glad to see that you fixed everything properly and did the additional prospective maintenance that was appropriate once you had the engine out. I had several Italian sports cars during college and law school, and my first "nice" car was a used 1978 Alfa Romeo GTV Coupe. Although not in the same class as your Ferrari, it needed substantial (read expensive) work every few weeks. In retrospect, I should have done what you did with your Ferrari, that is, fix everything at the beginning, and then enjoy it. I hope you have many years of enjoyment with your Ferrari.
The good thing is you both kept alive the art at a huge sacrifice. Not just paintings and buildings deserve saving. I love my 81 Euro GTSi QV and probably would do the same thing if it got to that point.
Like most things on UA-cam I stumbled upon your channel via a search for something - in this case the Ferrari 308. I really like the way you told this story. Much more relevant to those interested in this car than someone taking someone else's car for a 15. minute drive for a 'review'. I'm looking forward now to going through your other videos. Many thanks for this one.
Thank you for sharing the journey with a beautiful car that you both have nurtured back to it’s true potential - as well as sustaining its longevity with your care and nurturing- congrats and can’t wait to see more 308 content :)
I am ret USAF dentist, who was a tool and die maker in the aerospace industry, before DMD. I rebuilt many foreign cars before I got taken by a 86 911sc, and now 02 Carrera2. I was a sunfisher turned Star sailor. I flew a Viking Old Timer(learned to fly from the Good Brothers). While in dental school, I rebuilt a 'bug eye'and upon entering military sold it to an Optometrist! Love watching you 2, and your cars.
You two are amazing! I am sure that your fluffy pullovers are not your normal shop clothes, but I love the fact that some of the work you show is while dressed in clean casual clothing like those pullovers, and there is minimal mess on them. And your shop is always spotless. Not hard to maintain that image if you're only doing a video every couple of months, but you are continually doing videos in cramped quarters. Spectacular! Oh, I recently purchased a 1969 Series II Jaguar E-Type FHC. How do you feel about buying one yourself so I can watch how to fix it?!! Ha! Best of 2020 to you both!
Thanks! You know what Enzo said... The E-Type was the most beautiful car ever made... An E-type would be fun, but I think the pricing has gone a bit north for us...
👍 for this video. Being a car nut, the one thing I enjoy most besides actually driving the car, is the cars history. Good or bad. The multi part story on the 356 is right up there in great stories. I absolutely commend you on both your knowledge and ability when it comes to these great cars you have in your automobile stable.🇨🇦👮⛳️
Thanks for going into all the detail costs of ownership. I thought about getting a 308 but have seen other videos like this one and the cost of ownership just worried me too much. But you are correct that you still have a lot less invested in your 308 than the normal purchase price of one now. If I purchased one now, I might not know if it was well-sorted even with a PPI. I also considered a 360 but finding one well-sorted is also an issue. The 09 Cayman I have is my first venture into the world of Porsche so I got one with a 5-year "bumper to bumper" warranty. I'm having all the required maintenance done on schedule and I think the two prior owners must have done the same (but I have no records other than what's on the CARFAX). It is the nicest car I've ever owned. Safe travels!
Great video. Thanks. I totally agree with you. Ive been running a F355 for 10 years now. I've spent around £20k in maint/annual services in that time, but the car has increased in value by £40k. It's the cheapest car I ever owned and it's still wonderful. Every car nut should own a Ferrari at some point in their life. The icing on the cake is that it can be a good investment too.
Phenomenal work, Gals. Just a work of art you’ve got now after this restoration. My question is with the seats? You stated in the vid that you all had them sprayed? They turned out amazing but I’ve never heard of spraying leather seats and having them come out so nice. Could you tell a little more about that process? Thanks.
Great video as always an a nice peek into the world of Ferrari ownership. The engine works $$$ seems fairly reasonable considering all that was done. Enjoy the beautiful car while you continue to refurbish and upgrade!
I would like to personally thank you two wonderful ladies for bringing that Ferrari back to it's former glory and giving it a wonderful home. P.S. Hi from the UK.
There's a lot of highly-rated and highly paid journalists who cannot review and talk about a Ferrari like this. Fascinated listening to your story and what a beautiful car!
I have an 84 308GTS QV and an 87 Carrera and have worked on both for years and it must be said thatPorsche build quality and engineering far exceeds that of Ferrari.
I still dont own a 308 (been trying to hunt down the right one for 6 months now), but I have to say the thing that realy stood out to me with the cars I have looked at is that the suppleness of the materials isnt something I have seen in other cars of the era. I have 0 doubt that porsches are just better designed, but they realy dont have the same physical material quality feel IMO
Hello Heide and Franny ! Great job on bringing this car back to life. I also had a 1985 308 GTS for over 10 years. I saw you rebuilt the warm up regulator, what about the fuel distributor ? FYI the best in the business is Larry Fletcher @ CIS Flowtech in Alabama. Great video !!
Hi David, the fuel distributor seems to be operating well. I know it is susceptible to bad/dirty fuel, but I think that has not been an issue with our car. The WUR was suspect and I think it was a good move to get it looked at (at CIS Flowtech). They did a great job and the car starts very consistently and runs great! As I know you know, when sorted these cars are super reliable and just a joy to drive :)
Just started watching you ladies, I watched the videos on the suspension refurbishment first then watched your video on the cost of buying the car. Ok so here I go first of all I’m a Ferrari nut from Scotland, never owned one but am so happy that a new dealership is opening 15 min from my home so great. Claim to fame is having a 360 spider for the weekend, took my old mum out in it for a drive, she loved it, also having my picture taken with Nikki Laura when he was at Ferrari at the British GP, one to remember. Anyway I am a mechanic to trade but was pretty rubbish at this and found my career elsewhere however I still relate to all the videos around car works and know what is happening. Your 5 videos around the suspension refurbishment was unreal, believe it or not I actually showed my wife the one where you displayed the new nuts and bolts and also how you managed the whole job, as my wife said it takes a woman to be organised on anything not just cars. Hats off to you both as the quality of your enthusiasm and work is brilliant, I follow all the various people on this site like Scott and also our daft but funny Canadian with his Ferrari but fair play ladies you have won my heart, if I am lucky enough to ever own one you guys are doing the restoration. Love and best wishes from Ian at Bonnie Scotland. Xxx ,
This is very informative! These are durable cars, just pricy to maintain. My only thought on the head.... this is for others to be aware of... NAPA makes an aluminum brightener cleaner. It eats up the corrosion that stuck your heads to the studs, or should. If I was in that pickle, I would soak the studs in this stuff. As for the stereo, the new head unit looks great! I am an audiophile, but that install was icky, at best. Besides, a car like this only needs a radio for traffic updates!! What is the cut off for emissions testing in Denver? PS: I am a Corvette person, but will one day own a 308. Thanks for sharing!!!!
Lots of money in repairs and improvements but I expected the cost to be nearly double your figure. For a car as nice as yours it seems you guys did great. Minus the mental anguish I’m sure. Thanks for sharing.
This is a great video!! Your info on the QV heads may have saved me from making a purchasing mistake! I was about ready to buy a 3.2QV Mondial! I had big costs on running my 1993 Mondial t where the engine has to come out for servicing! That car also needed a replacement Catalytic converter at £2790 or $4000 plus new suspension bushes and new rear shockers. Big bills!! I love the events of The Ferrari Owners’ Club, & I think another 308GT4 is probably the better choice on running costs, if I can afford the latest crazy prices to buy another!
Wow thank you for the in-depth look at the servicing costs. I’m very happy that your 308 ended up going to you guys; it certainly ended up at the right home! I hope you have many trouble free miles ahead!
Happy Valentines Day! Wow, another terrific video! Beautiful Ferrari. Very informative. Can you do a video on what kind of maintenance you perform yourselves and how you document the maintenance to maintain a cars value? Really interested in how you do this for the Porsches.
Thanks Jeff. Yeah, it was some scary bills, but I can think of worse ways to waste money. I feel like we get something back, as I am sure you do with your cars. So, money is not really wasted. Heidi
Anouther great video ! Very well done, as alway ladies ! You must have nerves of titanium to handle the amount of work ( and expense ) that was required for the engine. Seeing cylinder head actually being CUT OFF was something I never would have expected to see. You both deserve huge kudos for your accomplishments with the 308, so KUDOS ❗️☮️
Really great video. Thanks for making it. I am an air cooled 911 guy that does all my own work and looking to get a 308. Just trying to learn as much as I can about them now. This was really great information. Car looks great!
Yes, if you are used to working with German cars and parts, there is some overlap. It will make you smile. For example, the fuses. The Ferrari is also quite different from Porsches too. Get a thorough PPI before you buy and make sure it has had the belts done properly at a certified shop. Last if all, realize there are some markers on the engine at 60K miles, so if if has that kind of mileage, you could be in for new valves. I can go on and on. Feel free to email us on our website with questions. Heidi
@@HeidiandFranny Thanks again. I did take note of your 60k comment in my notes to look into further as I am trying to learn as much as I can about these cars before progressing to actively looking for the right one!
HI from Australia.........well done on fixing everything the correct way! in the end you have an incredible car that is easily worth more than your investment!!
The 308 is my absolute favorite car, though I prefer the earliest carburetted models. I almost bought one of those during the depths of the last recession when they could be had as low as the mid 20s, but I didn't, and have left that dream behind. In reality, if it's not something that can serve as a daily driver, it's just going to be a big paperweight. So I bought a Porsche 924S-with 'needs'. No one will ever want to steal it, or key it, or likely even pay attention to it. But they have character and I have no problem spending 4x (or more) what it could ever be worth fixing it. If you like a car, it's worth it. I just wish there was an insurance product that would allow me to insure it properly...They won't 'let you' pay higher premiums to insure it for a value above blue book, which I find odd...
Awesome video 👌 This is by far one of my most favourite vehicles and in fact is the one which began my Ferrari obsession! It’s absolutely wonderful that you both have such a passion for automotive history and the icons of years past! Let me know when it is up for sale 🙏
thank you so much for posting this video....you guys just saved me a fortune and a lot of agony........I am bidding on a beautiful 308 on bring-a-trailer and after watching your video horror story I decided to read all of the invoices for the car at auction.....the guy drove it 11,000 miles, it was in the shop 14 times and cost 30K in repairs .........even if money weren't an issue there is no way I could deal with that much mechanical failure....
All you say is true and we did go through all that, BUT... When sorted these cars are really fun and quite reliable. Their only sin is that they were trading for very little money for a car of this type and as a result, there are many examples that were either abused or not maintained or both. I know how you feel, but if the desire returns I urge you to spend some time on F-Chat and get to know the guys there. They are very knowledgeable and will give you a more even view of the brand and the ins and outs of the 308. I do absolutely adore the car. I drove it to work the other day and it was a delight :) F
We do love the car. It was a punch in the stomach when it was first done, but Franny maintains it beautifully and we have not had issues since. I do think it can be a bear to maintain if you are not handy. Heidi
Thanks for sharing, I think this experience is all too common like you say on these affordable exotics. You opened my eyes on the 308 it really is a nice ride, congrats on having it in your stable.
What a story, thanks for sharing! It was a lot of work, but all things considering, I think you really did well with this car. Like you said € 65k doesn't buy a 308QV in this condition anymore. I've never considered myself a Ferrari person, but I enjoy I see (and hear) one every time. Here's to many more miles in the 308QV!
very cool story, shocking to hear about the head getting cut off. have never heard of that, and I am a tech. with that being said- anytime I rebuild a head (I mean Honda, vw, etc) I always replace all the valves, period. I would not question it on a Ferrari. what I would do is rebuild the entire engine, its out, apart, and now full of metal from the head getting cut off. full rebuild
Wow 38,000 bucks!! Ull get 38000 stares😉 308 is the iconic body!! Thanks for sharing !! I just love these candid videos. Why would anyone take a gorgeous exotic car like that over dirt roads? should’ve bought a cheap truck to do that. You’re fortunate these cars are skyrocketing in value
Thanks for the video, well done. I especially appreciate frannie’s willingness to work on the cars. Have you ever considered an automotive lab scope like a pico? I would love to get one myself but can’t yet bring myself to push the buy it button. I think it really helps with diagnosis even in pre-obd cars. While it doesn’t help with the mechanical repairs it can identify which cylinders are firing properly and which ones aren’t. It is also very cool that you can see electric motors, like fuel pumps, begin to fail even when they are still working
What a journey! I've never seen a head CUT OFF an engine before! Great photos. Would love to see a little vid of you driving it to hear that euro exhaust! Vroom!
Wow, what an interesting video! I would have thought that Ferraris had longer service intervals then that but as you point out, a lot depends on how it's used, or not used. I suspect that (like motorbikes) not being driven regularly often does as much damage as running it into the ground. And bathing it in road dirt doesn't help. Reminds me of a story about a Jeep GC that lived on rural Kansas roads paved with crushed limestone..... but that's long story. Glad you got things sorted and the story ended well, it's a beautiful car that you should be proud of. Thanks for sharing!
Its a cracking little Ferrari, It is great to see these car's given the TLC they deserve. You done a great job and I am sure you will be rewarded for it a plenty...Fantastic drivers car??? Thumbs up and HI, from Bournemouth UK
I love your presentations. So much that I wish you would expand beyond the cars you're most passionate about. If I knew you personally, I'd loan you my Corvette just to hear your impressions.
Thank you for the very insightful and informative view on a Ferrari 308..it seems nowadays that 60k to 80k is what you expect to pay for one of these so what you paid seems pretty reasonable and you now have a mechanically sound automobile..
why didn't they just unbolt the head studs instead of trying to slide the head up them or try heating up the head first so it expanded ??? it seems a bit mad having to cutting the head off never seen this done before.
Not quite sure what you mean by unbolting the studs... They are screwed into the cylinder block. Yes, we and the mechanics tried everything from heat to cold to acid to wooden wedges... These heads aren't Ferrari's best moment. In 1983 with the first QVs Ferrari built the QV heads to go on to the 2V block without any changes. That meant the position of the studs could not change. But, with all those new valves, there was no room for the studs to go all the way through the head so they now reside inside little alcoves. This makes it not really possible to build a head puller to push on the studs. Any removal method will put 100% of the pull on the studs themselves. In the end it was my call to cut the heads as I did not want to risk pulling a stud out of the engine. That would have required a full tear down and lots more $$$. The reason they get stuck in the first place is that the holes the studs are inserted through in the head are too small and just the slightest corrosion causes them too be locked into place. It still to 6 hours AFTER cutting the heads to get the last two free. Lots a wiggling and working back and forth. Just unfortunate, but too much force would have been disastrous.
What was done to prevent the head bolts from corroding to the heads in the future, perhaps anti-seize to stop dissimilar metal corrosion? I have noticed what you said, that many people do very little or no service. Service is something they don't understand.
Amazing video! Considering how meticulously you've gone through each of your vehicles, with documentation of the entire process- I think you could get absolute top dollar if and when you sell any of them. In fact, since your garage is full and all of your vehicles seem to be running so well- you may need to sell one and buy a project car so you can create more content. What would you consider for your next project? Please make it a Lamborghini Countach. I'd love to see you restore one of those.
Nice Car. I drove a rental like this one in Maui in 1998. Driving up the volcano road the engine broke a belt, causing the ill fated valve train damage and we were stranded until the rental company came to pick up up in a Testarossa. We enjoyed our short experience in the 308 immensely. I'd own one today, but I would put in the same amount of time and money you have. It's just part of the process of owning a Ferrari. Instead of a Ferrari, I own and fly airplanes with similar mega costs of operation. You know what the difference is between aircraft and Ferraris is? The chain of log entries, keeps most amateur mechanics out of the engine compartment. Hosed up repairs don't happen on aircraft- as a owner it's your neck and the person signing the log is on the hook. Enjoy the ride
![Ferrari 308 GTS - The first supercar in my life thanks to Magnum PI ! [Part 2 - Dino vs 308]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ZqAJL4BcJIQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Hi Everyone, Join us on the journey that is our 1985 Ferrari 308 QV Euro. It was, well, a difficult birth. It all turned out in the end, but watch and hear the tale of what went wrong and what went right :)
According to the engine heads, they just didn't have the experience. Checj this hand made tool ua-cam.com/video/12-7hGT_hPQ/v-deo.html
You saved a car that had been 'enjoyed' but majorly neglected by his previous owner with no care for maintenance. Great job!
You ladies are awesome. I do all the repairs and so forth for the 3 BMWs in our household, so I know how much work you went through. Bravo to you.
Good stuff! Thanks for going into this level of detail. It's rather unusual to see such transparency regarding the work done on these cars and I appreciated seeing it all documented this way. The photos were excellent in showing the "before and after" and that adds a lot. I was comparing with my own experience as my Mondial 3.2 had it's own engine out service, a few years ago. As you indicated, 308 values have gone up considerably in recent years. So, dollar-wise, you are STILL ahead. It's great that you are both so positive and upbeat about it, even with all the "bad news", and the whole process (time+money) that was needed to remedy all the issues. The reward for your efforts is you now have a beautiful example of the 308 and with it, a potential concours winner!
Thank you for a thoroughly enjoyable video. I've been watching the 308 videos on Number 27 channel and UA-cam recommended this one. What an absolutely stunning car. I love what you've done to it and the way you have carried out every task exactly the right way. You are also fortunate having some very talented technicians to do work on the car. Despite what it has cost, 308s in this kind of condition must be worth far, far more these days. If I was an envious person I would be envious!
Thanks Phil! Initially I wanted to tear into this myself, but I believe it was the correct decision to let the experts handle this. That stuck head would have been a disaster. I know it seems drastic, but the decision was made to not do further damage to the block and we could always replace the head (we did check first). It runs like a dream now :)
One of my dream cars! I LOVE it! You guys and your videos helped me clean the condensers in my 996.2; replace various worn-out parts and, replace the wiper motor in my recently acquired 84 eagle wagon. Now I'll tackle the grease glue window motors and door locks. I LOVE IT!!! thanks.
Dede
You did a great job! I'm always glad to see people caring about these old dream (and sometimes nightmare) cars. Cheers from Switzerland
I just love the 308/208 Ferraris. It is my second favourite after F40. All the best for You from Poland!
This is exactly how curators maintain vehicles. Thanks ladies for your continued inspiration in maintaining interesting vehicles. Gives me hope.
Heidi & Franny: Great video! I was glad to see that you fixed everything properly and did the additional prospective maintenance that was appropriate once you had the engine out. I had several Italian sports cars during college and law school, and my first "nice" car was a used 1978 Alfa Romeo GTV Coupe. Although not in the same class as your Ferrari, it needed substantial (read expensive) work every few weeks. In retrospect, I should have done what you did with your Ferrari, that is, fix everything at the beginning, and then enjoy it. I hope you have many years of enjoyment with your Ferrari.
The good thing is you both kept alive the art at a huge sacrifice. Not just paintings and buildings deserve saving. I love my 81 Euro GTSi QV and probably would do the same thing if it got to that point.
Like most things on UA-cam I stumbled upon your channel via a search for something - in this case the Ferrari 308. I really like the way you told this story. Much more relevant to those interested in this car than someone taking someone else's car for a 15. minute drive for a 'review'. I'm looking forward now to going through your other videos. Many thanks for this one.
Glad you liked it!
Great video - you clearly have a lot love for your 308, beautiful car and fantastic owners
What a process you went through. Great vid and thanks for sharing!
After all you guys went through, you're still passionate about your 308QV!!! AWESOME!
Usually I'll pass on a 20+ minute video. But not on yours. I always enjoy every minute.
Thanks for the look into your 308 journey. I've really enjoyed all your videos about this car... looking forward to more!
Thank you for sharing the journey with a beautiful car that you both have nurtured back to it’s true potential - as well as sustaining its longevity with your care and nurturing- congrats and can’t wait to see more 308 content :)
I love seeing any Ferrari being brought back to life :)
I hope you guys have found the ratarossa channel 🍿
I have seen many car youtubers... but this lovely lady is the best by far in the entire UA-cam.
Ms. Sophia Rosa is one of the prettiest cars ever built.
Love this car and all the work you have done to look after it :) Hope to see it for years to come.
We have no plans to sell anytime soon.
I am ret USAF dentist, who was a tool and die maker in the aerospace industry, before DMD. I rebuilt many foreign cars before I got taken by a 86 911sc, and now 02 Carrera2. I was a sunfisher turned Star sailor. I flew a Viking Old Timer(learned to fly from the Good Brothers). While in dental school, I rebuilt a 'bug eye'and upon entering military sold it to an Optometrist! Love watching you 2, and your cars.
So are you saying Franny should become a dentist? Wink wink? Heidi
You two did the car a great favor. I always thought the 308QV is better looking than the 328. Glad to hear it drives well too. Thanks!
Great Video! most informative Ive ever seen since on this car, I have owned the same one since 1995!
So refreshing to find a new channel that is as enjoyable as this one.
That is super sweet! Thanks so much :)
You two are amazing! I am sure that your fluffy pullovers are not your normal shop clothes, but I love the fact that some of the work you show is while dressed in clean casual clothing like those pullovers, and there is minimal mess on them. And your shop is always spotless. Not hard to maintain that image if you're only doing a video every couple of months, but you are continually doing videos in cramped quarters. Spectacular! Oh, I recently purchased a 1969 Series II Jaguar E-Type FHC. How do you feel about buying one yourself so I can watch how to fix it?!! Ha! Best of 2020 to you both!
Thanks! You know what Enzo said... The E-Type was the most beautiful car ever made... An E-type would be fun, but I think the pricing has gone a bit north for us...
👍 for this video. Being a car nut, the one thing I enjoy most besides actually driving the car, is the cars history. Good or bad. The multi part story on the 356 is right up there in great stories. I absolutely commend you on both your knowledge and ability when it comes to these great cars you have in your automobile stable.🇨🇦👮⛳️
Hey Dwayne. I have not heard from you in a while. I figured you were playing golf. Welcome back to our channel! Heidi
Thanks for going into all the detail costs of ownership. I thought about getting a 308 but have seen other videos like this one and the cost of ownership just worried me too much. But you are correct that you still have a lot less invested in your 308 than the normal purchase price of one now. If I purchased one now, I might not know if it was well-sorted even with a PPI. I also considered a 360 but finding one well-sorted is also an issue. The 09 Cayman I have is my first venture into the world of Porsche so I got one with a 5-year "bumper to bumper" warranty. I'm having all the required maintenance done on schedule and I think the two prior owners must have done the same (but I have no records other than what's on the CARFAX). It is the nicest car I've ever owned. Safe travels!
Thanks David. Cayman is a great car! We always enjoy hearing from you. Thanks.
Great video. Thanks. I totally agree with you. Ive been running a F355 for 10 years now. I've spent around £20k in maint/annual services in that time, but the car has increased in value by £40k. It's the cheapest car I ever owned and it's still wonderful. Every car nut should own a Ferrari at some point in their life. The icing on the cake is that it can be a good investment too.
Phenomenal work, Gals. Just a work of art you’ve got now after this restoration. My question is with the seats? You stated in the vid that you all had them sprayed? They turned out amazing but I’ve never heard of spraying leather seats and having them come out so nice. Could you tell a little more about that process? Thanks.
The seats tho....how did they “spray them” causing them to turn out so well?
Great video as always an a nice peek into the world of Ferrari ownership. The engine works $$$ seems fairly reasonable considering all that was done. Enjoy the beautiful car while you continue to refurbish and upgrade!
I would like to personally thank you two wonderful ladies for bringing that Ferrari back to it's former glory and giving it a wonderful home.
P.S. Hi from the UK.
Hi from Colorado.
miss you guys so glad I found this feed while I am working in the shed!
From Canada I really enjoyed your enthusiasm your love for Ferrari and your detail
There's a lot of highly-rated and highly paid journalists who cannot review and talk about a Ferrari like this. Fascinated listening to your story and what a beautiful car!
Thank you. Hopefully you saw our car review too. Heidi
You guys bring up a great point. Makes sense to check if a vehicle passes inspection before purchasing. Much love from Cleveland!
I have an 84 308GTS QV and an 87 Carrera and have worked on both for years and it must be said thatPorsche build quality and engineering far exceeds that of Ferrari.
I still dont own a 308 (been trying to hunt down the right one for 6 months now), but I have to say the thing that realy stood out to me with the cars I have looked at is that the suppleness of the materials isnt something I have seen in other cars of the era. I have 0 doubt that porsches are just better designed, but they realy dont have the same physical material quality feel IMO
Hello Heide and Franny ! Great job on bringing this car back to life. I also had a 1985 308 GTS for over 10 years. I saw you rebuilt the warm up regulator, what about the fuel distributor ? FYI the best in the business is Larry Fletcher @ CIS Flowtech in Alabama. Great video !!
Hi David, the fuel distributor seems to be operating well. I know it is susceptible to bad/dirty fuel, but I think that has not been an issue with our car. The WUR was suspect and I think it was a good move to get it looked at (at CIS Flowtech). They did a great job and the car starts very consistently and runs great! As I know you know, when sorted these cars are super reliable and just a joy to drive :)
Thanks for real $$$$ numbers.
Very informative......Another great presentation ! Beautiful Ferrari
Just started watching you ladies, I watched the videos on the suspension refurbishment first then watched your video on the cost of buying the car. Ok so here I go first of all I’m a Ferrari nut from Scotland, never owned one but am so happy that a new dealership is opening 15 min from my home so great. Claim to fame is having a 360 spider for the weekend, took my old mum out in it for a drive, she loved it, also having my picture taken with Nikki Laura when he was at Ferrari at the British GP, one to remember. Anyway I am a mechanic to trade but was pretty rubbish at this and found my career elsewhere however I still relate to all the videos around car works and know what is happening. Your 5 videos around the suspension refurbishment was unreal, believe it or not I actually showed my wife the one where you displayed the new nuts and bolts and also how you managed the whole job, as my wife said it takes a woman to be organised on anything not just cars. Hats off to you both as the quality of your enthusiasm and work is brilliant, I follow all the various people on this site like Scott and also our daft but funny Canadian with his Ferrari but fair play ladies you have won my heart, if I am lucky enough to ever own one you guys are doing the restoration. Love and best wishes from Ian at Bonnie Scotland. Xxx
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I've had a tour of Eurospares - they have an amazing collection!
This is very informative! These are durable cars, just pricy to maintain.
My only thought on the head.... this is for others to be aware of... NAPA makes an aluminum brightener cleaner. It eats up the corrosion that stuck your heads to the studs, or should. If I was in that pickle, I would soak the studs in this stuff.
As for the stereo, the new head unit looks great! I am an audiophile, but that install was icky, at best. Besides, a car like this only needs a radio for traffic updates!!
What is the cut off for emissions testing in Denver?
PS: I am a Corvette person, but will one day own a 308.
Thanks for sharing!!!!
If you guys are tired of it by now i'm in the market for one and will be glad to take her off your hands. Great job ladies keep it coming!
Lots of money in repairs and improvements but I expected the cost to be nearly double your figure. For a car as nice as yours it seems you guys did great. Minus the mental anguish I’m sure. Thanks for sharing.
This is a great video!! Your info on the QV heads may have saved me from making a purchasing mistake! I was about ready to buy a 3.2QV Mondial! I had big costs on running my 1993 Mondial t where the engine has to come out for servicing! That car also needed a replacement Catalytic converter at £2790 or $4000 plus new suspension bushes and new rear shockers. Big bills!! I love the events of The Ferrari Owners’ Club, & I think another 308GT4 is probably the better choice on running costs, if I can afford the latest crazy prices to buy another!
You two are an INSPIRATION. What a marvelous job you've done.
Thanks!
Wow thank you for the in-depth look at the servicing costs. I’m very happy that your 308 ended up going to you guys; it certainly ended up at the right home! I hope you have many trouble free miles ahead!
Happy Valentines Day! Wow, another terrific video! Beautiful Ferrari. Very informative. Can you do a video on what kind of maintenance you perform yourselves and how you document the maintenance to maintain a cars value? Really interested in how you do this for the Porsches.
They are some scary bills, but I have gone through similar build creep on my 911 engine. Great stuff as always guys.
Thanks Jeff. Yeah, it was some scary bills, but I can think of worse ways to waste money. I feel like we get something back, as I am sure you do with your cars. So, money is not really wasted. Heidi
Oh wow the work needed to those heads what a nightmare! Great video you have a beautiful Ferrari, thanks for sharing 👍
Such a joy to watch! Thank you for sharing. Subscribed your channel long time ago and now notification bell enabled! Greetings from Germany.
New to your amazing channel. Great the see both of you working on cars and your passion for them. Cheers from Brisbane
Anouther great video ! Very well done, as alway ladies ! You must have nerves of titanium to handle the amount of work ( and expense ) that was required for the engine. Seeing cylinder head actually being CUT OFF was something I never would have expected to see. You both deserve huge kudos for your accomplishments with the 308, so KUDOS ❗️☮️
Love you girls I admire your technical knowledge :)
Thank you so much for giving us such a great video. Great ladies, great cars, great job done. 👍👍👍
That engine looks amazing! What a car!
Really great video. Thanks for making it. I am an air cooled 911 guy that does all my own work and looking to get a 308. Just trying to learn as much as I can about them now. This was really great information. Car looks great!
Yes, if you are used to working with German cars and parts, there is some overlap. It will make you smile. For example, the fuses. The Ferrari is also quite different from Porsches too. Get a thorough PPI before you buy and make sure it has had the belts done properly at a certified shop. Last if all, realize there are some markers on the engine at 60K miles, so if if has that kind of mileage, you could be in for new valves. I can go on and on. Feel free to email us on our website with questions. Heidi
@@HeidiandFranny Thanks again. I did take note of your 60k comment in my notes to look into further as I am trying to learn as much as I can about these cars before progressing to actively looking for the right one!
Yours is such a beautiful example of the 308. Thank you for sharing the journey and the cost :)
I was already a fan; now I am a Heidi and Franny's Garage FANBOY!
Thanks.
Yea!
Great video. Beautiful car. Most of all, thanks for talking me out of ever buying a vintage Ferrari.
Very welcome. They are not for everyone.
HI from Australia.........well done on fixing everything the correct way! in the end you have an incredible car that is easily worth more than your investment!!
Another great video, with a tremendous amount of great information! Great work!
Thanks!
@@HeidiandFranny you are very welcome. :-)
The 308 is my absolute favorite car, though I prefer the earliest carburetted models. I almost bought one of those during the depths of the last recession when they could be had as low as the mid 20s, but I didn't, and have left that dream behind. In reality, if it's not something that can serve as a daily driver, it's just going to be a big paperweight. So I bought a Porsche 924S-with 'needs'. No one will ever want to steal it, or key it, or likely even pay attention to it. But they have character and I have no problem spending 4x (or more) what it could ever be worth fixing it. If you like a car, it's worth it. I just wish there was an insurance product that would allow me to insure it properly...They won't 'let you' pay higher premiums to insure it for a value above blue book, which I find odd...
Great video as usual, that was a bad pre-purchased inspection.
The car looks great now though good work
Yeah, we could have paid more for the PPI. Our bad.
Awesome video 👌 This is by far one of my most favourite vehicles and in fact is the one which began my Ferrari obsession!
It’s absolutely wonderful that you both have such a passion for automotive history and the icons of years past!
Let me know when it is up for sale 🙏
thank you so much for posting this video....you guys just saved me a fortune and a lot of agony........I am bidding on a beautiful 308 on bring-a-trailer and after watching your video horror story I decided to read all of the invoices for the car at auction.....the guy drove it 11,000 miles, it was in the shop 14 times and cost 30K in repairs .........even if money weren't an issue there is no way I could deal with that much mechanical failure....
All you say is true and we did go through all that, BUT... When sorted these cars are really fun and quite reliable. Their only sin is that they were trading for very little money for a car of this type and as a result, there are many examples that were either abused or not maintained or both. I know how you feel, but if the desire returns I urge you to spend some time on F-Chat and get to know the guys there. They are very knowledgeable and will give you a more even view of the brand and the ins and outs of the 308. I do absolutely adore the car. I drove it to work the other day and it was a delight :) F
We do love the car. It was a punch in the stomach when it was first done, but Franny maintains it beautifully and we have not had issues since. I do think it can be a bear to maintain if you are not handy. Heidi
Thanks for sharing, I think this experience is all too common like you say on these affordable exotics. You opened my eyes on the 308 it really is a nice ride, congrats on having it in your stable.
What a story, thanks for sharing! It was a lot of work, but all things considering, I think you really did well with this car. Like you said € 65k doesn't buy a 308QV in this condition anymore. I've never considered myself a Ferrari person, but I enjoy I see (and hear) one every time. Here's to many more miles in the 308QV!
Thanks! Appreciate it.
You're welcome! This Ferrari thing is contagious. Right now I find myself looking at a 456M GT that's for sale close to where I live :)
Beautiful car. It truly.makes you realize how much work and money can go into a car with fairly low miles. Great video as always!
Nice to see Heidi taking a bigger part in the videos
It’s like a brand new car. Great job!
THE STORY, that's the thing. Great gift for the future owner. Like the mechanical images.,Nice !
very cool story, shocking to hear about the head getting cut off. have never heard of that, and I am a tech. with that being said- anytime I rebuild a head (I mean Honda, vw, etc) I always replace all the valves, period. I would not question it on a Ferrari. what I would do is rebuild the entire engine, its out, apart, and now full of metal from the head getting cut off. full rebuild
Great work, Ladies! I have owned a 3.2 Mondial for 30yrs. Done all of the works you did myself except the suspensions. Looking forward to that video.
Wow. Cool.
Wow 38,000 bucks!! Ull get 38000 stares😉 308 is the iconic body!! Thanks for sharing !! I just love these candid videos. Why would anyone take a gorgeous exotic car like that over dirt roads? should’ve bought a cheap truck to do that. You’re fortunate these cars are skyrocketing in value
Great vid, as always! I had no idea you guys had gone through such a deep restoration saga... gives me a bit of perspective/relief for my own. ;)
We figured you would enjoy this video.
Wow that powder coating on the engine looks amazing! Great job on that QV, one of the best I've seen!!
Thanks for the video, well done. I especially appreciate frannie’s willingness to work on the cars. Have you ever considered an automotive lab scope like a pico? I would love to get one myself but can’t yet bring myself to push the buy it button. I think it really helps with diagnosis even in pre-obd cars. While it doesn’t help with the mechanical repairs it can identify which cylinders are firing properly and which ones aren’t. It is also very cool that you can see electric motors, like fuel pumps, begin to fail even when they are still working
No. We haven’t. Kind of expensive?
Heidi and Franny's Garage yes, certainly expensive.
What a journey! I've never seen a head CUT OFF an engine before! Great photos. Would love to see a little vid of you driving it to hear that euro exhaust! Vroom!
We have a few out there!
Wow, what an interesting video! I would have thought that Ferraris had longer service intervals then that but as you point out, a lot depends on how it's used, or not used. I suspect that (like motorbikes) not being driven regularly often does as much damage as running it into the ground. And bathing it in road dirt doesn't help. Reminds me of a story about a Jeep GC that lived on rural Kansas roads paved with crushed limestone..... but that's long story. Glad you got things sorted and the story ended well, it's a beautiful car that you should be proud of. Thanks for sharing!
If in doubt, have the belts done.
Just found your channel this morning. Absolutely love your videos. Thanks for the content! Subscribed
Thanks! Welcome to the channel!
fascinating account, you have a stunning car and now sorted ! great video - thanks
Terrific video. Most important is that you both love the car.
Its a cracking little Ferrari, It is great to see these car's given the TLC they deserve. You done a great job and I am sure you will be rewarded for it a plenty...Fantastic drivers car???
Thumbs up and HI, from Bournemouth UK
Thanks so much! It really is special.
I love your presentations. So much that I wish you would expand beyond the cars you're most passionate about. If I knew you personally, I'd loan you my Corvette just to hear your impressions.
I love your videos - what a great information on the iconic 308!
Another great video ladies thank you. You made that Ferrari look like new all it's missing is Tom Selleck in a Hawaiian shirt lol
what so ever you do do not watch the remade of Magnum, there can be only one Thomas S. Magnum ans is Tom selleck.
Thank you for the very insightful and informative view on a Ferrari 308..it seems nowadays that 60k to 80k is what you expect to pay for one of these so what you paid seems pretty reasonable and you now have a mechanically sound automobile..
Great job at bringing back the car to the state it deserves to be in!
why didn't they just unbolt the head studs instead of trying to slide the head up them or try heating up the head first so it expanded ??? it seems a bit mad having to cutting the head off never seen this done before.
Not quite sure what you mean by unbolting the studs... They are screwed into the cylinder block. Yes, we and the mechanics tried everything from heat to cold to acid to wooden wedges... These heads aren't Ferrari's best moment. In 1983 with the first QVs Ferrari built the QV heads to go on to the 2V block without any changes. That meant the position of the studs could not change. But, with all those new valves, there was no room for the studs to go all the way through the head so they now reside inside little alcoves. This makes it not really possible to build a head puller to push on the studs. Any removal method will put 100% of the pull on the studs themselves. In the end it was my call to cut the heads as I did not want to risk pulling a stud out of the engine. That would have required a full tear down and lots more $$$. The reason they get stuck in the first place is that the holes the studs are inserted through in the head are too small and just the slightest corrosion causes them too be locked into place. It still to 6 hours AFTER cutting the heads to get the last two free. Lots a wiggling and working back and forth. Just unfortunate, but too much force would have been disastrous.
Brilliant video loved it keep up the good work .
What was done to prevent the head bolts from corroding to the heads in the future, perhaps anti-seize to stop dissimilar metal corrosion? I have noticed what you said, that many people do very little or no service. Service is something they don't understand.
I think there was some anti-seize applied, but I can’t remember. I think we will probably take the heads off more often. Also, Colorado is really dry.
Amazing video! Considering how meticulously you've gone through each of your vehicles, with documentation of the entire process- I think you could get absolute top dollar if and when you sell any of them. In fact, since your garage is full and all of your vehicles seem to be running so well- you may need to sell one and buy a project car so you can create more content. What would you consider for your next project? Please make it a Lamborghini Countach. I'd love to see you restore one of those.
A Countach would be super sweet!
Found you through Ratorossa, great channel guys. Peace from the UK ✌🏼
Thanks so much and welcome!
Nice Car. I drove a rental like this one in Maui in 1998. Driving up the volcano road the engine broke a belt, causing the ill fated valve train damage and we were stranded until the rental company came to pick up up in a Testarossa. We enjoyed our short experience in the 308 immensely. I'd own one today, but I would put in the same amount of time and money you have. It's just part of the process of owning a Ferrari. Instead of a Ferrari, I own and fly airplanes with similar mega costs of operation. You know what the difference is between aircraft and Ferraris is? The chain of log entries, keeps most amateur mechanics out of the engine compartment. Hosed up repairs don't happen on aircraft- as a owner it's your neck and the person signing the log is on the hook. Enjoy the ride
Fantastic video, thanks F&H, love your channel 🙇🏻👍🏻
Great video and insight of what needed to be done. I think 308's are one of the best looking Ferraris!
You ladies made my day with this Ferrari video! Can't wait for the suspension bushing video...
Beautiful ride! Well done video and a great summary of the process and decisions. Subd
After all this trouble, this car really belongs to you. Best wishes.