Restoring a Ferrari 308, an icon of the 70s and 80s, may seem like a dream to any Italian car enthusiast. But in reality, this dream can quickly turn into a nightmare. That's precisely what happened to Ratarossa, a British YouTuber with a passion for Italian mechanical engineering, who thought he'd bring a long-forgotten 308 GTSi back to life. The result: smoke, lots of smoke... and a hefty bill.
A DIY project goes up in smoke... literally.
It all began so well. Found in a state of neglect, this 308 was a promising base for a restoration project. Enthusiastically, Ratarossa documented every step on his YouTube channel: disassembly, cleaning, inspection... until the fateful moment when the engine began spitting out black smoke in alarming quantities.
What seemed at first to be a minor problem turned out to be much more serious. After removing the engine, examination of the cylinders revealed compression losses of up to 20 %, whereas the acceptable tolerance is around 5 %. Inside, oil puddles had formed in several chambers. Diagnosis: tired piston rings, cylinder wear, compromised sealing. In short, an engine in need of a complete overhaul!
Experts take over
Given the extent of the damage, Ratarossa had no choice but to call in the specialists. The team from RE Performance, renowned for their work on complex mechanical systems, took charge of the Ferrari V8. Their verdict was clear: the engine had to be completely dismantled, checked and rebuilt according to the rules of the art. Not a quick or inexpensive operation.
Added to this is the work of another specialist, who will completely overhaul the mechanical injection system (the famous K-Jetronic), suspected of over-fueling. A two-pronged restoration: engine and injection.
A bill estimated at several thousand euros
Although Ratarossa has not yet communicated a precise amount, the estimates are unambiguous:
- Complete rebuild of the Ferrari V8: between €15,000 and €20,000
- Restoring the injection system: around €2,000 to €3,000
- Bodywork and partial painting: from €5,000 to €10,000 depending on finish
- Small parts, consumables, special nuts, accessories, additional labor: +€2,000
👉 Estimated total: between €25,000 and €35,000, not including time spent or unforeseen problems.
The bodywork too
While the Ferrari's heart is in intensive care, the bodywork passes through the hands of bodybuilders. And here again, the surprises are endless: impacts, tarnished paint, added side lights for US homologation, badly filled holes... To regain the finesse of the original European lines, it is necessary to weld, putty, repaint and polish. Ratarossa has chosen to preserve its rare original black and grey livery.
In the end, a (very) expensive dream
Between the capricious mechanics, the surprises under the bodywork and the rare parts to be found, this restoration project went well beyond the scope of a simple "weekend DIY" project.
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