[ECSofVirginia]

"barcheta" was kind enough to entrust his 308QV with me for it's major service and Sanden A/C Compressor Upgrade, after some deliberation. With his permission I'm starting this thread with some photos to show an example of the workmanship I try to provide. Talk is cheap, and most mechanics tell a good story...I'll use a picture book. A text book 308 major is done with the engine in the car, anyone who has done this job knows that performing the valve adjustment on bank 5-8 let alone doing the camshaft timing procedure is not a pleasant experience. Since the cars are in fact getting older a basic "in n out" belt service is just a portion of what they should receive. Often the cars end up being delivered with just new parts and not a service IMO, sometimes you get half way into the job and find it's necessary to pull the motor and go through it thoroughly which compounds the estimate by quite a bit.

To provide a better service and approach these cars in a more educated way I've developed my own standard procedure. I start by performing a cylinder leakage/compression test before anything else is taken apart. This prevents us from spending time and money on an engine with greater needs, it also allows the client to make a fully informed financial decision ie: stop or continue).

The next step of course is to get the engine out of the car so everything can be evaluated and the drivetrain/engine bay can get degreased and returned back fresh. Once the engine is cleaned the covers all come off, get chemical cleaned then glass bead blasted for that "new" look.

After everything has been evaluated and cleaned the valves get adjusted, cam timing measured/adjusted and reassembly begins.

I'll update the thread in a couple days once the motor is all back together and in the car.

[cribbj]

Woot! Luv the look of fresh ally

Josh, are you going to paint, or powder coat the covers?

Did the 308 have one of those old York compressors, and is that why you & Jim are moving to the Sanden?

[Granucci]

This deserves to be a wiki, minus my post of course. Look very fwd to this thread.

BTW: [*ahem*]...it's OK to pan the 'wall paper' into the shot better....this is a car site afterall.

[ECSofVirginia]

John, the 308 came factory with plain aluminum covers so I'm going to leave them fresh and unpainted. The intake plenum/throttle body will be re-shot in Red Wrinkle as it was originally done as well.

[Barry]

Great idea for a thread. Look forward to the progress

[barcheta]

Those shiny parts look sweet!

Yes everything in there was original including the York. I nursed the oem York along as much as I could to include pully bearing replacement and conversion over to 134A. When it worked right it blew plenty cold to keep me confortable but not to chill me out of the car. The end of the last driving season it started making noise and wouldn't blow cold despite having a fresh charge and leak test. My thought was it was time for a change.

I really think the 308 engine is beautiful when it's clean and or polished. I intend to leave it that way.

I will say I have been thoroughly impressed with the level of detail, options and insight Josh has provided so far.

[cribbj]

Originally Posted by barcheta

Those shiny parts look sweet!

I will say I have been thoroughly impressed with the level of detail, options and insight Josh has provided so far.

No kidding; I just wish we could convince him to move to TX

[tazandjan]

Josh- Great thread. Always fun to watch the pros at work. Plus see the happy owner's reaction.

Taz
Terry Phillips

[Admiral Goodwrench]

Dupe?

Dear Josh,

Always love the look of clean parts on cardboard on a garage floor.

Best regards,

Robert

[ECSofVirginia]

Originally Posted by cribbj

No kidding; I just wish we could convince him to move to TX

Lol, moving is a bit tricky at this point but I've always been game for an adventure...never did get to take you up on that offer for TexMex last trip...

Originally Posted by tazandjan

Josh- Great thread. Always fun to watch the pros at work. Plus see the happy owner's reaction.

Taz
Terry Phillips

Thanks Terry, it's so easy to get caught up in the day to day movement of the shop. I forget sometimes that these sorts of procedures are interesting to other people as well. Some people start to think that a service like this is easy enough to not warranty paying a shop to perform the work. I like these opportunities to attempt and explain where the value lies and writing the check on occasion.

Originally Posted by Admiral Goodwrench

Dupe?

Dear Josh,

Always love the look of clean parts on cardboard on a garage floor.

Best regards,

Robert

Touche, Admiral!! I like your style. It just doesn't feel the same to put "ugly" parts on an engine you've spent an entire week or two pouring over, does it?

Jim provided the parts to replace the shifter shaft seals, another reason I opted to pull the motor. While having the sump pans off a thorough inspection ensued. The result was some debris found in the oil pump pickup, which was easily cleaned out and re installed to fight another battle.

You'll also note the Sanden compressor ready for install. I sourced this from Rock at RetroAir in Texas. He sells a complete upgrade kit for the 308's & soon 328's, Jim is confident his system is working well and just wanted the compressor so after a conversation Rock agreed to break up the kit for me. I'm looking forward to selling and installing some of the complete kits in the future.

The second picture is just me bolting down one of the freshly cleaned up and sealed valve covers. I wanted to share this picture because you wrench savvy types will note that I'm tightening down the cover with a 1/4" torque wrench. Tightening down the covers evenly and with the appropriate torque is just as important to maintaining the seal as a clean surface and high quality silicone sealers in the correct quantity.

[barcheta]

looking good!

[wetpet]

Damn Jim, two new cars, ferrari resto, what's next? waterfront property? Engine is looking sweet. can't wait to see the finished product!

[barcheta]

Waterfront property in severna park or crownsville would be nice!

I cant wait to see it all together either

[360 Modena]

Originally Posted by barcheta

Waterfront property in severna park or crownsville would be nice!

I cant wait to see it all together either

I found a nice home on the water w/pier and it is move-in ready for you Jim and refurbed 308.

Looking good Josh!

[ECSofVirginia]

LOL, Jim is going to need some good investment properties after I'm done with this thing...good to know you're there to help out Al.

Here's the next installment... After a mix up on the water pump rebuild kit I opted to go ahead and get Jim a brand new water pump (the price isn't bad). As you can see this after market pump uses a more robust metal impeller where the original pump uses a plastic impeller.

This is what the engine looks like just about assembled with all of the new, bead blasted parts fitted. The next installment will be with all of the extraneous goods attached, including the refinished intake plenum and throttle body.

[barcheta]

wow! I can hardly wait.

[wetpet]

your engine is not allowed to look better than mine..........

[ECSofVirginia]

It's OK Ed, I'm sure your engine looks pretty also. No need to feel self conscious, we're all friends here.

[cribbj]

Tsk, tsk Josh, you couldn't have thrown some black paint on that water pump pulley and crank dampner just for the photo shoot? They're the only eyesores up close to all that clean ally.

Just joshing you

[ECSofVirginia]

Black paint is extra, figured I would save that for next time . The water pump pulley is actually anodized not painted so I cleaned and left it. The crank pulley didn't want to come off the crank so I opted to just let it alone. I'm not a fan of spraying paint just for the sake of doing so, personally.

Good eye though